Helicopter Tours
Hawaii travel specialist Judi Chaitman prefers Blue Hawaiian helicopter tours (bluehawaiian.com) on most islands, since they have new aircraft and a top selection of tours. Whenever possible, she recommends opting for the company's Eco-Star choppers, which have roomier cabins and larger windows. Here's a roundup of Chaitman's picks for the best air tours:

Big Island
Blue Hawaiian offers four different helicopter tours on the Big Island, the longest of which is the Big Island Spectacular, running two full hours—plenty of time to check out the amazing diversity of the landscape (rolling grasslands, black-sand beaches, lava fields) and to gawk at the most recent fiery eruption at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park (808-961-5600; $460-$518 per person for two hours).

Kauai
If you plan on splurging for just one helicopter tour, take it on Kauai, since most of the island's stunning interior—richly colored canyons, waterfall-laced valleys, and forests that are among the rainiest on earth—is inaccessible by road. Blue Hawaiian's Eco Adventure is among the most popular, for good reason (808-245-5800; $274 for 50-55 minutes). For an even bigger thrill—and better photos—there's Jack Harter's Doors Off Tour (808-245-3774; helicopters-kauai.com; $259 for one hour).

Maui
Blue Hawaiian's Complete Island tour takes in the spectacular beaches of West Maui, Haleakala's cratered summit, and the jungle landscape and rugged coastline of Hana (808-871-8844; $344-$382 per person for one hour).

More Hotels
Maui
In the same well-heeled neighborhood as the Four Seasons and Wailea's three swell golf courses, the Fairmont Kea Lani has 37 villas and 413 suites (225 with straight-on ocean views), one of the island's top restaurants (Nick's Fishmarket Maui), and excellent snorkeling just off the beach. As with the Four Seasons, Hawaii travel specialist Judi Chaitman, has pull at the Fairmont, so depending on availability, she may be able to score her clients a free room upgrade (808-875-4100; fairmont.com/kealani; suites, $450-$1,100). On West Maui near the tourist town of Lahaina and the strip of resorts at Kaanapali Beach, the 333-room Royal Lahaina underwent a multimillion-dollar renovation last year. The lobby still feels dated but rooms are bright and welcoming, with teak furnishings and starched-white linens (808-661-3611; hawaiihotels.com; doubles, $195-$375).

Big Island
South Kohala, on the island's sunny west coast, has a string of tony resorts, including the Fairmont Orchid, a luxe compound on a white-sand beach frequented by giant sea turtles). Since it's also one of Judi Chaitman's preferred resorts, her clients sometimes receive extra perks, everything from complimentary breakfast to room upgrades (808-885-2000; fairmont.com/orchid; doubles, $399-$849. Next door, Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows is big on elegant simplicity, with more than 300 rooms in low-rise buildings, beachfront hammocks, and lava-rimmed lagoons (808-885-6622; maunalani.com; doubles, $445-$935). Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel, perched above one of the island's finest crescents, is a sprawling, hushed, business-oriented resort with an excellent—and pricey—sushi bar and terrifically efficient staff (808-880-1111; princeresortshawaii.com; doubles, $415-$615).