Hang Gliding Maui

Waking fantasy within a dream come true, is the simplest way I’ve found to describe my stellar experience flying over Maui with Armin as a pilot, guide, instructor, new friend, (and even comedian). I’ve always dreamed of flying, as I’m sure many of us reading this have, and this was such an indescribably awesome way to fulfill such an intense yearning!
Apprehension of the unknown was a strong factor for both myself and my partner as we walked into his hanger at Hana Airport, at once questioning our own sanity yet excited for what was to come. Armins’ infectious charm, beaming personality, and total confidence put us at ease immediately. That and the fact that he has a 100% safety record for many years of doing this eliminated all doubt that we were about to have the experience of a lifetime! And indeed it was! This man loves what he does and it’s evident in each and every facet of the experience from start to finish. After getting through the other side, it’s easy to see why, and I can’t recommend doing this highly enough!
The experience itself is truly beyond words — but I will try to give a few hints. Glorious vistas boggle the mind, as a sense of serene peace engulfs your being while you take in the bewildering beauty of Maui from above. Mile-​high waterfalls, humpback whales seen from above, an amazing perspective on the the gorgeous fractal coastline and blue waters, volcanic craters, flying through clouds (what!), you name it! (and I left a more than a few surprises for those who deserve them by booking this experience…) I was overcome more than once with a tremendous feeling of bliss which shifted to some of the most powerful feelings of gratitude I’ve ever had the blessing to feel. So inspirational and fulfilling!
One of the coolest parts of the experience is that not only does Armin pilot the craft, but gives you the basics on how to do it yourself, in real-​time, up in the air. Talk about hands-​on learning! Soon after his excellent and patient instructions, I realized I had been in control without Armin’s assistance for more than a few minutes straight. That’s how smoothly and expertly he was able facilitate the ramping up of my comfort level, going from total newbie to unreasonably confident total newbie in less than an hour flat! But seriously, I am enthralled that a new dimension (literally!) has opened up to amazing explorations and learning surely to take place in the future. Can’t wait to take my next lesson and hopefully someday have the best job in the world. Seriously, giving people the best experience they will never forget as you share in it/​your love of it with them! How does it get any better than that?
Make sure you buy the photos at the end, you will cherish them forever! And they come out great, super high res and clear. Make sure you smile at the camera a few times…
This activity isn’t exactly cheap, and was our major splurge for the trip — but worth every penny and then some! Probably the best bang-​for-​the buck I know of. We both wanted to come back for seconds but regrettably were unable to.
All in all, if you are even considering doing this, don’t hesitate. Just Do It! No regrets here, can’t wait until next time!

Such an amazing experience. Very peaceful and serene. Armin is very knowledgeable and put me at ease. Would highly recommend it!

On 2−9−16 I flew with Armin for the second time, this time he let me sit in the front seat. We flew up over the mountains and along the eastern coast of Maui near Hana. It was the most amazing time that I can ever remember. First off, Armin is about as likable a guy you’ll ever meet and SO knowledgeable about not only the equipment, but the island itself including various points of interest along our flight. Of course he let me fly quite a bit, so that was super cool. We also spotted a few Humpbacks that we flew down to get a better look. Just fabulous! If you ever drive the road to Hana and are looking for a special treat at the end of that LONG road, try Hang Gliding with Armin, you WON’T be disappointed. I’ll revisit him every time I come to Maui!

Three of us came here to fly with Armin, and he was kind enough to accommodate my friend the day before our flight (even though he was just about back to back for flights.) The experience was something that everyone should do at least once in their life. While there were a few times that I thought, crap what am I doing, I felt safe the entire time!
These planes are experimental aircraft that aren’t regulated by the FAA. Due to this, you’re not allowed to be taken on a tour… you must be taught how to fly. This was the coolest part… not only was I seeing these amazing views of Maui, i was actually flying the plane! Only 14.25 more hours and I’ll be certified… or not.
Be sure to pay for the photo package. It’s 100% worth it!

Went today for my birthday what a way to celebrate! I highly recommend doing this I felt completely safe the whole time. Guaranteed the best way to see Maui way better than a helicopter, and I got to learn something. Don’t hesitate just go!

I’ve been meaning to leave this review for a year now! I went last October and it was one of those things I will remember for the rest of my life. Armin was absolutely amazing and extremely accommodating. I get motion sick easily and he kept making sure I was ok during the ride. I DEFINITELY recommend the hour long flight. The moment he turned the engine off at 4000+ feet was just something else, so peaceful. My advice to anyone in Maui, suck up any fear and fork over the money, this will be a memory for a lifetime.

This was an amazing experience! The views were insanely beautiful! Relaxing and adventurous at the same time!!!

Armin was super friendly and accommodating. The ride itself was awesome: 30 or 45 min of motorized hang gliding with the extra bonus of shutting off the engine near the end of the ride at 4,000 feet and gliding down to the airport for a smooth landing on the runway. You get to see breathtaking views of the Hana coastline and some waterfalls. Armin even gave some basic instructions on how to maneuver the light aircraft… letting me take control for a few moments to steer left/​right and up/​down.
All in all, a great way to get airborne and get a bird’s eye view of Hana and the coast, plus it’s much cheaper than a helicopter ride. Definitely recommend!

Camping out in Hana and then flying with Armin Engert in Hana was the most defining moment of my life. I went on a solo trip to Maui to do some soul searching. Never had I imagined that would I fall in love with aviation and especially flying in a trike! The challenge and feeling of flying is what solidified the relationship that I now have with aviation. There’s no better man than Armin of Hana to introduce such an amazing experience to aspiring pilots or even just first timers. He is one of the few instructors in the world that still have genuine compassion for teaching and sharing his lifelong experiences in aviation. If you haven’t flown over Hana with Armin, you haven’t experienced TRUE Hawaii with a REAL Hawaiian!

What an amazing experience. You are up in the clouds at about 4000 feet and see things that most people can never see. Armin was great and very personable and made you feel very safe and relaxed. A couple tips. From Kannapali give yourself 3 hours with traffic. We barely made it in time. Also, Armin does not accept credit cards so bring cash or checks. He graciously trusted us to send a check when we got back home.

A highlight of our trip to Maui. We had a blast flying, but it’s also a unique way to view the island and helps understand the geography of everything.
The flight lesson is as much of a lesson as you want it to be: Armin will show you how to control the hang glider, or is just happy taking you on a great ride if your nerves aren’t up for driving. We flew into the clouds and saw a georgous rainbow; also saw whales in the ocean below, more waterfalls than you can imagine, and some celebrity homes from above. I did the 30-​minute ride, but would recommend longer trips in a heartbeat. The photos are a great souvenir too.
And then there’s Armin. My travel companion and I were stranded at a nearby beach (car broke down) when we were supposed to be flying. Armin was totally cool working around our predicament. He picked us up from the beach one-​by-​one for our flights (while the other waited with the car for the tow truck). He went well out of his way to help us out.

Couldn’t be better! If you’re planning on the Road the Hana as a day trip DEFINITELY contact Armin to schedule a flight. I’m a P2 pilot and have been tandem on a hang glider a few times and it totally rocked my world!!! My Brother went as well and he’s never done anything this «crazy» before. (His words, not mine) The view alone is… I’m still speechless. This is a must do!!! Worth every penny.
We flew into the clouds and everything went white. It was like nothing id ever experienced before. Then the ever awesome Armin asked me if I knew where we were going??? Not being able to see even my hand in front of my face I replied no, and he said «me either!» HAHAHAHA! He’s so personable and great at making learning fun.

Where do I even begin — I’ll start with Armin. He’s an amazing guy — laid-​back, professional, informative, and passionate about flying. He made sure to provide us with all of the directions and details far in advance. When we arrived, he provided my husband and I with all of the instruction necessary to start our hang gliding flight lesson. We both learned so much both on the ground and in the air with Armin, all the while observing views along the Hana coastline and along the summit of Mount Haleakala! It was THE experience of our trip and I honestly can’t imagine anyone visiting Maui without taking this opportunity to learn the basics of hang gliding. This is something that is not to be missed if you are visiting the island — it’s well worth it! We will be back again for our second lesson!

I’ve always wanted to fly and Armin helped make make that happen. He’s a great instructor. I hope to learn more with other instructors closer to home.

I had a great one hour lesson with Armin. It was an amazing experience. He’s the perfect combination of part teacher, part daredevil, part shrink and part standup comedian. If you’re thinking about doing this, do it here in Hana. Nothing more amazing than seeing it all from sky in a convertible.

This is by far the best thing on maui! Wife was more than freaked about going but ended up doing almost an hour. Armin is so confident and personal you trust him with your life. This is a must do thing. He flys you through a cloud and even teaches you how to fly and lets you take control! We were both smiling ear to ear with memories we’ll share for the rest of our lives. I’ve always had dreams of flying but now they’re gonna be a million times better! Armin is a cool dude too!

We were lucky enough to experience this magic. Armin is a wonderful human and extremely passionate about this activity. He is very safety cautious. This is worth your time, money and energy to do. Yes, it is Hana but if you are headed that way anyway why not try it. I can not speak highly enough about this experience and Armin. If you are on the fence do it and then thank me later. If you are concerned about safety do not be. His hanger has a pool table, chairs, radio, etc to keep the ones not flying entertained. I am so glad we made the time to do this. It is one of the highlights of not only our trip to Maui but for our lives to date. Stop thinking about it and book it. Thank you Armin! Best of luck to you and your family.

We’re only halfway into our trip and I can guarantee that this was the highlight. This might be the coolest thing I’ve ever done. It’s impossible to explain in words what skimming through clouds and gliding over waterfalls and the lush jungle-​like mountains is like, you have to do it for yourself. I wasn’t even all that interested but my wife insisted I go also, and I couldn’t be happier that I did. Armin makes you feels very safe, has a great sense of humor, and I couldn’t have had a better pilot or instructor, as he also taught us how to navigate the hang glider. This is a MUST DO no matter how long you are staying or where on the island. We are staying in Ka’anapali, and did the «treacherous» Road to Hana, which honestly wasn’t a big deal at all, and absolutely beautiful.

If there was one thing I would suggest doing while you are on Maui, it would be this. Drive to Hana, stay there for at LEAST two nights. Relax, go cliff jumping, hiking, eating fruit off the trees. Enjoy life. When you are done relaxing, go and experience hang gliding. It was the most scariest, and spectacular views I have witnessed. I got to fly this machine, and touch the clouds. It was the most magic I have felt in life. I would do it again in a second. Oh, and buy the pictures and videos. When you watch them when you get home, you will wonder how you were ever there.

Do this. You won’t regret it and it will likely be one of your favorite things about your Maui tripped. I’m afraid of heights and typically scream like a stuck pig on amusement rides. However, Armin is charming and knowledgeable… I forgot to wig out. Go for the hour. I think that if you’re up there 30 minutes and then have to come right back down you’ll regret it.