Hakalau Bird Watching Adventure

Experience the Beauty of Hawaiʻi in All of its Glory!

5/5 (545 Reviews)

What is the first thing you think about when you think of Hawaiʻi? It's probably the beach or the ocean and turtles. Hawaiʻi’s beaches/ocean are undoubtedly beautiful, and the marine life is amazing, but there’s more to these islands' beauty than that. The forests of Hawaiʻi are booming with rare native plants, insects, and, of course, birds! On this unique tour, you can immerse yourself in all this wildlife and learn about how important they are to our ecosystem. A lot of the wildlife you will see only exists in Hawaiʻi and nowhere else in the world, it's an adventure you sure don't want to miss.

Starting At
$275 USD
Age
8 yrs+
Duration
12-hour
Location
Kona, Big Island, Hawaiʻi

What's Included
- Gear: Walking sticks, binoculars, day packs, warm wear, and rain jackets.
- Food/Drinks: Breakfast snacks, trail snacks, deli-style lunch, assorted beverages, and filtered water for your refillable bottle.

From: $275^.00

BOOK YOUR TOURS

Choose Your Tour Style

12-Hour Hakalau Forest Reserve Hike With Lunch From Waikoloa & Kailua-Kona Town

Starting at
$275^.00
per adult

Adults Ages 13 yrs+

$ 275^.00

Children Ages 8-12 yrs

$ 275^.00

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Having your accommodation information helps us provide directions, travel tips and can more easily contact you if there is a change in plans last minute.

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We'll pick you up at 6:30 AM from Hawaii Forest & Trail Kona Headquarters.
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We'll pick you up at 6:50 AM from Kona Village Resort.
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We'll pick you up at 6:50 AM from Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.
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We'll pick you up at 7:15 AM from Queens' Market Place (by The Yoga Barre)
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We'll pick you up at 7:25 AM from Waikoloa Plaza.
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Starting At: $0 USD
With taxes & fees: $301.13

Hakalau Bird Watching Adventure Features

Hawaii Forest Rainforest And Dryforest Bird Watching Tour Into Forest

Ohia Blossom Volcanoes National Park Big Island Circle Island

Kaimanatours Rainforest Waterfall And Movie Go Through Forest

Forests of Hawaii

This tour leads you through the Kona Rainforest and restricted access to the National Wildlife Refuge! These rainforests are home to many rare native plants and animals, including carnivorous caterpillars and the famous happy-faced spider. Look out for beautiful plants, including the Koa tree (a very strong, beautiful wood used in various industries) and the Ohi’a Lehua, which has a heartwarming love story that its name was derived from (Ask your guide about it!).

Hawaii Forest Rainforest And Dryforest Bird Watching Tour Yellow Bird

Hawaii Forest Rainforest And Dryforest Bird Watching Tour Orange Bird

Hawaii Forest Rainforest And Dryforest Bird Watching Tour Beautiful Red Bird

A Bird Adventure

This is our most unique feature: a bird adventure! Hawaiʻi is home to endemic species (only found in the local area) of birds that most people don't realize are there. Amakihi, Akepa, and Apapane are a few types of birds to look out for; these birds have special adaptations that allow them to thrive in Hawaiʻi. However, due to human influence (like chouse cats, unfortunately), many of them are now endangered, so they have to be protected.

Hikemaui Maui Waterfall Rainforest Hike Waterfall Hiking

Hikemaui Haleakala National Park Hiking Hala Tree

Hikemaui Private Road To Hana Hiking Guide And Guest

Expert Guides

The guides that will be leading you on this journey are experts in all things Hawai’i and of course bird tracking. They will be guiding you to find these native birds and will be educating you on how we can protect these birds for future generations. Our interpretive guides are there for your every need to make sure you're comfortable and having fun as we tour this less-known but significant part of Hawai’i.

Hakalau Bird Watching Adventure Details

Highlights

Sightseeing through the rainforest and mountains of Hawaiʻi
Search for native, endemic, and endangered birds including Amakihi and Elepaio
Access to restricted National Wildlife Refuge
Discover rare native plants and animals, including carnivorous caterpillars and happy-faced spiders

Knowledgeable and experienced guides to track birds and educate you on Hawaiʻi Forest life
Classic Adventure Snacks/Meal: Light breakfast, trail snacks, and deli lunch
Small tour group sizes for a more quality experience
4 WD Mercedes Sprinters so you can explore the forest without breaking a sweat!

Description

The wildlife of Hawaiʻi is nothing short of spectacular. Although the homes of marine animals are the more common type of area in Hawaiʻi to explore, there is more to see here than just that! How could there be more to paradise you ask? Let us show you on this adventure! The lush green mountains and flourishing forests are home to many rare native plants/animals that make a big part of Hawaiʻi’s ecosystem.

On this adventure, you will be given restricted access to the National Wildlife Refuge and you will explore the Kona Rainforests to search for the endemic species of plants/animals that can only be found in Hawaiʻi. A major part of this adventure will be searching for native birds that have special adaptations that allow them to survive in Hawaiʻi. Some native birds that you will want to look out for are the Apapane, Akepa, Elepaio and the Amakihi. No need to worry though, you will have an expert bird tracker and educated guide that will be with you every step of the way. Make sure you ask questions so you can not only find these birds but so you can learn about how we can keep them protected since many are endangered. Don't miss out on this amazing opportunity, your Hawaiʻi rainforest adventure awaits!

Price & Availability

12-Hour Hakalau Forest Reserve Hike With Lunch From Waikoloa & Kailua-Kona Town

AdultsAges 13 yrs+	$275^.00
ChildrenAges 8-12 yrs	$275^.00

Tours are run every week on Tuesday from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm!

Food & Drink

Easy & Convenient Breakfast/Trail snacks
Classic Deli Style Lunch
Assorted Beverages and Refillable Filtered Water

Additional Information

Gear Provided: Walking sticks, binoculars, day packs, warm wear and rain jackets.
What to Bring & Wear: Sturdy closed-toe shoes or boots, long pants, and a light rain jacket. Guests should bring their own water bottles.
Restrictions: Guests should be able to hike on uneven or rocky terrain. We sometimes encounter cool, wet or muddy conditions. Please note the Refuge access road can be rough & bumpy, and requires 4WD. Due to the possible rough road conditions this tour may not be suitable for those guests who have neck or back issues or those who are prone to motion sickness. Other tour restrictions may apply.

Cancellation

Any request for a refund 72 hours or more prior to the start of the tour or activity is honored with a full refund.

No refunds are issued for any cancellations inside the 72-hour period, prior to the start of your tour. There is no refund for no-shows. There is no charge for date change or tour change based on tour availability outside of the 72-hour cancellation period.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much hiking do we do?

Expect to cover approximately 2 to 4 miles in 4 hours.
What is the elevation gain?

Over the course of the hike the elevation change is approximately 650’.
Is it possible to use a spotting scope?

Due to the behavior of Hawaii’s endemic birds, the use of a spotting scope can be challenging. If you feel up to the test, we do encourage you to bring your own birdwatching gear. We do provide binoculars on the tour for guest use.
How is the drive to the Refuge?

The first part of the drive is on paved roadways. The second half of the drive on the Wildlife access road takes place on a dirt road requiring 4WD that is rough, muddy, and bumpy.