Your adventure through lush, green, and booming forest life is calling you!
What is the first thing you think about when you think of Hawaii? It's probably the beach or the ocean and turtles. Hawaii’s beaches/ocean are undoubtedly beautiful, and the marine life is amazing, but there’s more to Hawaii. The forests of Hawaii are booming with rare native plants, insects/bugs, 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 Hawaii and nowhere else in the world, it's an adventure you sure don't want to miss.
-
$260 USD
-
8 yrs+
-
12-hour
-
Kona, Big Island, Hawaii
Hakalau Bird Watching Adventure Features
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!).
A Bird Adventure
This is our most unique feature: a bird adventure. Hawaii is home to endemic species (only found in Hawaii) 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 Hawaii. However, due to manmade influence, many of them are now endangered, so they have to be protected.
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 Hawaii
-
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 Hawaii 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 Hawaii is nothing short of spectacular. Although marine life is the more common area of Hawaii to explore, there is more to Hawai’i! 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 Hawaii’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 Hawaii. A major part of this adventure will be searching for native birds that have special adaptations that allow them to survive in Hawaii. 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 Hawaii rainforest adventure awaits!
Price & Availability
12-Hour Hakalau Forest Reserve Hike With Lunch From Waikoloa & Kailua-Kona Town
AdultsAges 13 yrs+ | $260.00 |
ChildrenAges 8-12 yrs | $260.00 |
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.