Big Island of Hawaii - Kailua-Kona

Big Island of Hawaii

Adventures on Land - Ecotourism

1 2

Hawaii Forest and Trail (Queen Ka`ahumanu Hwy, 331-8505, toll free 800-464-1993, www.hawaii-forest.com). Hawaii Forest and Trail is the premier ecotourism company on the island, with eight distinctive “Nature Adventures” to different regions of the island, as well as custom tours. The Kona-based company was founded in 1993 by naturalist Rob Pacheco and his wife Cindy with the vision of sharing knowledge of the natural Hawaiian environment with visitors. The organization has expanded from the couple and a single van to 35 employees, a fleet of 4WD vans and Pinzgauer vehicles, and an outfitting store. This is the kind of company that gives back to the community; among other good deeds, they lead schoolchildren on free field trips. They were named the 2006 Ecotour Operator of the Year by the Hawaii Ecotourism Association. Hawaii Forest and Trail’s niche is that its knowledgeable guides can lead the public onto private lands for which they have special- access permits, so you can see parts of the Big Island that are otherwise off-limits. Tours include hikes to waterfalls in the Pololu Valley ($125) and the Kohala Countryside ($109); birdwatching adventures to a private section of Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge ($155) and the “Rainforest and Dry Forest Adventure” ($159); Kilauea Volcano ($149); the “Mauna Kea Summit and Stars Adventure” ($165); and off-road Pinzgauer trips up Hualalai Mountain and to a lush, remote area of the Polulu Valley, with a swim in a mountain pool. See the website for details.

1 2

ADDITIONAL HAWAII RESOURCES

Big Island Vacation Planner Map

Book your Hawaiian Vacation Package Today!
Call us Toll Free: 1-888-83 HAWAII (42924)

Stories of Hawaii provided courtesy of the Hawaiian Tourism Authority.