I get really excited when we get to go on guided hikes. Yes, I love hiking on our own and going at our own pace, but when it’s just our family we tend to really blaze a trail and miss some of the cool things along the way, including we miss out on stories and science information as we hike. Guided hiking in Hawaii is extra special because there is so much to learn that is so different from the hikes you may get to do in the Canadian Rockies or throughout the Southwest. We’ve gone out with Hawaii Forest and Trail several times and really enjoy the experience with them.
Guided hiking in Hawaii is unique as much of the land throughout the islands is privately held, so unless you’re with somebody who’s been granted access, you don’t get to experience some of the special, protected places that really capture the beauty of the mountains. Read on and you’ll understand why we try to do these sorts of tours when we visit Hawaii. If you have any questions about the options we recommend or need tips for visiting any of the Hawaiian Islands, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more!
Guided Hiking on the Big Island of Hawaii
Hawaii Forest and Trail is a really cool company (no they don’t pay us) and we’ve chosen to do guided hiking with them on a few different trips to the Big Island. Something that makes the adventures with Hawaii Forest & Trail unique is that they have a partnership with a group called Kamehameha Schools, which is the largest landowner in Hawaii besides the state and federal government. They partner with Hawaii Forest & Trail to allow visitors access to special, and sometimes sacred areas.
Behind locked gates, we’ve gotten to see some beautiful sights, wildlife, awesome geology and even swim in waterfalls. And that’s just some of what you get when you do guided hiking in Hawaii. Some of our favorite tours on the Kona Coast are guided hikes we have here!
Kohala Waterfalls Hiking
The northwest portion of the Big Island of Hawai’i is a whole volcano, old as it may be. Kohala is beautiful, quiet and rarely visited. A large portion of the land here is privately owned, and that includes a nice swath of sloping land with streams. There are some waterfalls, forests and even some ancient farming spots. Guided hiking at the Kohala waterfalls is a great experience to learn about the geology of the Big Island and get some time in the forest.
Of course though, the gem of this guided hiking is getting to swim in a Hawaiian waterfall or two. Our adventure included two waterfalls to take a dip in. One was a bit deeper than the other, and both were beautiful. An added bonus to the waterfall swimming at Kohala was getting to find Tahitian prawns in the splash pools. They are so cool!
Another part of this guided hiking experience was having access to one of the most beautiful views on the North Shore of the Big Island. We enjoyed our picnic lunch atop the cliffs looking out at the Pacific Ocean and Pololu Beach and valley. Gorgeous, and this is a place that you can’t just go on your own, which is why it’s so great that Hawaii Forest and Trail has access.
Exploring the Hualalai Volcano
This was the first guided hiking in Hawaii that we did with Hawaii Forest and Trail. Hiking the Hualalai Volcano, which is what’s looming above the town of Kailua-Kona, is very different from hiking the Kohala waterfalls. The geology geek in me LOVED the landscape and visible geologic process we came across through the entire Hualalai hike.
The kids loved doing this hike because even though it was safe and it was a guided hiking experience, there were some cliff edges and volcanic features that we got to explore. The wild craters and slopes were beautiful and there watching the weather move in and out was really cool.
The other side of me that was so jazzed about guided hiking on Hawaii’s Hualalai volcano was the birdwatching. As we descended the Hualalai volcano trail down into the forest areas we got to see amakihi and apapane birds (small and colorful honeycreepers), and then when we got into the eucalyptus forest there were i’iwis, which are my absolute favorites! All in all, an awesome guiding hiking experience that our whole family enjoyed.
More Hawaii Guided Hiking Options
Of course there are lots more options for guided hiking in Hawaii, and specifically on the Big Island. Since we’ve gone out with Hawaii Forest and Trail, I’m keeping my recommendations with them because I know how they run their tours and what you can expect from doing any sort of trek with them. They offer a few other, very different hiking tours on the Big Island, so depending on how much time you have and your interests, there are a few others to choose from.
Mauna Kea Summit Experience
I think the trek up Mauna Kea is fascinating. You start in this lovely temperate area either on the Kona or Hilo side and then climb through the arid parts of the island until you’re going through forests that seem out of place, and then what feels like the prairie until you’re at a place that feels like the moon. For the Hawaii Forest and Trail tour, they do it from the Kona Coast side and include, not just experiencing Mauna Kea and learning about the geology of the Big Island, but also do a stargazing night with it!
Imagine watching the night sky from atop the tallest peak far out in the middle of the ocean. Epic stars, and you get to do it with a guide. The hiking element of this tour is minimal since it’s mostly all about the stars and getting to go up Mauna Kea, but even just walking around at that elevation feels like a hike.
Book Mauna Kea with Stargazing here!
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and More
So many guests come to the Big Island of Hawaii and just check into a resort and never go exploring, but there is so much to do and see. A guided hiking tour that picks you up at your hotel and takes you into Hawaii Volcanoes National Park? That sounds awesome! Hawaii Forest and Trail does this and they even mix a bit of agritourism into it. A full day tour, you get to start with the mini-road trip to the National Park and do several short hikes in my favorite park.
After there you’ll head into Hilo to experience a cacao farm that makes their own chocolate (I love that part of the tour), and then you get to round out your trip with a bit more iconic sightseeing on the way back to the Kona Coast side. Guided hiking in Hawaii is usually much more than a singular jaunt on a trail and it’s always interesting.
Book this day trip and hiking here!
Guided Birdwatching Hike
I haven’t gotten to do this yet, but one of my friends did and she was gushing about it. For us, any sort of time in the forest, whether it’s guided hiking or on our own, always turns into a birding trip. Hawaii Forest and Trail does an all day birdwatching hike in the Hakalau Forest Reserve. Again, this is one of those guided hikes that goes onto private land with authorization, so there aren’t a bunch of other people around.
Sure, birdwatching might not be for everyone, but if you aren’t into it yet, give yourself the chance to take an interest. We all love when we get to see large wildlife, but one of the coolest things about getting into birds is that they are ALL AROUND you and once you start to take an interest, every time you step outside feels more special. Let this guided hiking tour teach you that!
Book this all-day birding hike adventure here!
Big Island Hikes on Your Own
Wow, there are so many wonderful hikes you can do on your own on the Big Island of Hawaii. Even though I’m a big supporter of guided hiking for the knowledge and access that it provides you, I think exploring on your own is also a great addition to time in Hawaii. I’ve picked six great hikes that you can do when you’re on the Big Island and that are open to anyone. Each is very different and lots of fun.
- Lower and Upper Jurassic Trails – this is on the Hualalai Volcano, but not on private land. There are a good number of hikers daily, but it’s worth it. And there are great birds here too.
- Hiking to the Captain Cook Monument – I love this part of the Kona Coast and Kealakekua Bay is one of my favorite snorkeling areas. This is a good hike with a great payoff at the end.
- Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Kahuku Unit – there are several wonderful hiking trails here that all connect. It’s a completely stunning area with the most vibrant colors of rocks and soil and the most lush vegetation.
- Papakolea Beach Trail – on the south shore between Kona and Hilo, this 2.5 mile hike along the coast goes to the beautiful Green Sand Beach. You could pay somebody to drive you here in a 4×4 truck or enjoy the hike, watching for whales as you go
- Pu’u Huluhulu Trail – this is on the Saddle Road and covers a bit of Mauna Loa’s lava flows as well and some of the forested area between Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea. Really unique!
- Haena Beach Trail – this is one of the more epic beach hikes on the Big Island, not far from Hilo but a world away. Hiking through the dense forest to one of the prettiest and most secluded beaches on the Big Island, this is a fun challenge.
I hope you’ll try to add a guided hike to your next Hawaii trip. They’ve been a great addition to each of our visits and I can’t wait to see where we get to explore next. If you have any questions about hiking on the Big Island or need help planning your time in Hawaii, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and make sure others get to enjoy travel as much as we do!
