Big Island Birding Adventures

Rainforest & Dry Forest Birding Adventure

Price: $179.00 per participant; minimum age 8

A supreme study in contrast, the Rainforest and Dryforest Adventure takes you to two very different environments. At Puu Laau, you will roam the sub-alpine dryland forest on the west side of Mauna Kea, home of the endangered palila and the bryani sub-species of elepaio. Our other locale is the Puu Oo Trail, in a cloudforest habitat on the northeastern slope of Mauna Loa. There you will look for the endangered akiapolaau, omao (Hawaiian thrush), iiwi, apapane, and other endemics.

On the drive to our two primary locales, you will head north along the coastline before starting the climb to the old Mamalahoa Highway, keeping an eye out for open-country birds. From there the tour will connect to the Saddle Road and begin car-birding, primarily for game birds as well as for the Pueo, or short-eared owl. Depending on the weather, the tour will stop for a bit of breakfast along the Saddle Road, often at Mauna Kea State Park at Pohakuloa.

Schedule: Morning trips departing weekdays only from Hawaii Forest & Trail Headquarters, Waikoloa Kings' Shops, and the Junction of Highways 190 and 200. 11 hours round trip.

Rated: Easy to Moderate; ages 8 and over.

Included in the Tour: Continental breakfast including fresh local fruit, baked goods, 100% Kona coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Deli-style lunch, with assorted soft drinks, juices and bottled water.

Gear Provided: Walking sticks, binoculars, day packs, warm wear and rain ponchos.

Group Size: Tour limited to a maximum of 10 guests.

Restrictions: Guests should be able to hike on uneven or rocky terrain. We sometimes encounter cool, wet or muddy conditions. Other tour restrictions may apply.

What to Bring & Wear: Sturdy closed-toed shoes or boots, long pants, and a light rain jacket.

HFT / V 

Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge Adventure

Price: $179.00 per participant; minimum age 8

This is a great complement to the Rainforest and Dryforest tour. It's a special tour that - under the conditions of the tour operator's permit - they are only able to offer a limited number of times annually. (Hakalau National Wildlife Refuge is not open for use by the general public). Named by Hawaiians long ago, hakalau means "many perches" and is still considered critical bird habitat today. Once part of large cattle ranch, it was the first National Wildlife Refuge established in the United States for forest birds. It is home to some of the rarest plants and animal species on earth.

Schedule: Morning trips departing weekdays only from Hawaii Forest & Trail Headquarters, Waikoloa Kings' Shops, and the Junction of Highways 190 and 200. 11-12 hours round trip.

Rated: Easy to Moderate; ages 8 and over.

Included in the Tour: Continental breakfast including fresh local fruit, baked goods, 100% Kona coffee, tea and hot chocolate. Deli-style lunch, with assorted soft drinks, juices and bottled water.

Gear Provided: Walking sticks, binoculars, day packs, warm wear and rain ponchos.

Group Size: Tour limited to a maximum of 10 guests.

Restrictions: Guests should be able to hike on uneven or rocky terrain. We sometimes encounter cool, wet or muddy conditions. Other tour restrictions may apply.

What to Bring & Wear: Sturdy closed-toed shoes or boots, long pants, and a light rain jacket.

HFT / V

CRUISE SHIP PASSENGERS

The birding tours are not available for cruise ship passengers due to their length.

Big Island Birding Reservations

Upon submitting your activity reservation for processing, one copy is sent to your e-mail address so that you have a record of your order. We will make reservations for you and send an e-mail confirming all of the details. These confirmations are often sent a few minutes after your reservation, but some activities take longer to confirm than others. You will receive an e-mail confirmation by the end of the next business day at the latest. There are no tickets that you need to pick up prior to your event. Your e-mail confirmation will have all the details you need to check in and enjoy your selected activity. This saves you precious time when you arrive in Hawaii. 

A credit card is required to guarantee payment for your reservations, but in most cases WE DO NOT charge your credit card when your order is placed. Your credit card is typically charged five days before you leave for Hawaii, and a voucher is faxed to the vendor. Some activities are charged at the time of check-in and your e-mail confirmation will inform you if this is the case. If you cancel your activity after your credit card has been charged you will receive a refund less 10% to cover our credit card processing costs.

We do have one vendor that requires payment at the time that your reservation is made. These activities are clearly marked on our website with the words, "Payment required at the time of reservation."

After making reservations, you may reschedule or cancel your activity up until 48 hours prior to its start (a few activities have 72 hour cancellation policies ... see your confirmation e-mail for details). Within 48 hours of the start of your activity all reservations are final and non-refundable (unless the event is cancelled by the vendor due to weather or other factors). Due to our incredible climate here, weather cancellations are rare.  No-shows and cancellations without adequate notice are charged in full on the credit card used to secure the reservation and are non-refundable.