Activity Tips
Kevin Ditamore – Owner / Manager
I am often asked, “Why go on a hiking tour? Can’t I just go and experience the same thing on my own?”
The answer to that question is a definitive “no”. You could walk down the same trail on your own and your experience would be completely different. The presence of a knowledgeable local guide who loves the “aina” (land) can make all the difference in your understanding and appreciation of everything that you see and do. You’ll learn about plants that have multiple uses (medicinal and practical) that you never imagined. You’ll taste delicious local fruits and be warned off of poisonous ones. You’ll learn about the history, geology and Hawaiian folklore of the area that offers insight you wouldn’t get going there alone. Hike Maui, the company that organizes these tours, likes to refer to their guides as “the secret ingredient for your experience”.
A guide also knows exactly where these special places are – so your day in the magical rainforest or volcanic landscape is maximized. No hunting for that elusive waterfall … you’ll go straight there and have more time to frolic in the tropic pools. A guide who knows the “aina” will help keep you safe and provide support if you need it. Would you like to jump off a cliff into a waterfall pool below? Doesn’t it sound like a good idea to have a guide who can tell you where it is safe to jump and where there a rocks hiding below the surface?
The Haleakala Crater Hike is in a category all its own. While most people think of Maui hiking centered around waterfalls, this hike is centered around a volcanic landscape that is often compared to that of the moon (or Mars). As a matter of fact, Haleakala was the backdrop for one of the final Mars scenes in the movie “Total Recall.” One thing to keep in mind for this tour … due to its elevation the air is much cooler. You are going to want to dress in layers for this one, keeping in mind that the air temperature can vary widely on this tour and daytime temperatures at 10,000 feet are often in the high 40′s to low 50′s. Yes, once every three or four years the summit of Haleakala even gets a light dusting of snow. Don’t believe me? Check out this snowy photo of Haleakala I took from my driveway in Upper Kula. This photo actually made the front page of a Honolulu newspaper and made the rounds in the national news!
If you are really into hiking, you might consider doing two of these tours … either the Hana Waterfall Hike or the East Maui Waterfall Hike on one day paired with the Haleakala Crater Hike on another. If you want to do a quick one, check out the Short Waterfall Walk.
A word about gratuities … it is traditional for guides in such a service industry to rely on gratuities for a significant portion of their income. This time-honored tradition promotes excellence in service and you might want to bring along cash in case you want to express your appreciation to your guide in this way. Please note that for larger parties of 7-10 people this tour operator asks us to include a $200 gratuity for guides in our billing for your tour.
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