Hawaii Forest & Trail Ltd

Join us on this rugged off-road journey to a secret, cool and misty mountain world located high above the bustling tourist town of Kailua-Kona on beautiful Hualalai Volcano. This fun and exciting three and a half hour exploration begins at Hawaii Forest & Trail in our 6 x 6 Pinzgauer. Climb aboard with your companions and we'll head up the side of Hualalai, one of Hawaii's most fascinating natural volcanic areas. Our off-road Pinzgauers carry us from sea-level through a dense rainforest to a world of volcanic majesty at the 6,000 ft. elevation on the privately owned lands of Kaupulehu. Although in plain sight of Kailua-Kona, these seldom-visited uplands are seemingly geologic light-years away! Amidst distinctive native birdsongs, our rock-rambling tour will take you through a beautiful and surreal landscape of native dryland forest, lava flows and enormous, deep craters. Your Interpretive Guide will also lead you, on foot, on an exploration an impressive lava tube. In this quiet and refreshing sub-alpine climate, our interpretive guides will explain the awe-inspiring forces of volcanism and the historic eruptions that changed the landscape of the Kona Coast far below.

The drive to the summit of Mauna Kea is one you'll never forget. It's hard to believe you're in Hawaii as you climb to 13,796' elevation above sea level. Once at the summit we are afforded spectacular views of the horizon, Haleakala on Maui, Mauna Loa and Hualalai, and Mauna Kea's world-class array of telescopes. Mauna Kea is the world's tallest mountain, rising over 32,000 feet from the ocean floor to its summit, which is considered by many Hawaiians to be the most sacred place in all the islands. In your hooded parka you'll stand in awe at both nature's sublime creation and man's astonishing technological achievements. A half hour from HFT Headquarters to Kings' Shops. Kings' Shops to Parker Ranch dinner stop: 1 hour and 15 minutes. Dinner spot to summit: 45 minutes. As your make your way up, you'll be fascinated by your Naturalist Guide's interpretation of Hawaii's remarkable natural, cultural, and geologic history. After sunset we descend to the Visitor's Information Station at 9000' elevation. Here we set up our own telescope and have a star gazing party. Wrapped warm in Arctic parkas, enjoying hot beverages and chocolate macadamia nut cookies, you will marvel at the brilliance of the Hawaiian night sky. Your Interpretive Guide will share with you stories of the world of the observable universe, and offer you a personal and educational look at the heavens. Included in the Tour: Picnic style dinner (your choice of chicken, fish or vegetarian; served with wild rice medley and grilled vegetables), assorted teas, hot chocolate. Gear Provided: Hooded parkas and warm gloves. What to Bring & Wear: Closed toe shoes, long pants, a sweatshirt/sweater.

The excursion begins as we travel between two of the world?s largest mountains, Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa. The region between these volcanoes is locally known as the Saddle and is home to some of the rarest plants and animals in the world. After a brief stop for lunch at Mauna Kea State Park, we continue east towards Hilo. Before our final descent into the rainiest city in the US, we?ll stop to explore Kaumana Cave. This lava tube once carried molten rock from Mauna Loa?s upper rift zones down to the ocean, but now provides an excellent opportunity to test our trusty flashlights on a subterranean adventure. Leaving Mauna Loa behind, we make our final ascent to the summit of Kilauea inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Our Interpretive Guides will lead you through the must-see spots and hidden gems of this World Heritage Site and International Biosphere Preserve. As conditions change daily, we tailor your experience to the current eruptive events. The summit caldera, steam vents, cinder fields, and native rainforests are all on our ?must see? list. After exploring the natural wonders of this World Heritage site, we?ll check current conditions to see which eruptive site is most active. Our choices are Kalapana to witness the awesome power of lava as it enters the ocean at sunset, or Halemaumau Crater which contains a hidden lake of molten rock which glows after dark. Also included in the evening?s itinerary is a delicious sit-down dinner. This is an incredible way to experience the dynamic energy of Kilauea, the most active volcano in the world.