Hawaii Forest & Trail – Hakalau Forest Reserve Exclusive Kona

Hakalau means "many perches," a fitting name for a sanctuary that shelters some of the planet's rarest forest birds. Once a cattle ranch, it became the first National Wildlife Refuge in the United States created specifically for forest bird conservation. The area is closed to the general public, but Hawaii Forest & Trail holds special permits to enter the Pua Akala tract, where thousand-year-old ohia trees, towering koa and rare lobeliads frame each trail.

Your day begins at Hawaii Forest & Trail headquarters, then heads north on Mamalahoa Highway toward Waimea and Saddle Road. While driving, keep watch for game birds and the Hawaiian short-eared owl, the pueo. After a continental breakfast you'll leave paved roads behind, traveling 11 miles on Keanakolu Road to reach the refuge. The two-and-a-half-hour drive each way is filled with changing scenery and stories about Hawaii's natural and cultural history.

The hike covers roughly 2 to 4 miles over four hours, with about 650 feet of elevation change. Distances are short, but the rewards are huge: exclusive access to a critical bird habitat and a chance to spot species found nowhere else on Earth.

Tour Highlights

• Guided entry into a restricted-access National Wildlife Refuge
• Birdwatching in Hakalau Forest, home to some of Hawaii's rarest plants and animals
• Special permit to access the Pua Akala tract included
• Interpretive guides who are expert bird trackers

Tour Inclusions

• Breakfast snack
• Deli-style lunch (choice of turkey, ham, pastrami or veggie sandwich, or salad)
• Assorted beverages
• Walking sticks, binoculars, day packs and rain ponchos