$
110
/ Adult
Overall:
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Response rate:
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Response time:
2 hours 47 minutes

North Shore Hiking Adventure

Click Book it button to:
view live availability calendar
Island:
OAHU
Discounts Available:
Child Discount
Type:
Hike
Highlights:
  • Private Property- exclusive trails & roads
  • Hawaiian Guides- cultural Insight, authentic experience
  • Small Groups- safe, engaging, & enjoyable
Includes:
Access to private land
Bottled water
Dry Bag
Mosquito repellant
Professional Tour Guide
Rain gear
Hiking sticks & Sunblock
Description:
Huaka’I Nui ~ The Big Adventure

If lush tropical valleys and pristine mountain pools is your thing – you cannot miss this tour! High in the Koʻolau mountains is a valley of unparalleled beauty with an abundance of exquisite freshwater pools and the best mountain swimming on the island! Possibly the most delightful hike on O'ahu, this trail includes 10 stream crossings and an amazing array of tropical flowers and fruits. See wild tangerines, lilikoʻi (passion fruit), ʻohi'a ʻai (mountain apple), mango, hau (sea hibiscus), and much more! Enjoy the islands through Hawaiian eyes as your expert guide shares the history, language, and moʻolelo (stories) of Hawai'i and its fascinating environment. The "Nui" however, is all about the wai (water), so get your swimsuit on and strap up the hiking boots North Shore EcoTours is taking you on an adventure - Hawaiian style! 

Space is limited, so reserve yours today!

Tour Details:

Menu selections: Haleʻiwa chicken, ʻOpaeʻula shrimp, or Vegetarian tofu summer roll.

Pick-up site: North Shore Marketplace (66-250 Kamehameha Hwy.) in Haleʻiwa town on Oʻahu’s North Shore (See map). There is ample parking at the mall and public restrooms. Look for our off-road vehicle near the Aloha General Store. Please report to the Haleʻiwa pick-up site no later than 8:50am (10 minutes before tour start).

Tour includes: 4wd transportation to and from Haleʻiwa town, a knowledgeable guide, hiking sticks, mosquito repellent, sunblock, backpacks, dry bags, rain ponchos, water, lite-gourmet lunch.

What to wear/bring: covered shoes, long pants, swimwear, personal medication (if applicable), and a smile.

Optional items worth bringing: camera, towel, “slippahs” (flip-flops) or water shoes/reef walkers, snacks, light jacket, sunglasses, and hat.

Caution: Although this trail is safe, please remember that it is an actual mountain trail. As such, hikers can expect exposure to: rain, streams, sunshine, wind, and/or high humidity. Trail conditions include: slippery stream crossings, loose gravel, slick mud, and cliffy sections. This trail has an elevation gain of 200ft. thus all hikers must be able to traverse up and downhill sections. This trail is not suitable for the elderly or people with: hip and/or knee ailments; 
vertigo; or an extreme fear of heights. This trail has many stream crossings – YOU WILL GET WET – so be prepared for wet clothes/shoes and be mindful of personal electronics. As “hike ratings” are relevant to a hiker’s physical condition, please inquire first before booking if you or anyone in your party has any medical conditions that may affect his/her ability to safely negotiate a mountain trail. All guests are required to sign a waiver & release form prior to the start of their tour. Please note that hiking tours require an off-road ride to the trailhead. During rain and/or muddy conditions riders can get dirty – please DON'T wear your favorite aloha shirt!
 
Special Feature:
INCLUDES LUNCH
Some Places Visited
Rates
Name
Per
Price
Comment
Huaka’I Nui ~ The Big AdventureAdult
$
110
Click the "book it" button to see other rates, live availability schedule, pickup times and/or check in locations (when applicable).
Frequently Asked Questions
Click on the red "Book It" button and you will see live availability. Keep in mind availability changes constantly, so make sure to book in advance!
Choose the tour you are interested in, click the red “Book It” button adjacent to the tour information, and complete the booking form.
While we can usually accommodate most last-minute bookings, we highly encourage those that are checking out our website far in advance to book 2-3 weeks prior to desired date. You never know if there's a convention, special event, or an increase in overall visitors in town, and it would be a shame if the activities that you want to do are sold out because you waited until the last minute. Basically, if you know you want to do it, just book it!
Most companies have a set of centrally located hotels that they do pick ups from. This makes the pickup process short so you can start the tour as soon as possible!
Gratuity is never required but if you enjoyed your experience, a tip is always greatly appreciated!
Since we operate on private property no other company can show you O’ahu (Oahu) nature like us. We guarantee all guests a secluded and truly unique experience. Private property also means controlled access which results in minimal environmental impact and therefore pristine natural landscapes. The bottom line is that no other company can provide what North Shore EcoTours can. Most companies visit places and trails that are already accessible to the public, such as Diamond Head or Manoa Falls, resulting in an experience that is available to everyone. It also means greater foot traffic, which translates to noise pollution and lots of trash. With North Shore EcoTours, you are guaranteed an experience that no one else can offer and a promise that your special tour belongs to you and only you. Our “guides” are not the typical tour guides found within the tourism industry. North Shore EcoTours features cultural practitioners, Native Hawaiians, and Hawaiian educators that present Hawaiian history and environment from a “Native perspective.” Our alakaʻi (guides) posses a wide range of talent, skill, and cultural understanding. Many hold advanced degrees in either Hawaiian studies or related disciplines. Others are cultural practitioners with expertise ranging from hula (dance) to lomilomi (massage) to lā’au lapa’au (medicinal herbs), and more. All guides are 100% local and collectively provide the highest quality and most authentic cultural information in the industry. This is as real as it gets! Many tour companies have guides that are well trained in history and “tourism facts.” Although highly knowledgeable, many are not Native Hawaiian or have no roots to O’ahu (Oahu) or any island. As a result, other companies cannot guarantee authentic cultural experiences. North Shore EcoTours proudly features Hawaiian guides for “Hawaiian tours.” Say Aloha to a beast of an off-road vehicle that makes other 4x4s look like child’s play – the world renown Pinzgauer ATV is arguably the best off-road vehicle ever produced. Ours come directly out of the Swiss Military arsenal so you know they are rugged and have proven themselves in some of the most treacherous mountain terrain around. These open aired “Hawaiian safari mobiles” will turn your North Shore visit into an exciting outdoor expedition! The Pinzgauer is in a class by itself and will guarantee all guests ultimate views and ultimate fun! Most companies utilize vans or mini busses that provide an enclosed air conditioned ride. That’s nice and all, but they can’t go where the Pinzgauer can. Furthermore, when traversing nature and the great outdoors, an open air all-terrain safari vehicle is really the only way to go! Intimate groups promote safety and learning, which means an overall richer experience for everyone. They help foster a wonderful learning environment where guests can hear the information and participate in discussions. Smaller groups are also more effectively managed and thus ensure a safer hiking experience. And let’s not forget that less feet means less environmental impact, ensuring pristine conditions for nature seekers today and generations to come. In this case, “less is definitely more.” Due to the size of many tour operations, other companies are unable to offer the same level of service, safety, quality of information, and environmental care. We do not claim to “know it all” we specialize in one geographic location and only one, Waiʻalua (North Shore), Oʻahu (Oahu). We therefore offer the most in-depth and highest quality information on the cultural traditions, history, and natural environment of the North Shore area. Many companies expand their tour operations to encompass the entire island. Visitors therefore receive a “LITTLE of everything” and most times never get a true sense of the places they visit. Since Oahu’s North Shore community, culture, history, and environment is our main focus, with North Shore EcoTours, you get insight into a special place that canʻt be found anywhere else.
A: Small groups ensure safer hiking experiences. Each guide is CPR and first aid certified. They are also equipped with a first aid kit and both a cell phone and handheld CB for communication purposes.
A: Rain ensures that plants live, streams flow, and off-road mud bogging can occur. :) Our tours go out rain or shine; rain ponchos are provided. * North Shore EcoTours reserves the right to cancel tours in the rare event of adverse weather resulting in unsafe hiking conditions. We assess weather daily and will only make these types of decisions on a day to day basis.
Covered shoes are a must on all hikes and are highly recommended on off-road tours as well. Guests that participate on either the Huakaʻi Iki and Huakaʻi Nui hikes will get wet and should bring water shoes or rubber sandals (for stream crossings), a towel, and extra clothes. Snacks for the kids are good. Personal medication if any, is a must. A camera…charged and ready to go.
The parking location is in the North Shore Marketplace parking lot. It is Hale’iwa’s largest mall and is located on the main road with high visibility and a roving security guard. * North Shore EcoTours and North Shore Marketplace are not responsible for any stolen items or damaged vehicles due to break-ins. Please do not leave any valuables in your car and keep bags and other items out of sight.
North Shore EcoTours offers lite, healthy, Asian summer rolls on all of our hiking adventures. These refreshing lunches feature locally grown produce and are a perfect accompaniment to any physical outdoor activity.
We do offer the same type of Asian summer rolls, as mentioned above, that are vegetarian with tofu.
There are lots of trees. :) In other words, do your business at the North Shore Marketplace pick-up site prior to tour departure.
Safety is our main concern. Despite taking every precaution to provide a safe hiking environment, we require signed waivers for a couple of reasons. First, so the guest is aware of the inherent risk involved in typical outdoor activities. Second, to serve as a precaution to protect ourselves. These waivers are similar to ones required from every eco-tour operation on O’ahu (Oahu).
Payment & Cancellation
Cancellation Policy: Standard Policy
  • Cancellations made 2 days before Date & Time will be fully refunded.
  • Cancellations made at a later date will not be refunded.
Terms & Conditions
  • See booking page for exact terms, conditions, & cancellation policy details
Reviews
8 reviews, 0 comments
Overall:
Was the tour accurately described on the webiste? In other words did it meet your expectations?
(5.0 of 5)
Went on a tour today.....IT WAS AWESOME!!
Overall:
Our guide was very knowledgeable of the area and it's history. Went four wheeling and a light hike to a beautiful swimming pond. Awesome views and tons of native and indigenous plants and trees. A must for all. Will definitely be back.
Reply
0
1
Great, Authentic Hike with Keola!
Overall:
This tour and Keola was awesome! Not only did we all have a fabulous time being in the jungle, amongst all of the koa, waiawi (delicious strawberry guava) and ʻiliahi (sandalwood) [I think, my memory is really bad, lol], but it also felt like one of the most culturally authentic experiences I've had to date! Keola really knows his stuff, from the chant he does in the beginning, to all of the fascinating ... moretidbits he brings up along the way. It is also absolutely wonderful that the hike is on private land so we didn't see a single soul on the trail. In comparison to the business of town and most other trails out there, the serene stillness of these trails are truly a breath of fresh air. The hike itself was good, not too easy but definitely not overly difficult (though I am kind of an avid hiker). However, it did pour on us, so be prepared for a little bit of muddy terrain and water along the way. Though it rained, it was a hot day so it did wonders to cool us off along the trail. At the very end of it, Keoki (the chef) had prepared us a nice little lunch of different light items he put together, including delicious pineapple, yummy sandwhiches, and all of the chips you could dream of. Thanks so much guys, it was definitely a blast!
Reply
1
1
Overall:
Mahalo for the awesome day! And the education!!!
Reply
0
1
My birthday hike was everything we hoped for and more!
Overall:
The beauty of the valley was highlighted by rainbow and sunshine and Noah proved to be an excellent guide and expert teacher on Hawaii flora and fauna. We learned so much about endemic and invasive species as well as cultural and medicinal uses of different plants. Truly one of the best experiences ever!
Reply
0
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North Shore (Waialua) Tour with Keola
Overall:
This tour was fabulous! We enjoyed a scenic (and sometimes scary) hike through the Waialua mountainside. We trekked through lots of strawberry guava trees, saw ohi'a lehua, koa, and even iliahi (sandalwood) trees! Be prepared to get wet because we crossed over streams and even had the opportunity to swim at the end of the trail. Keola provided a thorough overview of the history of the area and the ... moreadverse impact of one crop (sugar cane) farming. He answered all the questions posed, and did a wonderful job meeting the needs of everyone on the tour.
Reply
0
1
Hiking with Keole
Overall:
I signed up for the Big Adventure hike with North Shore EcoTours, and it was awesome! Keole is an incredible guide, not only of the local plants but also of Hawaii's history and just a fun guy to talk to. The hike was strenuous and beautiful- definitely what I was looking for- a real get away from Waikiki. We ate fresh guava, mountain apple, and red strawberry guava, and were treated to incredible ... moreviews of Oahu's mountains & valleys. 
The best part though was chatting and learning about Hawaii's history, the story with statehood, the culture, its present day relationship to America, Native rights- definitely subjects you don't normally cover on a tour! Plus, the company is Hawaiian owned so your dollars are staying on the islands.
Overall, I recommend touring with North Shore EcoTours whole-heartedly!
Reply
0
1
Great hike in Hawaiian rainforest + lots of history and nature.
Overall:
We went on the 5-hour Big Adventure tour. Trust them when they say this hike is challenging. The stream crossings can be quite strenuous. But the views were beautiful beyond imagination. The tour guide Keola has a graduate degree in Hawaiian Studies and gave us a ton of information about this land's history, people and nature. Overall, we had a great experience.
Reply
0
1
Great hike and informative staff
Overall:
Signed up to do their "big" hike, which is about 3 miles round trip along a stream south east of Haleiwa, sort of near the new wind mills. The tour company has an exclusive arrangement with the property owner, so we didn't see anyone else while hiking. Keola, the tour leader, also teaches Hawaiian studies at the university, so he was a wealth of information on the history of the area, and pointed ... moreout many of the tree and plant species during the hike. Although my timing was off and it wasn't prime season for fruiting trees, Keola managed to find one tangerine (mandarins for you fellow Californians) as well as a few guavas to snack on during the trip. Wear shoes with a good tread and plan on getting wet and muddy as you will be fording streams. The hike included lunch, which in my case were some tasty Vietnamese spring rolls with shrimp.
Reply
0
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