Hualālai volcano is ‘Wahi Pana’ - a very sacred place.
Her summit and upper slopes have long been off-limits to all but a few. At over 8,000 ft. tall, she stands watch over the town of Kailua-Kona, beautiful, proud, and mysterious. Legend says that she is named after the wife of the great Polynesian navigator Hawai’i Loa. A bewitching wahine, Hawaiʻi Loa hid Hualālai on top of the mountain to keep her safe when he ventured out to sea.
High above the clouds, Hualālai’s volcanic landscape is a rainbow of spectacular colors. Over 200 massive craters cascade down her flanks from her summit - Hainoa. As recently as 1801, this sleeping giantess erupted, sending fireballs the size of pickup trucks flying to the aquamarine waters of the Kona coast.
Life and death, beauty and destruction thrive side by side on Hualālai. Many endemic plant and bird species seek sanctuary on her slopes. From the elegant ʻŌhia with its vibrant red lehua blossoms, the elusive ʻIʻiwi bird, to the towering Koa tree, prized by King Kamehameha for canoe making - Hawai’i's rarest flora and fauna call Hualālai home.
Hualālai Crater Experience
$200 | Person
Private 5-Hour Guided Tour
Hear the moʻolelo (stories) of Hualālai and come face to face with her power and beauty on this private guided tour.
The Hualālai Crater Experience begins at 4,800 ft. elevation, with a your native guide who ensures both natural and cultural protocol before you enter this Wahi Pana (Sacred Place). Next, you’ll climb aboard our Polaris Ranger 4x4 vehicle and head up the mountain. As you ride along, you’ll travel through old growth Koa and ʻŌhia forests and be surrounded by a chorus of native bird songs from the ʻApapane, ʻĀkepa, ‘I’iwi, and ‘Amakihi to name a few of these endempic beauties.
After a stop at the Duarte family cabin (est. 1950) at 6,000 ft., you’ll continue upwards toward the summit. The tour culminates with a breathtaking 2 mile hike around the summit craters at just under 8,000 ft. See, feel, and listen to this otherworldly volcanic landscape as you walk to the crater’s edge. Peering over the side, you will find nature’s palette - violet, vermillion, rose, red - colors that come from the earth’s center itself. Now look up and drink in the sweeping views of Mauna Kea, the Kohala Mountains, and the Kona Coast. Walking this land is truly a spiritual experience.
Here in Hawaiʻi, it is tradition to bring a gift when you visit someone’s home as a sign of respect and Aloha. Visiting Hualālai is no different. But what can you give a mountain, you ask? A tree. A tree makes a lovely gift for a mountain. The last stop on your tour is to plant a keiki (baby) Koa tree. We propagate seeds and with your help with are helping to grow the native forest here. Mahalo for giving back!
About Your Guide, Kimo Duarte
Since he was a young boy, Hualālai volcano has been at the center of Kimo Duarte’s life. His family, beginning with his grandfather Tommy Duarte, served as stewards of the mountain since the 1950s. Growing up, Kimo would accompany his father and grandfather on the summit where he learned the landscape and legends of this special place by heart. Today, he continues to pass on the moʻolelo (stories) of Hualālai to his three children and all who are lucky enough to accompany him up on the mauna.
Tour Details
Private 5-Hour Guided Tour
$200 per person
7 am to 12 pm
2 person minimum, 5 person maximum
Polaris 4x4 vehicle
Stop at Duarte family 1950s cabin
2 mile hike around the summit craters
Water and juice provided feel free to bring snacks of your choice
Plant a Koa tree help with the reforestation of Hualālai
Meet at Kaloko Gate Access Road (top of Kaloko Rd) above Kailua-Kona.
Come Prepared
Weather on top of Hualālai can be highly changeable. Dress in layers and bring sun protection - sunscreen, hat, and sunglasses. Comfortable hiking/walking sneakers or boots are recommended. There is cell service on the mountain.
4x4 vehicle is sanitized before and after each group.
Sanitizing spray for footwear but pre-cleaning is appreciated.
Maximum 5 people on each tour, private groups encouraged.
Tour proceeds support our youth program, mahalo!
“This was truly a highlight of our trip to the Big Island. It is the exact opposite of a huge tour company type excursion. Just four of us - my wife, two boys age 6 and 10, myself and Kimo. Kimo is an amazing host and shares great stories of the area. The UTV ride gets you up the mountain to begin your hike. The hike is just long enough to get a feel for the area and to view some spectacular craters, but not too long (or too strenuous) to exhaust the little guys. It was also fun to plant a Koa tree on the property to help restore native species on the volcano. ”
“If you want to experience true Hawaiian culture, this is the experience for you. High up in the clouds, you can experience Hualālai and its natural landscape. During the drive/climb up the mountain, Kimo would stop and talk to us about different trees and their cultural significance to Hawai’i.”