Hawaii Forest & Trail

Our Review: Hawaii Forest & Trail

Hawaii Forest & Trail is the Big Island's premier land-based tour operator, and they've earned that position by going places most visitors can't access on their own. With 9 tours and an average quality score of 79.1/100, this is a focused catalog — every tour involves hiking, nature, or cultural history, and the guides know their stuff cold.

Two tours tie for the top spot at 88/100: the Volcano, Chocolate & Waterfalls full-day excursion and the Kohala Waterfalls Adventure. The volcano tour combines Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park with stops at a chocolate farm and waterfall — it's a packed itinerary that covers the island's geological and agricultural sides in a single day. The Kohala waterfall hike takes you into private land on the northern tip of the island that you literally cannot visit without this operator.

The Maunakea Summit & Stars Adventure (85/100) is the other marquee product. Driving to the summit of Maunakea at nearly 14,000 feet for sunset and stargazing is a bucket-list experience, and Hawaii Forest & Trail handles the altitude logistics, warm clothing, and telescope setup so you don't have to.

Private "Ohana Outing" versions of their tours score slightly lower (83-87/100) but offer the same routes with a dedicated guide for your group. The Hidden Craters Hike (80/100) and Hakalau Forest Reserve Birdwatching Exclusive (70/100) round out the catalog with niche experiences that appeal to hikers and birders respectively.

Who This Operator Is Best For

Nature lovers and hikers who want to see the Big Island beyond the beach. Hawaii Forest & Trail is the operator for travelers who care about volcanic landscapes, native forests, and waterfalls more than snorkeling or boat rides. If you want to summit Maunakea or hike to waterfalls on private land in Kohala, this is your only real option.