Hawaiian Ecotours – Something for Everyone
Koa trees, unique to Hawaii, rise majestically above the rainforest floor, providing coveted shelter for precious, endangered species. Intermittent showers occasionally drift through the foliage, forming pockets of sustenance – as well as welcome relief from enveloping humidity that seemingly permeates the air. Exploring a Hawaiian rainforest can be a sensory experience that transcends the mind and body with a profound spiritual connection – what Hawaiians call “mana.”
This is only one of many ecotour activities available to event/meeting/incentive professionals planning to bring groups to Hawaii. Planning professionals can choose from a variety of ecotour activities that can be calibrated according to individual skill levels.
The island of Kauai
“There are potential factors to consider for planners,” says Mike Hopkins, owner of Aloha Kauai Tours. “There are some things that we do, especially on the ocean or in the rainforest, that depend on the weather. Other than that, I recommend planning early, especially during the convention and cruise ship periods.”
The company offers snorkeling, mountain biking and hikes into the rainforest, among other activities. One of the most popular tours is Kauai Adventure Trek, a mountain biking tour. Hopkins has access to a 22,000-acre former sugar plantation. Today, most of the land is in diversified agriculture.
“There’s a tunnel that goes through the mountains, so people can get to and from the mill without having to go around the mountains,” Hopkins says. “We take people to the mill, for a look at Hawaii’s history and culture. From there, we bike to the coastline and it’s rugged and beautiful, with native Hawaiian plants. From there we do a nature walk and a picnic.”
The Big Island of Hawaii
“We’re a small company, so our capacity is limited during the off-seasons,” says Rod Inaba, president of Flum’in Da Ditch. “The off-seasons are February, the beginning of March, May, September, October, the beginning of November, and the beginning of December. We do two trips per day. We can accommodate small to medium size groups.”
The company has taken approximately 110,000 to 115,000 people on various tours. Inaba’s kayaks can accommodate five passengers. Children can ride without paddling. His guides take people to a popular ditch. The trip on the water in the ditch is about 1 and a half hours.
“It’s not a whitewater activity,” Inaba says. “People travel in the ditch at about three to five miles per hour. It’s a Hawaiian historical, cultural and botanical journey. There’s about one mile of open ditch, about 1 and a half miles of tunnels, and a half mile of flumes. Kayakers will encounter a rainforest, ravines and waterfalls along the way. It’s a unique experience. Guests have said it’s the best thing they’ve done in Hawaii. We take about 22,000 people per year there.”
The island of Maui
“We provide a range of services,” says Ashlee Samis, director of operations for LATAtudes & ADAtudes, Maui Eco-ADVENTURES. “One of the most popular is our rainforest/waterfall hike. It’s a five-mile hike through a rainforest that meanders along a stream bed, crosses two suspension bridges, features a place to swim, and offers spectacular views of waterfalls from a distance. That’s probably the most popular tour for corporate groups.”
As a full service hiking company, groups have ranged from eight to 150 people. Samis notes that planners should plan ahead. As for unforeseen circumstances during the trip, rain gear, as well as alternate sites are available. The rainforest/waterfall hike doesn’t present any drastic change in elevation, and is rated as a moderate hike.
“Affordability depends on what a planner wants,” Samis says. “We show up at guests’ doors with hot coffee, fresh fruits, and such, so our rates are slightly higher. We have exclusive land access to several areas of Maui, such as the Maunalei Arboretum hike.”
According to Dave Campbell, president of Temptation Tours, one of the company’s most popular tours is the Hana Sky Trek. It’s a combination air/land tour of which Campbell deploys limo vans and helicopters.
Incentive groups have a relatively short period of time in Hawaii, because they have several functions planned. That’s the beauty of the Hana Sky Trek tour. Imagine a helicopter and a limo van going round trip, but with two separate tours. What is usually a 10-hour tour, is reduced to a six-hour tour. Campbell can transport more than 150 people per day on the tour. It’s the only tour of its kind in the state, according to Campbell.
One of the unique features of Temptation Tours is that clients visit a private, tropical exotic flower farm. At the end of the walk through the farm, female guests are presented with a fresh cut tropical bouquet they can take back to the Mainland.
Campbell cautions that planners should be aware of attendees’ skill levels. For example, some attendees can’t participate in higher impact activities. Temptation Tours can calibrate activities accordingly. Campbell’s primary goals are customer safety, security, service and satisfaction. “Incentive groups want a complete level of confidence and assurance, that there are no hidden costs,” Campbell says.
A group of 120 guests was recently taken on the Hana Sky Trek. They saw the road to Hana (a national historic landmark), a native Hawaiian rainforest, native Hawaiian settlements, waterfalls, Haleakala, the Seven Sacred Pools, Paia town, and Hookipa, the windsurfing capital of the world, among other places.
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