The Amazing Big Island Hiking Experience You Must Try and Why You'll Love It

A guided hike has long felt like an extravagance and not a necessity to enjoy nature. The best part about hiking is the simplicity. Put on a pair of shoes, find a trail, and you’re a hiker.

Boy were we wrong.

During a visit to the Big Island of Hawai’i, a mecca for any hiker, not only did our definition of hiker change, but also our view of a guided hiking experience. We realized how much we’ve been missing all the times we’ve set out on our own. We were hosted by Hawai’i Forest & Trail and the experience changed how we’ve viewed every hike since. Here’s why we loved it and why you’ll be hooked if you try it, too.

Perfect activity for all ages and abilities

Your guided hike experience starts before you even get on a plane or in the car. Hawai’i Forest & Trail wants to make sure you are well equipped for your experience. Everyone at Hawai’i Forest & Trail was readily available and patient to answer all of our questions ahead of our trip. We chose the Kohala Waterfalls Adventure, which, like all of their experiences, includes a packed lunch, which you also choose from a variety of options. While hiking, they go at your pace and make sure you’re hydrated along the way.

They pick you up and drop you off

Hawai’i Forest & Trail offers pickup at various resorts on the Big Island. We were staying at a nearby Airbnb and met our group at 6 a.m. at their offices in Kailua-Kona. Our guides met us outside the office and off we went. During the drive to pickup two groups along the way, our guide narrated notable facts about the Big Island as we watched the sunrise bathe over the landscape. Prior to hitting the road, he asked how much we were each familiar with the island to make sure he tailored his narration. The drive itself was about 2 hours from our origin and it was extremely comfortable and pleasant. We rode in a luxury air-conditioned 4-wheel drive van equipped with leather seats and plenty of separation from other guests (we were hosted in the midst of COVID-19 restrictions). We parked our van at the trailhead in North Kohala and it was there when we emerged—a few hours later.

You don’t have to worry about gear

At the trailhead, our guides fitted anyone interested with water and towels for the dip at the waterfall pools. Hawai’i Forest & Trail did communicate with us before the hike and helped us understand the basics of what to wear, but our guides were also prepared for any lack of preparation on our part.

You avoid the crowds

The Big Island is filled with gorgeous, Instagram-worthy spots that attract hundreds of folks hoping to check picturesque waterfalls and other notable hikes off their list. While our hike lasted a total of 2 hours, we didn’t see a single person on the trail. Our experience provided access to the private Kohala waterfalls, which are inaccessible by the public. We were completely immersed in these stunning waterfalls, tranquil streams, and rugged valleys. To say this was the most peaceful hike we’ve ever experienced is an understatement.

You’ll see more of the terrain

Remember the early morning drop-off? A guided hike allows you to see more of the Big Island by dropping you off at the start of a trailhead. Our hike was a few miles straight through with some uneven rocky terrain. The entire experience was through shaded and cool areas, and we stopped a few times to learn about the terrain and landscape from our guides. We also stopped at a number of waterfalls for pictures and for anyone who wanted to take dip, including a longer swim at the main attraction: the towering Kohala waterfalls which had multiple streams. We would have never attempted the entire trail if we had to turn around and do it all again when we got to the end. By taking care of the pick-up and drop-off, they allow you to see and experience more of the beauty. It maximized the memories we made and the time we spent together as an editorial family.

They change how you view nature

You will never view what you see on a hike the same again. Our guide pointed out animals on the trail and described their roles within their natural ecosystem. He had us taste edible fauna, including sweet strawberry guava that isn’t found at any local markets! He showed us a 1,000-year-old tree, which we would have walked right by had we been on our own. When we wanted a closer picture of the tree, our guide made sure we didn’t step on anything we could have damaged to view it. As we learned, where you step can change that environment for years to come. He also identified the beautiful natural formations and shared their many names, and then posed the interesting question: Should we name them, why or why not? The significance of these experiences greatly affected all of us. Every hike since, no matter where we are, we know we are missing things that someone who knows and loves the area would be able to tell us.

They respect nature and have knowledge to spare

Not only did our guide identify important sites along the way, he talked a lot about survival. We were captivated! He taught us the proper way to cross a riverbed. He identified the plant you can use to brush your teeth and another you can draw water from. Each guide has a unique area of expertise from geology and archeology to botany, ornithology, and more, so no two guided hikes will ever be the same.

They pack a great lunch and bring plenty of water

They’ll ask what you prefer for lunch, pack it, and then find the perfect spot to enjoy it. And boy did they find the perfect lunch spot overlooking Kohala Valley and a black sand beach! We were already sure we didn’t want to hike without a guide ever again before this part of the experience, but this put it over the top. While eating lunch at the perfect place to enjoy, he made sure we left no trace and kept everything as we found it.

They answer all of your questions

Our guide expertly and thoughtfully answered each and every single one, some multiple times. You also realize you’re learning so much more because of the barrage of questions as well.

You don’t have to worry about getting lost

We did try to hike on our own on the Big Island during our stay. At the first opportunity, we took a wrong turn, didn’t realize it for about a half-mile and turned around to get back on track. It was then we realized this wasn’t something we had to worry about during our guided hike with Hawai’i Forest & Trail. We were able to just walk and enjoy our surroundings. In hindsight, even though it was only a few-miles-long, it was so much more relaxing than any other hike we had done before or since.

You’ll have photos to last a lifetime

Getting a photo of your entire group on vacation is a special treat in itself and your guide will be ready and willing, of course.

Trust me, you’ll want to remember this experience forever, and having a photo of everyone together to look back on years down the road and isn’t a selfie — we promise you’ll miss it that much — is another perk.

They love the land

One of the most popular experiences on the Big Island is to a visit to Maunakea, the highest point in the state of Hawai’i and the second highest peak of an island on Earth. Hawai’i Forest & Trail’s Maunakea Summit & Stars Giveback tour combines their popular Maunakea Summit & Stars experience with an added volunteer opportunity to benefit the Waikoloa Dry Forest Initiative! Your journey from sea level, through an endangered dry forest, and to the nearly 14,000-foot summit of Maunakea reveals the wonders and world-class clarity of the Hawaiian night sky. You’ll participate in conservation work such as seed collection, while learning about The Waikoloa Dryforest Initiative and how they are revitalizing a Hawaiian critical habitat. $20.00 of the ticket price from each guest is donated directly to the Waikoloa Dryforest Initiative to perpetuate their conservation work. Just when you thought you couldn’t love them any more!

While this experience isn’t inexpensive, the value is there. This is one of our editorial family’s favorite vacation experience, ever, and we feel like we’ve done some pretty cool things. It wasn’t just one thing, it was everything that combined to make it an absolutely perfect day. It’s something we can’t wait to do again.