Big Island: Kohala Waterfalls Small Group Adventure

Went on this tour last week. Mark was our guide and Eugene was also in another van. They were wonderful. Mark was my driver and guide. He did so good with us telling us tons of great interesting info. Very awesome tour. Thank you.

It was amazing the sites were beautiful. The falls were great. Cool to jump in. The guide was so knowledgeable and friendly. Lunch provided was delicious.

Wonderful. Guide was very knowledgeable. Beautiful sights. Lunch on a cliff.

It was a long drive and well worth it. Our guide Taro was very knowledgeable, took photos for us, and had anything we could possibly need (bug spray, drinks, snacks, etc). We would highly recommend. It will be a trip we will always remember!

Me and my wife had an amazing time on this tour. Our guide, Jon, was extremely knowledgeable and very friendly. You can tell he really takes pride in his job and ensured everyone had the best experience possible. The waterfalls and views were stunning. The actually hiking between waterfalls / sites was brief but totally approximately 1 mile. The lunch provided was better than expected and very filling with a one of a kind view on a private cliffside picnic area.

Must-do family-friendly adventure! My son, niece and I thoroughly enjoyed hiking to see the various waterfalls and learning about Hawaii in general. Our guide, Dave, was very attentive and made sure we safely navigated the few spots on the hike that were slippery from the rain. I highly recommend this tour!!

This tour is Amazing! Gary is absolutely Awesome, knowledgeable and friendly. Everyone was so comfortable, yoi get to see beautiful waterfalls, take an easy hike, even swim in the falls, and have lunch atop a breathtaking view. A++ I would definitely recommend this tour if visiting the big island.

Wonderful walk through Hawaiian waterfalls, where we could swim and enjoy the natural beauty without any crowds. Our guide Dave was fantastic and smart. Lunch was served and was very good. Highly recommend!

This was a great tour. Loved Mark and Rachel, our guides. So adaptable and authentic. Highly recommend

Mark Frazier was our guide and he was amazing! So entertaining with lots of facts about Hawaii. He made sure everyone was comfortable and had what they needed. Definitely recommend the waterfall tour and swimming in it was the next part. 10/10!

Waterfalls hike was the highlight of our Big Island trip. The guides Mark and Rachel told us many interesting facts about the Big Island and the flora/fauna in our hike. We’ve swam in waterfalls on other islands, but this was special because we learned so much and had access to private uncrowded waterfalls that weren’t 6-10 miles to hike to.

We had a great time on the Hawaii Forest & Trail Secret Waterfalls of Kona Excursion! Our guide, Mark, was incredible--he kept everyone talking and he was genuinely interested in hearing everyone's travel stories. He was very knowledgeable and provided us with a wealth of fascinating information about the island. After a comfortable van ride, we hiked a beautiful trail that led us to a series of truly stunning, pristine waterfalls. We were treated to a delicious lunch from a local deli, and we loved that it was mostly served in eco-friendly, reusable containers. On the way back, we made a perfect final stop at a local macadamia nut store. It was a fantastic experience from start to finish, and we recommend it!

Dave gave us s great tour of the property and waterfalls! Each waterfall was better and better. We had plenty of time to swim around and the views from our picnic were stunning. Highly recommend this tour. Can’t leave Hawaii without doing this tour.

Our guide, Mark, is amazing! He is very energetic, engaging, knowledgeable and caring. We saw three waterfalls, learned a lot about preservation efforts and local agriculture in this private nature reserve and ended the tour with a well prepared picnic lunch with an amazing view of the sea cliffs!

Our guide was fabulous and it there was some beautiful scenery; however, there was very little activity overall, which we can only attribute to ourselves selecting this particular adventure in lieu of one with more distance and elevation. There were several children in our group and it was really ideal for kids and parents with kids. The guide was so well-tempered and knowledgeable - perfect for these types of tours.

It was a wonderful activity of viewing beautiful waterfalls and hiking to them along with a lot of information given by our guide, David.

Mark, our tour guide was absolutely amazing. He was such a joy to be with and we all enjoyed it extremely. Swimming in the waterfall and then the view where we ate lunch was worth the money.

I wasn't sure what to expect here but the description talks about 'adventure', which gave the impression of a pretty exciting day. The reality was a bit more mundane. The drive to the location was something - quite a ride off road - but in the van that picked us up from the hotel. On the short hike, I did appreciate the guide talking about native plants and pointing out strawberry guava that were ready to eat! The waterfall was pretty and most people did swim - refreshing as it was a sticky day! Another off road drive to a lunch spot with great views. Lunch was good. An ok day, but adventure seems a bit of an exaggeration.

Absolutely amazing and definitely worth the money! Matteo was our guide and he was terrific! My husband and I were with 4 other adults and 2 kids. He was very patient with everyone and offered to take photos throughout the day. The waterfall was obviously my favorite part and even better that our group had it to ourselves! Matteo did a great job presenting information and telling stories related to the history of the Big Island. Thank you!!

This was a great trip with a wonderful guide who knew a ton about the history of the island, the plants and animals we saw, and just made the day all around fun. A really good way to break up beach days. Hike wasn’t difficult, and so worth it. Highly recommend.

Debra was a great tour guide. She handled people of all ages and varied interests, remembering their names and personalizing the day. She adapted the pace for us old people, yet kept it fun for the kids. She was very knowledgeable and friendly. I felt safe and cared for. She stopped for planned bathroom breaks. Lunch was delicious and the view wonderful.

This was a great way to spend a day while on the Big Island! Although it was an early start, the van ride to the waterfall was fun and informative. Our guide, Aaron was excellent - not only did he encourage everyone to get to know each other, but he was a fount of information on everything Hawaiian: flora, fauna, folk lore, history, geography - everything! The company provides day packs for those who want one, rain jackets, snacks, drinks & lunch. The hike was on the easy side, probably less than 2 miles, relatively flat and broken up with stops for information about what we were hiking through. The waterfall was lovely for a fairly short stop - another group was waiting for us to get out and move on. Be forewarned - the water is brisk to say the least. Would highly recommend this activity for anyone who is mobile.

This was our first trip to Hawaii. My sister and I did the Kohala Waterfalls Adventure and had a great time! Our guide Debra was so nice, funny and knowledgeable. The hike was beautiful, and the waterfall was like nature’s own cold plunge (not really THAT cold but refreshing after the hike). It was wonderful to see the lush landscape in that part of the island. So different from the black and red lava rocks everywhere. Lunch with a view of beautiful cliffs and water was breathtaking. Got to taste some delicious passionfruit, too! Definitely recommend water shoes for the waterfall, and walking sticks for the hike. When we got home to CA we watched Chief of War on AppleTV and really enjoyed it. It all made so much more sense having seen those areas of the island and having gotten some history from Debra. Thanks for a great outing!!!

The walk was short and fairly easy with some areas that were a bit steep but short. The falls were shorter but still beautiful. Uncrowded swim holes at the bottom of the falls were refreshing. But above all, Dane was just amazing. The wealth of history that he shared, calm (mālie), and super friendly. Small group was also great. It was an amazing experience

Tour was amazing, and I would do again. Not only is it as described, the guide provided geographical waypoints and historical stories, which were amazing. TY!

Absolutely incredible experience and our tour guide, Taro, was very knowledgeable of the history of Hawai’i, which made the tour that much better!

Mark was awesome, very informative. Easy hiking. Great views. Nice waterfalls. Relaxed tour of a not often seen part of the island

Beautiful part of the Big Island we wouldn't have seen otherwise! Mark, the guide, was very knowledgeable about all the flora and fauna and safety focused. I would recommend having water shoes for the waterfall swimming just for comfort getting in and out of the swimming hole. The experience was a highlight of our trip and we plan to do the bird watching tour next time we come!

Matteo did a wonderful job showing us around the Kohala waterfalls! He knew the area extremely well and was able to answer every single question we had. Our tour was wonderful and we will definitely book again when we’re back on the island. The hike was just challenging enough for all of us- two adults, one teenager, and one nine year old. Lunch was also great with a delicious gluten-free salad for our son. Highly recommend!!!

Wonderful and fun experience! Gary was an amazing guide! He made the trip so enjoyable and shared a lot of interesting information and stories. Would highly recommend this tour!

Wonderful hike through a private forest. There were a couple cool waterfalls to see. You can swim in the pools below the waterfall if you choose to. We were told about the history of the area we hiked and also got to see an archeological site of taro ponds. After the the hike, we were taken to a very scenic, private spot overlooking the ocean to eat nice picnic lunch. Our guide, Matteo, was experienced, knowledgeable and friendly.

Great experience and leaning about island, history of the cities and founders. Love the water falls and be able to swim We were fortunate to have a great tour guy, I believe his name is Geary, very knowledgeable

Easy fun and beautiful. Provided lunch was a turkey sandwich hawing chips and a yummy cookie surprisingly fresh and good. The guide was knowledgeable in all areas of the big island and gave us so much information on vegetation and the birds as he heads up the bird tours. I have to say the waterfalls were spectacular and if connecting with Mother Nature is in your list of things to do this trip will not disappoint.

Beautiful views and a chance to swim in 2 of the 5 waterfalls. Our lunch overlooked an ocean cliff that was awesome. Debra, our guide was outstanding!

I really enjoyed the Kohala Waterfall Adventure tour with our tour guide Gary. The views were stunning, I learned a lot of information about Hawaiian history and the local flora and flaura. The location for lunch was a stunning view of overlooking the Pololu Valley and coastline. I highly recommend this tour.

My wife and I had a great time listening to some of the history of the big Island told to us by Maku, a really great down to earth guy that has been living on Hawaii for the past 15 years. We were driven from the Hawaii Forest and Trail head quarters all the way up to about 100 yards from the end of the road heading north as far as you can go. At that point we turned right onto a really steep uphill rugged dirt road and had to go thru two gates. We were in a large heavy duty 4 wheel drive Mercedes Van. When we got to a flat spot we stopped, parked, and got out, there were 4 other identical Vans already there. We hiked through the forest and ended up at 3 tiered pool area with several waterfalls cascading into each pool, super beautiful. We ended up swimming in the lowest pool with direct sun, an experience I recommend is worth doing, especially letting the waterfall cover your body. We had hoped and expected to swim in at least one other pool for a second grand experience, but we did not get a chance to, due to other groups in front of us and behind us, that was disappointing. We got moved along quicker than we thought we would, because, I believe, there were too many groups there at the same time. We also stopped and viewed the valley where King Kamehameha the 1st was secretly raised to protect him from being killed by the rulers at that time. I thought this tour was a bit expensive for what we got, but a great experience. I hope you get Maku as your guide he was great, and made you feel like you were on tour with your good old friend Maku. I think they should do a better job of spreading out and booking the tours in the future. This excursion did last for 7 hours as advertised. I recommend doing this tour for a great memorable adventure. Cheers, Jared and Peggy Wilson

Garry was the perfect guide. We enjoyed a comfortable shuttle to the trail site while Garry taught us about the island (history, geography, culture, etc.). The hike was beautiful and safe for our children (5-8 years old). The waterfalls were incredible and the entire family was comfortable in the water. Highly recommend this experience.

The Kohala Waterfall Adventure was a lot more than anticipated. What I thought would be a ride through the Kohala upcountry with a visit to a waterfall went above and beyond my expectations. Having done two other options that were fantastic I should have figured. Not only was Adam an enthusiastic guide, he was extremely knowledgeable and engaging. You learn about indigenous flora, the geology and history, and then have some fun cooking off underneath a sprawling waterfall. The lunch stop at a private overlook alone is worth it, as is a chance to ride through historic Hawi. Hats off to Hawaii Forest & Trail again. A hui ho!

Getting to see two waterfalls was a great experience! Our guide took us through the most difficult climb first, for which I was grateful. Since I am a bit unsteady on my feet, the assistance the guide offered was necessary and appreciated. The waterfalls are quite secluded, and the swimming area looked refreshing. Our picnic lunch was on a lovely bluff, with the ocean below--a stunning view!

Debra…is…amazing! The hike is super informative about Hawaii history and native land. The views are beautiful and one of a kind! The small group made it nice as a solo traveler to get to know the people around me. Everyone was super nice and helpful/encouraging to swim under the waterfall ti everyone in the group. Great experience! Would do it again

This tour was a great way to kick off our vacation! The area they take you to is stunning. The lunch site was out of this world and the food was delicious! Our guide, Adam, was the icing on the cake. A big island native, he obviously is passionate about the place, the history, and the culture. The things we learned made the day that much more memorable. Don't hesitate to book it!

Our guide Garry , led us to many beautiful vistas and described the history of these areas as well as some of the geological formations. We had a splendid, easy hike with a good group of friendly travelers. Multiple waterfalls were visited, and we were able to swim in the clear cool Kahala Falls. We were introduced to the local Fauna and wildlife. A nice picnic lunch was provided. We highly recommend this tour to anyone interested in getting to know the history and beauty of Hawaii

This was such an amazing and beautiful hike/experience. We had such a great guide- Dane! He was so knowledgeable and shared so much history and information about the plants, trees, and all the wildlife of the surrounding areas. The waterfall stops were incredible and we loved swimming in the refreshing water!! Dane even joined us in the water and made it so much fun. The gorgeous views during our lunch at the end were breathtaking. And the lunch was delicious!! Thanks, Dane for a fantastic and memorable experience for our group!! Highly recommend!!

So glad we booked this! Our guide Taro was organized, knowledgeable and the pace of the tour was perfect! The small format was really good, the walk through the area was so beautiful, the waterfalls and especially the one we swam in were amazing. Tara took the time to take pictures for the guests while updating on the area, plants and birdlife. Lunch was excellent held on a bluff with picnic tables and a soaring view of the ocean. Walk I would classify as moderate, you have to be able to do some stairs.The guide was good in making sure the pace was good for everyone! 5/5 all the way!

What an amazing experience! Gary was an excellent guide. The views were gorgeous - we will always remember this visit to the waterfalls in Kona! We learned so much about the history of the island too. Thanks!

Very educational. Our guide Gary was very passionate about the area. Super cold water but definitely worth it!

I didn't have a bad experience overall, but it is very expensive for what is offered. When you get to the waterfall it is very small in relation to the photos shown. The guide was very friendly. The comfort they offer is not good.

Please stick to the rivers and the guides that you’re used to. Specifically speaking, Taro. Taro was our guide from start to finish. It was a good hike. We stopped by a total of 4 waterfalls. Some were visible by bridge and background while the other ones were accessible via hiking. You travel and traverse through the gorgeous, green foliage until you reach your waterfalls. Here you will be allowed to swim for a few minutes and take in nature and the beautiful scenery. After you finish acknowledging and absorbing the gorgeous Hawaiian scenery, you reach the top of a picturesque cliff where you have lunch. Lunch options were chosen in advance. KNOW BEFORE YOU GO! I don't recommend this hike for the elderly or people that have mobility issues. There are some steep earthen steps that you have to climb up and down in order to traverse to your destination on this tour. It is a HIKING TOUR, after all. Also remember to bring mosquito repellent and sunblock. Taro had some (Ben mosquito repellant) but some people might have skin allergies or just want to bring their own brand. Enjoy this tour while listening to that old TLC classic. Highly recommended and highly appropriate!

One of the best tours I’ve been on. It was made even more special by the knowledge and passion for the land and Hawaii history shared by our guide Mel and her sidekick Will.