Hike Honolua Ridgeline

We had great time with our guide Jason on the private Honolua Ridgeline hike. The location is very special - restricted access forest hike on the top of the west Maui mountain ridge above the former Kapalua plantation. We hiked through the arboretum founded by D.T.Fleming, and got a detailed insight into the various native plants and trees and their connection to Hawaii culture and mythology. We learned about the challenges the local ecosystems face from invasive species and how they shape the ability to retain water in the landscape. On the turning point of the ridge hike, you get a wonderful view of the West Maui coast. Jason was professional, knowledgeable and very engaging with just the right approach for adults or kids, our 8 and 11 year old learned so much and quoted many facts throughout our stay in Maui. I can highly recommend this outfit, they offer a very special tour in a unique location, are locally owned and clearly care deeply about nature conservation.

Outstanding tour. Very knowledgeable and friendly guide. We learned a lot on this hike and got royal pineapple at the end! Highly recommended

Jason gave us the most amazing tour! We loved learning about all the different trees and plants to understand their role in the watershed and water cycle, as well as interesting stories about Hawaiian history and culture. The hike was about 3 miles and took 3 hours, so it was at a slow and easy pace that left plenty of time for Q&A, rest and photos. What a great experience!

Just got back from an eco-tour and how special it was. Our tour guide was Yancey and he was amazinggggg and knew everything. The land of Hawaii is undoubtedly a most sacred place and one way to prove this is how nature just takes hold here. The Honolua Ridgeline is filled with vast species of trees, plants, flowers and more. This was one of my favorite experiences and I would highly recommend it to anyone! Thank you, Yancey!!!

It is a beautiful trail and our guide was very knowledgeable and informative. I would recommend this hike.

Fantastic hike with an extremely knowledgeable guide. He shared details about the plants and area the entire trip. The hike itself is not too strenuous but there are some slippery spots.

Our guide Yancy had an incredible depth of knowledge in all things Hawaiian - flora, fauna, history and mythology. There were beautiful views and some incredible trees. Would highly recommend!

My 9 year old and I did the hike with Kevin a few days ago. We learned so much! The view at the top was beautiful! We finished with a fresh pineapple snack. We took water bottles with us and Kevin had several hiking sticks to choose from. Be sure to wear good hiking shoes, the clay is slippery in places. Wear long sleeves and pants, or put on mosquito repellant. Highly recommend this experience!

The leader was very knowledgeable but you shouldn’t advertise snacks with the hike when all it consist of is a few pieces of a cut up pineapple

Super happy with my tour with Jason and Halewai Tours. The hands on experience is super informative. We got to enter the private land with pristine weather conditions. The temperate rain forest is thriving with lots of native plants. We hiked while forest bathing all the way to the most beautiful view I’ve ever seen. Hawaiis fragile ecosystems are at threat by invasive species and deforestation so it’s important to learn why these places need to be preserved. To walk back in time and see old growth rain forest was my favorite part. I hope to do it again one day. Mahalo Kevin and Jason!

We had a great time on this tour. The hike is on an amazing trail with some great views and Jason the guide is super nice and extremely knowledgeable. Highly recommended. Loved the amazing pineapple at the end. -Michael and Garen

My 11 year old granddaughter and I took the Hololua Ridgeline Hike, with our guide Jason. We had a great time and he was a very knowledgeable guide. I particularly liked that he combined the fun parts of the hike with discussing how the forest environment evolved as Polynesian and Western people settled the island.

Our group included a 12 year old and a husband who doesn’t do much hiking and everyone had a great time. It was very educational and the hike was not strenuous. They thoughtfully provide walking sticks. Thank you to Jason, our amazing guide!

I've been to the island several times, and this hike was one of my favorite memories. Our guide Yancy was so incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the plant life and conservation efforts on Maui. My husband and I learned so much on the trail. During the hike we had incredible views you otherwise wouldn't get to see without the tour. There were lookouts where you saw valleys that were just so beautiful. There was also some amazing trees like a huge banyan in the forested area. I don't consider myself athletic, and I felt this hike was the perfect pace and distance. I recommend this hike to anyone interested in learning more about the island's botany and conservation and wanting a leisurely stroll in a beautiful setting.

My husband & I were on this tour on Jan 13, 2024. It was raining the past week & some folks cancelled because of the weather. It was truly our gain, because the weather turned out to be just perfect!!! Our guide, "Yangtze"- apologies for misspelling his name, so sorry. He is half Indonesian & was soooooooooo knowledgeable about all the plants, trees, their Hawaiian names (he grew up on Maui) and even speaks a little Hawaiian. We were very impressed with Yangtze's knowledge of the this healthy native forest in the watershed. It's a very easy hike for those who normally walk or hike a couple miles daily.. I am 64 & my husband is 69 and we found this hike to be very doable & enjoyable. This trail is a short, 2-mile hike, but its richness come from the variety of native plants, trees (banyan trees, for example, though not native). We were even fortunate enough to see a Hawaii State helicopter land literally in front of us, to address the "pig situation" ( lol) on the land. I highly recommend this tour & would go again given the opportunity. Thank you, HeleWai eco tours!!!

We hit the jackpot with Kevin as our tour guide. He made the hike educational and enjoyable with his vast knowledge and expertise on Maui history and ecology. It was our favorite part of the trip for sure!

This tour was an amazing experience. It was such an informative, beautiful and fun experience for our entire family. Our guide, Jason, was extremely knowledgable, engaging and kind. I hope to do this tour again the next time we visit.

Wonderful tour. Ended up just being my wife and I so we got a private tour with Jason, who was so informative and knowledgeable about everything we hiked through. Very pleasant hike and awesome views.

We absolutely LOVED the Eco hike tour. Jason our tour guide was very informative of history of the islands, the water system created by the trees and plants along with Hawaiian culture. The hike had beautiful canopies and views of the ocean. My favorite tour ever and we have taken many over the years of vacationing in Maui. Aloha 🌺

One of the most educated and inspiring eco tours I’ve ever attended. I learned a lot from Maui’s eco system, water, customs, native plants and animals and how it all ties up. Our tour guide Jason is the most knowledgeable and enjoyable tour guide we’ve ever had

It was amazing!!! I didn't expect a tour to be one of the highlights of my family trip to Maui. Jason was our guide. He was such a great tour guide. Very passionate about the information

Not an avid hiker but one of the best hiking experiences I’ve done. Really interesting to learn about Maui’s water conservancy efforts originally under the helm of DT Fleming. Jason is a knowledgeable and engaging guide. Most of the hike is under the tree canopy out of the warm Hawaiian sun. Great views of the ocean and ridge lines from the peak. My wife, 14-year old daughter and I highly recommend.

Jason was an amazing guide! He was so knowledgeable and you could tell he has a real passion for nature and Hawaiian culture. This was an excellent experience and we highly recommend it.

Excellent experience! Breathtaking views and beautiful terrain. Jason was the best tour guide. He was friendly and informative. Would book through this company again. Thanks! :)

Jason was AMAZING! We loved this hike so much. It ended up being one of the highlights of the trip.

Honolua Ridgeline Hike was a highlight of our trip. Our tour guide Jason is so knowledgeable and sprinkled in interesting and entertaining Hawaiian lore. Highly recommend!

Our tour guide was Jason, who's incredibly knowledgeable and nice. The hike was easy and fun. Beautiful hike, 10/10!!!

We were lucky that we were the only 2 people on this tour. It was fascinating - our guide was incredibly knowledgeable about the plants and trees we saw as well as the history and culture of the area. He was entertaining and personable - could have listed to him all day, but was amazed that he kept us interested for 5 hours! The hike itself was very slow paced and comfortable for us and we are both seniors who are in fair shape. HIghly recommend this tour.

The Honolua Ridgeline Hike is always a highlight of our vacation! We’ve taken this hike once or twice before and we learn a little something new each time. The views of the ocean and the valley are breath taking, and it’s like having our own private forest, but with a guide who can explain a lot of the plants and ecosystems and sustainability as well as the history of the island and culture. Kevin and now Jason are both excellent Eco Tour guides, stewards of the land, and all around great guys!

Beautiful hike with the bonus of an educational component. Great information on Hawaiian culture, the ecosystem and the importance of indigenous plants for a healthy future. Kevin our guide, a native to Maui, makes this unique experience even better! Highly recommend 👍

Knowledgeable guide-both in the flora and in the historical antidotes were great. Kept in on pace for the three of us and allowed for lots of questions

Our family had an amazing morning on the Honolulu Ridgeline hike. My husband was raised in Hawaii and we still learned so much about the ecosystem from our guide. We brought along our 4 and 6 year old kids, who had a blast swinging from the trees and tasting the native fruit. If your family is looking for an accessible and fun hike on West Maui, this is the best you could do! We will be back to do the longer hike next year!

This was honestly the most original, educational and enjoyable thing we have done on Maui. Having the opportunity to hike into the Pu’u Kukui Watershed Preserve (added advantage - without the uphill climb to get there!) was wonderful. Kevin and Ashley were friendly, welcoming and had so much to share with us. From identifying the trees and plants around us (native, endemic and invasive) as well as talking about when those plants came to Hawaii and why (often with the best intentions!), to the social history, successive waves of agriculture and income sources (often visible on the hike) and the native history and lore, Kevin is a wealth of knowledge and able to share that in an accessible manner. This tour encouraged a genuine connection with the watershed, understanding its importance and with the land we come here to enjoy. We know we are tourists but today we felt a little bit more like we understood the landscape we were walking through.

Jason was deeply passionate and knowledgeable and an absolute joy to converse with. Views from the lookouts were amazing.

I’ve lived on Maui for 13 years and when I had my friends visiting we went on this excursion. It was amazing! Kevin our guide was so knowledgeable and friendly and shared stories and information about the island I have never heard before. The hike is beautiful and not too strenuous and getting to feel connected to the land and culture here was so special for myself and my guests. This is a must do tour for locals and visitors!

Kevin’s knowledge and love for native Hawaiian flora and fauna made the trip unforgettable. The views and prestige forest is a must see

This was a wonderful experience all-around. Our guide, Kevin, is passionate about protecting the land and the sea, and his passion -- combined with his extensive knowledge -- made our hike truly remarkable. Kevin was also warm, humorous and energetic. Every member of our 3-generation family, ages 9 to 75, had a wonderful time that we'll never forget. We highly recommend this company, and especially Kevin!

I don't have the words ... and neither will you when you take this hike. The history, the culture and the breathtaking views will absolutely make a memory you can always go back to. Family friendly adventure. My daughter loved it. Kevin is the best guide to take you on this journey. Don't think. Do it.

There is only one word that comes to mind and that is AMAZING!!!!!! Kevin is SOOOOO knowledgeable and has such a passion and love for the land. We experienced things that we never had before, like the trampoline effect when walking on certain areas to the INCREDIBLE trees, the age of them and how they naturally protect the land. Then when you hit the apex where we could view the summit of the mountain it was breath taking. Such a GLORIOUS SITE TO SEE, I felt like we were in the movie of the sound of music where the hills are alive!!! A MUST SEE for everyone to experience. #GRATEFUL #BLESSED Dave and Katy Mortensen from MT.

We almost didn't make it to this tour, but I'm so glad we were able to! Kevin is an outstanding tour guide. He was very knowledgeable and passionate. We could tell he loves his work. He was also funny, and attentive to the needs and pace of everyone in our group. We learned so much and we can't wait to go back. I highly recommend Helewai Eco-Tours!!!

What a fantastic way to experience Maui! We lucked out with a private tour of preserved watershed lands and owner/guide Kevin shared so much about the island and water preservation. A very unique experience and would highly recommend it if you are wanting to learn about Maui. You will not get this experience anywhere else.

You are driven 10 minutes above the Kapaluq golf course, park there, and start a 2 hour walk with a very knowledgeable local guide. Every 100 feet we stopped as he explained something about the plants, or the history of the region, or the water flow on the island. He was very interesting and all 6 in our party enjoyed ourselves thoroughly!

What a beautiful hike—a true gem. Jason, our guide, was very knowledgeable & accommodating. We had a private tour of 4, which was a nice change from the larger group tours found on the island. The hike is relatively easy, but Jason provided us with hiking sticks (just in case). We learned a great deal about the watershed, the plants, and Hawaiian history. I would highly recommend this hike for first time visitors, as well as those who have been to Maui many times.

The team is very accommodating and understanding. Our tour guide, Jason, was very passionate and informative about the local ecology.

My daughter is an Environmental Ecology major so this tour was top on her list. Very glad we did it! We learned soooo much about the ecosystems of Maui from Steve. He is a wealth of knowledge! Great hike -good for most levels of hiker as long as you are fairly sure-footed. It was a private tour and it felt very relaxing to be away from the crowds. The pineapple at the end was delicious!

We found this tour while researching opportunities to learn about Maui’s ecosystem. Kevin and the Hele Wai tour did not disappoint! After a short drive, we had a pleasant hike while Kevin introduced us to different native and non-native species and the process of conservation on the Pu’u Kukui Watershed Preserve. Kevin was kind, engaging, and knowledgeable, and the pineapple snack at the end was a great bonus! This is a must-do for anyone traveling to Maui, whether it’s your first time or your fifth, as you learn so much about the beautiful land you’re visiting and why it’s important to conserve it. We definitely came away with a greater appreciation and respect for the wildlife and the watershed.

We have been on Maui several times and had most of the various experiences - hiking, whales, Hana, Haleakala, Molokini, etc. This is the best thing we have done. Kevin is a superb and incredibly knowledgeable guide who brings humor and warmth to his work. We had not the opportunity to learn or even begin to understand the interrelated and fragile nature of the watershed and ecosystem on Maui. We left with a heightened sense of awareness and appreciation for the unique beauty of this island. We will tell everyone we know to take this trip and will bring along our children and/or grandchildren. Absolutely wonderful - kudos to Kevin for his passion, dedication and service to clients and his native island.

Our guided hike up Honolulu Ridge was a wonderful experience. Our guide Steven was very knowledgeable about the vegetation and the history of the area and the views of the valley and surrounding peaks were spectacular. We were the only hikers on the trail which made the experience even more unique. No crowds! It was a great hike, not too strenuous, and my husband and I highly recommend it.

Such an amazing hike, its been the highlight of our trip so far! Book this IMMEDIATELY! Even our four teenagers absolutely loved it. The tour is fascinating, beautiful, and very educational. The stories and the history helped bring everything to life. Kevin is engaging and fun - we will definately do this again!