Cloud Forest Botanical Tour & Waterfall Swim in Hilo

Explore the arboretum, botanical garden, and farm at the Mauna Kea Cloudforest Bioreserve on a guided botanical tour. Finish with the chance to swim beneath a natural waterfall.

Itinerary

As part of this experience, you will learn about the botany of the various plants that thrive in our montane tropical cloud forest. You will see both temperate conifers like coast redwoods (sequoia) growing alongside tropical conifers and palms from New Caledonia and Madagascar. You will see native Hawaiian plants along with beautiful bold tropical and temperate ornamental foliage and flowers.

You will learn about the native Hawaiian forest ecology, and about the native Hawk ('io) and the native owl (Pueo) that live on the Bioreserve. We will introduce you to the various projects that the bioreserve is undertaking, such as carbon sequestration with coast redwoods, the development of xmas trees for Hawaii, our regenerative grazing project, and our soil conservation efforts.

You will also see a large collection of tropical fruit trees, including Jack fruit, banana, marang, pedalai, bananas, pineapple, cacao, cupuacu, surinam cherries, champedak, pili nut trees, and many other expotic tropical fruit growing in a montane tropical cloudforest setting.

At the end of the tour, we will take you to Kikaka Falls, our main waterfall, where you will be invited to swim.

Important details

• Ages 5+ only
• The senior age requirement for the Military/Kapuna fare is over 65. Bring ID for the Military/Kapuna fare.
• Use the signed public entrance, not the closed-gate private entrance. Do not enter neighboring properties.
• Arrive at least 10 minutes before the tour starts.