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Kualoa Ranch and nature preserve – Oahu

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Kualoa Ranch and nature preserve is a beautiful tour location and working ranch on the windward side of Oahu. Set on 4000 acres between the Ko’olau range and Kaneohe Bay, the land was sold in 1850 by Kamehameha III to Dr. Gerrit Judd. The ranch and nature preserve are owned by the 6th generation of this family!Things to do on Oahu include Kualoa Ranch, beautiful land on the windward side showcasing the Ko'olau range and Kaneohe Bay.

Attractions

Kualoa Ranch is over the Pali from Honolulu. Movie and TV filming, cattle ranching, oyster beds, and the ruins of a sugar mill are all here. Make reservations in advance for Kualoa tours. You can arrange for transportation from Waikiki (leaving early in the morning!) and hot food and quick food are available at the visitor center. You can spend the whole day there by taking 3 tours, or take one tour at a time. Tours are generally 60 or 90 minutes and run from early morning to mid-afternoon. I recommend studying the website, then calling to make your reservation and getting exactly what you would like.

  • The movie tour takes you on an old school bus around the many location sites. You may recognize Lost, Hawaii Five-0, Fifty First Dates, or Jurassic World. You have an opportunity to get out, walk around, and take pictures at several of the locations. You cannot get this fantastic view of the peaks of Ko’olau range from the highway!
  • The ancient fishpond and tropical garden tour take you over to the bay side of the property to see the Moli’i pond, the oldest and largest in Hawaii. The pond could be 1300 years old! The pond is still operational and used for fish and raising oysters.
  • The catamaran tour on Kaneohe Bay takes you out on a large catamaran with a glass bottom. The views of the bay and seeing Mokoli’i island close up are spectacular. The reef out here is popular with honu (Hawaiian green sea turtle) and beautiful fish.

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For more active tours:

  • Jungle expedition goes into the rainforest on a jungle vehicle.
  • Horseback riding tours are available for 1 or 2 hours. These tours go into the valley where many movies are filmed along with more great views of the ranch.
  • ATV tours are available for 1 or 2 hours. Single driver or 5-person ATVs are available. These tours will take you into more remote areas of the ranch.
  • Treetop canopy zipline has 7 sections, 2 suspension bridges, and more through the Ka’a’wa Valley.

Admission to Kualoa’s tours vary by package, with additional charges for transportation from Waikiki. Check the website for prices. Kualoa is open daily (the glass-bottom catamaran does not run on Sundays or Federal holidays). Be sure to wear sunscreen and bug repellant.

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Don’t miss the Kualoa Regional Park across the highway. It’s a lovely beach with fantastic views of Mokoli’i island and others in Kaneohe Bay.

Oahu map – Kualoa Ranch

Grabbing a bite

Aunty Pat’s Paniolo café is available in the visitor center with hot, made-to-order options. A buffet is available at lunchtime. Near the ranch is Coral Kingdom with plate lunch options. Check Yelp, Urbanspoon, or your favorite app for Ka’a’awa.

(If you are staying at Paradise Bay Resort in Kahalu’u, Kualoa is only 10 minutes away!)

Getting there

From Waikiki, take Ala Wai Boulevard and turn right on McCully Street. Follow the signs to get on H1 going west towards Pearl Harbor and the airport. Take the exit for Route 63, Likelike Highway. After the tunnel, exit onto Route 83, Kahekili Highway. Continue on 83 through Kahaluu. Look for the Kualoa sign at the entrance on the left after you can see the Kualoa Regional Park beach.

If using The Bus, take Bus #8 or #42 to Ala Moana center, then #55.

Resource Links

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Let’s talk story

Kualoa is just the day in the country you might need if Waikiki is not really your thing. Revisiting the scenes of favorite movies and tv shows, learning about oyster culture, maintaining an ancient fish pond, or cruising in Kaneohe bay with the honu (sea turtles): any of these make wonderful memories on Oahu.

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Hawaii’s Plantation Village – Oahu outdoor museum

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Hawai’i is a beautiful melting pot of many different cultures. Hawaii’s Plantation Village is a museum that tells the story of how people lived when they came to the islands to work on the sugar cane plantations. Things to do on Oahu include Hawaii's Plantation Village, a reconstruction of a sugar cane plantation village and all the immigrants' cultures.

Attractions

Hawaii’s Plantation Village is in Waipahu on the Leeward side of Oahu. This area of the island has been home to sugar cane and pineapple fields, and these days you may see groves of coffee trees. The village is tucked into the Waipahu Cultural Garden Park and has buildings representing the many peoples that came to Hawaii to work. Each building or home has been set up to demonstrate a day in family life as chosen by each ethnic historical group. Chinese men were the first group to immigrate in the 1850s. The Chinese Society Building was a place for the men to congregate and keep their culture alive.

Immigrants from Japan arrived in the 1860s. Their example home is set up to represent a Christian family during Bible study time. Portuguese people primarily from Madeira, Azores, and Cape Verde arrived in the 1870s. Puerto Ricans, Okinawans, and Koreans came in the 1900s.

The largest immigration from the Philippines occurred in 1910. Their example home represents a party for a child’s baptism. Many beautiful plants and trees are throughout the property, both native Hawaiian and those brought from the immigrants’ homelands. Look for mango, guava, and mountain apple trees.

Admission to Hawaii’s Plantation Village is $15 for adults. Check the website for other prices. The village is open Monday through Saturday. Guided tours happen every hour from 10 am to 2 pm and take 1 to 2 hours. Be sure to wear sunscreen and bug repellant. This property is inland enough that mosquitoes are a real nuisance. (Make a stop at Longs Drugs, Walgreens, or Walmart to pick up a good repellant – I recommend Sawyer’s Picardian, Repel Lemon Eucalyptus, or Repel Scented Family.)

Oahu map – Hawaii’s Plantation Village

Grabbing a bite

There are lots of local restaurants in Waipahu, serving Korean, Filipino, Japanese, sushi, and more. I suggest Highway Inn for Hawaiian food or Elena’s for Filipino food. Check Yelp, Urbanspoon, or your favorite app for Waipahu.

Getting there

From Waikiki, take Ala Wai Boulevard and turn right on McCully Street. Follow the signs to get on H1 going west towards Pearl Harbor and the airport. In Waipahu, take exit 5 to go south on 76 towards the Farrington Highway. Turn left onto Waipahu Street. After crossing the stream watch for the street to make a sharp right curve. Look for the Hawaii’s Plantation Village sign at the entrance on the right. If using The Bus, take Bus #42 then #432.

Resource Links

Let’s talk story

plantation-fieldsThere are so many stories to learn on a trip to Hawaii. The Hawaiian people and their kingdom, the missionaries from New England, and the many people who came from all over the world to work the sugar cane and pineapple plantations all make up this beautiful place. The village is off the tourist path, but I am so glad we took the time to visit. It helps make the cultures come alive. This post was part of Casa Bouquet’s first birthday celebration! horizontal bar with plumeria Affiliate links:  if you make a purchase using these links, I’ll receive a small compensation towards maintaining this blog, at no extra cost to you.