You think you’ve seen it all? Waikiki is NOT indicative of paradise. To see Hawaii up close, you have to get up close. Face to face. Toe to toe. That’s what eco tours are all about. Face to face with natural Hawaii.
There’s nothing wrong with hanging out at the beach. The beach is as much a part of Hawaii as surfing, volcanoes, Hawaii 5-0, and Elvis. But Elvis never went on an eco tour. Here’s what he missed:
Secluded rainforest waterfalls. Rain so heavy it amounts to an inch a day. 365 days a year. That tends to help out the waterfalls. Snorkel on secluded coral reefs. Nothing was secluded back in Elvis’ day. Seclusion is tough to come by these days, too—an eco tour gets you right where the action is. Or isn’t.
A number of small companies provide eco tours in the islands. One operator is the Hawaiian Islands Eco-Tours (Click Here ). Here’s what to look for when booking an eco tour.
Trained Guides – CPR training, Advanced Wilderness First Aid. When the crocodile grabs you it’s nice to know you have someone who’s gone through the necessary training to run for help.
License – Not just a Hawaii Drivers License. The Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources actually licenses the best guides.
Profits Diverted – good eco tours donate a portion of their profits to help preserve the local ecology. My neighbor did the same thing by frequenting the Korean bars on Keeaumoku Street.
Affiliations & Memberships – look for an eco tour company associated or affiliated with the Hawaii Ecotourism Association, HVCB, Sierra Club, Audubon Society and others. It’s good for you if they have a good reputation within the eco community.
I also like simple instructions. If it gets complicated, then your experience level needs to be much higher. For example:
You Bring These –
Sturdy footwear, sun protection, camera, swimwear, towel, insect repellent, snake bite kit, cell phone, back pack.
Things You Need To Know –
150 inches of rain on Oahu each year means the hiking will be wet and slippery. The mountains are 3,000 feet high and the valley is 3,000 feet below your feet. It’s a sure death if you fall. If you don’t die, you’ll have to pay for the helicopter rescue (Visa, MasterCard, Amex accepted).
Simple instructions are a good thing. Which is exactly what Martha Stewart said to her stock broker when they last spoke.
Generally, the hikes cost from $35 to less than $100 unless you take in the overnight camping eco tours. For a little more detail on everything above except the Korean bars, click over to Hike Oahu.
