“Kualoa Ranch” by Tara Hunt
Located on Oahu’s scenic north coast, Kualoa Ranch is home to some of Hawaii’s most beautiful mountains, valleys, and cliffs, as well as sandy white beaches and the unusual island known as Chinaman’s Hat. It’s no wonder filmmakers have long been drawn to this region, especially the epic Ka’a’awa Valley. Movies and television series filmed here include Jurassic Park, 50 First Dates, Godzilla, Windtalkers, Hawaii 5-0, and LOST. With a visit to this 4000-acre cattle ranch, your group will enjoy a day of jaw-dropping scenery, fun in the sun, and outdoor adventures on land and sea.
The ranch offers a variety of exciting tours to choose from. On the Movie Sites and Ranch Tour, your group will drive through Kualoa’s beautiful scenery and learn interesting facts about the movies filmed there. The Jungle Expedition Tour offers a slightly more wild ride – in a 6-wheel drive Swiss Pinzgauer! If you would rather stretch your legs, take some pictures, and see the ranch at a slower pace, try the Legends and Legacy Tour, a guided walking tour that focuses on the history of the area, or the 1.5 mile Hakipu’u Hike through scenic Hakipu’u Valley. For an extra-fun, adventuresome way to explore the ranch, try one of Kualoa’s horseback or ATV tours! These tours accommodate riders of all skill levels, so if it’s your first time, no worries! From the back of your horse or ATV, you will see famous movie sites, the lush Ka’a’awa Valley, and spectacular ocean views. Several of Kualoa’s tours will take you out on the waters, including the Ancient Fishing Grounds and Tropical Gardens Tour, where your group will boat across an 800-year old fishpond and explore Kualoa’s gardens, and the Ocean Voyaging Tour, a narrated Catamaran tour of Kaneohe Bay, including views of Mokoli’i Island (Chinaman’s Hat). If you are ready for some laid-back fun, your group can take hula lessons in front of the beautiful Ko’olau Mountains or go on a fun excursion to Secret Island, where a sandy white beach awaits you with volleyball, ping pong, badminton, kayaks, canoes, and hammocks.
Whatever kind of adventure your group is into, you will find it at beautiful Kualoa Ranch!
