There are many special things about the Big Island of Hawai’i, including the wonderful birdwatching and cloud forest hiking trails, particularly the Makāula ‘O‘oma Trails in the Honua’ula Forest Preserve north of Kailua-Kona. The slopes of the Hualalai Volcano are so beautiful and lush as you head up into the Cloud Forest and this makes for a great hiking and birding destination. Much of the land on the western side of Hualalai is privately held, either by Kamehameha Schools or local coffee farmers, so having access to a place like the Makāula ‘O‘oma Trails is special.
If you’re like me and you’re always on the lookout for the different endemic birds, in particular the honeycreepers like the i’iwi or apapane, you’ll love hiking in the Honua’ula Forest Preserve. The Jurassic Trails, as they’re aptly named, are beautiful and a unique addition to your time on the Kona Coast. If you have any questions about hiking here at the Honua’lua Forest Preserve or other nature areas, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more!
Highlights of Cloud Forest Hiking in Kona
There are quite a few routes and different trails you can explore in the Honua’ula Forest Preserve, but for the best experience and the least amount of uphill trekking, the Upper Jurassic Trail is the one to plan for. This is such a cool trail full of beautiful tropical plants from giant ferns to passion flowers. With all of the flowering plants come the colorful birds, small as they may be. The Upper Jurassic Trail at the Honua’ula is absolutely loud with apapane and amakihi birds, so as you hike along they’re really fun to spot and try to photograph. If you’re lucky, you’ll also get to see an i’iwi in the mix too. While the i’iwi isn’t as common on this trail as other birding areas, they are here and there are plenty of them if you’re patient and know your bird songs.
The other thing I really like about hiking in the Cloud Forest at the Honua’ula Forest Reserve is the flexibility of the trails in that you can show up with a plan and then change it up if you’re feeling like a longer or shorter hike. You begin the Makāula ‘O‘oma Trails at the edge of the Cloud Forest near the highest elevation point of the Jurassic Trails on Makahi Street, and from here you can either head right on the Upper Jurassic or head left down the hill on the Lower Jurassic.
These trails connect to other trails which you can add on for a longer hike. The Crosstown Trail runs along the top of the Honua’ula Forest Reserve connecting to the Hallway and Pig Skull Trails. Each of those runs down the hill connecting to the Pipeline Trail, which then connects back to the Lower Jurassic Trail. It really is a choose your own adventure network of Cloud Forest hiking on the Kona Coast.
FYI: this trail system is also mountain bike friendly. That means that there may be bikes on the trail with you, and while usually the bikers are very aware and practice safe trail sharing, you still might be startled by a biker on your path.
Tips for Cloud Forest Hiking and Birding
Remember that the Honua’ula Forest Reserve is surrounded by private property on all sides, so you need to stick to the trails and not go off exploring out into the other bands of the Cloud Forest. There is hunting allowed in the surrounding areas and then you’ll be trespassing too, so just stick to the marked, maintained trails and you’ll be fine. The best bird watching you’ll get is further from the trailhead, so continue along away from the other hikers and you’ll have a more than satisfactory day hiking in the Cloud Forest.
The Makāula ‘O‘oma Trails are well maintained but they’re rough. Remember that you’re hiking on the slopes of Hualalai, which is a volcano that produced many lava flows over the years, so the trails are cut through the forest that’s growing out of the rock. This makes for uneven paths and lots of bumps, roots and rocks you can stumble over if you’re not paying attention. I found myself having to stop for taking photos or looking for birds because I couldn’t hike and stare up into the trees of the Cloud Forest. Yes, this made it so we had to hike much slower, but we were safe and didn’t sustain any injuries.
My last BIG tips for hiking the Makāula ‘O‘oma Trails of the Honua’ula Forest Reserve is to have a Cloud Forest hiking plan and be flexible, knowing your fitness and skill levels. I recommend starting on the Upper Jurassic Trail, as it’s great on its own, but from there you can add on the Crosstown Trail for more length. Once you either head down the Hallway Trail or continue towards the Pig Skull Trail, you’re adding a lot of steep trail time to your hike. Remember, this is a mountainside in the Cloud Forest, so there are parts of the trail that have a good incline downward… which means that must be made up to get back to the same level as you began your hike. Just be smart about it and tune into how you’re feeling and how much you’re enjoying hiking in the Kona Coast Cloud Forest. If you do the Makāula ‘O‘oma Trails as a loop, it comes out to be about four miles.
Gear for Cloud Forest Hiking on the Kona Coast
Since this is one of my favorite places on the Kona Coast to go birdwatching, the most important gear (besides good hiking shoes) is going to be your binoculars or telephoto lens. While Hawaii does have some very large birds, such as a albatross that you can see at the Kilauea Point National Wildlife Refuge or the tropicsbird that soars from the cliffs of Molokai, most of the birds you’ll see here in the Makāula ‘O‘oma Trails are very small. The amakihi and apapane are the size of medium mice, with the i’iwi being just a bit bigger. You may get to see some io (Hawaiian hawk), but they’ll likely be soaring above the Cloud Forest.
When it comes to shoes, I LIVE in my Keens when I have hiking days, whether it’s here or the Kalalau Trail on the NaPali Coast. I think a sturdy, thick soled sandal is the best footwear for hiking nearly everywhere across Hawaii. If you want to travel with hiking boots, that’s your call, but I think something versatile like Keens is the best shoe for any time out in nature in Hawaii. Find yourself a good pair of Keens here!
When you’re hiking in the Cloud Forest, even though it will be a bit cooler than being down at the coast you’ll still get pretty warm on the Makāula ‘O‘oma Trails. The warm moisture, patches of sunlight and increased heart rate while you’re hiking will make you thirsty and hot. Dress in layers for both initial warm and sun protection, and then bring plenty of water for each person.
Parking for the Cloud Forest Makāula ‘O‘oma Trails
Driving to the Makāula ‘O‘oma Trails of the Honua’ula Forest Reserve, you’re heading up Hualalai from the Kona Coast. You’ll drive past serveral coffee farms, including the Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation, and you’ll wind through a sparse neighborhood before coming to Makahi Street. Parking for the Makāula ‘O‘oma Trails is along the street with a full pull-in parking spots directly at the trail head. DO NOT BLOCK DRIVEWAYS. As you begin your hiking, be sure to clean your shoes to prevent the spread of the Rapid Ohia Death fungus, and then clean your shoes again before you head back to your vehicle.
Photography Gear Recommendations
Before jumping into cameras, let me start by saying that I am NOT a technical photographer but have worked professional as a photographer since 1997 with my first job being a photographer’s assistant and having my first wildlife photography piece published that same year. So, I’ve been doing this a while and ultimately I believe that you can do great things with nearly any equipment. Yes, the fancier and more expensive stuff is great, but you don’t have to drop thousands of dollars to capture amazing photos.
As you look at my recommendations, keep in mind that most cameras can be upgraded with good lenses. The key thing to do with any gear though is to read actual reviews from users versus looking only at manufacturer camera specs.
Camera Bodies for Amateur or Professional Use
Budget option: I’ve had a variety of cameras over the years, but my favorite and the one that I use for both hobby and professional photography is the Canon Rebel T7i. It’s a solid, hardy DSLR camera that does very well for travel, wildlife and even portrait photography. I’ve had other Canon Rebels in the past and they’ve always been great. Get my exact camera here!
Spendy but great: If you’re thinking about a mirrorless camera, the Canon EOS R6 does an amazing job. It’s fast with impressive photo clarity, and it’s remarkably quiet, especially in comparison to my DSLR camera. When it comes to an affordable camera in the land of insane mirrorless costs, the Canon EOS R6 is the best combination of cost and quality. Mirrorless cameras that are worth investing in start at around $2000 USD, so if you’re ready to take that plunge, it’s worth it to get something that matches quality and cost. Get the Canon EOS R6 here!
Telephoto Lens Recommendations
Before you get all shopping happy, keep in mind that not every lens is interchangeable with every brand of camera or model. There are specific lenses for specific brands and models and YOU MUST look at the lens details to confirm that the lens is compatible with your camera body. And also remember that some lenses might be compatible with “model x4” (as an example) but then the camera might be a “model x4A” or something.
With my Canon Rebel T7i I use three basic lenses: wide angle (basic), 250mm and a 600mm. I would love to have an 800mm but we’re talking about a heavy and expensive lens at that point. I use the wide angle for landscape, macro and easy shot framing. I use the 250mm for fast wildlife shots, distant landscapes and close range wildlife photography. This is my 250mm lens for my Canon Rebel T7i.
My favorite lens is my 600mm. I use this for shooting anything that’s awesome and that I want good close ups of. There are several settings on my lens that I don’t use, so I have it set just how I like it. It’s been a great lens for birdwatching and getting amazing wildlife shots in National Parks. Get the Sigma 600mm here!
Favorite Binoculars for Wildlife Watching
Sometimes you don’t want to be stuck behind a camera snapping photos the whole day, and when that’s the case a good set of binoculars can be just as satisfying. We always have at least one pair of binoculars with us, but more often we have a large pair and a small pair. Traveling with kids, it’s important to have a set that’s easy for them to use and allows them to see wildlife easily.
The best binoculars we’ve ever use, and we first came across them during our trip to the Peruvian Amazon, is the Vortex Diamondback. These are nice, small binoculars that are incredibly clear with great magnification. They run around $200 but are really hardy and do an incredible job. Get the Vortex Diamondback binoculars here!
More Kona Coast Things to Do
The Kona Coast is one of my favorite areas in all of Hawaii. I love the different activities, from snorkeling with manta rays to daytime snorkel trips, experiencing Kona coffee culture to learning about historic Native Hawaiian culture. It’s always beautiful and no two visits are the same. Here are our top picks for things to do on the Kona Coast of the Big Island of Hawaii.
- tour some of the many Kona coffee farms and tasting rooms
- walk the seawall in Kailua-Kona and visit the Hulihe’e Palace
- snorkel at Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area
- visit Kaloko Honkohau National Historic Park to see honu (sea turtles)
- do a nighttime snorkel with manta rays
- go to Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park to see tikis and learn about Native Hawaiian culture
- hike at the Haulalai Volcano or Hawaii Volcanoes NP‘s Kahuku Unit
There are many more things to do when you’re putting together your Big Island itinerary, but when it comes to visiting the Kona Coast, these are some of our favorite things to do.
Where to Stay on the Kona Coast
The Kona Coast is big, stretching from Waimea at the north to Naalehu on the South Shore. You’ll find every sort of accommodation here from national travel brand hotels like Marriott and Holiday Inn Express to independent bed and breakfasts (the Ka’awa Loa Plantation is my favorite!), as well are larger resorts. We’ve enjoyed many different places but I really do like being near the town of Kailua-Kona because of the central location. Staying to the north is lovely because it’s so quiet and it’s all about the outdoor adventures. The southern end of the Kona Coast is full of coffee culture, lava flows and remote beaches you can hike to.
If you have the time and the energy, hiking in the Cloud Forest of the Kona Coast really is cool. It’s one of the best ways to enjoy birdwatching, get a good hike in and really shows off the beautiful world of the Big Island. If you have any other questions about hiking spots on the Kona Coast or putting together a Kailua-Kona visit, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more and help you plan a beautiful Hawaii trip. Aloha!
