Hiking the Big Island’s Hualalai Volcano with Hawaii Forest and Trails

When you think of hiking at a volcano in Hawaii you probably think of hiking at Kilauea at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, but hiking at the Hualalai Volcano on the Kona Coast is awesome and unexpected. Located on privately held land, the Hualalai Volcano is a very special area to the Hawaiian people, so getting to visit really is a privilege. Hawaii Forest and Trails is the tour company that can take you up the mountain and through the fascinating forests on the Hualalai Volcano, and they do a wonderful job telling the stories and teaching about the nature and geology of the mountain.

Have you gotten to hike up the Hualalai Volcano before? Not many have, but those who do love it. We’ve got all the information for going up the mountain and what to expect on the journey. If you have any questions about hiking up the Hualalai Volcano or things to do on the Big Island, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more.

Highlights of Hiking the Hualalai Volcano

It’s difficult for me to pick what my favorite elements of hiking the Hualalai Volcano are, but I can tell you that it was such a different sort of Big Island hiking experience that it wasn’t comparable to many of the other hikes we’ve done. Because the Hualalai Volcano is an active volcano, even though it hasn’t had a major eruption since the 1800s, it still has seismic activity that shapes the land (but not currently). There are things about hiking here that are similar to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or Haleakala National Park, but because the craters are in such lush areas versus the Sliding Sands (Haleakala) or Kilauea Iki trails (HVNP), it’s quite unique.

One of the coolest things about hiking here are the different craters and faults you get to see and hike along. There are lava tubes, giant pits and amazing views as you go up the mountain. I think geology is awesome, so hiking at the Hualalai Volcano was the perfect chance for me to geek out.

One of the other highlights of hiking here is the birdwatching. While it’s not something everyone gets into, I love watching for some of Hawaii’s endemic species when I’m hiking. At the Hualalai Volcano I was able to spot the amakihi, akepa, apapane and i’iwi birds. The i’iwi is my favorite Hawaiian bird and there were so many in forest on the hike back down the mountain.

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Tips for Hiking Kona’s Hualali Volcano

You can plan your hike at the Hualalai Volcano on any of your full days on the Big Island. Because it is a longer adventure than just a short hike on your own, if you have to fly out in the afternoon, you don’t want to risk missing your flight in the event you’re delayed coming off the mountain. You can easily plan more activities for later in the day, but don’t make plans that depend on specific timing.

Something else to keep in mind as you’re adding Hualalai hiking to your Big Island itinerary is how in shape you are and how much activity you want. To access the volcano, you will be driven fairly far up the mountain through several chained gates, but then you have some big hiking. The climb is about 1000 feet in elevation gain, which also means coming back down 1000 feet. I find that the hike down is always harder on my knees than going up, but both ways were quite doable for my aging joints.

Video of Hualalai Volcano

Want to see just what’s in store? Here’s a video from our awesome hike on the Hualalai Volcano with Hawaii Forest and Trail.

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A post shared by Rob Taylor – 2TravelDads (@2traveldads)

Gear for Hiking Hualalai

Hawaii Forest and Trails will outfit you with hiking poles if you need them, but besides that, you just need to be ready with your close-toed shoes or hiking boots, your water and any snacks you’ll want. We hiked with some sandwich wraps, as the Hidden Craters hike (what Hawaii Forest and Trails calls this trip) is about 5 hours. They do provide some snacks, but you know how hungry you get when you’re hiking.

I also recommend a light jacket because it can both be breezy up on the Hualalai Volcano and can be misty too. As far as camera gear goes, there are some really interesting photo opportunities in your 1000 foot ascent and descent on the volcano. The forest is really wonderful and lofty in some places with absolutely beautiful lighting. Within the eucalyptus grove and the tighter ohia groves there are tons of colorful birds that you’ll LOVE. Keep your eyes peeled.

Parking for Hawaii Forest and Trails

There is plenty of parking at the starting point of your Hawaii Forest and Trails hike. Whether you’re doing the Hualalai Volcano hike or heading out for a day of guided birdwatching, you’ll meet at the tour office near Home Depot in Kailua-Kona. You CANNOT drive yourself to the trailhead for hiking trips. If you don’t have a car, don’t worry, as there are Ubers, taxis and buses in Kona that drop off very close to the office.