Explore Kualoa Ranch through a number of tours and activities designed to showcase its natural beauty and culture.
Explore one of Oahu's most historically significant destinations where it was once a residence of kings, a place of refuge and sanctuary and a training ground for royalty who were intructed in the arts of war, history and social traditions. Kualoa Ranch has tours and activities suited for everyone.
Tour Kualoa Ranch by horseback or on all terrain vehicles (ATV) by choosing a one or two-hour ride. Or, include horseback riding or ATV riding as choices in your full day or half day adventure or Hawaiian experience, which also features your choice of additional activities and tours such as a gun range, movie site and ranch tour, jungle expedition, Hawaiian fishing and garden tour, and many others.
It is impossible to see all of Kualoa Ranch in a short time. The property stretches for five miles along the coast and includes three mountains, two valleys and 4,000 acres. It can take an entire day to see this magical and historical place, which is why we have five fun and informative tours that explore the vastly different areas on the Ranch. Immerse yourself in Kualoa Ranch, Hawaii at its best. For a little more adventure, check out our horseback and ATV tours, or if you have more time to spend on the ranch, check out our packages for some cost savings.
Explore Kualoa Ranch through a number of tours and activities designed to showcase its natural beauty and culture.
Your Half Day Hawaiian Experience includes your choice of any two (2) tours or activities each approximately one hour in length. A buffet lunch is also included along with roundtrip transportation from Waikiki hotels.
Program Schedule:
• 9:00 AM - Arrival and Briefing
• 9:20 AM - Guests escorted to designated area
• 9:30 AM - First Tour / Activity
• 10:40 AM - Second Tour / Activity
• 11:50 AM - Lunch at the Ranch House
• 12:30 PM - Depart to Waikiki
Tour choices are:
• Movie Site and Ranch Tour
• Jungle Expedition
• Ocean Voyaging (unavailable on Sundays or Federal holidays)
• Legends and Legacy Tour
• Hawaiian Fishing & Garden Tour
Kualoa Ranch Horseback Riding, ATV Adventures
Horseback Riding
Horseback tours are just one of the unforgettable activities you can enjoy at beautiful Kualoa Ranch. Kualoa's horseback tours combine that special bond with horses with the most spectacular scenery on Oahu. On horseback, riders take different trails beneath the cliffs and overlooking the ocean.
One Hour Tour - See the southern half of the ranch. Vistas of the famed "Chinaman's Hat" (Mokoli'i island) and an ancient 800 year-old Hawaiian fishpond accompany the great feeling of spending time riding horses.
Keiki Rides Age 3-9
Our friendly and knowledgeable guides will help keiki enjoy riding
and begin to understand how to relate to horses.
This is a nice introduction to horses for those children who are
too young to go on the regular horseback tour.
Children are led around on their own horse for about 5 minutes.
ATV All Terrain Vehicle Tour
See Kualoa Ranch up close and personal! Navigate your ATV through trails deep into scenic valleys and to remote areas rarely visited by others. Our ATV tours go out rain or shine - diggin' through the dirt and crossing seasonal streams are part of the fun!
One and two hour tours are available. Our one hour tour will take you over a saddle trail to visit a movie set and explore a WWII bunker converted to an exhibit of Kualoa Ranch's movie history.
Our two hour tours, for more experienced riders, take you even deeper into the ranch's secret spots.
Kualoa Ranch Narrated Tours/Activities
Movie Sites & Ranch Tour
Our most popular tour! Board our ranch buses for a delightful one hour narrated tour across Kualoa Ranch and into gorgeous Ka'a'awa Valley to experience where many of Hollywood's biggest blockbuster movies and television shows are filmed.
Look for the Jurassic Park site, find Godzilla's footprints, see the Windtalkers battleground and visit many more landmark locations. You may just actually get lucky and see some filming in progress, perhaps for the latest smash television series LOST!
Jungle Expedition
Board your 6-wheel drive Swiss Pinzgauer and rumble along jungle trails and up a lush, remote valley for fantastic ocean and mountain views.
This back-country adventure tour will maneuver through isolated stream beds, power up hills and tackle rough terrain going to secluded spots that overlook the dramatic windward coastline and an ancient Hawaiian fishpond.
Ocean Voyaging
The Hawaiian Islands are the most isolated group of islands in the world. Using only the stars, the ancient Hawaiians traveled to and populated these islands about 1000 years ago.
Learn about ancient Hawaiian navigation on the Ocean Voyaging Tour. The tour goes into the beautiful Kaneohe Bay aboard a very comfortable 49 passenger catamaran past the famous Mokoli`i Island (Chinaman's Hat) and Hokule`a Beach, the ceremonial home of the first modern replica of an ancient sailing canoe.
The views of Kualoa Ranch and Koolau mountains from the ocean are unmatched and the lively historical narration is educational and enjoyable.
*(Ocean Voyaging does not operate Sundays or Federal Holidays)
Hawaiian Fishpond & Garden Tour
The early Hawaiians settled these islands and developed some of the most advanced agricultural practices in the world for a Stone Age culture.
After Captain Cook "discovered" the islands in 1778, more agricultural developments occurred in Hawaii that would leave a permanent mark on the physical, cultural and social landscape of Hawaii.
The Hawaiian Fishpond and Garden Tour explores different facets of this rich history by going through fields of tropical flowers, fruit trees and gardens before venturing out on Moli`i Fishpond.
Legends & Legacy Tour
In the ancient days, before Hawaii was "discovered," the area Kualoa was one of the most sacred places on the island of Oahu. There are numerous references to Kualoa in legends and historical accounts as to the importance of this beautiful land.
The new Kualoa Legends and Legacy tour journeys through the foothills to the base of the majestic Kualoa cliffs while the guides tell of the legends and stories of the area. This fascinating tour, with its historical factual information, compliments the historical exhibit and an informative video at the ranch. A camera is a must!
About Kualoa Ranch
Kualoa has been considered
from ancient times to be one of
the most sacred places on Oahu.
Learn about our rich history and
experience the natural beauty.
Kualoa today is a working ranch with 600 head of cattle and more then 100 horses. Farming ventures on the ranch also include aquaculture ponds, flower fields, and plant nursery operations. The Kualoa Nursery and Gardens is located next to Tropical Farms.
Kualoa Ranch also offers tours and field trips to local schools, including a petting zoo, children's horseback riding, aquaculture tours, hiking tours, a food sources tour, a roping course, and camping trips.
In addition to adventure activities and tours for individuals and families, the Kualoa Ranch is available for weddings, group tours, and other special events.
History of Kualoa Ranch
Kualoa is one of the most historically significant destinations on Oahu. Ancient Hawaiians considered Kualoa one of the most sacred places on Oahu. It was a residence of kings, a place of refuge and sanctuary - a pu`uhonua - and a training ground for royalty who were instructed at Kualoa in the arts of war, history and social traditions.
In 1850, Kamehameha III sold approximately 622 acres of land in Kualoa and all its fishing rights offshore (which included Mokoli`i or Chinaman's Hat) to Dr. Gerritt P. Judd. (Dr. Judd was a missionary doctor who arrived in Hawaii in 1837 and was a personal advisor to Kamehameha III.)
Then, additional acreage in Hakipu`u and Ka`a`awa were purchased by Dr. Judd from the Wilder family. This purchase increased the size of the estate to the 4,000 acres it is today and is now under the Morgan Family name, who are Dr. Judd's descendants.
This estate, Kualoa Ranch, was so named in 1927 and has been used for various purposes over the last eight decades. During World War II, some of the lands of this estate was used as an auxiliary airstrip with many of the large monkeypod trees providing natural hangars for small planes.
The current family owners strive to be role model stewards of the 'aina (land), by preserving and protecting it from development.
KUALOA NAME: Kualoa means 'long back'; the ranch is full of beautiful valleys and mountain peaks.
KANEHOALANI: The shroud of sacredness born by Kualoa, in great part exists because of the majestic mountains rising from it.
The highest peak atop the Kualoa ridge called Kanehoalani, towers 1900 feet skyward and means "Kane's heavenly companion".
The photo above was taken from the air in front of the ahupua`a of Kualoa. The beachfront area extended out much further then than it does now.
There were very few homes along the beach, the pastures were sparse with trees but the beauty remains the same today. Circa: 1926.
Sugar Mill operated between 1863 - 1870
The Kualoa Sugar Mill was built by Charles H. Judd and Samuel G. Wilder in 1863. The mill was closed around 1870 after years of meager rainfall that effectively brought an end to sugar farming here.
What To Know
Transportation provided by Kualoa Ranch Hawaii from Waikiki between 7:00 AM and 8:00 AM; please arrive at pickup locations 10-15 minutes prior to stated pickup times. Return to Waikiki between 2:30 PM and 2:45 PM.
Tours are generally not cancelled due to rain or wind, unless it becomes a safety issue. For ATV and other tours, a poncho is available for purchase at the country store. For Horseback Tour, Kualoa Ranch will offer a special raincoat so as not to spook the horse.
Horseback riders must be at least 10 years old, 4'6" tall and under 230 pounds.
ATV riders must be 16 years of age or older.
For Movie Site Tour and Jungle Expedition, guests 3-11 years old must be accompanied by an adult.
Bring covered shoes, long pants and sunscreen.
Kualoa Ranch Full Day Adventures are operated by Kualoa Ranch Hawaii.
*Waikiki.com shall not be liable to any individual utilizing these tour programs for delays, injury, loss, accident or damage to persons or property beyond its control. Natural phenomena are random and out of the control of the tour operator. Prices, features and/or menu are subject to change without notice.
For Reservations
In order for us to process your request for reservations fully, we advise placing your order for Waikiki.com tours and activities at least 48 hours before the tour date. Please confirm your reservation a minimum of 24 hours beforehand either online or by phone. Mahalo!
*Waikiki.com shall not be liable to any individual utilizing these tour/activity programs for delays, injury, loss, accident or damage to persons or property beyond its control. Natural phenomena are random and out of the control of the tour provider. Prices, features and/or menu are subject to change without notice.
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