Sep 9, 2025
Discover Waikōloa’s Ancient Forest on a Huaka’i
Living on the Big Island, we’re surrounded by incredible natural wonders, and the Waikōloa Dry Forest Preserve is one of those special places that’s worth experiencing. If you haven’t been on one of their guided hikes yet, you’re seriously missing out on something special.
What Makes This Place So Unique?
The Waikōloa Dry Forest is an inspiring place where ancient wiliwili trees (native Hawaiian coral trees) persist in some of the roughest terrain in Hawai’i. We’re talking about a forest ecosystem that most people don’t even know exists – Hawaii’s lowland dry forests once covered huge areas of our islands, but now they’re incredibly rare. This preserve gives you a chance to experience what these landscapes were like centuries ago.
Wiliwili in Hawaiian Culture:
A well known ʻōlelo noʻeau (Hawaiian proverb) says, “Pua ka wiliwili, nanahu ka manō” which translates to “when the wiliwili trees are in bloom, the sharks bite,” linking the blooming of the wiliwili trees with shark mating season.
The Monthly Sunset Huakaʻi (Journey) Experience
The Waikōloa Dry Forest Initiative (WDFI) offers sunset tours on the first Friday of each month. These tours begin at 5pm (4:30pm November-January) at the preserve’s front gate and conclude with sunset viewing and refreshments at the Hana Hou Hale open-air pavilion.
On these guided hikes over old and rocky lava flows, you’ll see ancient wiliwili trees (native Hawaiian coral trees with bright orange seeds), sweeping views of Kohala, and kīpuka (areas of land surrounded by lava flows) that have been revegetated with many native species by volunteers and WDFI staff. It’s quite special to walk through areas where volunteers have been working hard to bring back the native plants that belong here.
Hikes are offered for free, but please note they rely on donations to keep doing this important work. The folks at WDFI are doing essential work, and… they wrap up each tour with cold drinks and the chance to watch the sunset from the pavilion. You can’t beat that combination!
Come Prepared (This Isn’t Your Average Beach Walk)
These tours include walking over uneven terrain in exposed areas. The weather can be hot, dry, and occasionally very windy or rainy. Here’s what you need to bring:
Come prepared with sturdy shoes, and any water or sun protection you may need. If you like to use a walking stick, bring that too. Don’t show up in slippers thinking you’ll be fine – the lava rock terrain is no joke. A refillable water bottle is essential, as are proper sunscreen and a hat.
Getting There
The preserve is tucked away, but it’s not hard to find.
From Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway/Highway 19: Turn onto Waikoloa road at the Blue Hawaiian Helicopter heliport. Travel up the hill for 4.8 miles and look for Quarry Road on your right just before the first condominium complex in Waikoloa. From there, you’ll follow Quarry Road to gravel, and park along the road near the preserve’s front gate.
From Māmalahoa Highway/Highway 190: Turn onto Waikoloa Road and travel down the hill toward Waikoloa Village. Continue on Waikoloa Road for 7.2 miles through the town until the landscaped center median ends. Look for Quarry Road on your left. Turn left onto Quarry Road, stay to the right at each of two forks in the road. You’ll pass a chain-link fence on your right and the road will turn to gravel. Travel down the gravel road for about 1/3 of a mile and park along the side of the road near the front gate.
Pro tip from the organizers: When you arrive, drive to the gate so that you can turn around and park along the road – this makes your exit easier!
Why This Matters
The Waikōloa Dry Forest Initiative isn’t just offering nice sunset walks – they’re doing crucial conservation work to protect and restore an ecosystem that’s disappearing. Here, you can learn about the diverse forest that once covered the driest regions of our islands and find out how you can have a positive impact on the future of the forest.
As Hawaiʻi Island residents or thoughtful visitors, we believe in the kuleana (responsibility) to support efforts like this. Whether you go for the educational experience, the beautiful views, or just because you want to do something different on a Friday evening, you’ll walk away with a deeper appreciation for what makes our island so special. As a resident or a visitor, your support makes a difference.
Please consider one of the many ways you can contribute to the WDFI efforts:
Ready to Check it Out?
SIGN UP for a guided hike on the WDFI website, and be sure to choose a date that’s available (shown on the sign-up form). Head makai (toward the ocean) if coming from upland, or mauka (toward the mountain) if coming from the coast, and get ready for an experience that’ll remind you why we love calling the Big Island home!
