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Short Private Hike To Secret Jungle Tide Pool
Big Island of Hawaii, USA
- 2 hours 30 minutes
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
What's Included
- Guidance to the location of the tide pool
- Conversation about the local culture and environment
- Recommendations for what to do on Big Island
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Kahakai ParkPāhoa, HI 96778, USA
Park on Papio St on the side of the road in front of Kahakai Park. You'll need to turn left onto Papio St. 50 feet before the GPS endpoint. I'll be in a black Nissan Xterra. There's a porta-potty there but nowhere else on the hike. You’ll then follow me by car for 2 miles to the trailhead.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.What To Expect
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Bring a bathing suit and towel. Most people wear their bathing suit on the hike because there are no bathrooms at the pool.
- Some people bring snorkeling gear or goggles.
- Apply sunscreen before the hike so it doesn't get in the water. You don't need bug spray because there are hardly any bugs or mosquitoes.
Cancellation Policy
This experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed for any reason. If you cancel or ask for an amendment, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Traveler Photos
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Featured review
Dominic_D
If you are seeking a mini adventure then this excurtion is perfect. Its a short hike through a jungle and then onto a rocky volcanic shore. Bring some good shoes but be ready to take a dip in small pools of water that over look the ocean. We loved this trip and highly recommend it. Josh is a great guide, friendly and helpful. If we are ever back in Hawaii we would do this again.
Reviews
4.5
44 reviews
Qianye_Z, Apr 2024
This is a real wild exploration experience that you can meet the true environment of Big Island. The trial is not able to find on a map but local people may know. Climbing up and down on lava rocks is challenging and exciting. Josh is a very experienced tour guide and excellent hiker can always bring you to the secret pool safely.
Lorenzo_C, Apr 2024
This experience was absolutely amazing! Josh is a super chill guy and knew the area extremely well so we all felt very safe in his hands! The hike was moderate, you just want to make sure you take one step at a time and you are golden! The views were spectacular and well worth the trek!! Thank you Josh for showing us this!
Devon_B, Mar 2024
There are some mixed reviews so hopefully this helps…My family and I are in pretty good physical shape, I did have my two children, 5/7 with us.
Josh is nice enough, he is quiet and not your “tour guide” type personality which is why I think people were uncomfortable with the location.
We followed him in our car to a remote location, parked on the side of the road and got out to start walking through plants/woods towards the water.
At first sight the views are gorgeous BUT what is not explained by (I learned on a real tour the next day) the volcanic rock is A HA. Sharp, unstable, high peaks and ridges that with one wrong move or loss of balance you (or your children) could easily break your neck or take a life changing fall.
We only hiked about 50ft through this rock and refused to go any further because we saw our kids lives flashing in front of us…don't get me wrong, they were climbing like champs but it was WAY too close to 20-30 ft cliff falls that could kill someone. Not to mention I doubt this tour is properly insured incase of death
This excursion is ideal for young adventure seeking adults 20/30/40 who are well aware they are putting their lives in danger NOT FAMILIES!!
Response from Host, May 2024
Calling the hike "extremely dangerous" is an exaggeration. I've never had a single person get seriously injured, which is a testament to the safety. The ‘A‘ā lava is nowhere near as unstable and precarious as the reviewer makes it seem. The spots on the hike where there is elevation gain are especially solid and stable, and for the most part, you're not close enough to the edge for it to be dangerous. This group ended the hike after 50 feet based solely on the sight of the first hill, so the reviewer is not qualified to analyze the stability of the hills. The oldest child was the only one who climbed up the first hill, but that area was very stable and the child was never in any danger. Over half of the hike is very flat and easy. It just so happens that the harder parts are in the beginning. I've had some younger kids do the hike and they were fine, although the parents were more hands-on. One of my biggest demographics is parents in their 40s & 50s with or without their teenage children, so I do not agree with the "20/30/40" recommendation the reviewer makes. The lower age cutoff is probably about 8 years old, although that will depend on the parent and child. There really isn't an upper age cutoff as long as you don't have a disability. Because this group ended the hike so quickly, I didn't get a chance to give them a "real tour", to discuss the history of the area, for example, which I know a fair amount about. Sometimes I talk more, sometimes I talk less. It just depends on what I feel the group wants.
Regina_D, Mar 2024
The pools themselves are glorious and magical. Also potentially dangerous. I’m sure there are times of year when that cliffside walk is more treacherous. Wear good hiking shoes and bring water shoes for the pools. Respect and appreciate the fact that the hike requires walking across private property. That privilege can be revoked at any time. Be good.
Response from Host, Mar 2024
I just want to note that the owner has given me permission to cross his private property. Most of the hike is on public land, including the tide pool. The hike is safe any time of year.
Lydia_H, Mar 2024
Absolutely incredible. Crystal Clear water, exciting “fireworks” display of crashing waves. And the weather Gods shined down on us. Thanks Josh.
DAVE_M, Mar 2024
The hike was a short jaunt, first through a forest of walking palms, then out onto the rugged coast. **Wear hiking boots or water shoes - the lava is sharp and unstable - definitely not tevas/sandals!! I’ve seen other reviews saying there was climbing involved. Hey, I’m 61 and no gym rat, and it was fine. Don’t get intimidated and miss out!
The spot is a secluded tidal pool where the waves will crash all around you. (If you are thinking that this will be like “The Blue Lagoon”, it’s not. This is a full-on exposed tidal pool, 3 to 6 feet deep - no shade.)
Josh was our guide - nice guy, and truly loves the place - just a chill dude taking like-minded folks to a nice spot he found. We were there for a little over an hour just watching the waves crash against the lava walls. On the way out, he took us by the 2014 lava flow.
Take water and snacks/food, eco-friendly sunscreen, hat, and waterproof camera or case for your phone.
Deb_l, Jan 2024
Josh knew the area and brought us on a hike we would have never found on our own. It was magical! He was engaged with us and also gave us time to explore on our own.
Rebecca_S, Nov 2023
When my husband and I came to Hawaii for our honeymoon, we were looking for really unique and romantic experiences that we couldn’t find anywhere else. Going to this tide pool was by far our favorite thing we did on the big island. If you are looking for an off-the-beaten path adventure… this is it. The hike to the pools only requires a little bit of effort and was quite a bit of fun climbing over BEAUTIFUL molten rock. I truly felt like I was enjoying something only a local gets to experience. You cannot get this adventure through a tour group. It is worth every penny. And Josh is an awesome host who is so friendly to chat with but also willing to give us our space to a romantic moment alone.
Randy_B, Oct 2023
Don't go. The tour guide was an unclean unkept individual and my wife and I were the only ones on the tour... We felt uncomfortable and unsafe
Response from Host, Oct 2023
No other group has ever found me unclean and unkept. I showered that morning. I wore fresh clothes. I'm not even a hippie. I'm just a normal, college-educated guy.
This reviewer only spent 5 minutes with me. He didn't even do the hike. When I met him at the meeting location, the first words he said to me were that his wife was feeling sick and they couldn't do the hike. In retrospect, this must have been a lie in order to avoid doing the hike, which means he made a rash judgment about me being unclean and unkept by simply watching me get out of my car and walk towards him.
Anonymous, Oct 2023
The most memorable parts of the trip were seeing the car at the end. Although we had a bad experience, we have a good story to tell. Anyway, to start there was absolutely no conversation because he was always so far ahead of us. My 21 year old daughter freaked once because we were out in the middle of the lava field and we didn’t know where he was. Minor “scrambling” / rock climbing is an understatement. I am not in athletic shape but I am generally able to hold my own. However, I had a hard time climbing up and down the lava rock boulders. I am short also, so my daughter had to help me get my footing. He never helped us as like I said, he was way ahead of us. If he said more than 30 words, I would be shocked. He was generally stand offish. He did wait for me when I needed to rest and I felt good when I was done for accomplishing the hike, but really think about paying for this as it really wasn’t fun. Also, if you do decide to do this, bring good hiking shoes so you don’t slip and fall.
Response from Host, May 2024
It's almost like the reviewer is misremembering the experience. We talked a fair amount during the hike. At the pool, I gave the group privacy because it seemed like they wanted it, although after they got out of the water, we talked for a while while watching the ocean. Sometimes I do this, other times I'm more interactive at the pool. It just depends on the group. I have no idea why the reviewer would think I was stand-offish. I'm always friendly.
Furthermore, the "what to expect" section provides plenty of information about the terrain. Certainly it's not difficult enough to be considered scrambling or climbing. The reviewer seemed to have other health issues that exacerbated the difficulty of the hike, as she seemed sick and on the verge of passing out several times.
Lastly, the only reason I didn't physically help the woman was because her daughter was very hands-on and already doing that. What I did do was guide them along a very specific route that is easiest and safest. I always remained relatively close to the group, not as far away as the reviewer claims. On one occasion, the reviewer lost sight of me, but I was never out of sight. The reviewer was just looking for me in the wrong direction. When I noticed this, I called to her, and she saw me. She is dramatizing what really happened.
From $100.00
-You will not receive a refund if you cancel.
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