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Hawaii’s Back Yard
Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi
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BIKE HAWAII
Although Bike Hawaii's name suggests a landlubbers' adventure outfit, the company's services extend to ocean activities as well.
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Bike Hawaii tours take clients from mountains to sea
You can do a lot more with Bike Hawaii than just go biking. Founded a decade ago, this Oahu outfitter started by offering mountain bike tours only. In 2005 the company introduced eco-tours under the banner "Rainforest to the Reef" that, as the name suggests, give participants a broader taste of the great outdoors.
Hike, Kayak and Snorkel Adventure
» Place: Kualoa Ranch, Windward Oahu. Van pickups available at various Waikiki hotels. Guests driving on their own can meet at the ranch's Visitor Center parking lot at 10 a.m.
» Date and time: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays to Saturdays; reservations required
» Cost: $110 for adults, $80 for ages 5 through 13; younger not admitted. Cost includes tax; transportation; use of snorkeling and kayaking gear; and a deli lunch of turkey, roast beef, ham or vegetarian sandwiches, beverages, chips and cookies. Kamaaina receive a 10 percent discount.
» Call: 734-4214 or toll-free (877) 682-7433 from the other islands
» E-mail: webmaster@bikehawaii.com
» Web site: www.bikehawaii.com
» Notes: Wear your swimsuit under casual, comfortable clothing. Bring sunscreen, a hat, sunglasses, socks, sturdy walking shoes and a waterproof camera (cameras also sold on the tour). Bike Hawaii's other tours are: Bike and Hike Adventure; 100% Dirt Mountain Biking Kaaawa Valley; Bike, Sail and Snorkel Adventure; Bike, Hike, Sail and Snorkel; Exclusive Rainforest Hike; and Diamond Head Sail and Snorkel Adventure.
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"Our 'Rainforest to the Reef' slogan capsulizes what we do and where we go," said Bike Hawaii president and founder John Alford. "We are the only tour company on Oahu that can take you on hiking, biking, kayaking, sailing and snorkeling adventures from the mountains to the sea, all in one day. Most of our tours go into private areas that are otherwise inaccessible to the public, which is what sets us apart from other companies."
Launched last year, the Hike, Kayak and Snorkel Adventure is Bike Hawaii's newest "Rainforest to the Reef" option.
Four-thousand-acre, 158-year-old Kualoa Ranch, a working cattle ranch in Windward Oahu, provides the breathtaking backdrop for this daylong activity that just about anyone can do.
It begins with an easy quarter-mile hike to a hilltop lookout from which a glorious panorama encompassing Hakipuu Valley, the Koolau mountain range, Kaneohe Bay, Molii fishpond and the fringes of Kaaawa Valley unfolds.
"It's a great way to start the tour because you'll get an incredible view of the bay and where you'll be kayaking," said Alford.
"The photo opportunities are spectacular; every shot could be a postcard!"
From there you'll head to a beach where guides provide detailed instructions on how to maneuver bright yellow, mango and blue single-seat and tandem kayaks.
Don't have any paddling experience? Don't worry. The water is just 4 to 8 feet deep the entire route, and, according to Alford, the vessels are stable and easy to handle.
"Kayaking in Kaneohe Bay is a peaceful experience," said Alford.
"You quickly get into the rhythm of paddling and find it's so relaxing, even meditative. The bay is one of the safest places to kayak on Oahu because it's sheltered. The outer reef that surrounds it breaks up the big ocean swells so all that comes into the bay are small 'bumps.'"
Mokolii islet (Chinaman's Hat) is one scenic highlight as green sea turtles bob beside the kayaks. A variety of coral formations, wrasses, yellow tangs, Moorish idols and other fish also will catch your eye.
"We often run into fishermen who've caught squid," said Alford.
"Most of our guests have never eaten squid, let alone know what it looks like, so they're obviously curious. The fishermen talk about the ono (delicious) ways they prepare the squid, and people can even touch them if they want."
You'll also get a close-up view of 125-acre Molii, one of the largest and best-preserved fishponds remaining in Hawaii. Villagers built it some 800 years ago to provide them with a steady supply of fresh fish.
Midday, you'll enjoy lunch on Secret Island, which forms the southeastern bank of Molii Pond. Doze in a hammock, sun on the beach, "talk story" with your kamaaina guides and feel your stress melt away.
"It's like being at an exclusive country club," said Alford. "You can't get to Secret Island on your own because it's on private Kualoa Ranch land."
BIKE HAWAII
Take in Windward Oahu sights while hiking, biking or paddling with Bike Hawaii.
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CENTURIES AGO the land the ranch now occupies was a puuhonua (sanctuary for lawbreakers and defeated warriors) and a home and training center for alii (royalty) in the arts of fighting, history and social traditions. In 1850, King Kamehameha III sold 622 acres to Gerritt P. Judd, a missionary doctor who was one of his advisers.
Judd purchased bordering acreage in Hakipuu and Kaaawa valleys from the Wilder family (fellow missionaries), which increased the size of his holdings to 4,000 acres.
His descendants dubbed the area Kualoa (meaning "long back") in 1927, and today they are recognized as model stewards of the land, who have developed recreational and agricultural enterprises that preserve and enhance its natural beauty.
Kualoa stretches from the majestic ramparts of the Koolaus to the rolling blue expanse of the Pacific. Many of its most magnificent niches are accessible only on foot or horseback.
Hollywood discovered Kualoa's charms decades ago; it has provided dramatic backdrops for countless television shows and movies, including "Lost," "Hawaii Five-O," "Magnum, P.I.," "Jurassic Park," "Windtalkers," "Pearl Harbor," "Godzilla," "Tears of the Sun" and "50 First Dates."
Alford considers Kualoa to be the perfect locale for Bike Hawaii's Hike, Kayak and Snorkel Adventure.
"The tour is a great introduction to the beauty of Oahu," he said.
"It gets people outdoors, but it's not too strenuous for those who don't usually do those activities. Another plus is that aside from the people in your group, you probably won't see anyone else when you're on the tour. You'll really feel as though you're in a very secluded part of paradise."
Cheryl Chee Tsutsumi is a Honolulu-based free-lance writer and Society of American Travel Writers award winner.