going to Hawaii - Orchid Board

LinhT · #1 02-26-2010, 08:52 PM

Hi, I'm hoping to get some feedback/ recommendations from OB members who either live in Hawaii or have been there before. I'm going there this May. I'd like to go on some kind of guided hike or tour to see the native plants in the area. Can anybody give me some suggestions, like which island or who to contact there for something like this? I did not find much while googling....

Becca · #2 02-27-2010, 12:06 AM

Can I come with? I've never been to Hawaii! I promise I will bring only empty suitcases to fill with orchids to bring back home

Well obviously I am no help to you...lol. I hope you have a great time!

Tindomul · #3 02-27-2010, 12:08 AM

Hi,

I have only been to O'Ahu twice, no other parts. Both times my wife and I took guided nature tours. We can only tell you to use O'ahu Nature Tours. The alternative tours are really bad!
O'ahu nature tours have a few options and we have gone on three of their tours and were really happy all three times.
Here is the website:
Discover Hawaii. Aloha from Oahu Nature Tours
We did #4 last time and it was fantastic! Lots of birds, sea turtles, plants, and even saw whales from a distance. We learned about popular beaches other than Wai kiki.
We have done # 6 and #9 in other trips and are good too! One of them takes you to the botanical gardens which is great for learning about Hawaii's native plants.
The other nature tours tell you they take you on private lands, what they really mean is they go through an abandoned nursery that the neighbors use as a dump (glass all over the floor, abandoned vehicles etc...) then take you to the same spot that #9 from oahu nature tours shows you, and then make you leave through their "special" bamboo forest, which to me just shows how the island is being consumed by an invasive species.
P.S. if you do these, please let them know it was recommended to you, it makes them feel good.

Ok, i plan to go to Maui because that is where I was told was the best place to find native forests and the best place to find the native forest birds of Hawaii. If you go there, you HAVE to tell me how it went.

Paul · #4 02-27-2010, 12:21 AM

Last I knew, Moloka'i and Kaui are two of the least commercially developed islands, so I would think they would be good candidates for flora and fauna. O'ahu was very developed even back when I went to high school there -- and we won't even discuss how long ago that was!:rolleyes:

I wish I had known about the nature tours on O'ahu that Tindo mentioned while I still lived there. I would have liked to have done that.

Bolero · #5 02-27-2010, 01:34 AM

Excellent! I am going in a few months as well so these tips are great.

Actually, those tour prices are pretty good. Will show the wife so I can get approval.

;-)

I was going to see the Honolulu Symphony but it looks like they've cancelled all their shows.

Oh well.

Tindomul · #6 02-27-2010, 01:34 PM

trust me! That tour company is great!!

2ljd · #7 02-27-2010, 02:41 PM

Well, with the tsunami coming in a few hours, let's hope some of the places on the tour are still around to see. We're keeping our fingers crossed here on Oahu.

Tindomul · #8 02-27-2010, 04:44 PM

Good luck! Hopefully it won't be big enough to do any damage. Keep us updated!!

cb977 · #9 02-27-2010, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 2ljd

Well, with the tsunami coming in a few hours, let's hope some of the places on the tour are still around to see. We're keeping our fingers crossed here on Oahu.

STAY SAFE

quiltergal · #10 02-27-2010, 06:08 PM

Do stay safe!! Crossing my fingers for you all.

I've been to all the islands but Molokai'i. I'd say Kauai or the Big Island would be your best bet. That said, be aware that a very large percentage of plants you'll see growing all over the islands are non native species. There is a neat botanical garden on both islands. I loved the one near Hilo on the Big Island. It's a long walking trail from the top of a hill down to Onomea Bay. Quite beautiful.

Tin, I think you might be disappointed in Mauis forests. They are beautiful to be sure, but for the most part, again non native species. They've brought in bamboo, rainbow eucalyptus, and loads of other stuff to try and keep down erosion on the windward side of the island. You'll still find big stands of native Koa, but it's mixed in with all of the above.