Oahu] What is Kualoa Ranch (Kualoa Ranch) like? Feel the charm of nature at this popular spot on Oahu!

Oahu, Hawaii's most popular resort island

When you hear the word "Hawaii," you probably think of the island of Oahu. It is a place characterized by white beaches and resort hotels lined up in rows.

Oahu is also known as the Gathering Place, and most of Hawaii's population is concentrated on this island.

Oahu is a resort destination where you can enjoy both urban and natural beauty.

 

What is Oahu like?

Oahu is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and the center of all tourism, politics, and economics. The island is roughly divided into Honolulu and its suburbs, the eastern coast (East Oahu), the western coast (West Oahu), the northern coast (North Shore), and the central region (Central Oahu).

Honolulu includes Waikiki with its many hotels and famous beaches, and Ala Moana with its shopping centers.

 

How to get to Oahu

There are direct flights to Oahu from all over Japan.

The flight time differs slightly between the two flights due to air currents, but it is 6.5 to 7 hours for the trip and 8.5 to 9 hours for the return.

 

Attractions of Oahu

Oahu has a lot to offer, from beautiful beaches and lush nature to bustling cities and the nostalgic atmosphere of the suburbs.

Let's take a closer look at its appeal here.

 

Beautiful beaches and vast wilderness

Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous tourist spots on Oahu. The white beach stretches for about 3 km, and the contrast with the blue ocean is the very atmosphere of a resort area.

Lush nature is also an attraction of Oahu, and Diamond Head and Kualoa Ranch, both popular power spots, are well-known.

 

One of the world's leading resorts

Oahu has a temperate climate throughout the year, with little temperature variation and only a few showers during the rainy season. This allows visitors to enjoy ocean and mountain activities in the mild climate.

Other visitors can feel the healing power of Hawaii's time flow and enjoy shopping and events that only a resort can offer.

With such a wide variety of things to do, Oahu is one of the world's leading resort destinations that attracts many travelers all year round.

 

Shopping and restaurants are also recommended

Oahu offers an abundance of shopping and dining options. From the Ala Moana Shopping Center and the Royal Hawaiian Center to the stores at each hotel and outlet stores, visitors can enjoy a variety of shopping styles.

Look for Hawaii's limited-edition products and works by local artists.

Restaurants are also popular for atmospheric dinners overlooking Waikiki Beach and Hawaii Regional Cuisine, which uses locally grown ingredients. You may also want to visit some of the hottest gourmet restaurants with lines out the door.

 

What is Kualoa Ranch like?

Kualoa Ranch is a ranch located in the northeastern part of Oahu, covering an area of approximately 5 million square meters, where visitors can experience a wide variety of activities such as horseback riding, ATVs, and zip lines.

It is also famous as a movie location, and tours around the filming locations are popular.

 

History of Kualoa Ranch

Kualoa Ranch was once a sacred place that was only accessible to royalty, and many myths are still told about it.

In 1850, the family received a large tract of land from King Kamehameha III and began growing sugarcane, developing it to the point where they built a sugar refinery. Due to the drought that followed, the sugar cane factory was closed in 1871. In the 1900s, cattle ranching began and Kualoa Ranch was born. During World War II, the ranch became the property of the military and a base was established.

After the war, it was returned to its owner and transformed into Kualoa Ranch as we know it today, with the creation of horseback riding facilities in the 1970s and other activities in the 1980s.

 

About Access

If you join a tour with a shuttle service, you will be picked up at your hotel, but here are the directions for getting there by rental car and local bus. By rental car, it is about 40 km from Waikiki and takes about 50 minutes.

Follow Highway 1 westward for 9 km, then turn onto the Rikerike Highway and go north for 12 km, then turn onto the Kahekili Highway and follow the road west for 16 km to reach the destination.

From Waikiki, take bus #60, which leaves from the Ala Moana Shopping Center. It runs approximately every 30 minutes and takes about 1 hour and 45 minutes.

 

Kualoa Ranch Highlights

Kualoa Ranch is the perfect place for those who want to experience another Hawaii. The majestic mountains and valleys are spiritual spots that were off limits to the public as sacred ground. Let's delve into how to enjoy Kualoa Ranch.

 

Enjoy the spectacular nature.

The vast ranchland (450 times the size of the Tokyo Dome), the towering mountains surrounding it, and the view of Kaneohe Bay and uninhabited islands from the hilltop!

Kualoa means "long back," which may have been used to describe the mountain range.

 

Enjoy a variety of activities

Kualoa Ranch offers a variety of activities. Horseback riding and open bus tours of movie locations are popular with families.

For active people, we recommend the ATVs that run through the grounds or the popular zip line. Kualoa Ranch also offersPrivate BeachThe company also owns the property, so you can enjoy ocean activities as well.

 

Everywhere you look, there are spectacular views that look great on social media.

Kualoa Ranch, revered by the ancient Hawaiians, is a place of exceptional natural beauty. The lush green mountains and pastures, and the way the sun's rays change with the time of day, all add up to a single picture.

The contrast between the bright yellow flowers and the deep green when the moxenna are in full bloom is also wonderful. Capturing nature on a grand scale in your photos will surely produce many photos that will look great on social media.

 

Activities at Kualoa Ranch

There is a wide variety of activities to be enjoyed on the expansive grounds. Horseback riding and baby carriage rides take advantage of the unique terrain, and tours in special vehicles through the jungle, up and down wild mountain roads, can be great fun.

Tours at Kualoa Ranch are characterized by the best of nature.

Here are some of the activities you can enjoy at Kualoa Ranch.

 

riding horse

If you come to Kualoa Ranch, you must try horseback riding. Horseback riding here is Western style with one hand on the reins. You can feel the nature of Hawaii as you take a leisurely stroll through beautiful meadows and mountain trails on the back of a horse.

A leisurely stroll through the canyon leads to a high point with spectacular views of Kaneohe Bay and Chinaman's Hat.

No need to worry even if this is your first time riding a horse. The instructor will guide you carefully, so you can participate with confidence. To participate in horseback riding at Kualoa Ranch, you must be at least 10 years old, at least 137 cm tall, and weigh no more than 104 kg.

 

baby carriage

This is a popular activity where you ride an ATV through a vast area. You can feel the great outdoors as you ride on unpaved, bumpy, off-road trails.

Those who have given up on ATV tours in the past because their children are under 16 years old or their companion is unable to drive can now participate in ATV tours in a Raptor, a four-wheel drive vehicle that can accommodate up to six people.

Since the tour also takes you to the Ka'ava Valley and movie locations at the same time, it is a great way to feel the great outdoors and enter into a scene from the movie. Raptor drivers must be at least 21 years old, and children riding with them must be at least 5 years old.

 

Film location tours

Known as a filming location for Hollywood movies such as Jurassic World, Godzilla, and Lost, as well as TV dramas, Kaava Valley is vast and beautiful. It is often used for filming Japanese commercials and TV programs, so you may be able to see the scenery you have seen before.

There will be time to get off the bus and enjoy taking pictures. The tour is suitable for all ages and genders. The movie location tour includes a visit to the cage where the Indominus Rex was raised in Jurassic World, the Gyrosphere loading dock, the Jurassic Park gate, Godzilla's footprints, and the bunker used in the popular drama Lost, the Hawaii Five-O set.

You can also take a walk around the 50th First Kiss Fukirau Cafe. They may play scenes that were filmed in the car, so you will have the sensation of seeing the world of the screen appear before your eyes. This is a recommended activity with plenty of photo spots.

 

zipline

Ziplining is an activity in which visitors slide down a wire rope stretched between trees, holding onto pulleys called pulleys.

The speed is fast and thrilling as you slide down through the lush green mountains. The distance of the cables and the difference in elevation vary depending on the course, allowing visitors to enjoy views that are not usually seen.

The Kualoa Ranch zipline is one of the largest on Oahu. The seven zipline courses, set up in Ka'aava Valley, are 400 meters long at their longest, with a maximum height difference of approximately 30 meters. A tour that glides on all seven courses will take visitors around a 6-km course, including crossing two bridges between the start and the finish line.

The trip takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. The zipline ride down the mountain offers a great view of the prairie below and the mountain range of the Ko'olau Mountains.

 

Canoe/Kayak

There is a beach in front of Kualoa Ranch, where you can try kayaking. Sea kayaking feels great as you cut through the waves.

Tours such as Chinaman's Hut and Secret Island, starting from the beach in front of Kualoa Ranch, are recommended. You can stop at the shallow sandbar along the way so you can walk or swim in the sandbar.

After that, you can stop by a spot where you can see sea turtles, or go to a beach with taro fields, and enjoy the ocean around Kualoa Ranch.

 

summary

We hope you enjoyed this article about Kualoa Ranch on Oahu.

Kualoa Ranch, located about an hour from Waikiki, is a spot with many attractions. If you visit Oahu, please be sure to stop by Kualoa Ranch. Thank you for reading to the end.