Kualoa Ranch Malama ‘Aina Experience (get dirty on the ranch!)
Learn Hawaiian history and culture by participating in caring for the land (malama ‘aina)! We loved this tour as our young son could get into the taro patch mud with us to learn about taro and the rich history of the Jurassic Valley. Check out our experience below!
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Activity Overview
Kualoa Ranch Malama ‘Aina Experience Highlights
- 2-hour duration
- Kualoa Ranch is located on Windward, Oahu, 45-minutes from Waikiki
- Work in a taro patch, thatch a hut roof, plant koa trees, or whatever else your local Hawaiian guide needs to be done around the ranch
- This isn’t a tour where you pay to work but a rich cultural experience to learn how the ancient Hawaiians lived in Kualoa Valley
- Ages 5 and above and all fitness levels are welcome!
- Click the Book Here button for even more tour details, including size restrictions
Watch Our Experience on This Tour!
We sought this tour out as it was a perfect tour for our 5-year-old son to participate in at Kualoa Ranch but we also love to take time during our Hawaii vacations to learn more about the Hawaiian culture. Watch our experience below to see if this is the right tour for you!
If this tour doesn’t seem like your thing or you are interested in other Kualoa Ranch tours, see their full list of tours here!
Click to explore all Kualoa Ranch Tours!
The most popular Kualoa Ranch tours are their ATV Tour and Zipline Tour.
Kualoa Ranch Malama ‘Aina Experience Details
While most visitors come to Kualoa Ranch for ziplining, movie set tours, or ATV rides, you can participate in a unique experience to learn the history and culture of Hawaii. At two hours in duration, this tour is great for kids and also gives you the option to do another Kualoa Ranch tour afterward!
This hands-on experience captures the importance of sustainability and watershed management. It is important for us to mālama (care for) these resources as they feed our entire natural environment from the mountain to the sea, which in turn feeds us as beneficiaries of this thriving ecosystem.
Learn about how important kalo (taro) is to the Hawaiian people not only for sustenance and its cultural tie to Kualoa but also through Hawaiian cultural identity.
Depending on need, activities can include thatching of traditional Hawaiian hale (houses), assisting with cleaning, planting, harvesting kalo, planting koa tree samplings, or stewardship of the māla lāʻau lapaʻau (Hawaiian medicinal plant garden). Appropriate beach wear is needed and guests should bring a towel as they will be able to rinse off in the ocean or in one of the streams.
Yes, this tour does sound like you are paying to help Kualoa Ranch maintain their farm but I promise you, this tour is so much more. From a local Hawaiian sharing their history to seeing parts of the beautiful valley few get to see, this tour is our favorite at Kuoloa Ranch.
If you’re interested in volunteering during your Hawaii vacation, explore our list of local organizations – Hawaii Volunteer Programs.
About Hawaii Tours
Erica and I are very much DIY Hawaii travel people but sometimes a guided tour is the best and easiest way to experience the islands. A guided tour supports local tour guides, reduces the number of cars on the roads, and they can take care of permits and reservations that are hard to acquire. We have developed a relationship with one of the owners of Hawaii Tours, Daniel Logtenberg, and trust him with our Hawaii vacation planning.
Here is what Dan has to say about his company and tours:
We’ve been offering high-quality cultural and sightseeing tours throughout the Hawaiian islands for 20+ years – and we love what we do! So expect to be greeted with a friendly “Aloha” when you contact us by phone or when we pick you up at your hotel. Also, we’ll always do our very best to make your Hawaiʻi dream vacation a reality because we know you have worked hard, and your holiday time is important. You see, it’s not just our pleasure; it’s our honor to be of service to our guests.
We take great pride in showing you the natural, historical, and cultural splendors of our beautiful tropical paradise. Hawaiʻi has a special place in our hearts, which is why respecting and caring for these precious islands is of utmost importance to us. We care for the land or “Malama the aina” by showing you the best of Hawaiʻi so that you can fall in love with this incredible destination too… just as we did so many years ago.
We are affiliate partners with Hawaii Tours which means we receive a small commission for each completed booking made through this site. This is done without any additional cost to you. You can read more about our affiliate policies here. Know that we only recommend tour operators that we know and trust. Your positive experience and your trust in us mean more than any affiliate commission. By booking tours through our website you help us to provide free information and videos to help you and other readers plan their perfect Hawaii vacation. Thank you so much for your support — you are amazing!