High in the mountains of West Oahu, an area known as Palehua has a view you can't find anywhere else. It's one of the most unique views on the island, and Bike Hawaii has tours that take you hiking through the private land.
"There's lots of tour companies that do various things, and so we try to find something that's unique," said Bike Hawaii president John Alford. "By partnering with private landowners, we can get something special for our guests."
Bike Hawaii has been operating for 24 years, with popular biking and combination experiences that also include hiking and snorkeling in the same day, and it offers commission to travel agents.
The company had already been offering a Palehua ridge hike, but it recently launched a Palehua Hike and Snorkel Tour, in partnership with Ko Olina Ocean Adventures, to give visitors a mauka to makai -- mountain to ocean -- experience.
On Wednesdays, visitors can start their day in Palehua at a cool 2,400 feet, where they will hike a one-and-a-half-mile loop trail. The guided walk passes many endemic species and ends at picnic tables with a scenic view over the West Side town of Nanakuli. Snacks are provided at this resting spot.
Bike Hawaii has been offering guided hikes of the Palehua area of Oahu for several years. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Bike Hawaii
Afterward, they'll head down to a 53-foot, double-hulled yacht in Ko Olina to go on a three-hour sail and snorkel tour around the coast, with lunch and three complimentary cocktails included. "They've got a great crew, beautiful boat, bunch of cocktails, and we provide all the snorkel gear and instructions, as well," Alford said.
Visitors can also choose to do the tour in reverse on Sundays, starting with the snorkel and ending with the hike, just in time to watch the sunset. It just depends on what people prefer.
"Looking across Nanakuli Valley, and looking west, you can see the setting sun," said Alford. "That's really nice."
Correction: In an earlier version of this report, a caption incorrectly gave the location of the hikes: It is West Oahu, not West Maui.