Too soon it was time for us to say goodbye to Hawaii, the next day morning we were flying back to San Diego so we planned to go to the Kualoa reserve. Established in 1850 Kualoa is a 4,000-acre private nature reserve and working cattle ranch with more than 600 head of cattle, 120 horses and 200 sheep, stretching from the steep mountain cliffs to the sparkling waters of Kaneohe Bay.
The reserve terrain shows a lot of variety from dense Hawaiian rainforest and steep mountain cliffs to broad open valleys. It is truly a paradise for outdoor recreation and guided tours are offered through electric Mountain Bikes, ATV Raptors, Zip line, Horseback, Trolley, Bus, Boat, Jungle Jeep and Catamaran
It is about 24 miles from Waikiki and consists of 3 valleys: Kaaawa , Kualoa and Hakipuu Valleys.
Koolau Range thus is an imposing volcanic mountain range renowned for its dramatic cliffs and peaks, forming a stunning backdrop to Oahu’s Windward Coast and plays a significant role in the geographical and cultural landscape of Hawaii.
Its abundant rainfall supports diverse ecosystems, which contribute to the island’s biodiversity. People love to explore a network of breath taking hiking trails that wind through the Koolau Range, offering panoramic views of Oahu’s lush landscapes
We bought our tickets at the entrance which was quite impressive with the tall rugged mountains standing guard behind it, as we went in we observed that the hills were complemented by very old and ancient trees some of whose trunks were immensely broad, the lawns were lush green and very pleasing to the eyes, we waited for the bus to come, its frequency being every 10 minutes
There were horse stables and very natural models of horses and cows for the kids to appreciate
I quickly had a look at a museum which had a lot of information about the range along with exhibits dating back to the good old times
Kualoa range was considered sacred to ancient Hawaiians during the 13th to 18th century, as Chief Laamaikahiki settled there after visiting Kauai before returning to Tahiti.
In 1850 an American missionary doctor Dr. Gerrit .P. Judd purchased 622 acres of ranch land at Kualoa and the island of Mokolii just offshore for 1300 dollars from King Kamehameha as he was the first person to translate medical journals into the Hawaiian language the king was very grateful for his services
In 1860 Dr. Judd bought a further 2200 acres and in 1880 Dr. Judd's son Charles bought another 1188 acres making it 4000 acres of land as on today.
In 1863 Charles Judd and his brother-in-law started a sugarcane plantation and built a sugar mill at the ranch. Several years of low rainfall brought sugar farming to a close, and the mill closed in 1870, it can still be seen along the Kamehameha highway.
In 1941 during World War II , the U.S. military occupied the land for an airfield and after the war the ranch was returned and continues to be a working cattle ranch
Kualoa Ranch Private Nature Reserve is owned and managed by 6th, 7th and 8th generation descendants of Dr. Gerritt P. Judd who aim to enrich people’s lives by preserving their sacred land and celebrating its history as a role model of sustainable recreational, agricultural and aqua cultural enterprises compatible with the environment.
There are two major areas of the property: the northern half which includes Kaʻaʻawa Valley, nick-named “Jurassic Valley” and containing many of the movie locations; and the southern half that includes the verdant Hakipuʻu Valley rainforest and Moli’i, an 800-year old ancient Hawaiian fishpond listed on the US National Register of Historic Places. Unfortunately we could see only the northern half due to lack of time.
We finally got into the bus which didn’t have any windows so we could freely see the exterior, we were taken for a ride around the range with our guide showing us various spots where the Hollywood movies were pictured.
More than 200 movies and TV shows have been filmed at Kualoa over the years, including George of the Jungle, Paradise, Hawaiian Style , Jurassic Park, Jurassic world, Mighty Joe Young, Pearl Harbor, Wind talkers , Fantasy Island, Godzilla, Kong : Skull Island, Jumanji , Jumanji : Welcome to the jungle, to name a few
We stopped at the WWII bunkers, after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, the United States Military decided that they needed land on windward Oahu to keep watch for future attacks. They rented land from the ranch and built an auxiliary airstrip and several bunkers and batteries to prevent Japanese planes from flying through the valley.
One such location is Battery Cooper. It is the largest of the remaining bunkers and was built into the face of the cliff in 1943 and featured 150-foot-long concrete-lined tunnels leading to the gun positions.
It served for five years as part of the World War II-era’s coastal defence program and is perhaps the only remaining reminder of this site’s military history.
Standing at the entrance to the bunker we found the views breathtakingly spectacular, we were enclosed on three sides by mountains and one side by the Kaneohe Bay with bright blue water sparkling in the sun
Now the bunker serves a different purpose and is used as a mini-museum full of props, sets, and photographs from the films like Pearl Harbor and television shows such as “Lost” that have been shot at this impressive ranch are on display.
We went through the tunnel and viewed the props which were quite interesting, the rooms looked as if they were going to spring alive any moment .
Our grandson particularly fell in love with the jeep parked at the entrance, he clambered into the driver’s seat and started offering rides in the jeep to other children, needless to say he was promptly pushed out by them as they too wanted to get in and started to form long queues
The range I felt looked almost like it did in “Jurassic Park” and “Jurassic World” though the dinosaurs were missing of course.
The valley was also dotted with the remnants of film sets, in addition to the fallen tree now memorialized with a “Jurassic Park” sign, there was also a raptor paddock with an animatronic Blue inside, Hurley’s golf course from “Lost,” areas with Kong’s footprints
The valley was filled with rolling pastures and lush greenery, the colors were so vivid that they almost hurt our eyes, the sky meanwhile was playing hide and seek with the fluffy clouds, our guide told us that the range had nearly 50 waterfalls
We then stopped at the skull island where various gigantic bones were placed very strategically, it is not a real island but a filming location which was used to film the 2017 movie Kong: Skull Island.
The "bones" are giant props made of Styrofoam, and were created for the movie's "boneyard" scene. The bones looked very real and all of us got busy clicking pics with them
Bird enthusiasts will find the Koolau Range to be a haven for unique avian species. Notable among these are the Apapane a bright red bird known for its nectar-feeding habits, and the stunning Akohekohe, or Crested Honeycreeper, recognizable by its striking plumage.
The range is also home to the endangered ‘Io, or Hawaiian Hawk, and the charming Elepaio, a small insectivorous bird.
Within the Koolau Range, there are no hotels allowed because of the natural preservation of the area. However, a few eco-friendly lodges offer a unique experience of staying close to nature.
The Koolau Range, with its intricate tapestry of ancient origins, cultural resonance, and mysterious legends, is definitely an unparalleled hiking destination for those who wish to unravel the secrets of Hawaii’s past. The hikers due to the constantly changing environment in the range need special gear as protection
We later went to the Makao beach on the northern shore, it was a pristine beach with white sand, it had a swing tied to a tree and our grandson promptly pushed all of us off the swing by turns and was extremely delighted to see us topple down luckily onto the soft sand
Next day we checked out of our rooms and headed to the airport bidding goodbye to the receptionists
On the way we found an isolated beach on which we made our grandson cut his birthday cake , he saw a rustic hut there and wanted to stay back and become a Hawaiian ,with difficulty we persuaded him to accompany us to the airport
