Ecotourists Take To The Hills - And The Sea - In Hawaii

Vacationers have long enjoyed Hawaii’s surf, sun, sand and rainbows. Now many are discovering the rugged delights offered by the state’s growing ecotourism industry.

The ecotourists may find scenic pleasures on a rain forest hike, on a demanding trek into a volcano crater or out at sea watching whales. Unlike many vacationers, they want to learn more about Hawaii’s natural gifts. They’re not content to merely enjoy the beaches of Waikiki.

“Some people just want to say they’ve seen a whale,” says Dan McSweeney, who runs an adventure company that organizes expeditions from the Big Island. His clients? “People who want more than boat rides. They want to learn something.”

McSweeney has studied whales for 30 years, particularly the pilot whales off Hawaii’s Kona coast. By now he can identify entire whale families.

“When you look at other sun-surf destinations, the thing that sets us apart is the culture and the scenery and the environment,” says Sue Kanoho, executive director of the visitors bureau on Kauai. The rural island is a favorite of ecotourists, who head into lush greenery and gaze at waterfalls.

For decades on the island of Oahu, tourists have climbed Diamond Head, the dormant volcano at the end of Honolulu’s Waikiki beach, and snorkeled in Hanauma Bay on the city’s outskirts.

Now ecotourists seek out organized hikes and bird-watching, or want information about local culture and history, says Raymond S. Tabata, vice president of the Hawaii Ecotourism Association. The group formed in 1995 to protect Hawaii’s environment and culture through responsible travel. Its 150 members include representatives of tour groups, lodging and state agencies.

“They are looking for a little deeper experience than just looking at scenery,” Tabata says.

“The value in Hawaii is not in building attractions. It’s not in golf courses,” says Reece Olayvar, owner and guide for Hike Hawaii on Oahu. “The value is here already. We have the history. We have the culture. We have the natural beauty.”