Kualoa Ranch — Attraction in Oʻahu

♿♿♿ I have a lot to share and wish I could give a five star because the tour was great but accessibility was lacking. Please read all as there is important information if you are visiting with a disability!

First, we had Adam and Chase for our UTV tour and they were great to with with. I'll get back to that, but right off the bat, they get 5⭐s! They were great! Overall, we did have a great time! Just think there are some easy improvements that would make this visit wonderful for all who come!

Now, I want to share about my experience as a cane user during our visit for the 2hr UTV Raptor tour. I selected this tour as my partner likes to drive off road and I enjoy being a passenger. It would be a great way to cover a large amount of land and elevation without hiking and with only a step in and out of the raptor.

Night before our scheduled tour we got a text that said we were up arrive 45 minutes before the scheduled time! We planned on ~20-25. Not double that. We were able to do 30 minutes and learned why they recommend 45 once we arrived. They are built into a hill. It is not clear where you are supposed to go when you come in because there are no obvious signs from the parking lot and the handicap spaces are limited and we're filled by oversized tour buses when we arrived. After trying to see if there was handicap parking up the hill or anything, my partner dropped me off at the ramp we found and I hurried up it as fast as my legs could handle.. then had to keep going. And going. And going. Just to stand in line to check in. And then continue over rough terrain to another building to check in to the UTV building. (Both check-ins seem redundant as they did the same thing -check ticket and ID- but whatever)

Then after safety briefing which was available in four languages. That's awesome! (English, Korean, Japanese, Mandarin) We continued down a slight hill with our helmets and got into our utvs. Easy step up. Seatbelts are pretty easy but could easily help someone with it if needed too. And could request a UTV in the middle of the whole group if you aren't able to get in and out easily and want to stay in the vehicle the whole tour. This would allow you to see and hear everything from the guides. If you're able to, I recommend getting out for a couple pictures at least.

There are multiple stops with both historical Hawaiian and Pop culture information shared. Plus a variety of scenery and driving conditions. About half of the tour is gravel/dirt and the other half is paved with a narrow road. They have pretty strict safety rules and don't let you goof around, but many people don't have a ton of experience with something like this so I understand this. Strikes a good balance and they drive pretty quickly which is fun too.

Overall I do recommend this experience and tour. I think it was a lot of fun and love so many of the pictures! Chase was great with getting good shots! But the lack of information with regards to mobility/accessibility... That almost ruined things for me because I started my tour in such a difficult place physically and emotionally.

To Kualoa I highly recommend you add parking up along your access road somewhere! I also think it would be reasonable to request vans drop off their handicap riders and park elsewhere. Lastly, PLEASE put information about the terrain everywhere you possibly can. If it's buried someplace on your website, that isn't good enough. When you send out your text the day before, just add another sentence that says "we have a large campus that can be hard/take time to navigate for some. Please arrive 45 minutes early to allow plenty of time to park, check in, and find your tour location." And it's always good to let people know when it's an automated text being sent. Many times on Hawaii we got personal texts so didn't realize it was automated.

Anyways, as I said, overall ended up being a great experience... I just hope you will add some more information to better include your disabled clients too.

Thanks again to...

Kualoa Ranch is about a 45-minute drive from Waikiki and around 25 minutes from Kaneohe. The ranch covers 4,000 acres of stunning landscape. Parking is free and plentiful, with clear signage directing you to various check-in points depending on the tour or activity you’ve booked.

Kualoa Ranch has a rich history dating back to 1850 when it was established as a cattle ranch.

Kualoa Ranch offers a wide range of tours and activities, and it’s highly recommended to book tickets in advance, especially during peak tourist seasons. Prices vary depending on the activity, but generally range from $50 to $150 per person. The ranch also offers combination packages that allow you to experience multiple activities at a discounted rate. Check-in is efficient, with friendly staff guiding you to the correct meeting spot for your tour.

Wait times at Kualoa Ranch are usually minimal, as the tours are well-organized and run on schedule. However, it’s advisable to arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled activity to ensure a smooth check-in process. The duration of your visit will depend on the tours you choose. A single tour typically lasts 1-2 hours, but if you’re planning to do multiple activities, you could easily spend a full day at the ranch. It’s best to plan for at least half a day to fully enjoy the experience.

Movie Sites and Ranch Tour: This is one of the most popular tours at Kualoa Ranch, offering a behind-the-scenes look at famous movie and TV show locations. Fans of “Jurassic Park,” “Lost,” “Hawaii Five-0,” and “50 First Dates” will recognize many of the landscapes. The tour includes stops at iconic sites where you can take photos and learn about the ranch’s role in Hollywood.

ATV/UTV Tours: These off-road adventures take you deep into the ranch’s rugged terrain, offering a thrilling way to explore the valleys and ridges. You’ll get to see stunning vistas of the ocean and mountains, all while getting a bit of a thrill on the bumpy trails.

Horseback Riding: For a more serene experience, the horseback riding tours offer a leisurely way to explore the ranch. The guided rides take you through scenic valleys with plenty of opportunities to stop and enjoy the breathtaking views.

Zipline Adventure: It features multiple lines, including a tandem line where you can race a friend. The views from the zipline platforms are spectacular, providing a bird’s-eye view of the lush landscapes below.

Jungle Expedition: This tour takes you into the dense tropical forest of Kualoa Ranch. You’ll explore hidden spots, learn about native Hawaiian plants, and visit a secluded lookout point with panoramic views.

Secret Island Beach: If you’re looking to relax, the Secret Island Beach tour offers access to a private beach where you can enjoy activities like kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and beach volleyball, or just relax in a hammock.

Kualoa Ranch has a casual onsite restaurant, the Aunty Pat’s Cafe, which offers a selection of local Hawaiian dishes, burgers, sandwiches, and salads. The food is reasonably priced and tasty, with a focus on fresh, locally sourced ingredients. There’s also a snack shop that sells drinks, ice cream, and light snacks. The dining area has outdoor seating with great views of the surrounding mountains.

Despite the crowds, the ranch’s vast size helps disperse visitors, so it never feels too crowded. The atmosphere is relaxed and family-friendly, with a strong sense of connection to the land and its history. The guides are knowledgeable and passionate, often sharing personal stories and cultural insights that add depth to the experience.

The facilities at Kualoa Ranch are well-maintained and cater to the needs of visitors. Restrooms are clean and conveniently located near the main activity areas. The gift shop offers a variety of souvenirs, including locally made products, apparel, and movie-themed merchandise.

** Don’t forget to visit local farmers market at ranch, if any. ** Ask for...

We have driven by here before and thought we would take a tour the next time we came to the island. They have so many different tours to choose from. We chose the UTV raptor tour. They say on the email and the confirmation to show up 45 minutes early to check in. However, when we showed up 45 minutes early at the tour check in area, they gave us a receipt and told us to check in at our designated area 15 minutes before the tour. Therefore we had 30 minutes of free time to roam around the main area there and the gift shop/café. The only reason I can think that they ask you to show up early is due to the parking. We got lucky and found the only spot in the parking lot and the very very back. We saw many other cars circling around for spots. This place is busy! They run the UTV tours every 15 minutes. The order that you check in is the order that you get assigned your place in the UTV caravan. Since we arrived so early we got in line to check in at our designated area (each tour has a different check in spot once you check in at the main tour check in spot). This starts about 15 minutes before your tour time. We handed over our receipt and we signed our waivers/who was driving and got our buffs. They provide complimentary buffs for you. We researched online ahead of time and knew that we had to wear helmets so we brought our own buffs. But this worked out because we used their buff to wear on our head under the helmet, and we used our own buff as a bandana to keep the dust out. Beware this tour is very dusty! They fit you with a helmet, and goggles if you would like (we just wore our sunglasses). You have two tour guides, one at the front and one at the back. We watched a quick safety video. Note the maximum speed is 15 miles per hour… We walked over to our UTV’s, got our picture taken, and were on our way. We started about 15 minutes past the tour start time so you ride for about 1 hour and 45 minutes out of the 2 hour time frame (plus then you have getting there 15-45 minutes early). Therefore this is a pretty big time commitment so just be aware of that. The tour itself was nice. It consisted of driving for a bit, then stopping for a break to talk about history or a movie set and take pictures. You can switch drivers at this time, or you can wait until they let you know when the half way point is since there are multiple stops. Each section of the trails was different scenery. You had the ranch scenery where it was mostly fields with cows, you had the mountain scenery, and then you had the jungle scenery. It was a wide variety of area that you cover on the ranch and it was a great way to see it all. You don’t stop at all of the movie sites though, as that is a different tour. We stopped at mostly Jurassic World movie sites, but you have an opportunity to take pictures as you go by others as a passenger. You are riding in 6 seater Kawasaki mules, but each party gets their own UTV. When you end the tour, there are some outdoor sinks available to wash up a little as again, you get dusty. However they also have the restroom in the gift shop if you need to change clothes or if you need a mirror. Overall we thought the tour was well organized and they are a well oiled machine with how they move people through the tours. If you are looking for a way to see the ranch as a whole, then this tour is for you! The only thing we would change is maybe change the maximum speed to 20 miles per hour and it would have been that...