Our Story

Big Island of Hawaii

Hawaii Forest & Trail proudly celebrated its 30th anniversary in May 2023 on Hawaii Island. The company is fortunate to have its owners and founders, Robert and Cindy Pacheco, remain deeply involved while staying committed to their mission of sharing the splendor of Hawaii Nei and inspiring a deep connection with the natural world.

Our Founders

Rob & Cindy Pacheco

Co-Founders of Hawaii Forest & Trail

When Rob and Cindy Pacheco first met, Rob was a young Naturalist working as a Bee Keeper and Cindy the General Manager of a Plant Nursery and Garden Center. Soon after they were married Rob asked Cindy one day “Do you think people would pay money to follow me around in the forest?” Cindy replied, “I would pay money to follow you around in the forest!” Little did they know, that innocent question, with Rob’s passion for the natural world and Cindy’s business acumen would be the beginning of one of the most successful land-based eco-tour operations in Hawaii. They started with a Chevy Suburban and a Fax Machine in their garage and have grown it to more than 50 employees with operations all over Hawaii Island.

Jason Cohn

President & COO of Hawaii Forest & Trail.

Born and raised in Kona, Hawaii Jason was one of his Step-dad Rob’s first customers as a child in Hawaii Forest & Trail’s “Summer with Nature” Kids camp in 1993. After growing up in and around the business, when Jason left Hawaii after graduation from Kealakehe High School to attend College at Santa Clara University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Communications. After working in the film and television industry in California for 6 years Jason returned home to Hawaii in 2012 where he re-entered the family business as a guide for Kohala Zipline. After 2 ½ years of guiding and managing operations at Kohala Zipline, Jason took over the sales and marketing department of Hawaii Forest & Trail and Kohala Zipline in 2015. Jason was named President of Hawaii Forest & Trail and Kohala Zipline in January of 2020, and lives in Kona with his wife and son.

Our Mission

Hawaii Forest & Trail is committed to keeping its tour groups small, fully-outfitted, and comfortable for an enjoyable day of exploration. Since its early tours, the company has expanded its eco-adventure offerings to include exploring hidden craters, volcanoes, waterfalls, Maunakea, Hawaii’s diverse wildlife, and more!

How It Started

Robert Pacheco’s passion for Hawaii’s natural world began when he first arrived on the Island of Hawaii in 1990. Struck by the island’s unparalleled biodiversity and unique geology, he realized that Hawaii offered a living classroom for evolutionary biology, conservation, and earth science. At the same time Pacheco, who worked as a naturalist on the mainland, concluded that residents and visitors were only seeing Hawaii’s beautiful scenery and had little knowledge of Hawaii’s natural history. Determined Pacheco created his vision: to share his passion for natural history with others and to help conserve Hawaii’s endangered environment by educating them about it. With the growing worldwide interest in eco-tourism, and with the help of his wife, Cindy, whom he met in Kona, the idea for Hawaii Forest & Trail was born.

Our Vision

One integral idea the Pachecos instituted was to establish partnerships with private landowners that would grant guests access to places with remote, pristine ecosystems that had previously been inaccessible. Hawaii Forest & Trail is one of the few tour companies allowed access to private lands and controlled access to wildlife refuges.

What Sets Us Apart

Another important element Pacheco built into Hawaii Forest & Trail was the practice of having knowledgeable and passionate guides. Initially leading every tour himself, Pacheco gradually built a team of expert guides with strong academic backgrounds. Beyond the guides simply “knowing things”, they must also have a real passion for Hawaii’s natural world and enthusiasm for sharing it. Pacheco has patiently built the best ecotour staff in Hawaii with each experience blending exploration with fascinating insights into Hawaii’s biology, geology, history, and Native Hawaiian culture, providing an unforgettable and educational experience.

Why Choose Us

Fully Outfitted Adventures – Our guests are fully outfitted for their adventure including everything from trekking poles, backpacks, bug spray, extra sunscreen, and re-usable water bottles to towels, blankets, & parkas – we have you covered from the forests to the summit! Our experiences also include fresh meals or tasty snacks, chilled beverages, and a sweet treat to keep you fueled up along your journey.

Expert Guides – With over 100 years of combined guiding experience, our team of expert interpretive guides are passionate about sharing their knowledge and love for Hawaii’s landscapes, wildlife, and history. We have one of the most extensive guide training programs in our industry, focusing on using the interpretive process to facilitate deep and lasting connections between our guests and the places we visit.

Small Group Tours – With a focus on sustainability and personalized experiences, Hawaii Forest & Trail keeps its tour groups small, allowing for intimate interactions with nature and personalized attention from guides. This ensures guests have a more immersive and meaningful experience.

Exclusive Access – Hawaii Forest & Trail offers off-the-beaten-path adventures that take guests beyond the locked gates to lesser-known destinations and hidden gems across Hawaiian Island. These unique experiences provide an opportunity to explore untouched wilderness and discover secret spots that few visitors ever see.

Sustainable Practices – We’re passionate about being a role model for regenerative tourism that uplifts our local community. We take pride in conserving natural resources through sustainable management practices, minimizing waste, and incorporating stewardship activities into our adventures. Our Kona headquarters is a shining example of our commitment – it’s solar powered, utilizes paperless systems, and has a reusable water bottle program that keeps over 25,000 plastic bottles out of our landfill and ocean every year. We’re also proud that our Iiwi Fund has donated over $100,000 to local non-profits that are dedicated to conserving Hawaii’s precious natural and cultural resources.

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