|
The Hawaii Nature Center is a non-profit organization that works to foster awareness, appreciation and understanding of Hawaii’s environment to preserve our islands for future generations. We do this through diverse programs with the island’s school children, families and individuals that create learning moments in nature’s class-room.
Our ‘Iao Valley facility on the island of Maui is situated at the mouth of a magical and sacred valley, the site of the battle of Kepaniwai, where King Kamehameha defeated the warriors of the island of Maui on his drive to unify the Hawaiian Islands.
Today, we operate a lodge that caters to families, groups and corporate retreat participants who are looking for eco-tourism, edu-tourism or volun-tourism opportunities. Our staff will custom create programs for your group to ensure you have a once-in-a-lifetime experience during your stay in the rain-forest. Program fees are based on the number of participants and the complexity of the program.
Daily hikes are also available, as are group volunteer experiences in invasive species removal, native species reforestation, restoration of taro fields (lo’I kalo), and collaborative efforts with other Maui based non-profit groups.
We have worked with corporate groups from Tesoro, Washington Mutual and Tauk Bridges, as well as school groups from as far away as Seoul, South Korea to as close as Wailuku Elementary. Our projects cover both mountain and beach environments.
The center is located at the mouth of the valley at the cool 500-feet elevation level, with our rustic lodge nestled in a grove of kukui trees in a Hawaiian rain-forest.
Each of our rooms can accommodate from six to eight people and have a private bath with hot and cold running water and modern fixtures. On site we also provide a community living area for evening relaxation and game playing, as well as a community kitchenette.
Meals available for purchase are prepared by our on-site "Nature Café", with group catering available; delicious bagged lunches can be made fresh daily for you to take as you set out to explore the island. We also have a meadow area with a camp-fire pit for our guests use, weather conditions allowing.
Because our facility is located in a designated conservation area that is closed to the general public after 7pm each night and with lack of space for group vehicle parking, we encourage bussing of the group as a whole as opposed to having individual cars on site. We can arrange ground transportation for your group either on a day-by-day basis or for the duration of your stay on Maui.
Many groups who come to Maui may wish to extend their stay in the islands a few days to further enjoy our natural beauty after their Rain-forest Experience. We are happy to help you coordinate other activities or accommodations while on island. Our facility can be rented in its entirety to accommodate up to 60 guests, or you can reserve a room for as few as 4 program participants.
Please contact J.D. Wyatt, our Maui Operations Director, at your earliest convenience to reserve space. |
Pet Friendly
