The Complete Guide to Kualoa Ranch

Along Kamehameha Highway on the Windward side of Oʻahu, tucked amongst the sheer green cliffs of the Ko’olau Mountain range and Kāneʻohe Bay sits Kualoa Ranch, one of the island’s most stunning and culturally significant landscapes.

You do not have to be a visitor to appreciate Kualoa. Known statewide for its conservation work, agricultural production and community engagement, the ranch is widely respected by locals and travelers alike. Whether you are drawn by its history, outdoor adventures or iconic film locations, Kualoa offers far more than a quick photo stop.

This guide covers everything you need to know before visiting Kualoa Ranch, including its history, what you can do there, how much it costs and how to get there.

Kualoa Ranch is a privately-owned nature reserve, working cattle ranch, farm and visitor attraction spanning roughly 4,000 acres. The land stretches across Hākipuʻu Valley and Kaʻaʻawa Valley on Oʻahu’s windward coast and has been stewarded by the same family since the mid-19th century. Today, the ranch is led by John Morgan, a sixth-generation descendant of the original owners.

According to ranch history, the 2200-acre Kaʻaʻawa Valley was acquired in 1850 by Dr. Gerrit P. Judd, a physician and former missionary who later became a trusted advisor to King Kamehameha III. Kamehameha sold it to him for $10,000 under two conditions: Judd had to always keep the land in the same family and he could not develop the land. Kualoa Ranch celebrated its 175 anniversary in 2025. The family has maintained a commitment to preservation, keeping the land largely undeveloped and focused on agriculture and education.

While Kualoa Ranch gained international fame through films like Jurassic Park, its importance long predates Hollywood. The Kualoa mountains that frame the valley are part of the Koʻolau Range. Kualoa translates to “long back,” a reference to the mountain’s ridged contours, which resemble a spine. In ancient Hawaiʻi, the area was considered sacred, with lava tubes used as burial sites for high-ranking aliʻi, or royalty, making the mountains kapu, or forbidden, to climb.

UTV Raptor Adventure Tours - A roughly 10-mile off-road tour that covers more ground than any other experience on the ranch. Guests can drive or ride along while exploring valleys, movie sites and scenic overlooks. Private tours are also available.

• Age limit: 5 and up; drivers must be at least 21

• Duration: 2 or 3 hours

• Price: From $154.95

E-Mountain Bike Tours - Choose a 6-mile or 15-mile route depending on experience level. Electric-assist bikes help with hills and rough terrain while still providing a solid workout.

• Age limit: 10 and up

• Duration: 2 or 3 hours

• Price: From $99.95

UTV Raptor Adventure Tour. Photo by Sarah Burchard.

Horseback Walking Tour - A relaxed ride on calm, well-trained horses through ranch lands and open pastures.

• Age limit: 10 and up

• Duration: 2 hours

• Price: $154.95

Movie Sites & Ranch Tour - An open-air wagon tour that visits filming locations from numerous movies and TV shows while sharing ranch history and Hawaiian culture.

• Age limit: All ages

• Duration: 90 minutes

• Price: $59.95

Jungle Expedition Tour - A scenic ride through rainforest valleys in an open-air wagon with incredible views of the Koʻolau Mountains and ocean.

• Age limit: 3 and up

• Duration: 90 minutes

• Price: $59.95 adults, $39.95 children

Kualoa Grown Tour - A trolley tour of the ranch’s agricultural operations, including kalo, cacao, coffee, fruit trees, livestock, aquaculture and an ancient Hawaiian fishpond. Guests will sample ranch-grown ingredients and spot native bird species nearly extinct on the rest of the island.

• Age limit: All ages

• Duration: 90 minutes

• Price: $59.95 adult, $39.95 child

Loʻi kalo (taro fields) at Kualoa Ranch. Photo by Sarah Burchard.

Jurassic Adventure Tour -

A guided tour focused exclusively on filming locations from the Jurassic Park franchise.

• Age limit: 3 and up

• Duration: 2.5 hours

• Price: $149.95

Secret Island Beach Activities -

A short ferry ride across Mōliʻi Fishpond leads to a private beach with kayaks, paddleboards, canoes and games. Showers and changing rooms are available. Full-day tours include lunch.

• Age limit: All ages

• Duration: Full (6.5 hours) or half day (3.5 hours)

• Price: From $59.95 adults, $39.95 children

Zipline Tour of Jurassic Valley -

Seven ziplines ranging from 200 feet to a quarter mile long, plus suspension bridges and five short hikes.

• Age limit: 10 and up

• Duration: 3 hours

• Price: $184.95

Ocean Voyage Tour -

A catamaran cruise in Kāneʻohe Bay offering coastal views of Kualoa Ranch from the water.

• Age limit: All ages

• Duration: 90 minutes

• Price: $59.95 adults, $39.95 children

Purchase all tickets online

• Tickets sell out quickly, plan ahead

Full-day package

• Movie Sites & Ranch Tour

• Kualoa Grown Tour

• Jungle Expedition Tour

• Buffet Lunch

• All ages

• Price: $164.95 adult, $99.95 child

Half-day package

• Movie Sites & Ranch Tour

• Ocean Voyage

• Buffet Lunch

• All ages

• Price: $124.95 adult, $69.95 child

Although the packages include lunch, tour options are limited. Booking tours à la carte allows for more flexibility. Aunty Pat’s Paniolo Cafe and Uncle Abe’s Paniolo Provisions offer quicker, more affordable alternatives.

Personal recommendation: We loved starting the morning with the Kualoa Grown Tour, then having lunch at Aunty Pat's, followed by the UTV Raptor Adventure Tour and finishing with a sweet treat from Kualoa Grown Market.

The all-you-can-eat buffet includes:

• Full salad bar

• Teriyaki chicken

• BBQ pork ribs

• Kualoa-grown beef chili

• Steamed white rice

• Corn

• Dessert

The buffet is only available for guests who book a full- or half-day package. With Aunty Pat’s Paniolo Cafe and Uncle Abe’s Paniolo Provisions onsite there are plenty of dining options to eat elsewhere if you opt out of purchasing a package.

Personal recommendation: My partner and I had lunch and beverages at the cafe for $35. Afterward we indulged in Pop Culture popsicles from the Kualoa Grown Market for $6.25 each. I found this option quick, tasty and filling and we were able to fit it in perfectly between tours.

Plan at least a half day. Two tours plus lunch, time to browse the gift shop and a stop at the Kualoa Grown Market typically takes about six hours and strikes a good balance without feeling rushed or exhausting.

Lockers

Lockers are available onsite. There are two sizes for an all-day flat rate.

• $7 - Standard

• $14 - Family size

• Bathing suit, towel and optional water shoes (if you are doing the secret beach tour)

• Light raincoat

• Comfortable walking shoes that can get dirty (maybe even muddy)

• Comfortable layers

• Water

• Hat and sunglasses

• Sunscreen

• Re-usable bag for souvenirs or food items from Kualoa Grown Market

• Camera or fully charged smartphone - photo ops abound!

Transportation & Location

• Address: 49-560 Kamehameha Highway, Kaneohe, HI 96744

• Parking: Free onsite

• Shuttle: Waikīkī pickup available for $30 round-trip. Add this option when you purchase your tours online.

• Driving time: About an hour from Waikīkī

• TheBus

  • Multiple routes will take you from Waikīkī to Kualoa Ranch (#8, #19, #20, #23, #42, #60 or #88A), with travel times of about two hours each way. $3 for adults, $2 for kids.

• Partner Tour Packages

You can also book Kualoa Ranch packages from outside tour companies, like this one, that include transportation from your hotel in Waikīkī.

• Families and small groups

• Couples

• Solo travelers

• Nature lovers

• Movie buffs

Who Might Want to Skip It

• Visitors on very short trips (1-3 days)

• Strict budget travelers

• Those expecting a quick stop rather than a half-day experience

• Anyone who dislikes having fun

Hours

• Ranch, cafe and gift shop: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

• Kualoa Grown Market: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m

• Closed Christmas and New Year’s Day