HONOLULU -- The Hawaii Nature Center thrives on small details:
delicate ohia lehua flowers; ferns sparkling with recent raindrops;
taro sprouting from a pond; children yelping with the thrill of
discovery.
There are no plans to change what works, only ideas about how to
improve the experience at both the Maui and Oahu operations.
Maui's center has begun offering twice-daily guided hikes and
eventually may be able to provide rustic accommodations for certain
groups.
Oahu also provides scheduled activities and guided hikes on the
weekends, and soon will replace its temporary facilities with a
permanent educational center.
About 55 million U.S. travelers now are classified as
sustainable or "geo tourists," according to a study conducted by
the Travel Industry Association of America and National Geographic
Traveler.
In other words, more people than ever are craving an outdoor,
environmentally sound vacation.
They want to engage with the destination. And those clients
probably appreciate travel agents who can point them in the right
direction.
Many visitors stumble upon Maui's Nature Center on their way to
the state park, said Judy Edwards, environmental educator for the
Hawaii Nature Center in Iao Valley on Maui.
However, the state park's trails are not maintained, so people
find the Nature Center's 1.5-mile hike more convenient and
accessible.
Guides lead hikers across streams, past native plants and the
remains of ancient habitation, sharing history and legends of Iao
Valley along the way.
The Rainforest Walk excursion is offered twice daily, but the
center hopes for more flexibility in the future.
"If people are walking in and they want to do a hike, we'll have
someone available," said Gregory Dunn, executive director of the
Hawaii Nature Center.
Knowledgeable guides are important because enormous cultural
significance is associated with the area, which "was considered
sacred and off-limits" by ancient Hawaiians, said Edwards.
The highlight is the needle, a geological outcropping that
resembles a pyramid.
"In terms of learning about the valley, this is the best place
for them to come," Edwards said.
Inside Maui's facility, the Iao Valley Interactive Nature Museum
features 30 hands-on exhibits to explore, a towering glass solarium
facilitating views of the valley, a gift shop and temporary
exhibits such as the Maui forest bird recovery project in place
now.
Proceeds from visits to the Maui Nature Center support projects
and facilities that educate more than 20,000 Hawaii schoolchildren
each year.
To better accomplish this mission, a new infrastructure at the
Makiki location on Oahu is scheduled to break ground within the
next six months, according to Ati Jeffers-Fabro, director of
education.
The $750,000, low-rise building will replace the 21-year-old
warehouse and four trailers that currently serve as the base
station.
"Hopefully, that [money] can stretch out to make a decent-size
structure," Dunn said, enough to house administration, educate
children and offer services to tourists.
Phone: (808) 244-6500
Web:www.hawaiinaturecenter.org
Hours: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily
Admission: Adults $6; Children $4