Big Island Jungle Tour with Guava Green Tea

The most unusual part of this Big Island outing is that you are not simply walking through a rainforest. Jason and Nicki open their Fern Forest homestead and show you how art, food growing, recycling, and off-grid living fit together. You will see hand-carved tikis, lava-rock sculpture, more than 150 apple banana plants, and an outdoor art gallery.

I like the hands-on format, especially the chance to use a hammer and chisel instead of only looking at finished work. I also like the tea tasting at the end, since banana and guava leaf tea offer a small, memorable taste of the place. The main consideration is physical comfort: this is an active, rustic visit with carving, garden paths, and some axe or sawing work, not a polished museum tour.

Key points to know

• See Mount Rastamore and a large rainforest tiki collection in a private creative setting.
• Learn practical banana-growing methods among more than 150 apple banana plants.
• Try your hand at carving with a hammer and chisel, with other hands-on work available.
• Explore an off-grid home base with water catchment and composting toilets.
• Taste banana and guava green tea at the Tiki Tea Bar.
• Expect a small group of no more than 10 people and about two hours on site.

A rainforest tour with a workshop built in

Paradise Unplugged is best understood as part garden tour, part art visit, and part conversation about self-sufficient living. You are visiting the working creative space of Jason and Nicki, not entering a formal botanical garden with signs at every turn.

That difference gives the experience its character. The setting is personal. Jason’s carved tikis and lava figures are spread through the cleared areas, and the tour connects those pieces to the land around them. You get a look at what the couple has made, then learn how they grow food and manage daily life without depending on a standard utility setup.

The pace is likely to feel relaxed and conversational. With a maximum of 10 people, the group is small enough for questions and individual attention. The two-hour length is also useful: long enough for several stops and activities, but short enough to fit into a day of exploring the Hilo side of the island.

Start with tikis and lava rock sculpture

The first part of the visit focuses on the hand-carved tiki collection. The collection is described as the largest group of rainforest tikis in Hawaii, giving you plenty to examine before the garden and cultivation sections begin.

These are not just decorative objects placed at the edge of a trail. They are part of the story of the property and Jason’s creative work. You can expect close access rather than a distant view, which matters if you enjoy seeing tool marks, carved faces, and the small differences between individual pieces.

Next comes the lava-rock sculpture collection, including a work called Mount Rastamore. Hawaii’s volcanic stone is a natural material for this kind of art, but it is also difficult material to shape. Seeing the finished pieces helps you understand the patience and physical effort behind them.

This opening section will suit you if you enjoy folk art, handmade objects, and places shaped by their owners. If your ideal rainforest visit means a long, quiet walk with no structured stops, this may feel more like an artist’s property tour than a wilderness outing.

The fern garden and tropical plant life

The tropical garden includes more than 300 Hawaiian hapuu ferns. That is a striking number for a compact tour, and it gives you a closer look at one of the plants associated with Hawaii’s wet forest environments.

Jason and Nicki also explain the plant life found around the property. The emphasis is not only on pretty foliage. You learn about edible plants and how different crops can be grown in a place where good topsoil is limited.

That practical angle makes the garden more useful than a simple list of plant names. You can see how people adapt to the conditions they have, rather than waiting for an ideal farm site. The tour also reflects a wider Hawaiian idea of caring for the land, expressed by the hosts through the phrase Aloha Aina, or love and respect for the land.

I would pay attention here if you garden at home or enjoy learning how food is produced. The information is especially relevant if you want to understand the difference between a rainforest environment and a conventional garden plot.

Apple bananas and lessons in cultivation

The banana section is one of the most distinctive parts of the experience. Paradise Unplugged cultivates more than 150 apple banana plants, and the tour includes a demonstration of methods used to grow and harvest them.

You are not simply shown a bunch of bananas and sent onward. The point is to explain how cultivation works in this setting. The hosts show how they approach planting when there is not much topsoil, and you may have the chance to plant crops yourself.

That kind of activity gives the tour a useful edge. You leave with a better sense of the labor behind tropical fruit, including the need to work with the soil, moisture, and available space rather than treating the forest like a ready-made farm.

The banana plants also connect with the final tea tasting. The plant is presented as a useful part of daily life, not just a source of fruit. It becomes food, material, and part of the story of how the homestead functions.

An outdoor art gallery and your own carving attempt

After the garden and banana demonstration, the route leads to an outdoor art gallery featuring the hosts’ latest exhibition. The exact works can change, which gives this part a temporary quality rather than making it feel like a fixed display.

You then get an opportunity to use a hammer and chisel to carve a tiki. This is a major reason to choose the experience over a standard sightseeing stop. You are given a chance to make something, even if your finished piece looks more like a brave first attempt than a polished statue.

The hands-on work may include sawing or a little axe work, depending on what is offered during your visit. That means you should come prepared to participate, not just observe. It also means this tour is not the best match for someone who cannot comfortably handle basic physical activity.

You do not need to approach the carving as an art test. The value is in feeling the resistance of the material and understanding how much work goes into the finished tikis and lava sculptures. I like that the activity allows you to meet the place through your hands, not only through explanations.

Inside the Okina, an off-grid way of life

The Okina is an off-grid structure made from recycled pallets. Here, Jason and Nicki explain practical systems such as water catchment and composting toilets.

This is one of the strongest parts of the tour for anyone curious about simple living or low-waste design. You see how discarded materials can become part of a useful structure, and you learn how the couple handles basic needs without relying on a typical home setup.

The subject is practical rather than theoretical. Water catchment is easy to discuss in the abstract, but seeing it as part of a real home base gives the idea more meaning. The same is true of composting toilets. They are presented as working parts of daily life, not as a novelty added for a tour.

The off-grid section also ties together the rest of the visit. The sculptures use local or recycled materials. The garden produces food. The banana plants make use of the land. The tea uses leaves from plants connected to the property. Each stop explains another part of the same way of living.

Tea at the Tiki Tea Bar

The visit ends at the Tiki Tea Bar with samples of banana green tea and guava green tea. The banana tea has been described as smooth and lighter than ordinary green tea, while the guava leaves give a flavor closer to green tea.

This tasting is small, but it gives the tour a pleasant finish. You have just seen how plants are grown and used, and now you can taste two preparations connected with that plant-based setting.

The tea is included in the admission price. Coffee or tea is listed as part of what you receive, but the distinctive reason to look forward to the ending is the banana and guava sampling.

If you do not usually seek out food tastings, this still adds value because it is tied directly to the tour’s subject. It is not a separate restaurant stop. It is a final example of how the hosts make use of the natural materials around them.

What the $75 price gives you

At $75 per person, this is not the cheapest way to spend two hours on the Big Island. Its value depends on what you want from an outing.

You are paying for a small-group experience with a maximum of 10 people, direct access to a private creative property, guided explanations, included tea, and hands-on activities. The visit combines several experiences that would normally be separate: a plant tour, a garden lesson, an art gallery, a sculpture demonstration, and an introduction to off-grid systems.

I consider the price reasonable if you value personal contact and active participation. It is less compelling if you only want a broad rainforest view or a long nature walk. The tour’s appeal comes from the hosts’ work and the chance to take part, not from a large number of scenic viewpoints.

Because the experience is offered in English, you should be comfortable following spoken explanations in English. Confirmation is provided when you book, and the activity is generally suitable for most people, though the physical nature of the visit deserves attention.

Getting there and planning the two hours

The meeting point is on Jungle King Avenue in Fern Forest, Hawaii. Private transportation is not included, so you need to arrange your own way to the start. The activity ends at the same meeting point, which makes it easier to plan around a rental car or another independent transport arrangement.

The tour lasts about two hours. Since it is often booked around 16 days ahead, I would not leave it until the last minute if the timing matters to your trip. That advance booking pattern also suggests that you should check availability before building the rest of your day around it.

Wear clothing you can move in and shoes suited to a rustic outdoor setting. The provided information does not specify a dress code or exact trail conditions, but carving, gardening, and possible sawing or axe work all point to practical clothing rather than resort wear.

You should also allow enough time to arrive at Jungle King Avenue without rushing. The tour begins at the meeting point, and no transport between a hotel and the property is supplied.

Who will enjoy this most

This experience is a strong match for you if you enjoy:

• Handmade art and unusual private collections
• Tropical plants, fruit cultivation, and gardening
• Off-grid systems and recycled building materials
• Small groups with room for conversation
• Hands-on activities instead of passive sightseeing
• A slower, more personal view of Big Island life

It is especially suitable for outdoor enthusiasts, nature lovers, and anyone who wants to learn how people adapt to the local environment. Couples and solo visitors can both fit the format, since the group is capped at 10 and the hosts focus on conversation as well as demonstrations.

You may want to choose another activity if you need a fully accessible experience with no physical tasks. The available information says most people can participate, but the carving and garden work require some use of your hands and body. One account also described the tour as unsuitable for people with physical limitations, so ask the provider directly if you have a specific accessibility concern.

It is also not the right choice if you expect a formal presentation on Hawaiian culture. The experience offers insight into local ways of living and includes Hawaiian cultural connections, but its main focus is this particular homestead, its art, its plants, and its off-grid methods.

Cancellation and booking details

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund, and the cut-off follows local time.

The activity is mobile-ticket friendly and is offered in English. Since the group size is limited and advance booking is common, I would reserve it once you know which day you can reach Fern Forest.

Should you book the Big Island Jungle Tour?

Book it if you want an authentic, hands-on look at a creative off-grid homestead rather than a standard rainforest walk. The combination of tiki carving, Mount Rastamore, hapuu ferns, apple banana cultivation, recycled-pallet construction, and guava tea gives the two hours a clear personality.

I would especially recommend it for curious people who like meeting the makers behind a place. Jason and Nicki’s hospitality is central to the experience, and the small group format lets you ask questions and take part.

Skip it if your priority is an easy scenic stroll, formal museum presentation, or included transportation. For everyone else, the $75 price buys a personal experience with real activities and a memorable cup of tea at the end. Plan for a rustic setting, arrive ready to work with your hands, and this can be one of the more distinctive stops on a Big Island visit.

FAQ

How long is the Big Island Jungle Tour?

The experience lasts approximately two hours.

Where does the tour begin?

It begins at Jungle King Avenue, Fern Forest, Hawaii 96778, USA.

Where does the activity end?

The tour ends back at the meeting point on Jungle King Avenue.

Is private transportation included?

No. Private transportation is not included, so you must arrange your own transport to the meeting point.

How many people can join the tour?

The activity has a maximum group size of 10 people.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes. The experience is offered in English.

What tea is included?

The tour ends with samples of banana green tea and guava green tea. Coffee or tea is included with the experience.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded or accepted.