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Moloka'i Ranch, like a national park, has created a camping-in-comfort program for visitors exploring Hawaiian wilderness and history, along the Great Moloka'i Ranch Trail.

An adventure in green and cultural tourism, it promotes a low-impact, low-density fun experience, particularly geared for children and adults. It involves Hawaiian culture, native species, traditional Hawaiian ranching and Moloka'i Ranch's wildlife preserve of exotic animals-including Moloka'i deer and African animals, such as zebra and giraffe.

Moloka'i Ranch spans across a third of Moloka'i and the Great Moloka'i Ranch Trail weaves through 53,000 acres, encompassing mountains, woodlands, tropical forests, remote white-sand beaches, historic and archaeological sites and open pasture. Visitors design their adventures, camping in various environments and traveling by foot, horse, or mountain bike.

Activities also include participating in rodeo events and cattle roundups, kayaking, snorkeling, surfing, sailing, whale watching, deep sea fishing, outrigger canoe expeditions and wildlife photography.

Guides and advisors at Moloka'i Ranch know the ranch best. They are paniolo (Hawaiian cowboys), who work cattle daily, some of them coming from five generations of paniolo spanning the 100-year history of Moloka'i Ranch. Specialists in wildlife, boating, plants, archaeology and other disciplines complement the paniolo's local knowledge.

Resting places along the Great Moloka'i Ranch Trail are sturdy, comfortable, spacious tents with queen-size beds. Each tent is powered by the sun for overhead fans, hot water and lighting. Private bathrooms feature odorless and chemical-free toilets that compost all waste material for recycling. Decks provide an outdoor sitting area with fantastic views of the ocean and the mountains.

Campsite packages can include Hawaiian crafts and games, hula instruction, Hawaiian storytelling, volleyball, horseshoes, astronomy lessons and tide pool exploration.

Per-night, per-person fee includes: accommodations, ground transportation, meals, one major activity per day per person, and ice chests stocked with cold drinks and snacks. For more information, call 808-552-2791 or 800-254-8871.