Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary Eco Tour Guide Kailua-Kona, HI · Part time Company website

Apply for Eco Tour Guide

Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary is a four-generation ʻohana passion project, reforesting and reconnecting people to nature since 1982. On the slopes of Mt. Hualālai in Kaloko Mauka — twenty minutes from Kona town — we protect old-growth native forest alongside fifteen acres of former pasture that's been hybrid-reforested over decades, blending native flora like ʻōhiʻa, koa, and giant hāpuʻu tree ferns with species from tropical and temperate forests around the world. The result is one of Hawaiʻi's most unique and biodiverse forested areas — home to native Hawaiian honeycreepers living alongside plants and trees you won't find growing side-by-side anywhere else in the world. We offer guided forest tours, birding tours, forest bathing, sound baths, and yoga, all built around one belief: real, embodied connection to nature changes people. We're consistently rated the #1 nature experience on Hawaiʻi Island by Google, TripAdvisor, and Hawaiʻi Magazine, and have earned the Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Ethics. Our mission: connect humanity back to nature. Because when we connect, we care, and when we care, we protect. What makes us stand out as a place to work: we're a small, values-driven ʻohana-style team, not a corporate operation. Every team member gets real mentorship from KCFS's owners — experienced transformational facilitators and coaches — and a direct hand in conservation work that's been active for over 45 years.

Application deadline: July 19, 11:59pm HST — applications received after this time may not be considered.

Position Summary

We're looking for our next Cloud Forest Naturalist: someone who wants to spend their days in the forest, master the art of guiding, and grow into a more present, connected version of themselves while helping guests do the same.

As a Cloud Forest Naturalist, you'll be KCFS's front-line educator, guide, and host for our legacy forest tour, leading guests through the Sanctuary and interpreting Hawaiʻi's ecology and cultural context in a way that goes beyond a typical nature walk.

This outdoors-first, guest-facing role typically runs 3–4 days and ~20 hours/week, with more hours available based on booking volume and season. After six months, you can train into specialty tours like birding and forest bathing, with room to progress into Naturalist II, Naturalist III, and other specialized roles as tenure, performance, and opportunity allow.

What You’ll Do

Guiding & Guest Experience

• Lead our legacy forest tour, interpreting the Sanctuary's ecology, conservation work, and Hawaiʻi's geological, human, and cultural history in a way that's engaging, accurate, and accessible to guests of all ages and backgrounds
• Facilitate the experience, not just narrate it. Read the group, adjust pacing, and create space for guests to genuinely connect with the forest and each other
• Provide a safe, welcoming experience from check-in through check-out, including retail sales support and reservations assistance
• Support retail operations: point-of-sale, merchandise presentation, and representing KCFS's offerings to guests

Sanctuary Stewardship

• Support trail care, forest maintenance, and general upkeep of the grounds and facilities
• Support other onsite operations as needed

Team & Growth

• Show up reliably and professionally — punctuality and follow-through matter here as much as charisma
• Participate fully in KCFS's training programs and ongoing development sessions
• Communicate effectively and transparently with team members and management
• Bring feedback and ideas to the team; this is a small ʻohana-style operation, and your perspective shapes how we grow
• Uphold KCFS values, safety standards, policies, and cultural respect guidelines

How We Set You Up to Succeed

We provide comprehensive training in Hawaiʻi's ecology, natural and cultural history, and interpretive guiding technique. Prior guiding experience is a plus, not a requirement. What matters most is genuine curiosity, coachability, and a real willingness to keep learning. Every guide receives regular, structured feedback and coaching as a standing part of the role, supporting your growth well beyond onboarding.

What You’ll Gain

This role is genuinely a training ground, not just a job description that claims to be one:

• Master-level interpretive guiding skills — storytelling, group facilitation, and the craft of facilitating transformational experiences in nature that go beyond simply delivering information
• Ongoing mentorship from KCFS's owners — who are also expert transformational facilitators and coaches — developing your voice, presence, and embodied leadership
• Deep connection skills with people from anywhere — our guests come from all over the world, and you'll build a genuine ability to connect across culture, age, and background
• A direct hand in conservation — your work supports the continued stewardship of a cloud forest sanctuary that's been in active restoration for 45 years, with ripple effects on how guests relate to nature long after they leave

Compensation & Benefits

Total Earning Potential: $30–36/hour on a typical single-tour day, up to $45+/hour on two-tour days — based on current team averages for tips and commission, combined with base wage.

• Base Wage: $22.00–$25.00/hour, based on demonstrated performance and competence upon completion of training
• Training Period (first 4 weeks): $20.00/hour
• Probationary Period: 3 months from hire date, during which fit and performance are evaluated
• Guide Tips: 100% of tips from experiences you lead independently — our guides currently average $40–50 in tips per tour
• Sales Commission: 5% on all experience sales closed in person or over the phone
• Benefits: Available for all qualified Full-Time team members (35–40 hours/week)

Required Qualifications

• Resident of Kona, Hawai’i
• Reliable transportation
• A real willingness to learn and grow
• Strong verbal communication and storytelling skills, with a warm, engaging presence
• Comfortable working outdoors in adverse weather on uneven terrain for extended periods
• Thrives working independently without constant direct supervision
• Excellent communicator that thrives in small team dynamics
• Flexible with last minute plan changes and ability respond calmly as needed
• Genuine alignment with KCFS’s mission. This is meaningful, impact-driven work, and we’re looking for people who feel that, not just people looking for a guiding gig
• Openness to regular coaching and feedback as a normal, ongoing part of the role
• Physical ability to walk and stand for extended periods and lift/carry up to 50 lbs
• Ability to complete KCFS’s guide training and certification process
• Desire to guide up to 2 - 3 experiences per day in the Sanctuary
• Basic digital literacy (email, scheduling tools, Google Workspace, FareHarbor)
• Availability to work mornings, afternoons, weekends, and holidays as operationally required

Preferred Qualifications

• Prior experience in Hawai’i as a nature guide, environmental educator, interpretive guide, or in a related teaching/facilitation role
• Experience facilitating wellness/mindfulness/transformational experiences in nature
• Degree in natural sciences, environmental studies, education, or a related field
• Knowledge of Hawaiian history, native ecosystems, and cultural values
• Current CPR/First Aid certification (or willingness to obtain — we’ll support this)

Working Conditions

• Primarily outdoors, including walking on uneven forest terrain
• Small retail trail shop
• Exposure to rain, sun, wind, and humidity
• Regular, dynamic interaction with guests, staff, and the public

To Apply

Apply through this posting. Both a cover letter and a resume are required to qualify for interview consideration — applications missing either will not move forward.

Learn more about our mission and what we offer at www.KonaCloudForest.com.

Equal Opportunity & Employment Acknowledgment

Kona Consciousness LLC, dba Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary, provides equal employment opportunity to all employees and applicants and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability, genetic information, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local law.

This job description describes the general nature and level of work performed and is not an exhaustive list of duties, responsibilities, or qualifications. Duties may evolve based on operational needs, organizational priorities, individual skills, and business opportunities. KCFS may assign additional duties or special projects that support the organization’s mission; doing so does not change the classification or at-will status of this position unless agreed to in writing.

Employment with Kona Consciousness LLC, dba Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary, is at-will and may be terminated by either the employee or the Company at any time, with or without cause or notice, in accordance with applicable law.