Places To Adventure
Oahu
Main Area
Northshore (Turtles)
Hike Diamond Head
Hanauma Bay
(Opens at 6AM, go that early to beat the heat and crowds, and stay up there to enjoy the sunset)
Cockroach Cove (Beach)
Ka Iwi Scenic Coastline
Dead Mans Catwalk Hike
Waimanalo, Kailua, Lanikai
(Quiet more serene beaches)
Kayak out to the Moku Nui twin islands off Lanikai (only about 20min) & Kailua beach right near it. (renting kayaks is within 5-10min of there) Kailua is a great community-oriented area with dozens of cute shops and eateries (try Boots & Kimo for breakfast though you’ll have to wait in line).
Pillbox Trail
Inland
Judd Trail
Lulumahu Falls
Lyon Arboretum Rainforest
Manoa Falls
(Right at the entrance of Lyon Arboretum Rainforest)
Dole Pinapple Plantation in Wahiawa
Polynesian Cultural Centre
(Has great hands-on, cultural activities plus a newly opened marketplace. Tons more to do, one of which is to simply relax at the beach)
Food
Ono’s Restaurant (get there early lone lines)
Duke’s Restaurant & Barefoot Bar
Buho Cocina Y Cantina
Kauai
The Big Island
“One of the best things I did in Hawaii was guided stargazing at the observatory on the Big Island. The air was so clear that it was possible to distinguish satellites moving in the sky. I also got to see Saturn through a telescope, plus lots of constellations, nebulae etc. So many more stars than you see from a city in Aust, and also more stars than my next best guided stargazing event which was at Uluru.
I drove myself up the mountain to the observatory in my tiny hire car. Ignore all the dire warnings designed to scare you into buying a rip off ticket on an 8 hour bus trip for 2 hours at the observatory. The road is perfectly fine up to the observatory. I didn’t try driving all the way to the top of the mountain though. I think a 4WD is needed for that.” (It is cold up there so beachwear definitely will not cut it. I wore my Aust winter coat, a hat and gloves.)”
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park: Lava Walk
Spend a 1-2 days @ volcano park
Kilauea Iki hike
Meqette
Black Sand Beach (Punalu’u Beach)
Green Sand Beach
Makalawena:Drive to Mahaiula then hike 2 miles across lava to the most amazing beach on the island
Waipio Valley
Coconut Beach
Akaka Falls State Park
PeePee Falls
Rainbow Falls
A nice spot to snorkel is in Kealekekua bay.
There is a small beach called Kapahukapa/ Manini that is perfect for a picnic.
If the waves are mellow, it is a great location to swim out beyond the inlet and snorkel along the reef. There are no showers but it does have a portapotty.
I’d suggest leaving early in the morning from wherever you’re staying. Bring a small cooler and head to South Kona. Stop by choicemart grocery store to pick up some picnic items for a lunch on the beach. From there continue heading south and on the makai side there is a very popular cafe for breakfast called the Coffee Shack. They have amazing food and a stellar view of Kealekekua bay.
Pololu Valley
is always fun. About a mile hike down a fairly steep trail to an amazing black sand beach.
Then depending on how ambitious you are, you can either hike up the other side of the valley for an incredible view, or head back into the valley and explore around there a bit. We usually just hike down and relax at the beach, then hike back up.
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