Aiea, Hawaii

Kuliʻouʻou Beach Park is located just off of Bay Street in the Hawaii Kai neighborhood of East Honolulu, Hawaii. There is a parking lot with additional street parking nearby. The beach offers a very shallow shelf for quite a ways offshore. This doesn't make for a great place to swim, but is good...

Mount Kaʻala Trail is a tough out-and-back hike in the Waiʻanae Mountains, up Oʻahu’s highest peak at 4,025 feet. It’s steep, rugged, and often muddy, with rope sections and some scrambling.  The trail climbs through dense forest and exposed ridgelines before reaching a unique cloud forest at th...

I was told about this spot by a friend who lived there for a little, and it turned out to be amazing. The waves break and crash right against the wall where you can catch a wave or just jump right in. No long beach to walk on, few people, and amazing blue water.Head towards Koko Kai Mini Beach Pa...

Spitting Cave is a short loop trail located in Eastern Honolulu, Hawaii near Hanauma Bay. The trail is a little steep and rocky, sturdy shoes are recommended. This is a great location to see the sunset if you'r e near Hawaii Kai during the right time of day. 

With a high fish populations, calm shallow water, and white sand, Hanauma Bay is the perfect snorkeling destination on Oahu. Large reefs teeming with marine life are located a short swim from shore. The water is calm, and the bay is protected from waves, making it a great spot for beginners and a...

While hiking up the Koko Head trail, don't get too intimidated, there are grandparents and young kids hiking up these tracks. Take a sip of water, muster your mental toughness, and put one foot in front of the other along the rail trail. Once you're moving, there's no way you'll turn back! When y...

Koko Head Botanical Garden is a loop trail offering a hike for the whole family. The trail is wide, well-marked, with minimal elevation gain. Along the loop, the sections are well-marked with information about which regions of the world the vegetation is native to. You can complete the loop clock...

When driving along the Kalonianaole Highway, traveling towards east from Hawai'i Kai, keep an eye out for the Hanola Blowhole lookout... Park at the lookout and walk out towards the highway. It is here, next to the entrance, that you will find a trail heading down into the cove. From the road it ...

Park at the Halona Blowhole lookout and carefully cross the highway.. Walk west, towards Hawai'i Kai, and in a hundred feet or so you will pass mile marker 15, the trail starts on the rocks just past this marker. Carefully make your way up the rocky hill and onto the ridge, here you will find a t...

If you’re looking to get away from the over-crowded beaches in Waikiki or you’re looking for a consistent bodysurfing spot with waves year-round, look no further. Sandy Beach is on the east side of the island and is exposed to wind swell most of the year. If you’re not a strong swimmer, we strong...

If you're looking to get moving and get your heart rate up or want a place to snap great photos, start with hiking to Makapu’u Lighthouse. The lighthouse was built in 1909 on a 600-ft cliff, which overlooks Makapu’u beach. The hike is more of an uphill walk and can be done in sandals unless you’...

Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess, is said to have sat here just before finishing her volcanic activity to form Oahu.  She left here and moved on to the islands of Molokai and Lanai.   The hike is only about a mile to the beach.  You start at the parking area for the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail.  ...

Alan Davis is what the locals call it, but the official name is the “Ka’Iwi Scenic Shoreline” and it's known to be a good place to do some cliff jumping because of the easy access, clear water, and poles that are already positioned for jumpers in the rocky shoreline. Park in the same lot that ta...

Laniakea beach or Lani’s, is a world-class surf break located on the North Shore. It is also referred to as “Turtle beach”, because this natural sanctuary attracts so many of the endangered Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle or “Honu”...making this the perfect place to see a few up close. If you're drivi...

The hike to the Waimea Falls offers both the natural beauty of a tropical rainforest, as well as the unique, in situ opportunity to learn about local history. Although this hike can be crowded, it is definitely worthwhile to see and swim in this amazing Hawaiian waterfall. The approximately mile...

Want to visit the beautiful North Shore but on a tight budget? Camping is the trick. On my last two trips to Oahu this has been our primary base camp for our adventures. The campground sits only a 5 minute drive east of Turtle Bay resort, right next to the town of Laie. This means is only 10-20 m...