Best Oahu Island Adventures
Hanauma Bay Snorkel
It's best to go early to avoid the crowds. The ocean is calmer and clearer in the morning.
You can drive there however there is limited parking available.
Before walking down the path to the beach there is a mandatory 9-minute documentary which gives an informative insight into nature, geography and history. Instead of walking down to the beach, there is a $1 shuttle which can transport you up and down the road.
Hanauma Bay is a protected marine life conservation area. The curved shaped beach was formed in a volcanic cone.
To fully experience the plethora of marine and fish life swim to the outer reef. Between the inner and outer reef, there are large shallow areas that are difficult to swim over. There are 5 deeper channels that you can swim through to access the outer reef. I was lucky enough to spot a green sea turtle and a school of large fish on the outer reef.
Hanauma Bay is closed every Tuesday
Drive around Oahu
I hired a Mustang Convertible from Budget Hyatt Regency and headed North through the centre of Oahu until I reached the coast. I followed the coast East until I arrived back in Waikiki. There are many places to stop and it is hard to see everything within a day. Recommended stops include:
Waimea Bay
Famous for its big wave surfing. Wide stretch of beach. A large rock outcrop in the shallow water is popular to climb. Parking is limited.
Waimea Valley
Walk 1.6km through the beautiful botanic gardens to reach Waimea Falls.
Turtle Bay
The most northerly point of Oahu. Famous for turtles hanging close to the shore. Not great for swimming due to currents and rocks. On the other side of the luxurious Turtle Bay Resort is Kuilima Cove with a nice beach for swimming and a nice restaurant called Roy’s Beach House.
Lanikai Beach
Rated as one of the best beaches in the world. This 800m beach strip can be hard to find as access is through alleyways between houses. It is very difficult to find a park.
Pali Lookout
Panoramic view of Koolau Cliffs and North East Coast. Drive through Pali Tunnel and the lush forest.
Koko Head Trail: ‘Stairmaster Workout’
During WW2 a railway was constructed to transport military supplies up to the lookouts. The hike to the summit of Koko Head is an extremely steep climb up 1048 steps/railroad ties.
It takes approx 30 minutes to 1 hour to reach the top and is a 2.4km round-trip from the car park. At the midway point, there is a bridge with a large drop underneath. Alternatively, there is a path to the side. The summit overlooks Hanauma Bay and has spectacular 360-degree views.
Diamond Head Crater
Entry is $5 per vehicle and $1 per person. The trail distance is approximately 2.5km return and takes approx 1-2 hours. It is very popular and it’s best to go early to avoid the crowds.
The path is a gradual incline until you reach a series of poorly lit stairs and tunnels. At the summit is an artillery battery that has panoramic views of the coast, mountains and city.
