Outdoor

The definition of an “easy” hike differs from person to person. Some people are hardcore hikers who have all that extra gear and solid muscle (definitely not me). Others rarely get out and consider rocky trails to be more than they can handle. I usually get a chance to hike…

The Maili Pink Pillbox hike is normally just called the pink pillbox hike. Out on the Waianae coast, the hike only takes about 40 minutes going up, but you’re rewarded with an amazing panoramic view of the west shoreline of Oahu. Despite its awful rush-hour traffic, Waianae is gorgeous because…

Let me just say that my Uncle is in ridiculous shape. (He left me and Mom in the dust.) At some point he decided we were taking too much time enjoying the sights and finished the entire hike without a backwards glance! The Aiea Loop Trail ranks high as one…

I’ve been slowly working my way through the Honolulu Mauka Trail System and wanted to bring my dog Daisy with me since she’s had some extra energy the past few weeks. Mom decided to come with and early Sunday morning we made our way to Tantalus Drive. This is a…

I was invited to a birthday party at White Plains beach, which is known for being a great surf spot for beginner surfers. White Plains gets its name because the water looks like a wide field of rolling white waves when you scan from side to side. There’s plenty of…

A few of my friends and I decided to explore the Honolulu Mauka Trail System and chose the Makiki Valley Loop Trail. The loop is actually 3 separate trails that form a triangle and begins right behind the Hawaii Nature Center. Overall, it was a really nice hike to do especially with a…

A visit to Waimea Valley is a great outdoor activity for any age. You’ll have to pay an entrance fee to get in, but this is a neat gem that is part botanical garden and part outdoor Hawaiian museum. The roads are nicely paved and it’s an easy walk to…

Kailuana Beach has no bathrooms or lifeguards, but if you’re looking to spend the day at crowded Lanikai Beach or Kailua Beach, Kailuana is an awesome substitute. Just a 5-minute drive away the crowd, you’ll find plenty of street parking, a lot less people, a wide sandy shore, and the…

Aweoweo Beach Park is my favorite spot for a lazy day at the beach. It has everything you need: bathrooms, showers, picnic tables, and a long stretch of beautiful sand. Plus, turtles are pretty much guaranteed when you snorkel! When my friends visit me and they want to spend a…

I’m not military. So getting into Bellows Field Beach Park (aka Bellows) is a rare treat. Bellows sits right next to Waimanalo beach and the beaches in this area are known for their pretty blue waters and soft sandy beaches. No snorkeling can be done at Bellows (no rocks, no…

Aloha beach bums, If you’re headed to Oahu, chances are you’ll be making a stop at our North Shore beaches at some point during your vacation. There are turtles to see, skin to burn, waves to ride, and even awesome snorkeling spots to discover. But not all of Oahu’s North…

Aloha hikers, I have a growing list of favorite Oahu hikes to share with you. Popular hikes such as Diamond Head, Manoa Falls and Makapuu lighthouse are not the only beautiful trails on this island. There are so many hikes out there that don’t make it into every Waikiki magazine.…

Hawaiian monk seals are actually pretty difficult to find on Oahu. More often than not, it comes down to plain luck. It’s just too crowded here for these people-shy creatures. But if you’re really lucky, you’ll run into a monk seal that won’t care about all the people standing around…

Aloha trekkers, Ready to make your knees tremble and calves fall off? I’ve got you covered. The Kuliouou Ridge Trail will take the average person 4 hours to complete. 3 hours if you’re in shape and 5+ hours if you’re with a dog who waddles. But is the longer hike…

Aloha hikers, If you’re looking for a hike in Oahu that’s uncrowded, will take you at least 2 hours, has plenty of shade and pretty mountainous views and won’t send you away huffing and puffing in tears, then I’ll have to point you to Manana trail hidden in the Pearl…

Aloha Travelers, There is one famous tree in Hawaii that I would guess 99% of all Western visitors do not know exists. Only my Japanese friends have asked me to take them to see “the tree”. “Huh? What tree?” Imagine their shock when they realized I had no idea what…

Aloha whale fans, After hurricane season leaves our shores, the days get shorter, the morning cool air lasts longer and my dog begins to beg to cuddle on my bed at night. Unfortunately for her, I have a new (expensive) mattress and she has a perfectly comfortable bed on the…

Aloha! Let’s talk about a painful subject – jellyfish. Getting stung is NOT FUN. And many Hawaii visitors don’t realize that once a month we’ve got jellyfish swarms visiting our shores and making a sea of red welts and screaming children. I barely remember my 1st sting. I do remember…

Aloha nature lovers, Have you ever visited a national park and were just blown away by the magnificence of the mountainous cliffs and landscape views? I visited Yosemite a few years back with my parents and it’s an experience I’ll never forget. The sheer gargantuan size of the mountains blew…

Aloha hikers, There are 3 hikes that almost every tourist in Oahu tries to hit: Diamond Head, Makapuu Lighthouse and Manoa Falls. Diamond Head has that gorgeous view (and let’s face it, it’s pretty cool when you can say you were in a crater) while Makapuu is easy and a…

Aloha Cave Explorers, Kaumana Caves is a must if you’re headed off to the Big Island and are eager to explore a maze of lava tubes created on Hawaii’s youngest island. There is A LOT to see in these tubes and caverns. Please be warned, this isn’t a lighted trail…

Aloha Maui travelers, Turtle Town is why Maui is one of my most favorite islands in the Hawaiian Island chain. Not because of the magnificent Kaanapali beach, the magical Haleakala sunrise or the delicious local food they’ve got there – although these are all fantastic reasons that make Maui awesome.…

The Kaena Point hike is an easy, flat, sometimes muddy, usually hot, but rewarding hike. Not only does it have fantastic views every step of the way, but you also have a chance to see humpback whales off in the distance, monk seals basking in the sun and the cutest…

Updated on September 14, 2019 As requested, here is the How to get to Diamond Head and Back ultimate guide! Find out everything you need to know and expect when you head over to this popular and iconic hike on Oahu, Hawaii. I’ll go over the difficulty level, facilities available,…

Giving Back For Future Generations I’ve always loved ecotourism, so when the term “voluntourism” started to make itself known – I was interested. Some of us love to give back to the people, land or Mother Nature herself when we travel and Hawaii has plenty of opportunities for anyone interested…

Lanai Is A Snorkeler’s Paradise If you search the internet for Lanai and snorkeling, you’ll find pages and pages of Yelp reviews, TripAdvisor reviews and articles about which snorkeling tour or boat dive company is better. With so few people, many of the best beach snorkeling spots aren’t advertised as…

Get Your Huff ‘n’ Puff On Some hikes are easy, some hikes are hard. But which hikes do the locals go to when they want to get that cardio in? If you’re looking for exercise on Oahu, try these hikes out to work up a sweat. Koko Head Crater Trail…

The Kauai Hike Challenge If you love the outdoors, Kauai is the island for you. With beautiful cliffs, forests, ocean views and a smaller population, there is much more for you to explore. For those of you who love steep inclines, bushwhacking, extreme mud or extra long hikes, check these…

North Shore Hikes are Gorgeous! Oahu’s north shore is the stuff of legends. Gigantic winter surf waves, a magnificent coastline and plenty of nature to surround yourself with. There are a number of great hikes in this area, but if you’re looking for something easy to do, here are the…

Keiki Hikes on Kauai Kauai is arguably the most beautiful Hawaiian Island when it comes down to nature. As the chain’s oldest island, it has had time for the Waimea Canyon to form, a fresh water river to flow from the mountains and gorgeous, untouched cliffs of the Na Pali…