As the helicopter rises from the tarmac with a whir of chopper blades on a voggy Kona morning, I watch the airport pavement’s fine details transition from a chunky rock conglomeration to a distant grey strip. Instead of navigating over the familiar island-bisecting Saddle Road that connects Kona and Hilo, our cheerful Paradise Helicopters pilot, […]
Kawela Bay on the North Shore is a pristine cove beach that attracts beachgoers from across Oahu, thanks to its seclusion and water activities. Protected by an outer reef, Kawela’s nearshore waters are generally calm, which means you can swim, kayak, snorkel with marine life and spot honu (turtles) practically all year-round. Now add moonlit
Seeing the sunrise at the top of Haleakala (“house of the sun”) is a thrilling pilgrimage that many first-time visitors to the volcano make, but backpacking its trails to campsites or cabins miles past what can be seen from an overlook or visitors center takes the experience to another level. Its remote wilderness has a
Just over 16 miles from Maui, the sleepy island of Lanai seems a world apart. One of the least visited and smallest Hawaiian Islands, it retains a unique charm and character—tall red cliffs fronting the tropical blue sea, Norfolk pine-lined thoroughfares and a down-home feel—not found anywhere else. There’s not a lot to do here
A thousand-year-old heiau (stone temple) stands in the middle of a Honolulu suburb. The last remaining heiau in the ahupuaa (land division) of Waikiki, Kukaoo (standing digging stick) was dedicated to agricultural rituals. It rests atop an ancient lava flow with 60 species of tropical plants. Two-thirds of those plants are native, meaning they came
A cosmos of plankton swirls near my face as I breathe through my snorkel, making sounds not unlike Darth Vader. Tiny orange shrimp, just-hatched, staple-sized translucent larval fish and green algal blobs dance in front of my mask, all driven by internal instinct to the surface by a spotlight facing the seafloor. Beyond, blackness is
As we leave Haleiwa Harbor, my heart feels like it’s beating hard enough to burst out of my chest and flop onto the deck of the Mo‘o like a freshly caught mahimahi. The ol’ ticker is pulsing with nervous anticipation as I try not to think about the movie “Jaws.” Or, it could just be the
“Zip on,” my guide says with a smile, before I soar over a tropical gulch, and pass kukui nut and eucalyptus trees at a speed fast enough to make my eyes water. I’ve always been curious to try ziplining, but this is my first time. I recently visited Piiholo Ranch Zipline in Upcountry Maui, and
In Hawaii, the cattle ranching tradition has deep roots. A century before their counterparts in the American West started roping and riding, paniolos—the term for Hawaiian cowboys—were getting schooled in horsemanship by Mexican vaqueros hired by Hawaiian royalty. Small-scale working ranches are still thriving across the islands today, and there are many festivals and parades
If you’re looking for activites that will be fun for the entire ohana (family), think about packing up a picnic or takeout lunch and joining the locals at our favorite parks or maybe head to the Waikiki Aquarium and see all sorts of underwater life. Kapiolani Park Lots of room to spread out under the trees
While Waikiki is Hawaii’s tourist mecca, with no shortage of foot traffic, there are plenty of spots across Hawaii that are great to meander, take in the local culture and cuisine and find hidden gems on foot. Get started with these and you may just discover a few new favorite places. 1. Kaimuki, Oahu The sidewalks
Not quite into surfing? Here’s a gentler alternative. Stand up paddle boarding (SUP) as we know today is said to have originated in Hawaii, so it’s no wonder locals know the best, calmest waters to paddle out in. Try out these spots for some leisurely exploration. Ala Moana Beach Park in Honolulu.Photo: Caroline Charles/Thinkstock Ala
