The sun is shining, the sky is blue and, most importantly, the tide is low. Just 15 minutes from the shores of Kaneohe Bay, surrounded by the Koolau Mountains and its reef-protected waters, a literal slice of paradise reveals itself: The largest saltwater sandbar in the world. Because of its sprawling nature, the sandbar is […]
“This is a beast of a hike,” my friend says, as he slathers his face with sunscreen, the tinted kind that leaves streaks on your skin like war paint. I’m not easy to sunburn, but he tosses me the bottle anyway, a suggestion to rub in a little more than I already have. After all,
For the past seven months, I’ve had to explain myself to others: I’m hiking the 11-mile Kalalau Trail on the Napali Coast of Kauai. I’ll be off the grid for four days and three nights with absolutely no cell phone service. I’m carrying with me food, some water and a tent. Yes, it’s dangerous. Yes,
Seeing the spectacular cliffs and waterfalls of the Napali Coast by boat is already an incredible and unforgettable experience that everyone must do, but Holo Holo Charters takes it a big step further with its Niihau and Napali Super Tour. Not only do you get to see the Napali Coastline up close, from Port Allen
Sure, luxury resort rooms in Hawaii are nice. But if the idea of waking up to the sound of crashing waves on a white-sand beach only a few feet away from you, or opening your eyes to a picturesque botanical garden is appealing, we encourage you to bring or rent a tent and check in to
We’ve reached the point that most people don’t look forward to—the Road to Hana’s famous twists and stomach-churning turns. From the passenger seat, I watch the driver grip the steering wheel with both hands as he turns it all the way left, all the way right, then left again with so much precision and effort
Photographer and hiking enthusiast, Mike Karas, knows a thing or two about this scenic, out-and-back hike to Crouching Lion. Why do so many love it? The hike is “doable for novices, average hikers and people who have hiked a little bit before,” Karas says. “Most fitness levels could manage the effort and hike up.” Located
Waimanu Valley’s ancient green amphitheater streams with white water falling from impossibly high heights. Its star, Waihilau Falls, rains down a series of drops totaling an improbable 2,600 feet. Coveted oceanside campsites in this remote and pristine region—the largest of Hawaii Island’s northern valleys—offer a chance to sleep under a blanket of stars, laze away
Detail on the black-sand grains of Pailoa. Photo: Daniel Sullivan/HAWAIʻI Magazine Waianapanapa State Park is a popular stop along Hana Highway—the 64.4-mile Road to Hana, known for its 620 curves, countless waterfalls, lush green scenery and remote hidden beauty. At around mile marker 32, 2 miles outside Hana Town, a sign directs you toward the
Winter awakens a beast. For a period of about 15 days a year, the surf break, Peʻahi, also nicknamed Jaws, reveals its unrest: monster waves between 40 and 60 feet—lashing its teeth at those who dare brush up against its pearly whites. Through the fearful visual, there’s also a haunting reverence, recently evidenced in the
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
It’s no secret that Hawaii has its fair share of incredible, awe-inspiring waterfalls. For many waterfalls, the most mind-blowing feature of them would be their height. However, they’re difficult to officially scale because there isn’t a standardized way to classify them, let alone what defines a waterfall itself. Some people believe the criteria should include
