For many, a trip to Hawaii isn’t complete without visiting Pearl Harbor. The Hawaii naval base was attacked on December 7, 1941 and became the immediate cause of the United States’ entry into World War II. Now, 77 years later, the site is home to relics of the last world war, and includes the USS […]
When thinking of Oahu’s surf, a few images come to mind. The throaty barrels at Banzai Pipeline. The dangerous, shallow reefs of Rocky Point. The large, gargantuan waves of Waimea Bay. But really, from the North Shore to Honolulu’s south coasts, there are surf spots geared toward all skill levels, from beginner to advanced. Check
I tried to mentally will the gray clouds away as we approached the left turn to the posh Aina Haina neighborhood in East Oahu. My husband and I, our dog in the back seat, were heading to the Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail and the drive over was becoming increasingly overcast. The nearly 5-mile round-trip trail is
I’m starting to lose my grip. Ten feet above the ground, my toe is cinched in a small inlet and I’m reaching hard for the next hold. My hands should be sweating, but they’re covered in white chalk, which keeps them dry. My focus is entirely set on not falling off this rock. I make
It sounds great on paper: Waking up at 5:30 a.m., getting a nice workout climbing the stairs to Koko Head Crater and having a transformative moment watching the sun rise above the horizon. Easy, right? Not even a little bit. 1. “Why is it still dark? And cold? Is this what 5:30 a.m. feels like?”
Hawaiʻi’s full of awe-inspiring hikes, but not many will give you such a bird’s-eye view of Oʻahu’s North Shore like the ʻEhukai Pillbox Hike. Located next to Sunset Beach Elementary, this hike has been a regular activity for local residents for years, and its stellar views of the Seven Mile Miracle have recently begun sprouting
Oahu’s west side gets a bad rap: Parents tell their kids to leave their valuables at home if they’re heading in that direction, and its town names, such as Waianae and Nanakuli, strike fear into the hearts of some visitors and locals. However, much of that is unwarranted and the rugged beauty of the island’s
In our May/June issue of HAWAII Magazine, we asked members of our social media audience what their dream trip to Hawaii would be, and then helped plan it out. “I want to take my teenage daughter and myself to Oahu and stay at a resort, hike to a waterfall and have a spa day. Her
Day One Wake up with the sun at the summit of Leahi (aka Diamond Head). Its moderate, 1.6-mile jaunt up the famous summit will give you a bird’s-eye view of Waikiki, Honolulu and West Oahu. Skip the food vendors at the park, and drive to local favorite Waiola Shave Ice for your reward—a round of
Moku Nui and Moku Iki. Off in the distance, they sharply rise in a serene sea of aquamarine. Collectively known as Nā Mokulua (“two islands”), they’re Oʻahu’s most popular offshore islets and protected seabird sanctuaries and it’s the bird’s-eye view of them that entices most people to hike the Kaʻiwa Ridge Trail—a roughly 1-mile hike
All right. First off, stop chuckling at the seeming absurdity of a great road trip in Hawaiʻi. We’ve heard every reason our incomparably scenic island byways never make it onto any great American road-trip lists. Yes, we live on a collection of eight mostly smallish islands, each separated by miles of deep blue Pacific Ocean.
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
