The Arch (Natural Attraction, Windward) If you park at the Halona Blowhole parking lot (Kalanianaole Highway heading east in Honolulu) and walk across the highway, head west past where the rail ends, you’ll be heading in the right direction. You can pick a comfortable spot to scale the rocks and […]
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Spitting Caves (Natural Attraction, Windward) This was a little tricky to find, but I love a good natural attraction (Intersection of Popipu and Lumahai in Honolulu. Take Lumahai down to the end and park, nice residential area). We followed the directions, found the block, parked the car, and I started […]
Pu’u O’Mahuka Heiau (History, Northshore) This is a tiny park full of history is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the northshore on a great hill overlooking the ocean (Pupukea Homestead Road from Kamehameha Highway [across from Pupukea fire station]). After turning in you find a small lot […]
Makua Cave (Natural Attraction, Leeward) A quick stop on the way to or from Ka’ena Point you can find the entrance to this cave at Farrington Highway mile marker 17. There is a dirt parking lot directly across the street on the ocean side. I was actively searching for it […]
Chinatown Cultural Plaza (Cheap Eats, Culture, Honolulu) On the first day we visited this place seemed so mysterious (100 North Beretania Street, Honolulu, HI 96817). It was drizzling and foggy, the scent of incense cloaked the air. Few people, none who could answer our questions in English were wandering around, […]
Top Picks: Aloha Stadium Swap Meet (Shopping, Leeward) It’s always nice to return to the mainland with gifts from Hawaii for your Ohana. Staying in Waikiki, all of the shops had ridiculously overpriced tags. I looked for gifts everywhere I went that would be meaningful and spoke to the recipient. […]
Top Picks: Byodo-In Temple (Wildlife Sightings, Koi Pond, Windward) This was one of our most memorable activities of the trip, and for some reason I almost had us skip it thinking it was just some run of the mill temple, I’m so thankful I didn’t because it is so much […]
Wahiawa Botanical Garden (Educational, Northshore) This is the garden we visited on our way to the northshore one day. It is located close to the Dole Plantation and opens a half an hour earlier, so we were there right as they opened, 9am to make the most of our day. […]
Koko Crater Botanical Gardens (Educational, Windward) This was the first botanical garden we went to on the island. We hiked Koko Head earlier in the morning, then checked out some oddball spots such as: the spitting cave, the arch, and the hanola blowhole, and then had a huge Japanese lunch […]
Top Picks: Moanalua Gardens (Koi Pond, Wildlife Sightings, Honolulu) This park is on the smaller side but it happened to be one of our favorites! It is right off the highway, I mean right off…make sure you take the exit slow or you’ll miss it (2850 Moanalua Road, Honolulu, HI […]
Top Picks: Ho‘omaluhia Botanical Garden (Educational, Koi Pond, Wildlife Sightings, Windward) Just try to keep your jaw from dropping as you drive into this utterly amazing and free green space (45-680 Luluku Road, Kaneohe, HI 96744). Great parking lot and visitors center here, pick up a map and start going. […]
Hau’ula Loop Trail (Wooded, Waterfall, Northshore) This trail was a lot different from all of the others we hiked in Oahu. It was very wooded with habitats that reminded us of home. We only encountered one other group while hiking which was nice for a change, probably because it’s location […]
Diamond Head (Lighthouse, Military Remnants, Tunnels, Waikiki) This is the quintessential Oahu hike located right in Waikiki, everyone does it and the trail is packed accordingly. There are many things that make this hike very interesting and unique, but it is really hard to look past the throngs of people […]
Manoa Falls & Lyon Arboretum (Waterfall, Educational, Honolulu) A waterfall hike has a great draw, what a beautiful payoff for your labors. There was work being done on the road to the trailhead so the only free place to park was down the road a bit. We didn’t mind walking […]
Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail (Paved, Lighthouse, Military Remnants, Windward) This would make a really great sunrise hike because it’s paved and therefore easy to navigate, and on the windward side where the sun rises most visibly. The park that contains the trail is called Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline (8751-9057 Kalanianaole […]