Sun, sand, and relaxation were all on the menu for our most recent trip to Hawaii. Michael and I spent about five days on Oahu, and this is the first of a series of three posts sharing some of the highlights of our trip. We spent a lot of time both at the beach and on hiking trails, experiencing the natural beauty of the island from mountains to the sea, and here were some of our favorites...
Overlooking Waikiki is a massive crater known as Diamond Head. It’s close proximity to the city and relatively easy trail makes it one of the most accessible hikes on the island. The downside is that this also makes it one of the most crowded hikes. We got there about 30 minutes before sunrise which was plenty of time to make it up the 0.8 miles to get to the top. It was an interesting challenge finding a spot up there along with the other tourists arriving by the busloads, but at least the view up there was nice.
Diamond Head overlooking Waikiki
Literally busloads of tourists up there
View of sunrise from the top
About a 30 minute drive east of Waikiki is another crater hike, the Koko Crater. Like Diamond Head, Koko Crater is a straightforward uphill climb to the top, and then downhill the way you came. But unlike Diamond Head, Koko Crater is actually a quite strenuous hike. It’s only about a mile to the summit, but it’s really more of a stair climb, with each step about a 1-1.5 feet in height. The view is definitely worth it though. Rest breaks doubled as photo breaks, and at the top we could see an amazing panoramic view of the windward shore.
Who needs a StairMaster when you can climb this?
Reward for making it to the top
We were a bit hesitant about going to Hanauma Bay after hearing about how crowded it could be. It actually wasn’t too crowded when we went though, probably due to a combination of us being there during the off-season and going there in the afternoon when most people had already left. We ended up arriving just an hour before closing, so as an added bonus, the guy at the admissions gate let us in free of charge! I would’ve liked to have more time there, but even with what little time we had we were still able to see some really interesting fish.
Hanauma Bay, one of the best snorkeling spots on the island
North Shore Beaches
Most visitors to Oahu never see anything much beyond Waikiki Beach, which is a shame because there are so many great beaches on the rest of the island. Although this might be a good thing - it means less crowds everywhere else! Kualoa Beach was one where despite its beautiful views and clear waters I could count the number of people there with one hand. Waimea Bay and Laniakea Beach on the north shore were a little more populated, but there was still plenty of room on the beach since most other people there were in the water riding the famous Hawaii waves.
Midday at Kualoa Beach
Surfer spotted on the north shore
Hawaii is one of the most scenic places I’ve been to, with it’s dramatic landscapes and natural wonders. There are so many great hikes and beaches to choose from, but I definitely recommend all of the above as a good starting point. Stay tuned for my next post about some of our favorite Oahu attractions and activities!
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