hAWAI’I; THE BEST ADVENTURES ON OHAU

Hawai’i is a dreamlocation for the adventure souls, the dreamers and the doers. Photographers are in heaven on this gorgeous island and if you like beaches, waterfalls and hiking you are in the right spot.

Hawai’i has so many beautiful sweet spots but let’s start with some handy insights what is useful to know for a trip to this heaven on earth island.

  • Car rental: When I went to Hawai’i I did not have my driver license with me as I lost my wallet just before the trip. I managed to do a lot of things by being creative and especially asking for help but ideally you want to have a car! It is a big Island and it can be hard to get around with public transport especially if you want to go more north and other parts of the island that are more remotely and away from Waikiki.
  • Where to stay: Waikiki is not cheap and of course staying along the coast will cost you a lot of money but there are ways to make your stay cheaper. We we’re with a group of friends and we rented an air bnb just outside the city to avoid high prices. It is super easy to get around with public transport around Waikiki and it saved us a lot of money!
    If you are a solo traveler I recommend staying in Hostels or try couch-surfing. I have spend my last night couch-surfing and it was actually my first experience and it was a huge succes!
  • How to meet people: You will be surprised to see how many people are happy to meet up, show you around or explore together. As I was not able to rent a car I used the app meet- up and couch-surfing to meet people and ask to rent a car together. And with succes the first day, a local guy, picked me up from my stay and showed me one of the best beaches up north! Traveling as an amazing way of connecting people together.

Now let’s move on to the fun part!

Fun hikes on Ohau

  1. Daimond head
    If you are looking for an easy hike which doesn’t take too much time then this is your hike! To start with, there is one challenge that comes with the hike and that is finding a parking spot for your car! We parked our cars at the farmers market and walked our way up to the hike. As it is close to the city and easy accessible it is busy but once you are up there is a gorgeous view of the whole coast of Waikiki! Once you are back at the bottom again don’t forget to treat yourself with a delicious pineapple smoothie bowl!
  2. Koko head stairs
    This one if for the people who want a challenge, as it is a tough one! The steps are an old rail track that leads you to the top of the vulcano. However the 1048 steps are uneven which makes it a brutal exercise for your legs and there is hardly any shade. There are people doing this daily and some of them are flying up those stairs, I am pretty fit but I can honestly say that this was a good challenge! That’s why I recommend to go early in the morning to avoid the hottest part of the day. Once you are up go to the side that gives you the view of the east coast, it’s the best part.
    If you go with public transport you can also decide to go down on the other side, along the edge of the crater which brings you to Sandy beach. This side is not an official pathway but does give you a bit of cheeky adventure off the beaten track.
  3. Pillbox hike
    This hike will give you the most epic sunrise you will ever see! On my last day my couch-surfing host was kind enough to take me to this hike before he brought me to the airport and I am forever thankful! It is a short but sweet hike, and the view is just one word: incredible. With the moon still shining bright behind us it turned the sky in to blue, pink and purple and the sun coming up in front the sky was filled with orange and yellow. Make sure you go early so you find yourself a sweet spot!
  4. Makapu’u tide pools
    This one is so easy to be missed and if it wasn’t for an adventurous traveler that we bumped in to we would have missed this one out like many other tourists that are on their way to the lighthouse! Good shoes are recommended for this off beaten track as this steep hike with loose rocks can be slippery. Halfway you can already enjoy a gorgeous view of the tide pools and I’m sure you can’t wait for a swim in ocean clear water with view! Just remember to put your stuff in a safe spot and near one of the blowholes that are located. Which are by the way awesome as well, with some luck you can see water shooting up to ten meters!
  • Sunrise Pillbox
  • Where the moon and the sun meet.. sunrise pillbox
  • The back of koko head – follow this track to sandy beach
  • View over Waikiki from Diamond head
  • Makapu’u tide pools
  • Koko head! The absolute challenge

Hikes that I didn’t do myself (YET!) but are suppose to be epic:

  • Stairway to heaven
  • Crouching Lion

Waterfall hunting

As I needed to make some choices in my 10 day trip to Hawai’i I’ve only visited one waterfall but it was for sure a gorgeous one

  • Manoa Falls
    If you are looking for a gorgeous trail and easy accessible in case you don’t have a car then this one is for you. It is nearby Waikiki and it’s only a 10$ taxi ride away but you will feel like you are miles out from the city. This trail is proof of the epic scenery you can find on Oahu. A lot of people apparently do this one barefoot however it was raining when we went and I remember HOW slippery it was! So be careful on the rainy days! For the rest, a short but sweet walk with a big fat reward from mother nature

Falls I haven’t done but are on my list!

  • Seven falls (If you are feeling very adventurous and not afraid to get wet!) This is one is a full day trip and is also a hike with more risk.
  • Waimea falls if you are visiting north. As a day trip: combine it with Waimea bay beach park for epic surfing (not for the beginners) and rock jumping

Epic (open door!) helicopter flight

This was one of the best things I have done! The view, the open door experience, this epic feeling of flying above a gorgeous Island. If you can afford it, I highly recommend doing this. One tip for the long hair folks, tie it properly!

Best beaches

To be honest, every beach on Oahu is gorgeous but some beaches are really good for surfing and others might be better for just relaxing. Or you might want to get away from the crowd to be at a more seclude beach

  1. Lanikai
    This is a beach that has it all, it is probably one of the most gorgeous beaches of the Island and with the most activities to do. A crowd that is a mix of tourism and locals, soft sand, crystal clear water and the spot to watch the sunrise. If you are going for the whole Lanikai experience I recommend to do the pillbox hike in the morning, watch the sunrise, and go straight to the beach for a nice cooling down dip in the ocean!
  2. Waimea beach park
    For the pro – surfers or if you are like me would love to watch the experienced surfers doing their thing! Anyway you are in surf mecca! Have a picknick, put on your sunscreen and relax for the day! There is also an opportunity to go rock jumping just be aware of the weather. Some days it might be too dangerous to jump
  3. Hawaiian electric beach park
    If you want to snorkel this is the best beach to go to! With warm and crystal clear water, you are in snorkel paradise! Just be aware that the current can be strong and there are no life guards. So if you are a beginner swimmers it might be a good idea to go on a snorkel tour.
  4. Sandy beach
    Located at the base of koko head, a gorgeous beach which is perfect for all year round body boarding and and surfing.
  5. Sunset beach
    The name itself says it all! For the best sunset view, grab a beer with some friends and enjoy!

There are so many places I haven’t seen yet of this beautiful Island and I feel like the best things to do is just drive around and stop at all the gorgeous places that this Island has to offer.

I will for sure go back one day and visit the other Islands as well.
Mahalo Hawai’i, for the gorgeous memories

Is Oahu one of your dream destinations and you are planning to visit? Let me know if you have any questions in the comments below!