Just what does Hawaii’s Oahu have going for it? Perfect weather, warm waters, welcoming culture, and fun everywhere you venture! Whether you come to Hawaii after years of saving or won the trip as a prize in charity fundraising packages, you will experience more than you bargained for in this gorgeous paradise.
Lucy Yamamoto, writing for Lonely Planet, says, “From age-old fishing villages to modern mega resorts, from snow-capped peaks to sandy beaches, you’ll experience tropical splendor backed by an epic history.” But, there is a marvelous Hawaii you may need help finding.
Land tour
Local tour guides will take through you through a land tour of Oahu in deluxe mini-coaches. The guides will educate you about everything from the creation of the islands to their settling by Polynesian explorers. Between Hawaiian luaus and visits to Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, you will visit the Kilauea Volcano. Island guests consider it an unforgettable experience.
While you’re here, make sure to procure Dole Plantation tour tickets and packages here and take advantage of the gorgeous North Shore beaches. But, the more adventurous will treasure the education at Rainbow Falls, Coconut Island, Thurston Lava Tube, and the overlooks at Kilauea Iki and Halema’uma’u for your closest ever look at volcano activity.
Adventure tour
With direction from local professional guides and instructors, you can take surfing lessons at Waikiki Beach. You will hike to a secret cascading waterfall for swimming, diving, and sliding. And, you can snorkel at a white-sanded private beach and swim with playful dolphins.
Volcano Tours
The Big Island’s Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a world treasure of cultural and scientific importance. From the deck of the Jaggar Museum, you can wonder at the roiling lava lake. View the extraordinary film, Born of Fire…Born of the Sea at the Kīlauea Visitor Center and take in the Volcano Art Center while you’re there.
Eco Adventures
Other exotic tours take you on eco adventures. The deep mysterious forests of the Koolau Mountains offer unique observations and experiences. With expert tour guides, you’ll discover rare plant life, extraordinary birds, tall cliffs, and views from mountains to sea. The first Hawaiians believed the gods lived among the mountain top clouds, and you can share their world.
Beach tours
With advice and equipment, you can start at the North Shore where visitors snorkel at Kawela Bay and Turtle Bay home to the Hawaii’s Green Turtle. Suring pros consider Sunset Beach from the dangerous Banzai Pipeline tubes at Ehukai Beach to Sunset Point the longest surfable beach in the world. The incredibly huge waves at Waimea Bay have challenged surfers from everywhere for generations.
The west facing beaches, starting at Makapuu east of Waikiki, invite bodyboarding below the Makapuu Lighthouse. Waimanalo hosts picnics and parties on a four mile stretch of calm waters. Lanikai offers more calm crystal water on sparking white sands. You can kayak to and around nearby mini-islands. And, Kailua is a quiet local family beach, a secret to most tourists.
Heading to the south, you hit the world-famous Waikiki with its iconic views of Diamond Head. Guests and islander’s surf, bodyboard, and canoe along its three beaches. A natural reef protects the half-mile long stretch of Ala Moana and creates a calm and quiet lagoon for children to swim. The nature preserve at Hanauma Bay is a marine sanctuary with millions of fish and marine creatures in its shallow waters. And, at Sandy Beach, you’ll join locals near the Halona Blowhole.
Making full circle to the west, you’ll love the lagoons at Ko Olina Resort and Marina. Makaha offers exciting but risky surfing off its sloping beachhead. Yokohama Bay curves along the Leeward Coast where hikers marvel at the dolphins below.
According to The Huffington Post, “Each Hawaiian island offers something unique to travelers.” But, if you want to do Oahu right, sign up for a planned and interesting tour.