Hawaii - Jeff Campbell [56]
Return to beginning of chapter
ACTIVITIES
At Sea
BODYBOARDING & BODYSURFING
The ultimate challenge for expert bodyboarders and bodysurfers is the shorebreaks at Sandy Beach Park (Click here) and Makapu′u Beach Park (Click here) east of Hanauma Bay and Makaha Beach Park (Click here) on the Wai′anae Coast. Other top shorebreaks that will beat you down are Waimea Bay Beach Park (Click here) on the North Shore; Kalama Beach Park (Click here) in Kailua on the Windward Coast; Malaekahana State Recreation Area (Click here) and Pounders Beach (Click here) around La′ie; and Makua Beach (Click here) on the Wai′anae Coast. Waikiki’s most popular bodyboarding spot is Kapahulu Groin (Click here), where crazy-cool local teens do daring feats.
Gentler shorebreaks can be found elsewhere along Waikiki’s beaches, as well as on the Windward Coast at Kailua (Click here) and Waimanalo (Click here).
KAYAKING, WINDSURFING & KITESURFING
On the Windward Coast, Kailua (Click here) is the number-one spot for sea kayaking to offshore islands. It’s also a windsurfing hot spot, with year-round tradewinds and good flat-water and wave conditions. Rental kayaks and windsurfing gear and lessons are available in Kailua, which is also a great place to learn kitesurfing. Other prime windsurfing spots around O′ahu include Diamond Head Beach (Click here) east of Waikiki; Malaekahana State Recreation Area (Click here) on the Windward Coast; and Mokule′ia Beach Park (Click here) and at Sunset Beach Park (Click here) on the North Shore. In Waikiki, Fort DeRussy Beach (Click here) is pretty much the only windsurfing spot.
SCUBA DIVING & SNORKELING
East of Waikiki, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve (Click here) offers excellent snorkeling year-round. In summer, follow the locals (both divers and snorkelers) to the North Shore’s Pupukea Beach Park (Click here), Waimea Bay Beach Park (Click here) and Kuilima Cove (Click here) near the Turtle Bay Resort. On the Wai′anae Coast, try Hawaiian Electric Beach Park (Click here) and Makaha Beach Park (Click here).
O′ahu’s top summer dive spots include the caves and ledges at Three Tables (Click here) and Shark’s Cove (Click here) on the North Shore, and the Makaha Caverns off Makaha Beach (Click here). In winter, most divers head to wrecks off Waikiki and farther east between Black Point and Koko Head Regional Park, including Hanauma Bay.
SURFING
From the thundering barrels of the North Shore to the placid surf-nursery of Waikiki, O′ahu is the place to ride waves. Whether you’re a world-class expert or a newbie hoping to give the sport a go, this is a fantastic place to do it, with surf schools all around the island. On the international surfing circuit, itinerant wave riders show up for the North Shore’s massive winter breaks and high-profile competitions. Other breaks around O′ahu have their own personalities and status in the surfing hierarchy; see the boxed text, Click here, for a rundown.
* * *
DON’T LEAVE YOUR CAR WITHOUT…
When visiting beach parks, hiking trails or ‘secret’ spots off the side of the highway, take all valuables with you. Don’t leave anything visible inside your car or stowed in the trunk. Car break-ins – and on O′ahu, that means not just of rental cars, but also locals’ vehicles – are common all over the island and can happen within a matter of minutes. Some locals always leave their cars unlocked to avoid the hassles of broken windows or jimmied door locks.
* * *
SWIMMING
O′ahu is ringed by more than 50 gorgeous white-sand beaches, most with rest rooms, showers and sometimes lifeguards. Different coastal areas together provide year-round swimming; when it’s rough or rainy on one side of the island, it’s generally calm and sunny on another.
As a general rule, the best places to swim in winter are along the