How To Do Waikiki And Oahu On The Cheap (But Not Missing Out) Guide

Step 5 Recreation

Hiking
There are plenty of hikes to do not too far from Waikiki. For detailed trail maps go to www.hawaiitrails.org . Always take plenty of water!! The 10km hike that I completed was tough, but fair. I went in an Easterly direction, but due to the splintered tracks initially, I would suggest a Westerly walk, to avoid any confusion. Catch the No. 5 (Manoa Valley) from Ala Moana Center to the furthest point of Manoa Rd then walk 500m north following signs to the start of the Manoa Falls Trail. The walk to the waterfall is relatively easy and enjoyable. The waterfall itself is quite spectacular. Just prior to the waterfall, on the left is the Aihualama Trail, so take this after having a nice rest at the falls. Head west along the Aihualama Trail for 1km, then it stops at a junction (Panoa Flats Trail), turn right, and after 500m uphill, you will come to an awesome lookout across the Nu'uanu valley. You can see the ocean to the north from here. Turn back down the Panoa Flats Trail, and return past the junction for another 200m. Turn right at the Nu'uanu Trail and follow this. Stay on this track (which includes awesome views of Waikiki and Pearl Harbor) until it reaches the Judd Trail Loop, and turn right. Follow the Loop trail until you can turn right, cross the Nu'uanu stream and exit onto the Old Pali Rd. Walk left along this road until the corner of Kimo & Nu'uanu Pali Dr/Old Pali Dr, and take the No. 4 bus back to Ala Moana Center. A photocopied version, well worth printing out is at www.state.hi.us/dlnr/dofaw/nah/HonoluluMaukaTrailsSystem.pdf
Jogging
Go for an early morning jog along Waikiki beach, as it's deserted. Other popular morning and evening (due to the heat) areas to jog, are along the Ala Wai Canal, Kapiolani Park and Kapiolani Beach Park.

Snorkelling
Queens Surf Beach
Awesome safe snorkelling right off the beach. Heaps of colourful fish. I even saw a morey eel. If you swim out to the end of The Wall or (especially) around the end of the rock wall at the other end of Queens Surf Beach, you will be rewarded by some massive fish. You might even find the odd ring or coins in the shallows that have been lost by frolicking tourists!
Shark's Cove (May to October)
Catch the Around Island Bus (No. 52) and get off at Pupukea Beach Park. Safe, easy entry. Absolutely teeming with fish. Nearby change rooms. Then grab an 'ahi (tuna steak) sandwich at Shark's Cove Grill (little white trailer next to Foodland) opposite. Yummy!
Tip: I didn't bother to go to Hanauma Bay as it was out of the way and apparently has been loved to death by over a million visitors a year trampling on the coral.
Turtle Bay
Haven' snorkeled there, but apparently it's great. It's at the end of the No. 52, and the start of the No. 55.

Comments

[saidthety]

I've snorkeled all over Oahu, and I don't think I'd be able to recommend a better spot for visitors than Hanauma bay. Whoever told you that Hanauma Bay has been trampled to death is wrong. There's still plenty of sea life to see- in fact, the fish in Hanauma Bay are some of the largest reef fish I've seen on the island. The only downsides are that you have to watch a ~20 minute long video before they let you onto the beach (telling you not to feed/bother the wildlife or walk on the coral, etc.), and it's a steep walk too and from the beach. A trolley makes regular trips up and down the hill, but it costs money (can't recall the price off the top of my head). It's worth the price for the trolley back up the hill, especially if you have a lot of gear.

Sharks Cove is a great place to go during the Spring and Summer. The reason why it's inadvisable to go during the Winter months is because Sharks Cove is on the North Shore, and is susceptible to the swells the North Shore receives during the winter months.

Not many tourists are willing to venture out on the west coast, especially into Waianae, but for individuals looking for some good snorkeling on that side of the island, Pokai Bay is pretty good. There are a couple rock walls- one on the public side and one on the military side (you can just walk/swim across the beach to the military side if you want) that have lots of interesting sea life- fish, eels, cuttlefish- I've even seen a couple octopuses. If you're lucky, you can see the spinner dolphins jumping out of water just outside the bay too.