Best Oahu Activities Beyond Waikiki

Dear Best Hawaii vacation blog visitors,

Our recent Hawaii meteor shower guest post was well received by our blog visitors. We are certain that all of our Oahu visitors who are getting ready for their Oahu vacation and activities will love Jason's guest post 'Best Oahu Activities Beyond Waikiki'.



Jason Rushin lives with his wife, Sarah, in Honolulu's Hawaii Kai neighborhood, and is the founder of HulaCopter, a new iPhone and Android app that helps Hawaii vacationers find great discounts on Hawaii's best activities. Jason spends most of his non-work time either lying on Waimanolo Beach, attempting to surf in Waikiki, enjoying the view of Koko Head from his lanai, or training for the Honolulu Marathon. So let's see what he has to say about:



6 Best Oahu activities Beyond Waikiki



"For most visitors to Oahu, Waikiki is home base. Waikiki luaus, visits to Pearl Harbor and the spectacular North Shore, are on top of the Oahu activity list of visitors spending their Hawaii vacation between Ala Moana and Diamond Head. Given the beauty of the area, the attraction is obvious. However, best Oahu activities beyond Waikiki are just a short car or #22 bus ride away. A world of Hawaiian island beauty and fun activities is awaiting the Oahu visitor on East Oahu. Here are six popular Oahu activities beyond Waikiki which I recommend to friends, family and Oahu visitors on Hawaii vacation:



1. Hanauma Bay - Best Oahu snorkel spot



Surely one of the most beautiful natural areas in Hawaii, Hanauma Bay is a combination educational center, marine preserve, wide beach and premier snorkeling area. With over 250 species of fish accounting for 25% of Hawaii’s marine life, all protected in a calm bay, this is the can’t-miss snorkeling spot on Oahu and in the entire state of Hawaii.



2. Surfing Lessons - Learn how to surf beyond Waikiki



While Waikiki is a great place to learn how to surf, it’s crowded, has a rocky bottom, and feels very touristy. For a more “local” experience, and a boat ride, head out to Hawaii Kai’s Maunalua Bay for a fun, uncrowded, mellow beginners surfing lesson off of Portlock Point. Try Hawaiian Surf Adventure a friendly team whose #1 focus is on you having a great time (and they offer a shuttle from Waikiki)!





3. Fast-action Activities - Oahu ocean activities for speed lovers



If you’re looking for fun that’s faster than Waikiki’s waves and sailboats, try jet skis, wave runners, banana boats, and parasailing in the warm Hawaii Kai marina and calm waters of Maunalua Bay. Hawaii Water Sports Center provides all of these - and more - right from Koko Marina, and offers shuttle pick-ups in Waikiki.





4. Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail - Hiking for everybody on Oahu vacation



If you’re like me, a relaxing vacation usually means zero physical activity. If you need to stretch your legs, head out to the south-eastern tip of Oahu and walk the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail It’s a two-mile paved trail with a moderate grade to the top (elevation gain: approx 400 feet - BRING WATER), but the views are spectacular! On most days, you can see Molokai to the east, and even Maui if it’s clear. During the winter, whale spouts are almost guaranteed. Plus, on the drive over, you can stop at Halona Blowhole and Sandy and Makapu’u Beaches for some of the most incredible blue water views you’ll ever see.



5. Waimanolo Beach Park - Beach activities beyond Waikiki Beach



For what I consider the best beach in the world, plan a day at Waimanolo Beach Park. It has beautiful, wide, white sand beaches, a constant breeze, great bodyboarding, and some of the most amazing aqua waters in the world. The best part: even when it’s "crowded," it’s still not crowded!





6. Great Food - Eat and relax with famous Hawaiian Oahu sunsets



If you’re tired of Waikiki’s chains and food that you can get at home anyway, try two Hawaii icons: The original Roy’s restaurant and Kona Brewing Company.Sure, there are six Roy’s locations in Hawaii and dozens more around the country, but only one is the original! (Tip: Come for a spectacular evening view as the sun sets over Diamond Head). Kona Brewing offers a selection of great island-inspired food and amazing Hawaii-brewed beers, with seasonal selections using ingredients ranging from ginger to coconut to Kona coffee.





Bonus: 7. Save Some Money on your Oahu vacation Beyond Waikiki!



Let’s be honest: Hawaii can be expensive, especially the "tourist" areas. Oahu areas beyond Waikiki offer a less-crowded, less-expensive option to have some great fun, see some amazing sites, and enjoy more of the beautiful people of Oahu - all for a little bit less money."



Much mahalo again, Jason, for your fun post about your favorite Oahu activities. Your Oahu activity photos are wonderful and enticing for Oahu visitors to give the activities a try when on Hawaii vacation.



So, dear Best Hawaii Vacation blog visitors, what is on the top of your list of 'Best Oahu Activities Beyond Waikiki'? Your favorite Oahu activity is wanted here. We are looking forward to your comments. Mahalo and aloha, Pua Affordable Hawaii Vacations



Best Oahu Activities beyond Waikiki related posts



Pearl Harbor in Honolulu

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Oahu Trip Report

Visit Hanauma Bay Beach

How to have a great Oahu vacation and save money?

Tags: Vacation activities for Oahu, Best Oahu activities

Pearl Harbor in Honolulu

It's Monday and our new Hawaii photo is posted. As you may recognize immediately, Jennifer selected a very famous photo from her Hawaii stock photography, well known not only to Oahu visitors, but closely connected to the American history: It's a Pearl Harbor memorial photo of the USS Arizona memorial! A few weeks ago, Joanne from California wrote a guest post about their Oahu vacation, the things they did on Oahu and the sights she and her husband had visited.
She told us that they spent nearly an entire day at Pearl Habor Memorial. Like everybody else who visited the Pearl Harbor memorial on Oahu, she believes anyone traveling to Hawaii should not miss this historic memorial.

There is no denying that this will be a very emotional and moving visit. It brings back the history of World War II, when Pearl Harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941. The USS Arizona Memorial was dedicated on Memorial Day 1962 to commemorate the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 and the men who died defending it.

Each year, the USS Arizona Memorial welcomes more than 1.4 million visitors from around the world. The Memorial Park has brochures written in 23 different languages, as well as an audio programs. The USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center is located adjacent to Kamehameha Highway, near the Aloha Stadium, between Ford Island Bridge and Pearl Harbor's Makalapa Gate. To reach the USS Arizona Memorial from Waikiki, take the H-1 Freeway to the Airport Viaduct.

The Visitor Center is the first stop for visitors planning to tour the Memorial. Located within the Center are: two theaters, a museum, a bookstore, restrooms, limited snack bar, public telephones, and exhibits outlining the Pearl Harbor attack. When guests enter the Visitor Center, they are asked to line up for a numbered ticket, which provides free admission to the Memorial tour. While waiting for the program to begin, visitors may tour the Visitor Center and its exhibits.

When your ticket number is called, visitors are asked to assemble at the theater entrance in preparation for the tour to begin. The guided tour of the USS Arizona Memorial includes a 23-minute documentary film of the attack on Pearl Harbor, a short boat trip and a self-guided exploration of the Memorial. The Visitor Center is open 7:30 a.m. - 5 p.m. every day except Thanksgiving, December 25 and New Years Day. Tours are every 15 minutes, on a first-come, first-serve basis. Admission is free! Read more on the history.

A few Tips for your visit to Pearl Harbor

Be there first thing in the morning, at least an hour before they open, to avoid the long lines.

Going with a tour bus might help you manage your schedule efficiently.

Be careful when booking a Pearl Harbor tour online, so you don't end up with much more expenses than necessary.

You can spend hours in the museum just reading and learning. Be prepared for a long day.

Pearl Harbor Links

Arizona Memorial Museum Association in Honolulu, Hawaii. Four historical sites in the Pacific Region

Pearl Harbor Memorial in Honolulu

View a short video introduction about the Pearl Harbor Attack.

We'd love to hear from all our Hawaii vacation blog visitors whith their experience at Pearl Harbor Memorial tour in Honolulu. If you have an special tips, please, share.

Mahalo and aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations

p.s.

You can't find on our blog what you were looking for about your next Hawaii Vacation, please, read about Hawaii Blog Search.

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Visit Hanauma Bay Beach on your Oahu Vacation

It's Monday but this is a special Monday. Today, we start our new exciting blog project of introducing Hawaii to our Best Hawaii Vacation blog visitors with a 'Hawaii photo of the week'. So get ready for seeing many more beautiful Hawaii photos taken by renowned Hawaii stock photographer Jennifer Crites.

Get to know Hawaii, the number # vacation destination (read our Thanksgiving in Hawaii post), through spectacular, fascinating photos of the unique Hawaii scenery of tropical waterfalls and beaches, lush green rain forests and rare tropical flowers, snow-capped mountains or the hot lava flow of a live volcano and all the other powerful images of Hawaii. Here is our first Hawaii photo of the week. This photo was cover photo of Hawaii Magazine in in December 2006:

Who has not heard of Hanauma Bay when visiting Oahu on vacation? This large curved bay attracts many Oahu visitors each year. Hanauma Bay is well protected from huge ocean waves, which allows snorkelers and divers to watch marine and coral reef life under safe conditions. The beach is also perfect for sunbathing, relaxing and picnicing. There are even hiking trails which lead to great lookouts from where you can have breathtaking views.

Hanauma Bay was declared a protected marine life conservation area and underwater park in 1967, in order to protect and preserve the Bay and its spectatucal natural resources. This is why Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is not just the regular beach one of the most spectacular natural resources in Hawaii. With the measuments taken by the State of Hawaii, Hanauma Bay has become the first Marine Life Conservation District in the State.

So, when visiting Hanauma Beach, be aware, that there are certain rules to maintain this Marine Life Conservation Area like: no pets allowed; no alcoholic beverages; no fishing or feeding the fish; do not remove, harass, or harm any marine life. We recommend to visit Hawaii Web for more detailed information, fees, opening hours for your beach visit to Hanauma Bay.
Directions to Hanauma Bay Beach:

Take Kalaniana'ole Highway east from Waikiki for approximately 10 miles. Entrance to the preserve is on the right.

Enjoy Hanauma Bay beach on your Oahu vacation in Hawaii. Aloha, Pua Hawaii Vacations

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