MaiTravelSite » Pacific Islands

The Best Beaches in Oahu, Hawaii

maitravelsite — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 15:16:38 +0000

Sun, surf, white sand …Oahu has dozens of beaches scattered all around the island from which to choose. Being in Hawaii all of them are gorgeous in one way or another, but which are the best beaches in Oahu? The following are my favorite of all that I visited when I was recently there and are generally considered among the best too. I have, however, included one that is very well liked but did not impress me much. Which one is your favorite?

Waimea Bay Beach Park

Located in Oahu’s North Shore the beach in Waimea is relaxing, family friendly beach when the sea is calm and an exciting, adrenaline packed destination when the surf is big. The beach is about 700m long and has several facilities free of charge, including showers, toilet and a drinking fountain. There is a designated parking lot too, which although free is rather small and only holds about 70 cars- more often than not you will find cars parked on the main road’s shoulder.

Things to do in Waimea Bay beach include swimming, suntanning, jumping off the rock on the western end is very popular and, if there are waves and you’re an accomplished swimmer, then bodyboarding, surfing or bodysurfing will be a thrill and a challenge. If not you can always try one of these sports on Waimea river during the rainy season as it’s a lot of fun and not life threatening.

If here during the winter season you’ll be able to watch massive 10m plus waves and hardcore surfers riding these behemoths, and perhaps might be here during the legendary Eddie Aikau Memorial surf contest, held in memory of of this legendary surfer and local lifeguard who disappeared when attempting to reach the coast from a stranded papyrus boat during an expedition in 1978. The contest, by the way, only happens when the waves have at least 40ft faces! (don’t skip the video- you’ll be happy you’re watching the action from a distance and are not one of the surfers featured in it!).

Waikiki Beach

The view of Waikiki beach with extinct volcano Diamond Head in the background is probably the most famous of all in Hawaii and one you must not miss. The beach is long but narrow, crowded but fun, busy yet energizing a the same time, and a heck of a lot of fun. It’s a great place where to learn how to surf (ask for Max Surf rentals- he´s been here for 25 years, has the biggest board assortment and is the most affordable too), try traditional outrigger canoeing or gaze at spectacular sunsets from the western end of the beach, right beyond historical Royal Hawaiian Hotel, the only pink hotel in the islands.

Lanikai Beach

Lanikai Beach is considered one of the best beaches in the island and some say in the world, which I find rather preposterous. I have yet to find the overwhelming appeal, but have included it in this list because many travelers seem to be delighted with it. Perhaps its beauty might derive from the conifer trees that abound instead of palm trees, there’s plenty of public parking and has little to no surf most of the year, making it ideal for families with young children.

Sunset Beach

Also in Oahu’s North Shore Sunset Beach is picture perfect by any standard. The beach is wide and long enough to accommodate comfortably alll visitors, and the clean white sand contrasts with the ocean’s deep blue water. Sunset beach is world famous for its surf, so you’ll find plenty of action too. Perhaps the biggest drawback is that there are no convenient facilities, yet the closest snack bar, supermarket and surf shop are just a five minute drive away along the main road- if there’s no traffic.

Sandy Beach

Sandy beach is relatively isolated, about a 5 minute drive from Hanauma Bay or 25 minutes from Waikiki. The beach is relatively small yet has public showers and toilet facilities as well as free parking. It’s a great place to get away from Honolulu’s urban lifestyle and relax- or not. The shore break is powerful and dangerous, making it ideal for bodyboarders and bodysurfers who come here to ride big waves just a few meters away from dry sand, but dangerous for the average swimmer.

Pipeline (Ehukai Beach Park)

There is only one reason that has put this beach on the map despite it’s natural beauty: a powerful wave that breaks here and attracts surfers from all over the world to challenge their skills, particularly during the winter season. The wave is big, hollow and a challenge for even the most accomplished surfer.

The beach has a free small parking lot, but no toilet facilities, and is just a five minute drive west from Sunset Beach- unless there’s a big swell in which case traffic will bring you to a stop. The beach usually attracts younger crowds and surf enthusiasts, yet I recommend you stop by and witness the show when there’s a good swell.

Turtle Bay

The beach in Turtle Bay is very family friendly and safe for swimming. It might not be as exotic as the others in the list, but it has something instead that they don’t: wild turtles. Appropriately named Turtle Bay this is the best place where to spot and swim with wild turtles in Oahu without having to join a tour of pay any fees. You will simply need snorkeling gear (if at all) and to swim around this secluded bay until you find one; it could be a great opportunity to bring your waterproof camera because there is no easier place where to take pictures of turtles in the wild- simply watch this video of a turtle I filmed.

Hanauma Bay

Postcard worthy Hanauma Bay beach is extremely popular among tourists and locals because of its snorkeling. It is a national park (there is a fee to enter) and a must visit when in Oahu. To learn more about the bay read my post about snorkeling in Hanauma Bay.

These are my favorite and what I consider to be the best beaches in Oahu, but now it’s your turn:

Which is your favorite beach in Oahu? Why? Any tips or opinions about the beaches in this list? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below, and this post too if you liked it!

This post is brought to you with the collaboration of Flight Center Australia, Australia’s leading flight booking agency with great deals on Bali flights. I did not use their services on this trip, but I did when I traveled to Bali.

Swimming With Turtles in Oahu, Hawaii (Video)

maitravelsite — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:52:46 +0000

Hawaii is the perfect place to enjoy all things water related, and not surprisingly it is also the ideal place to go swimming with turtles. If in Oahu the easiest way to accomplish this is by joining a tour that will take you to the west coast of the island, but if you feel like going on your own then head to Turtle Bay. This spot is superb to find these delightful creatures, but if you also want to go snorkeling Shark’s Cove, a popular spot, is only 10 minutes away. Watch the video and enjoy the travel tips!

Have you been swimming with turtles during your travels? Where at? How was your experience? After seeing this video, would Turtle Bay be a place you’d check out? Share your thoughts in the comments section below, and this post/video too if you liked it!

First Impressions of Waikiki, Honolulu (HI)

maitravelsite — Tue, 06 Dec 2011 02:49:35 +0000

After decades of reading about Waikiki and Honolulu in surf magazines I finally landed in the all mighty Honolulu international airport. Unsure about what to expect I did think that arriving passengers would be welcomed with traditional Polynesian music, a hula dance, and certainly a lei- one of those flower necklaces so popular on TV and movies. To my surprise though only the music could be heard, and the airport was much older and poorly kept than what I expected. But hey, who cared, I was in Hawaii!

First things first Liza and I grabbed a bunch of vouchers for ideas on what to do and hopefully save some money. We knew we wanted to swim with wild dolphins (we did), join a shark cage swim tour (oh yeah), visit and hopefully surf in the north shore and Waikiki (somewhat accomplished), swim with wild turtles, trek to the top of Diamond head, and so much more.

I imagined Waikiki as a laid back surf town where tourists and hippie surfers mingled politely amidst tall building and a narrow beach, with dozens of surf shops, restaurants and cafes. Yet what I first saw shocked me in disbelief: as I looked out the window all I could see were chick stores for the posh: Louis Vuiton, D&G, Channel,… they literally cover a good portion of Kalakaua Avenue, easily recognizable by the torches you’ll see along the sidewalk. It looks nice, yes, but expensive too, very expensive.

That first night we dropped our luggage in our condo (a cheaper alternative to hotels), had a simple sandwich for dinner and after a brief stroll went to sleep.

Things looked different the following morning. I was surprised to learn that the sun is up before 6 am, but with it came all the action we had not seen the night before. The Japanese tourists were up early, surfers were carrying their boards to the beach and Honolulu did not look as expensive or shady, but quite the opposite.

Not knowing what to do we decided to walk East towards Diamond Head. We spotted Duke Kahanomoku’s statue while checking the surf, a trendy McDonald’s with a great view of the boardwalk (though not as cool as the McDonald’s in Kuta, Bali) and as we kept walking we noticed that here were more homeless people than we could have imagined, overlooking the great Pacific Ocean.

Reaching Diamond Head sooner than expected we decided to hike to the top- which turned out to be easier said than done, as the only path is on the eastern side of the hill. We eventually made it (a 6 hour walk from the International Market Place)- but wait, this is isn’t where I want to lead you to. The point of this article is to introduce you to the world of modern Waikiki, not as magical as I thought it is but certainly fun, exciting and invigorating. There’s skyscrapers everywhere, yet homeless people too. Kuhio Avenue and Kalakaua Boulevard might have traffic 24/7, yet just around the block you can easily spot a green turtle while cooling off in the Pacific’s turquoise waters. There are expensive shops and fancy restaurants, yet 10 USD will get you a fantastic dinner at the International Market Place’s food court or at Duke’s Cafe, right on the beach. What I’m trying to say is that Waikiki (read Honolulu) is a city of contrasts. It sure can be expensive, but there are tricks to visit Oahu on a budget making it surprisingly affordable. And best of all everything is within walking distance or a short drive awayñ but if you want to get away from it all head over to the North Shore, where quaint Haleiwa is still sleepy and the best beaches are to be found.

Have you been in Honolulu, Hawaii? Do you remember how you felt when you first arrived to Waikiki? Was it what you expected, better, or did it seem a bit shady if you arrived after sunset? Please share the feelings this post has provoked in the comments section below, and this post too if you liked it.

An Unforgetable Swim With Turtles in Oahu (Hawaii)

maitravelsite — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 23:59:13 +0000

Finding a good spot where to swim with turtles in Oahu (Hawaii) is not as simple as it is to snorkel, where at any of the popular reefs it is fairly easy to find plenty of fish in clean, transparent water. So where should you go?

There are many tours in Oahu that can pretty much guarantee you will spot dolphins, sharks, whales (depending on the time of the year) and yes, turtles. In fact we were taken to a spot during our Best of the west dolphin watching tour in Oahu where turtles are always found. The experience was fantastic, as we had just swum with dolphins and it was the first time we were actually swimming with turtles as big as ourselves without them scared or intimidated. The drawback to this is that the fantastic 5 hour tour does not come in cheap, costing around 200 usd p/p everything included.

Hanauma Bay is very close to Waikiki. In fact 2.5 usd will conveniently take you by bus (forget about the 15 usd p/p charter vans, they aren´t worth price) and the beach is beautful (check out the photos I took of the bay), outrageously photogenic and an ideal placw where to spend the day. The water is very clean, there´s plenty of small fish swimming around and you might even see turtles, though this is not as common as you might infer from the brochures that promote the bay. In fact turtle sightings are much less common here than in Waikiki beach, where you will most probably spot a small one from a ditance at some point. Hence, the if you are looking to swim with turtles, look elsewhere.

So where should you go if you want to swim with turtles in Oahu- for free? The answer is simple: Turtle Bay, close to Oahus northern most tip. The bay is set right in front of Turtle Bay Resort (www.turtlebayresort.com), there is a free public parking and you´ll find all the facilities you will need during your day trip, including a shower where to rinse, snack bars and more.

What to bring:
Snorkeling gear
Towel
Sunblock
waterproof camera

Optional:
Rashguard- water can get cool
Food- you’ll save some money
Surfboard- there´s some decent surf too when the swell comes from the right direction.

Liza and I were pretty excited about this because eventhough we had swum with turtles already we had not been around them as long as we wanted to. If we found them here again we would have the chance to take some more pictures and maybe even touch them (this is not allowed during the tours), or perhaps shoot some video which would make up for a great souvenir. The only setback we had was that we just had 1 hour before heading to Shark´s Cove for another brief snorkeling session and having to drive back to Honolulu as our departure flight was leaving that same afternoon.

We thus grabbed our gear (goggles, diving mask and snorkel, towwels) and first decided to check the hotel as it seemed appealing itslef. There were a few interesting pictures of famous surfers in the lobby and the large windows reminded me of a similar hotel we had spent a few hours at during a typhoon we endured in Taiwan a few months before. But alas, it was the beach we were her for and quickly made our way to the sand. Just as we we were walking to the water we saw a group of people standing in a circle in waste deep water, looking under the surface and vividly speaking about something they had just spotted. A turtle? Could we be that lucky? Sure enough, a turtle it was. Easily 1.2 meters long and more than half a meter wide it was munching some algae and minding its own business while we observed attentively. I pulled out my underwater camera and shot pictures and video, some less than 20 cm away from it and hoping that the somewhat murky water (due to the rolling waves) would not ruin the session. After about 10 minutes of swimming besides it the wind blew Liza´s floating donut away and despite her best efforts when swimming after it was leaving her behind. She had to swim back and I had to leave the turtle alone and bring out the Michael Phelps in me to catch up with it before it was blown out of the bay and out into the open ocean. I succeeded, but I was not able to find the turtle again.

It was time for us to leave anyhow, and we were glad because the tip that had been given to us had turned out to be true. We were there for less than 1 hour and were able to see, photograph and film a wild turtle, very conveniently, and at no cost!

It is possible to go to Turtle Bay by bus, but it will take you a good couple of hours or more from Honolulu. I would recommend you rent a car (we found the cheapest car rental agency in Honolulu, no questions asked) and take the time to visit other places while there or along the way, including Sunset Beach, Shark’s Cover or Waimea Bay. The drive has some fanstastic views and you are in a great time. I know we had it!

Do you like to snorkel? Have you ever seen wild turtles while at it? What made your most extraordinary snorkeling experience so memorable? Please share your experience in the comments section below, and this post too if you think others migt find it useful!

Free Wallpaper of the Week: Moorea, French Polynesia

maitravelsite — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 06:51:13 +0000

Very close to Cook’s Bay in Moorea lie these bungalows overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Transparent, clear blue waters lead to steep lush mountains create a jaw dropping scenery, which you can now enjoy every time you look at your computer screen.

Right click below and select “Save As” to download and save in your computer

Wallpaper: Moorea, French Polynesia

Do you like this picture? Feel free to send it to your friends, and please share it cause as they say, sharing is caring!

Snorkeling in Hanauma Bay, Oahu

maitravelsite — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 05:40:56 +0000

Any traveler visiting Hawaii has a list of things to do in the most isolated archipelago in the world; from surfing to volcano trekking there is something for every outdoor sports aficionado, including snorkeling, and if based in Oahu there is no better place to give it a try than Hanauma Bay.

The 20 minute bus ride from central Waikiki will only cost you 2.5USD and will leave you right besides a lookout from which you will first admire the sheer beauty of this place. A few pictures later several steps down the paved walkway will take you the park’s entrance, and it is here that you will have to pay the 7.5 USD fee. Expensive, I know, but this is the money that funds the cleaning, environmental studies and the maintenance of the theater where you’ll watch the introductory movie, which by the way is also mandatory.

After the 15 minute show you’ll be escorted out again and will wonder why would people even think about fishing with dynamite in the old days while you make your way to the snorkeling gear rental spot.

The girls decided to lie on the beach and soak up the sun before getting wet, and so my new Spanish buddy Ruben and I were left with the challenging responsibility of having to snorkel in one of the most beautiful reefs in the world. Or so I thought.

The water was surprisingly cool (this was early September) but the sun was finally able to dominate the sky, and I slowly swam to the deeper area of the reef where I was hoping I’d see turtles, large fish and maybe even recognize a Humuhumunukunukuapuaa, Hawaii’s state fish (the name, by the way, is real-I’m not making it up). It did not take me long however to realize that despite it’s beauty on the surface the water is not as clean as I expected it to be, and the somewhat dead reef is a league behind others I have visited around the world; Pulau Perhentian Kecil in Malaysia or fish saturated Vanuatu come to mind.

I did not see any turtles (a few days later I found a great place to see turtles in Oahu) but as an ocean lover I enjoyed swimming among the fish and taking some pictures. Liza found the water too cool for her liking but the post snorkeling sun session quickly warmed everybody up. My take? Because of it’s proximity to Waikiki and ease of reach I would not give it a miss. The beach is fantastic by any standard and you’ll find all the facilities you’ll need, making up for a great day trip even if you’re an experienced diver- even if the reef might disappoint you a bit.

Tips

Get here by public bus (number 22 from Kuhio Blvd)- don’t pay 15 USD for the charter vans.
Bring your own sunscreen lotion, water and food- it’s pricey here.
Bring a water proof camera
Avoid crowded Sundays when possible
It is closed on Tuesdays
Bring a rashguard as the water can be too cool for your comfort.

Have you snorkeled in Hanauma Bay? Was it as good as you expected it to be? What other locations around the word do you know that are great for snorkeling? Please share your thoughts below, and this post too if you think others might find it useful!