If you love Mother Nature, a visit to Goat Island Bird Sanctuary (also known as Mokuauia Island) might be just the kind of experience that you would enjoy. Located on Oahu’s northeastern coast on the southern part of Malaekahana Bay, the island can be reached by swimming over to it during low tide from Cooke’s Point. Kayaking over is also a good way to get to the island easily and safely. This 13 acre area is home to many species of birds and is a protected seabird sanctuary. If you swim over to visit the island, be careful not to disturb or bother the seabirds, especially if it is during nesting season. The currents can be strong here so do not venture out into the water when the sea is rough or during high tide. If you swim over, you may want to take a flotation device as the ocean floor is sharp here and there are many reefs that you could step on and damage.
The center of the island is restricted for nesting birds and there are signs so do not go into the center of the island. If you travel to the island, be sure to obey all posted signs and take care not to disturb the birds or any sea turtles who may be basking in the soft sands here. To get to the location of this island, take Kamehameha Highway north of Laie to the Malaekahana State Park Recreation area. You will find parking in this area.
If you enjoys dramatic seascapes, be sure to stop by the Halona Blow Hole on the east side of the island of Oahu. Back when hot lava dripped into the ocean, it created underground lava tubes as it raced to the sea. This created some pretty spectacular holes where the ocean can come crashing through at high tide.If you haven’t seen a Hawaiian blow hole, this is definitely a stop you should make when you are exploring the east side of the island.
To get to the Halona Blow Hole, take the H-1 freeway east toward Hanauma Bay. The Blow Hole is located about a mile and a half past the entrance to Hanauma Bay. There is parking and a viewing area to give you a good view at a safe distance. The Blow Hole is at its finest on a windy day at high tide when the waves have more force. On days like this, the spray can go as high as 20 to 30 feet in the air. In winter months, you might even be lucky enough to see whales playing in the warm island waters off the eastern shore so be sure to look out to see while at the viewing point. In the summer, when the surf is calm, Halona Beach Cove can be a fun place to go swimming. Be sure to wear beach shoes as the path to the beach can be rocky and steep. Do not go into the water here when there is high surf or pounding waves as the area can definitely be unsafe during these times.
Looking to do some shopping while in Maui? Be sure to drop by this lush, oceanfront shopping mall located in Lahaina at 2435 Ka’anapali Parkway near Ka’anapali Beach. Shop and enjoy wonderful Hawaiian restaurants at this mall. While you are there, be sure to stop by the Whalers Village Museum at the Mezzanine level to learn about Maui’s more “wild” days when whaling was at its heyday. The museum hosts displays of 19th century whaling life and displays over 70 species of whales. There are films about Maui’s colorful history, the whaling industry and Humpbacks. An authentic whaleboat i on display to show how men lived and worked while at sea. The museum is open from 9:30 A.M. to 10 P.M. and admission is free. Be sure to also stop by the Hale Kohola or the “House of Whales” to learn more about Maui’s wonderful whale population.
