When you are staying in the Waikiki area, a great place to go especially with the children is the Waikiki Aquarium. The facility, located at 2777 Kalakaua Avenue oceanside in Kapi’olani Park, is an easy walk from the Waikiki beach area. At the Aquarium, you can see wonderful displays of corals of all types, learn about the relationships of the sea animals found in Hawaii’s beautiful coral reefs, view unusual sea creatures such as the octopus, squid and jelly fish to name just a few. A special attraction of the Aquarium is the 5,500 gallon Great Barrier Reef exhibit containing over 100 types of fish, clams and corals. Some of the clams in this exhibit weigh over 170 pounds. Adult admission is $9 with youth 13-17 for $4 and children 5-12 at $2. Children 4 and under are free when accompanied by an adult.
Colorful Reef Fish
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.
A really fun thing to do when you visit Oahu is to hike up the trail of one of Hawaii’s most famous landmarks, Diamond Head. The trail is a popular activity so be sure to arrive as early in the day as possible to avoid the crowds. The trail to the summit of Diamond Head Crater or Le’ahi as it is called in Hawaiian, was built between 1908 to 1911 as part of Oahu’s coastal defense system. The trail is 0.8 mile one way and goes to an elevation of 560 feet. Although the trail is steep and portions of it are uneven, young and old do make the climb on a daily basis. A part of the trail goes though a lighted, 225 ft. tunnel and there are plenty of places to stop and rest a long the way. At the summit, there is an observation area and a lighthouse. Most people can make the trip up and back in about an hour and a half to two hours depending on how quickly you can climb the stairs and how much time you spend taking pictures of the gorgeous scene below. Take a small bottle of water and sunscreen for your trip. Wear sturdy shoes and a hat is also suggested for the trip. You can park in the parking lot off of Diamond Head Road between Makapu’u Avenue and 18th Avenue for $5 per carload. If you walk in or come on a tour bus, the entrance fee is $1. This is definitely a “must do” on your list of things to see and do on the island of Oahu.
Looking for a fun place uniquely Hawaii to take the kids? The Dole Pineapple plantation may be just the place. Located on highway 99, just north of highway 80 and the town of Wahiawa, the plantation offers tours of the working plantation, pineapple specialties and other treats in the cafe and gift shop and a great hedge maze for the kids (and adults) to wander through and locate the six hidden stations inside the maze. You can tour the farm on the 20 minute “Pineapple Express” train and learn about how pineapple is grown and harvested. It is a good mid-morning stop for a hour or so on your way north to the north shore.
