Memorable Hawai'i activities

Hawai'i is a great escape for those who love outdoor activity. Every day was filled with the exploration of little hideaways, nooks, vistas and other sweet spots. For any activity you can think of, there are about a dozen outfitters who claim to have the best prices and most experienced guides. While the competition likely keeps them all honest, I found that renting the gear was the best. For one, paying the price of a guide for every day you’re there gets expensive. Another thing is that, in my experience with the tours and outfitters, I could have a better time doing it at my own pace.

Hiking

Diamond Head Crater, Waimea Canyon and Secret Falls were some of the places we went for a hike. Diamond Head was fun, but crowded. Being that its next to Waikiki, it was to be expected. While the mileage was easy, I would call it a moderate hike because of the elevation gain (in the heat) and the steep steps at the end. Great for an afternoon. Waimea Canyon is all-around beautiful - its pleasing to hike anywhere around this place. Having a 4WD vehicle is beneficial as many trailheads start about 2-4 miles off paved roads. Secret Falls was right near us on the Wailua River. You can't get to it easily (if at all), but there is a lookout to it, with ancient Hawai'ian ruins nearby.

Biking

We made a point to sign up for an early-morning bike ride down Waimea canyon. It was great fun, with coffee on the way up, juice on the way down, and even a little historical lecture about Ni'ihau at a resting spot. The guides at Outfitters Kaua'i were great - they kept everyone safe and happy. However, if I were to do this trip again, I'd prefer to rent the bike outright and take my own trip because we were kept from ever gaining any real momentum. I'm not talking terminal velocity here, I just wish we could have opened up a bit more to make it more exhilerating. I will say that the mellow ride was very relaxing for a bike ride, since we didn't have to pedal once on the way - you just can't beat a drive to the top followed by a long coast to the bottom.

Snorkeling

We hit Snorkel Bob's for to get our snorkel gear. They were great because you can rent daily or weekly and have locations all over the archipalego that you can return your gear at. Looking at our map, it said Lydgate State Park would be a good spot, but after arriving there, we realized it was a protected swimming area for kids. The "reef" was man-made from lava rocks that forced the waves to crash early. One of the guys at Snorkel Bob's told us to head to Ke'e beach and arrive early in the morning for the big, beautiful fish. Excellent advice! This reef was the real deal, with calm waters and lots of colorful fish. We did arrive early and were entranced by the underwater world we encountered. Another benefit to visiting this beach is that if you walk up the shore a bit, you can see the start of the Na Pali coastline in all its natural beauty.

Other notes

We really wanted to go kayaking, but never ended up doing it. I was weary of kayaking up the Na Pali coast because of the open water, strong North Shore winds and wanting to spend time with my wife (who didn't feel comfortable doing it). However, after seeing it in person, I think I missed a great trip and will definitely do this if I return again.