Besides Hanauma Bay and Diamond Head, what other good natural sights are there in Oahu to snorkel, hike and boogie board? We're wondering whether it's worth spending a few extra days in Oahu after a business trip, or to go to Maui? We've been to both islands before, and certainly don't mind going back to Maui. Last time on Oahu, we mostly spent time in Waikiki area, and drove arund the island one day. But we don't know too much about its natural features though.

Please share info on any interesting natural sights in Oahu that you've been to.

Thanks!

The Stairway to Heaven in Kaheohe on Oahu has been an attraction for a long time. Beautiful hike up the ko'olau mountains. you must do it early because there is a security guard. if you look for directions to it on google you'll find more information.

the kuliouou ridge trail is a good hike. it goes up a ridge and provides a spectacular view of the ocean and the ko'olau mountain range. its in east honolulu. if you search google you'll be able to find directions. its about 5 or 6 miles roundtrip and will probably take you at least a few hours.

there's a ton of trails on oahu. i could go on and on about the trails. you can get more information about oahu hikes at http://oahuhiking.com/.


as for snorkeling you can go diving/diving at sharks cove/three tables on the north shore. incredible diving and snorkeling. if you go in the winter time though, the waves are big and its not the safest place to be if you dont know how to handle yourself in the water.

as for boogie boarding, there's a ton of good spots. it really depends on the skill level of your riders. sandy beach on the east side of the island is a good spot however it can be dangerous if you dont know what you're doing. there's always rideable waves there though. listen to lifeguards.


the wall at the end of waikiki can provide smaller more manageable waves for a beginner bodyboarder. Just walk to the end of waikiki and you'll see "the wall". waves break on the left side if you're facing the ocean.

there are a ton of beaches better than waikiki. if you do a little digging on google you'll find a list of amazing beaches across the island of oahu. there really are a ton. over 100 beachs on oahu alone. i'd list them but there's too many.

many people who visit o'ahu foolishly write it off as just a commercial island. however there are many good spots to check out if you know where you're going.

maui is good too but not one of my favorite islands. lots of beaches and diving and hiking too. im biased.

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Care to explain?

it can be a little dangerous. the state has a security there to stop people from going up to limit their liability. however there are MANY people that go on this hike. i've gone many times and its relatively safe. definitely one of THE best hikes on oahu. you can get more information about stairway to heaven here:
1) http://www.hawaiiweb.com/html/hiking/haiku_trail.html
2) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haiku_Stairs

In the immortal words of Ricky Ricardo, "that 'splains it".

Here is a link that I consult for hikes.



http://hawaiitrails.ehawaii.gov/island.php?island=Oahu

Thanks, honolulubenny and all, for the detailed tips and links. I'll look more into Oahu then.

Actually, a few years back, the state spent $$$ fixing the Stairway to Heaven. They never re-opened it because the surrounding neighbors did not want the traffic in their neighborhood and the state was unable to resolve parking issues.

My daughters have done the hike many times. They say it is totally safe, just a lot of stairs Apparently it is really beautiful and worth going very early to avoid the security.

So, how early should we get on the stairway to heaven in order to avoid the security guard? Any fines if they caught us?

Thanks!

There is a great easy hike to the north western point of the island that I believe is called Kaena point. You can get there from the north shore or the west shore (takes longer).
We did it from the west shore and loved it. It is pretty much flat but with really pretty views. You hike between the ocean and the mountain range. At the end we got a surprise- three monk seals basking in the sun. It was a great way to spend a part of the day.

Stairway to Heaven is pretty much all stairs. Did it a long time ago, before the state closed it.

I haven't seen the remodeled stairs - I wonder if they're any wider than the old set. The old steps were pretty much one person wide and I remember having to hang over the edge of the rail to let someone going the other way go by. That got interesting in the parts where the stairway was more like a ladder in the more vertical parts of the hike.