We are so excited to share our home with you and some of our favorite activities! One thing we always try to do is be mindful of our impact on the environment, be respectful of the land and the locals, and to leave the places we visit cleaner than how we found it.

We recommend looking up each hiking trail beforehand for safety purposes. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions!

EASY:

- Makapu'u Lighthouse Trail: A 2.5 mile out-and-back paved trail with beautiful views of Oahu's southeastern coastline. It does not offer much shade and is usually very crowded, so we suggest going early in the morning or later in the afternoon. Family friendly!

- Manoa Falls Trail: A 1.7 mile out-and-back trail near Honolulu. The beginning of the trail looks like you are walking through a scene from Avatar, and the trail ends with a view of a waterfall. It is usually a pretty muddle trail.

- Lanikai Pillbox Hike: A 0.9 mile out-and-back trail near Kailua with amazing views of the Mokulua islands. Please note parking can be difficult. We recommend waking up early and going for the sunrise!

INTERMEDIATE/HARD:

- Koko Head: A 1.6 mile out-and-back trail made up of 1,000+ railroad steps. This is a hard and strenuous hike with no shade, recommended for people looking for an intense cardio work out. The sight at the top includes panoramic views of East Honolulu and Hanauma Bay.

- Hanauma Bay is one of the most popular snorkeling locations in Oahu. It is a scenic marine life sanctuary where you can swim with a variety of different marine species. There is a $3 parking lot fee and a standard entry fee of $25 for all non-residents. If this is on your to-do list, please note you will need to make reservations in advance. You can rent snorkel gear at the Bay, however, we recommend renting from an outside shop as these will be more affordable.

- Waimea Bay: the spot of our engagement! Waimea Bay is a beautiful place to visit during the summer. The water is calm and it's a great place to not only snorkel, but also cliff jump! The parking lot fills up quickly, so we recommend going early in the morning to make sure you get a spot!

One of our favorite activities is to surf! If you are a beginner, we recommend renting a board from one of the Waikiki surfboard rental companies on the beach and taking lessons.

If you've surfed before and want to surf in Hawaii, feel free to reach out to us for recommendations!

Kualoa Ranch offers a variety of family friendly activities to partake in. They offer ATV tours, bike tours, horseback riding tours, and more! It is also home to many film sites, including Godzilla, Lost, and Jurassic Park! For more information and to book a tour, visit their website at https://www.kualoa.com/kualoa-tours-activities/.

We love a good Farmer's Market. We recommend the Kakaako Farmers' Market or the KCC Farmers' Market - both are on Saturday mornings! You can get fresh local produce, sample tropical fruits, buy some beautiful flowers, and grab food from a bunch of local vendors. There are also vendors that carry local art, clothes, bags, trinkets, etc! Support local!

If you love kayaking, you can rent a kayak in Kailua and take it out to the Mokulua Islands. Kailua Beach Adventures offers kayak rentals and tours. This kayak shop is within walking distance of Kailua beach.

- Iolani Palace: Iolani Palace was the home of Hawaii’s last reigning monarchs and served as the official royal residence and the residence of the Kingdom’s political and social life until the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893. If you are interested in learning more about Hawaiian history, you can book a tour (guided tour or self-led audio tour).

- Pearl Harbor: On December 7, 1941, the Japanese military launched a surprise attack on the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. A variety of tours are available to learn more about this time in history, including tours of the USS Arizona Memorial, USS Missouri Battleship, and USS Bowfin Submarine.

Ho'omaluhia is the largest botanical garden on Oahu. It is a peaceful and stunning place where you can be engulfed in lush greenery.