Oahu, Hawaii - March, 2023
Aloha, reader! In this post, I will share my experiences from a very activity-packed trip to Hawaii in March 2023. The weather was nice every single day of this nine-day trip, and we checked many of the boxes off our long wishlist.
Let’s dive right in…
1. Shark Cage Diving trip from the North Shore
This was the first adventure we took on the North Shore of Hawaii, about an hour drive from Waikiki.
We boarded a boat in Haleiwa Boat Harbor and soon after the departure saw our first dolphin pods and humpback whales.
This was the first but not the last sighting of whales for us here in Hawaii. Apparently, December through April are the best months for watching these amazing creatures, right before they migrate back to Alaska.
Once the boat was anchored, the passengers of the "shark boat" were divided into two groups. Each of the groups spent about twenty minutes in the cage with sharks gliding around right outside.
We were impressed by the calmness sharks had, contrasting with the aggressive behavior often portrayed in documentaries or movies.
Naturally, their calmness made this, undoubtedly unique experience, less exciting for us than we had anticipated.
Take seasickness medication, wearing a wetsuit is not a bad idea if your tour is early in the morning (ours was at 7 am). Bring a GoPro!
2. Kailua Bay Guided Kayaking
Kailua Bay is a beautiful bay on the East of Oahu with a long sandy Kailua beach and very close to Lanikai Beach.
There are 3 islets right off the shore of Kailua, and we decided to kayak to one of them: Popoia Island.
Kayaking there involves crossing a small stretch of open ocean, and we decided to join a guided tour for that.
We picked up our kayak at the office of Kailua Beach Adventures and carried it to the shore using the cart provided.
We had to do this ourselves because the commercial activity is not allowed at Kailua Beach since 2012.
And so we carried the kayak all the way past active roads using bike paths, and then via Kaelepulu stream all the way to the beach where we boarded and paddled out.
Our guide was already waiting for us in the ocean, and from there we began our paddling as a group.
Being on a kayak gives an opportunity to experience Kailua in a very special way with clean ocean waters below, twin Mokes far away, and views of the mountains on the shoreside.
If I could do this again soon, I would just get a kayak and chill in the waters in this beautiful setting.
We soon landed on the Flat Island (Popoia) and began our walking tour with frequent stops for photos.
The small island attracts birds nesting in safety away from predators.
It is also popular with surfers and stand-up paddle-boarders paddling all the way out there on their boards.
3. Surfing Lesson in Waikiki
Polynesians and Hawaiians in particular have been practicing surfing for centuries, and Waikiki beach was one of the places where locals surfed until the arrival of Protestants discouraging the activity.
The sport later became once again popular and popularized outside of Hawaii by Duke Kahanamoku and others.
My surfing lesson was with Hans Hedemann Surf School, near Waikiki Zoo.
After some on-shore pop-ups, my instructor and I paddled out into the ocean.
The water was not deep, but there were sharp corals all over the place. From my own mistakes, I learned to try to be careful while falling and to try to land on the board whenever it is possible.
Riding waves in Waikiki was a pure joy of balancing on the board while watching the beautiful Waikiki as the wave is pushing you forward until you stop and start paddling out again.
4. Snorkeling in Hanauma Bay
Hanauma is a bay of volcanic origin popular in Oahu for its snorkeling due to its rich sea life.
The state puts a lot of effort into protecting the bay, by limiting the number of visitors and limiting the days the park is open.
This is done to allow the reef to restore itself from the damage caused by visitors.
- The park has typical beach facilities like restrooms, rinsing stations, lockers, and lifeguards.
- Bring anything you’d bring to a beach and your snorkeling gear.
- Expect crowds of other snorkelers as this park is very popular.
- Hanauma bay is reservation-only, so make sure to book before visiting.
4. Hiking the Diamond Head
One of the most recognizable visual features of Oahu, this crater was once a military fort and today is a popular hiking spot rewarding with breath-taking 360 views of the island.
5. Visiting USS Arizona, Pearl Harbor
On December 7 of 1941, during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor USS Arizona warship’s magazine detonated killing 1,177 officers and crewmen.
The ship was never removed from the floor of the ocean and a visitor center was built around it.
6. Waikiki Zoo
Conveniently located zoo with native species like nene as well as a rich collection of other animals like rhinos, elephants, and Galapagos tortoises.
7. Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden
A beautiful park with a visitor center, picnic tables and a lake
8. Ala Moana Regional Park
A park popular with locals, with vast green spaces, snorkeling spots, the Magic Island Lagoon, and a beach.
Leaving Oahu
As we wrapped up our stay on Oahu, we took a short flight to the neighboring island of Maui. More about that in the next post.