An Adventurous Escape to Oahu

Adventure abounds on the island of Oahu with an array of exhilarating sea, land, air, and sporting activities. Hiking through rainforests, biking along mountain ranges and horseback riding in lush valleys; parasailing, parachuting and gliding over the dramatic landscape of Oahu; swimming, diving, snorkeling, and surfing in the azure blue waters of the Pacific are excellent opportunities to explore the diversity Oahu offers.

Discover the many faces of Oahu through active, thrilling experiences that make for great storytelling and memories that last a lifetime. Oahu offers excitement that is easily accessible and suits all levels and interests. The following companies explore the treasures on the island of Oahu:

Aloha Beach Services offers surfing and standup paddleboarding lessons, outrigger canoe rides, and surfboard, bodyboard and raft rentals from the Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa. Experience Waikiki’s beach scene through these water activities. (808) 922-3111 or www.alohabeachservices.com

For exploring underwater around Oahu, scuba diving is the way to do it. Dive companies such as AquaZone, Breeze Hawaii and Surf-N-Sea provide instruction, rental diving equipment and transportation to some of the major dive spots around the island including Shark’s Cove, Makaha Caves and Corsair. Oahu is also the only Hawaiian island that offers accessible wreck diving.
= AquaZone: (808) 923-3483 or www.scubaoahu.com
- Breeze Hawaii: (808) 735-1857 or www.breezehawaiidiving.com
- Surf-N-Sea: (808) 637-9887 or www.surfnsea.com

Ride aboard the world’s largest submarine fleet with Atlantis Submarine Adventures and take an unforgettable 45-minute journey under the sea to view sunken ships, aircrafts and reef structures.
(808) 973-9811 or www.atlantisadventures.com

Bike, hike and sail “From the Rainforest to the Reef” with Bike Hawaii, which offers a variety of daily mountain bike tours for casual riders and advanced cyclists alike. The tours offer exclusive access to Oahu’s unspoiled beauty, including Bike Hawaii’s privately owned 200-foot cascading waterfall and 75-acre rainforest. Coastal bike trails provide riders with opportunities to spot green sea turtles, dolphins, humpback whales, and Hawaiian monk seals.
(808) 734-4214 or www.bikehawaii.com

Hike to the top of Diamond Head, one of Hawaii’s most recognizable landmarks. A relatively easy trail and great for families, the hike boasts an unparalleled view of the Honolulu area at the 763-foot summit lookout.
(808) 587-0300 www.dlnr.hawaii.gov/dsp/parks/oahu/diamond-head-state-monument

Since 1995, Discover Hidden Hawaii Tours has been a leader in personalized island tours of Oahu, including scenic tours to popular activities and attractions as well as eco-tours for the adventurous types. Their selection of outings include more than ten island tours, giving visitors a variety of itinerary options to choose from. (808) 690-9051 or www.discoverhiddenhawaiitours.com

Charter boats are popular with both locals and visitors who want to try their hand at fishing the tropical waters. Hawaii Charter Skippers Association works only with U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) documented vessels that are skippered by USCG licensed captains. The association takes reservations for half-, three-quarter- and full-day excursions.
(808) 591-9100

Take a scenic drive out to Oahu’s famous North Shore and hop aboard a glider plane at Dillingham Airfield with Honolulu Soaring. Soar above the island on a three-seater sailplane with a friendly, knowledgeable and professional pilot, and see stunning views of the northern coastline.
(808) 637-0207 or www.honolulusoaring.com

Oahu offers superb surfing and standup paddleboarding conditions for surfers of every level. Waikiki is perfect for beginners because the waves are usually small. Surfing and standup paddleboarding lessons are offered by companies such as Hans Hedemann Surf School, which offers surfing lessons in the heart of Waikiki, and Waikiki Beach Activities, which offers lessons at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa. Professional surfers come from around the world to surf at spots such as North Shore’s Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay, famous for their big waves.
- Hans Hedemann Surf School: (808) 924-7778 or www.hhsurf.com
- Waikiki Beach Activities: (888) 904-4088 or www.waikikibeachactivities.com

Sailing offers a great way to enjoy the ocean and to get a different view of Oahu. Honolulu Sailing Company provides brief cruises off Honolulu to full-day charters along the North Shore.
(808) 239-3900 or www.honsail.com

Take a flight on Hawaii’s only seaplane with Island Seaplane Service. This one-hour adventure begins with a departure off the water to offshore Waikiki, Diamond Head, Koko Head, the famous Blow Hole, and on to beautiful Kaneohe Bay. The flight continues along the famous North Shore surfing areas, Haleiwa town and through the same valley Japanese Zeros flew for the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, ending with a water landing. (808) 836-6273 or www.islandseaplane.com

Located in lush Kaaawa Valley with sweeping views of Kaneohe Bay, Kualoa Ranch & Activity Club offers horseback riding, hiking, mountain biking, and trolley rides to Oahu’s adventure-seeking visitors. Boat across an 800-year-old ancient Hawaiian fishpond to Secret Island to enjoy snorkeling or windsurfing. In ancient times, Kualoa was considered one of the most sacred places on Oahu. In 1850, Dr. Gerrit Judd purchased the land from King Kamehameha III. His son started an early Oahu sugar plantation in 1863 and began a cattle ranch at the turn of the century.
(808) 237-7321 or www.kualoa.com

Experience the exhilarating Jet Pack Flight which allows you to soar high above the Hawaiian reefs at Hawaii Kai’s Maunalua Bay. Or opt to snorkel the reef, populated with green sea turtles, tropical fish and live coral (equipment provided). H2o Sports also offers jet skiing, parasailing, banana boat rides, and bumper tube rides. (808) 396-0100 or www.h2osportshawaii.com

Sail the ocean as the Polynesians have done for thousands of years on a Hawaiian sailing canoe with Hawaiian Ocean Adventures. The crew will share the history of sailing canoes and the natural history of the islands as you explore Oahu’s coastline and marine life. (808) 224-4487 or www.hawaiianoceanadventures.com

See Oahu’s largest waterfall cascading over 1,000 feet into a steep gorge located at a 2,000-foot elevation up in the lush Koolau Mountains, which is inaccessible except by helicopter. During Makani Kai Helicopter’s popular tour, fly past famous filming locations, Koko Crater, Hanauma Bay, Kahana Rain Forest Reserve and big surf beaches including Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline. The tour concludes with a flight over Pearl Harbor’s submarines and historic World War II battle sites. (808) 834-5813 or www.makanikai.com

Magnum, P.I. fans can take in spectacular aerial views of Oahu on Paradise Helicopters’ Magnum P. I. Experience in The Chopper, an icon from the 19080’s hit TV series. The experience covers all of the island’s highlights including the fabled North Shore, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Sacred Falls, and more. (808) 293-2570 or www.paradisecopters.com

Sail along the Waikiki coastline and snorkel near picturesque Diamond Head Crater on the Outrigger Hotels & Resorts’ Island Magic Catamaran. Snorkels and masks are provided and passengers are supervised by a lifeguard-certified crewmember. Take a ride in an Outrigger Canoe with a Waikiki beach boy and experience the thrill of catching a wave without the surfboard.
(808) 922-2210 or www.waikikibeachsailing.com

Located on Oahu's scenic North Shore, the 1,800-acre Waimea Valley features botanical gardens, wandering peafowl and a 60-foot waterfall, giving visitors interaction with the natural environment.
(808) 638-7766 or www.waimeavalley.net

The Leeward Coast of Oahu is like a journey to a forgotten land. Experience miles of uninhabited beaches, the most extensive coral systems in the state and pristine areas far off the beaten path with Wild Side Specialty Tours. Since 1996, the experienced crew of marine biologists has been taking researchers, students, naturalists, families, photographers, and small intimate groups of travelers to encounter the coastal marine life. This unique experience contains one of only a few known areas in the world that free-roaming dolphins interact with humans in the water.
(808) 306-7273 or www.sailhawaii.com

Resource

Hawaii Tourism Authority / Oahu Visitor's Bureau / July 01, 2015

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