Oahu Activities

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Pictures of hotels lining the shores of Waikiki Beach and canyons of tall buildings in downtown Honolulu have given Oahu a bad rap. The island is much more than an urban concrete jungle or a tropical Disneyland blighted by overdevelopment; it's also a haven for the nature lover and outdoor enthusiast. With year-round temperatures in the upper 70s, and miles of verdant and unspoiled landscape, Oahu is perfect for outdoor activities of all kinds, including hiking, golf, tennis, biking, and horseback riding. But the island's waters, which also enjoy year-round temperatures in the upper 70s, are where the majority of both residents and visitors head for relaxation, rejuvenation, and recreation. Locals don't think of their island or state boundaries as ending at land's edge -- rather, they extend beyond the reefs, well out into the ocean.

Outdoor Etiquette -- Carry out what you carry in. Find a rubbish container for all your litter (including cigarette butts -- it's very bad form to throw them out your car window). Observe kapu (forbidden) and no trespassing signs. Don't climb on ancient Hawaiian heiau walls or carry home rocks, all of which belong to the Hawaiian volcano goddess Pele. Some say it's just a silly superstition or coincidence, but each year the U.S. Park Service gets boxes of lava rocks sent back to Hawaii by visitors who've experienced unusually bad luck.

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