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Destination: Oahu/Waikiki Article Source: Copyright © 2012 by Fodor’s Travel, a division of Random House Inc. All rights reserved.
Kayaking is quickly becoming a top choice for visitors to the Islands. Kayaking alone or with a partner on the open ocean provides a vantage point not afforded by swimming and surfing. Even amateurs can travel long distances and keep a lookout on what's going on around them.
Aloha Parasail/Jet Ski. Skip across the surface of the immense Keehi Lagoon as planes from Honolulu International Airport soar above you. After an instructional safety course you can try your hand at navigating the buoyed course. The company provides free pickup and drop-off from Waikiki hotels. Waverunners run about $45 per person for 45 minutes of tandem riding time, $75 to go solo. Keehi Lagoon, Sand Island Access Rd., Honolulu, HI, 96819. PHONE: 808/721-1754. www.alohajetski.com.
The joy of fishing in Hawaii is that there isn't really a season; it's good year-round. Sure, the bigger yellowfin tuna (ahi) are generally caught in summer, and the coveted spearfish are more frequent in winter, but you can still catch them any day of the year. You can also find dolphin fish (mahimahi), wahoo (ono), skip jacks, and the king—Pacific blue marlin—ripe for the picking on any given day.
Bodyboarding (or sponging) has become a popular alternative to surfing for a couple of reasons. First, the start-up cost is much less—a usable board can be purchased for $30 to $40 or can be rented on the beach for $5 an hour. Second, it's a whole lot easier to ride a bodyboard than to tame a surfboard. For beginner bodyboarding all you must do is paddle out to the waves, turn toward the beach, and kick like crazy when the wave comes.
Boat tours can cover the gambit from weddings to funerals, and being on the water is the best way to enjoy the Islands. Whether you want to see the fish in action or experience how they taste, there is a tour for you.
In two stories of shops and kiosks you can find island-inspired clothing, jewelry, art, and home furnishings. The Marketplace also has indoor and outdoor restaurants and live entertainment. For a bird's-eye view of this working harbor, take a free ride up to the observation deck of Aloha Tower. Cruise ships dock at piers 9 and 10 alongside the Marketplace and are often greeted and sent out to sea with music and hula dancing at the piers' end. www.alohatower.com. OPEN: Mon.--Sat. 9--9, Sun. 9--6; restaurants open later.
Destination: Hawaiian Islands Article Source: Copyright © 2012 by Fodor’s Travel, a division of Random House Inc. All rights reserved.
When winter's surf subsides and the rains abate, don't miss these summer adventures.
Hawaii is heaven for travelers who never stop exploring. Here are our favorite places to surf, hike, and everything in between.
Outrigger Waikiki on the Beach
Outrigger Luana Waikiki
Ala Moana Hotel
OHANA Waikiki Malia
Airport Honolulu Hotel