Planning a Family Trip to Hawaii - Hawaii with Kids - page 59

horseback; almost all the islands offer
riding opportunities for just about
every age and level of experience. You
can ride into Maui's Haleakala Crater,
along Kauai's Mahaulepu Beach, or
through Oahu's remote windward val-
leys on Kualoa Ranch; or you can gal-
lop across the wide-open spaces of the
Big Island's Parker Ranch, one of the
largest privately owned ranches in the
United States. See the individual
island chapters for details. Be sure to
bring a pair of jeans and closed-toed
shoes to wear on your ride.
KAYAKING Hawaii is one of the
world's most popular destinations for
ocean kayaking. Beginners can paddle
across a tropical lagoon to two unin-
habited islets off Lanikai Beach on
Oahu, while more experienced kayak-
ers can take on Kauai's awesome Na
Pali Coast. In summer, experts take
advantage of the usually flat condi-
tions on the North Shore of Molokai,
where the sea cliffs are the steepest on
earth and the remote valleys can be
reached only by sea. See “For the
Active Family” in the island chapters
for local outfitters and tour guides.

SCUBA DIVING Some people
come to the islands solely to take the
plunge into the tropical Pacific and
explore the underwater world. Hawaii
is one of the world's top-10 dive desti-
nations, according to Rodale's Scuba
Diving Magazine. Here you can see
the great variety of tropical marine life
(more than 100 endemic species
found nowhere else on the planet),
explore sea caves, and swim with sea
turtles and monk seals in clear, tropi-
cal water. If you're not certified, try to
take classes before you come to
Hawaii so you don't waste time learn-
ing and can dive right in (note that 12
is the youngest age for certification).
If you dive, go early in the morn-
ing. Trade winds often rough up the
seas in the afternoon, especially on
Maui, so most operators schedule
early-morning dives that end at noon.
To organize a dive on your own, order
the Dive Hawaii Guide, which
describes sites on the various Hawai-
ian Islands, by sending $2 to UH/
SGES, Attention: Dive Guide, 2525
Correa Rd., HIG 237, Honolulu, HI
96822.

Snorkel Bob's
If you're planning on visiting several islands and would like to rent snorkel
gear on one island and keep it with you for your whole trip, try Snorkel
Bob's (www.snorkelbob.com), which lets you rent snorkels, masks, fins,
boogie boards, life jackets, and wet suits on any one island and return
them on another. The basic set of snorkel gear is $3.50 a day, or $9 a
week—a very good deal. The best gear is $6.50 a day, or $29 a week; if
you're nearsighted and need a prescription mask, it's $9 a day, or $39 a
week.
You can find Snorkel Bob's on Oahu at 702 Kapahulu Ave. (at Date St.),
Honolulu ( & 808/735-7944). On Maui it's at 1217 Front St., in Lahaina
( & 808/661-4421); at Napili Village, 5425-C Lower Honapiilani Hwy., Napili
( & 808/669-9603); and in South Maui at Kamole Beach Center, 2411 S.
Kihei Rd., Kihei ( & 808/879-7449). On the Big Island it's at 75-5831
Kahakai St. (off Alii Dr., next to Huggo's and the Royal Kona Resort); and
in Kailua-Kona ( & 808/329-0770). On Kauai it's at 4-734 Kuhio Hwy. (just
north of Coconut Plantation Marketplace), in Kapaa ( & 808/823-9433);
and in Koloa at 3236 Poipu Rd., near Poipu Beach ( & 808/742-2206).

Tips