Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Hawaiian Escapades ( 888-331-3668; www.hawaiianescapades.com ) Waterfall walks,
circle-island adventures, ghost-hunting trips and Hawaii Five-0 and Lost TV location
tours (half-/full-day from $65/130) in minibuses and vans.
LOCAL KNOWLEDGE
OʻAHU'S BEST SURF BEACHES & BREAKS
With some of the most diverse surf breaks in all of the Hawaiian Islands, boarders
of all skill levels can find what they're looking for on Oʻahu.
In Waikiki, slow and mellow combers provide the perfect training ground, allow-
ing beginners to gain some confidence. Board rental outfits abound on Waikiki
Beach, where beachboys are always on hand to give lessons at spots like nice-and-
mellow Queens , mushy left- and right-handed Canoes , gentle but often crowded
Populars and ever-popular Publics . In Honolulu proper, Ala Moana offers a heavy
tubing wave. Waves in these places are biggest during summer, when south swells
arrive from New Zealand and Tahiti.
Reckon yourself a serious surfer? A pilgrimage to the famed North Shore is man-
datory. In winter, when the waves can reach heights of more than 30ft, spots like
Waimea Bay , Pipeline and Sunset Beach beckon to the planet's best professional
surfers. Watch out for turf-protective locals, some organized into surfer gangs.
While home to some great waves, Oʻahu's Waiʻanae Coast has even more turf is-
sues; the locals who live and surf here cherish this area and are trying to hold onto
their Hawaiian culture and community. In the winter, large west swells can make for
big surf at places like Makaha Beach , but tread lightly: locals know each other, so
there will be no question that you're from out of town.
If you're looking for a multipurpose wave, Diamond Head Beach is friendly to
short-boarders, longboarders, windsurfers and kiteboarders. For adrenaline-
charged bodysurfing, Sandy Beach and Makapuʻu Beach near the island's southeast
point are ideal. If you go out there, do so with caution: the pounding waves and
shallow bottom have caused serious neck and back injuries.
Surf News Network ( 596-7873; www.surfnewsnetwork.com ) runs a recorded surf-con-
ditions phone line that reports winds, wave heights and tide information.
HONOLULU
POP 337,256
You can't claim to have really gotten to know Oʻahu if you never even leave Waikiki.
Venture to downtown Honolulu not just for its unmatched collection of historical sites,
museums and gardens - including the USA's only royal palace - but also to eat your way
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