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Gotta do this
By Robert Bone
Special to The Advertiser
You'll get little argument if your number one project in Hawai'i involves the ocean or the immediate adjacent shoreline. Beginning with beach activities, here is a list of possibilities you'll want to look into, ranging from the more sedentary to the frenetic.
Remember Hawai'i has scores of great beaches on all islands. Some are much less populated than Waikiki, yet offer great views and great waves.
* Sunbathing. Ouch -- watch out! Remember you're somewhat closer to the sun in Hawaii than in North America, and the Pacific sun has no mercy. Limit your exposure as much as you can. If you must bake on the sands, be sure to lather on the sunscreen to protect against ultraviolet rays, even if there are clouds in the sky.
* Swimming. Some beaches are more fun and more safe than others. Be sure to check with lifeguards and local residents for any given length of shore if you have any doubts. Some stretches of sand, like Sandy Beach and Makapu’u Beach on Oahu, are safe only for those experienced in these waters.
TIP: Waikiki Beach is still one of the best the year around -- except during for some occasionally brief bouts with jellyfish (usually Portuguese man-of-war). Again, your lifeguard is well informed on these matters.
* Surfing. There are three types -- body, board, and wind, and some beaches are better for one type than for others, and in some cases it also depends on the weather and the time of year.
If you've never tried board surfing before, Waikiki Beach is the place to learn. After all, surfing was invented in Hawaii, and it has been going on at Waikiki for probably several hundred years.
Several ocean activities stands along the shoreline are manned by friendly beachboys licensed to teach this sport -- and most of them will promise that you'll be able to stand up on the board for at least one wave at the end of the hour-long lesson.
* Wind surfing, or sailboarding, is probably best learned on the Windward side of the Oahu. In the suburban town of Kailua, you'll find several surf shops with equipment and instructors. On Maui, take at look at the activity at Ho’okipa Beach, one of the most famous wind-surfing locations on earth. Accomplished sailboarders from Europe pine for the day they'll hit Ho’okipa.
* Explore the islands. Whether by bus or car, get away from your hotel from time to time and see what else Hawaii has to offer. On Oahu, you can explore almost the entire island for $1 going by city bus. Rental cars are ubiquitous and highly competitive. If you choose carefully, you’ll probably find them much less expensive than comparable cars on the U.S. mainland.
Sorry, but trains are not an option for exploring, although a couple of short lines (one on Oahu, another on Maui) exist just for the fun of it. NAME THEM.
* Hiking. You will also find a number of hiking opportunities, some of them run by commercial entrepreneurs and others you can do by yourself. A simple Honolulu hike almost everyone can do is the gentle climb to the top of the volcano named Diamond Head. It will cost $1, and it’s well worth the price.
* Take a cruise. On all islands there are various daytime and evening cruises on boats ranging from rubber Zodiacs to multideck excursion vessels offering sit-down dinners followed by entertainment and dancing. Most popular are the diving and snorkel tours during the day, and the moonlight and starlight cruises in the evening.
* Entertainment. It would be a shame if a visitor to Hawaii returned home without taking in a Hawaiian luau. Luaus, a combination food, music and dance extravaganza are offered by several hotels.
The meal will probably include the traditional kalua pig, poi (a taro dish that takes getting used to), and butterfish, along with some other choices just in case you don’t go for Polynesian authenticity. Dances will include several types of hula from Hawaii and other islands of the Pacific. And if you want to learn some of the basics of hula yourself, sit up front and you may be pulled up on stage to become part of the act!
Besides the luau, of course, you’ll find other night-club type shows, usually with a Hawaiian theme. Honolulu is considered the second biggest entertainment town in the U.S. (after Las Vegas).
You’ll find Don Ho and other Hawaiian entertainers playing in Waikiki, of course. But also ask where you can hear some contemporary Hawaiian music. It’s much more sophisticated than the steel guitar and ukulele tunes of old.
Travel writer Robert W. Bone is a journalist, editor and photographer. He is the author of "The Maverick Guide to Hawaii."
