Where does Kona coffee come from and what is Kona coffee? These are some pretty standard questions when looking at how expensive Kona coffee is. $30 a pound, yikes. But the answers to these questions may shed some light on why Kona coffee is so expensive, and so good!

Kona coffee comes from, you guessed it, Kona, Hawaii. Kona is location on The Big Island of Hawaii. The Big Island is the newest and largest of the Hawaiian islands chain and is the largest of the islands as well located at the south eastern most point. The Big Island is littered with lava rock and still has an active volcano that is erupting daily expanding the island as it goes.

The region of Kona is located on the west side of the island just below Mount Hualalai and Mauna Loa. The weather of the Kona district is usually sunny in the morning, rainy in the afternoon, and cool at night providing the region with a distinct climate to grow the award winning coffee. The mountain side two has fertile soil from the lava rock and years of sea winds.

Kona coffee is harvested from August to January and is processed by the many farmers who have made a living on the Kona coffee farms. Only coffee from the Kona region of The Big Island can be called Kona coffee. There are blends and imitations that abound but only the real deal can get the name on the packaging.

Kona coffee stamped with “Estate” means the coffee beans come from one farm and one harvest. Any other labeling of 100% Kona Coffee means the beans were collected from several farms and processed at one central location. Also out there are 10% blends that blend coffee from all over keeping only 10% Kona farmed coffee.

Getting a Hawaii resident discount on county courses on Oahu is more difficult than getting that same discount on resort courses like Turtle Bay and Ko’olina. In order to get the resident discount on county courses like the Ala Wai Golf Course and the Pali Golf Course you need to obtain a Hawaii Golf ID Card.

To get your Hawaii Golf ID, you can’t just show up with your drivers license or you resident card and get it, nor do you just need 1 form of ID and your social security card like you do when getting your Hawaii State ID for Kama’aina discounts. Instead you need your picture ID and at least one of the following…

• Last year’s Hawaii State income tax return with W-2 form.
• Filed current year Hawaii State income tax return with W-2 form.
• Hawaii voter registration certificate.
• Current real estate property tax assessment document for your Hawaii residential property.
• Homeowner’s insurance policy for your Hawaii residence.
• An approved Hawaii State Tax Clearance Certificate (Form A-6) from the Hawaii State Department of Taxation (Applies to those individuals who don’t have a copy of their Hawaii State Tax return or are new filers)

Better yet you can only get them at one of three locations and only on specific days. The Ala Wai Golf Course on Tuesdays from 10 am to 2 pm, and Saturdays from 8 am to noon. The Pali Golf Course on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 8 am to Noon. And at the Ted Makalena Golf Course on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 8 am to Noon.

Make sure to call the starters offices at those locations before you go to make sure they’ll be issuing them. Somedays they might decide it’s too busy to issue them and you’ll have made the trip for nothing. Numbers and maps can be found at the golf course links in our directory under Oahu Golf Courses.

Hollywood has always had a special place for Hawaii in it’s TV shows and movies. Whether being featured as a destination or as a back drop to a great show, Hawaii keeps bringing Hollywood back.

TV Shows in Hawaii

LOST
One of the most recent TV shows to be filmed on the islands is the great ABC show LOST. This show is filmed mainly on the island of Oahu and utilizes locations such as China Town, the YMCA in downtown Honolulu, Kualoa Ranch, spots on the North Shore, and other random locations. The show has really become a part of Hawaii.

Gilligans Island
Another hit show filmed on the island of Oahu was Gilligans Island. Filmed on Coconut Island in Kaneohe Bay on the Windward side, Gilligans island was another TV show that was filmed in Hawaii but never made mention of it as part of the show. Besides, like LOST, these people were lost on an island.

Hawaii Five-0
Another famous show from the islands, this show actually had Hawaii in it’s name and featured many of the hot spots around town. This show aired for 12 years from the late 60’s to the early 80’s. It’s still a staple in some viewers TV regimen as reruns are aired on classic TV networks.

Magnum PI
Magnum PI is featured Tom Selleck as a private investigator living on Oahu. This show, like Hawaii Five-0 featured many famous spots on Oahu like hotels, beaches, and restaurants.

Movies

50 First Dates
50 First Dates features Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore who fall in love living on the island of Oahu. Adam Sandler works at Sea Life Park, just adjacent from Makapu’u Beach Break. You can pick up on a lot of local places in this movie, and the lingo used by Rob Schneider is a very comical version of Pidjin.

Snorkeling has been around for literally thousands of years. In Hawaii, people have been using a form of snorkeling to go fishing and for recreation for nearly as long. For people living and visiting Hawaii, snorkeling can be a great way to enjoy underwater creatures for a very small price.

Snorkeling gear is one of those activities that allows you to purchase gear for cheap like $20, or for a lot, like$200. You can usually find a good set of snorkel, mask, and fins for less than $60. If you are vacationing in Hawaii you’ll probably want to pack your own snorkel and save a few dollars. Gear can be expensive at a lot shops in the islands.

Snorkel Mask

You’ll need to buy a snorkel mask that fits your face structure. All masks are different and you should definitely try on your mask before you purchase it. This can be one of the most frustrating things about snorkeling. If your mask is always filling up with water or fogging you won’t have any fun at all.

You may also want to invest in a better mask that has glass with anti-fogging capabilities. There’s no use going snorkeling if you can’t see any of the fish or reef.

Snorkel

The snorkel is also important to you enjoying your experience. Although if you want to hold your breath you can probably do this just the same, a good snorkel can allow you to keep your face looking down in the water for a long time, even in choppy water.

Some snorkels come with splash guards. This is just a piece of convoluted plastic attached to the end of the snorkel mask that keeps water out of the breathing spout while you may be in rougher water. This can be a very nice addition if you don’t want to be drinking salt water all day long.

Snorkel Fins

There are all types of snorkel fins. Long ones, short ones, rounded ends, adjustable straps, closed bottom, etc. You can spend hundreds on a good set or you can buy cheap ones that will do the same job.

If you’re not planning on snorkeling but once a year, you probably don’t need the extremely expensive fins. However, theres something to be said for more expensive fins. They’re usually a lot more comfortable. You’ll need to try the snorkel fins on as well before you buy them. There’s nothing worse than getting a pair of fins that just kills your feet after 10 minutes of swimming around. What a way to cut your snorkel short.

Shipping your car, your furniture, and all your other stuff to Hawaii isn’t as hard as you think. Cargo ships go in and out of Hawaii harbors all week long making it pretty easy to get your favorite recliner to the islands.

Shipping Your Car to Hawaii

If you’re looking to ship your car to Hawaii from the mainland you have a lot of options. Basically what happens is you go through a service that gets your car from your home to the west coast. Then from the west coast that car is put on a cargo ship run most likely by Matson and your car is shipped to Hawaii. It takes anywhere from 2 to 6 weeks, 6 weeks being the norm, to get your car from door to door.

The easiest way to get started shipping your car to Hawaii is to look in your local yellow pages under shipping. You can also go online and searching for car shipping company. These sites will most likely put you in touch with a local shipper.

Then you have to choose between shipping covered or uncovered. Uncovered means your car has the potential to be on the deck or outside of a cargo crate. 6 weeks of salt air on the ocean with your car not moving can be brutal. We suggest you choose inside even though it’s about $500 more. It’s worth it.

Then, you clean your car out of everything. Everything. Trust us, they’ll search it when they get to your house and pull out anything that’s extra. This is the unfortunate thing about shipping your car to Hawaii. All that extra room you could stuff things goes wasted.

Next, you give them your keys, some companies will pick the car up and others will require you to drop it off. This depends on who you go with and might cost extra as a service. Your choice on that one.

Finally, you wait the 6 weeks until you get a call that your vehicle has arrived in Hawaii. You go and pick it up or, as with the drop off, sometimes they’ll drop the car off where you live or work.

Shipping Your Furniture to Hawaii

Shipping your furniture and other stuff to Hawaii is quite similar to shipping your car to Hawaii explained above. You start again by looking in your local yellow pages or on the internet for a shipping service that gets stuff to Hawaii.

Then you set up the details. Some services allow you to pack your own stuff and still insure it while most require that they pack the stuff or at least look through the contents and provide extra padding for the boxes. Large items like TVs and such will most likely have to be packed by the moving company. Make sure to inquire about this before you start packing all your stuff up.

Then you’ll need to document every single thing that you are packing. It’s also good to put an estimated value on each piece that you’ll be shipping to Hawaii, or at least on each box. For large items it’s best to have your receipt. It makes the insurance process a lot easier.

Finally you schedule a moving day and get the movers to show up and get your stuff onto a truck, plane, or rail on it’s way to the west coast. You’ll be seeing that stuff again in 2 to 6 weeks so make sure it’s nothing that you really need. Ship that stuff via UPS or FedEx, or pay extra to carry things on the plane.

Getting to Hawaii is pretty easy. Sometimes it’s a little pricier than most people want. But for the most part, it’s extremely easy.

Getting to Hawaii by Airplane

Hawaii has several international airports. The busiest one is on Oahu, Honolulu International Airport (HNL). Most people claim to only have been to the airport on Oahu on their way to another island. Airlines that serve Honolulu International Airport include, Qantas Airways, Air Pacific Airways, Philippine Airlines, Korean Airlines, Delta Airlines, All Nippon Airways, Air Canada, Air New Zealand, Hawaiian Airlines, Japan Airlines, Japan Air Charter, JTB, China Airlines, American Trans Air, Rich International, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Continental Air Micronesia, NorthWest Airlines, United Airlines.

With all those choices you’re sure to find an airline near your hometown that can get you to paradise.

The other islands with larger airports that receive mainland flights are Kahalui on Maui and Kona on The Big Island. You can get to Hawaii through either of these airports from a lot of places in the world.

Cruise Ship

Cruise ships come in and out of ports on Oahu, Maui, and The Big Island. You can take cruises from all over the West Coast and end up in Hawaii. Los Angeles and San Francisco both have cruises starting at their ports and ending up in Hawaii.

You can take your Pacific Ocean cruise and end up in Hawaii for a few days of shore excursions and fun in the sun.

The tradewinds that consistently bath the islands of Hawaii bring with them huge power. Power that sailors have been using for literally centuries. Windsurfers are more recent on the scene but utilize the wind in a whole different way. They strap a surfboard to their feet add boom with a sail, and their off to enjoy both the power of the wind and the power of the surf.

If you’re a windsurfer you’ve probably had conversations about windsurfing in Hawaii. Oahu, Maui, and Kauai all have very popular spots where windsurfing communities have popped up. Everyone knows each other, helps each other out while their on the water, and talks about the last great wind and surf day they had.

Hawaii Windsurfing Spots

Some of the best places to windsurf in the islands is right on Oahu. Both Kailua is probably the most well known and most consistent of the spots in the islands. On a good tradewind day, you’ll find the beaches littered with windsurfers preparing their sails and boards for the day.

Another good spot on Oahu is Diamond Head. This has more surf and can be nuts given the right direction of wind and some big surf. You can sit up at the point and watch windsurfers dodge surfers in the waves and catch huge air off the face.

Maui and Kauai both have some great spots as well. Check Hanalei Bay on a windy day or the north shore of Maui for some extreme windsurfing. Just be careful out there.

WARNING: TAKE LESSONS

Kiteboarding has taken off in Hawaii, especially in Kailua where windsurfing used to be king of the bay. Now, you’re more likely to see more kites flying around the bay than windsurfers. Kiteboarding, as the warning alludes to, is very very difficult. You’ll definitely need to takes lessons if you’ve never done it before.

Lessons

First off you need to take lessons in order to start kiteboarding. The best place in Hawaii to do so is in Kailua on the island of Oahu. There are plenty of shops in town that offer kiteboarding lessons and all the rental gear you can handle. You can also just head down to the beach and should be able to find someone who gives or knows a friend who gives lessons. Right behind Kalapawai Market, in the parking lot there at the beach you’ll also be able to find trucks full of kites and windsurfing boards. Just ask them.

You can also take lessons on the other islands. Both Kauai and Maui have some really good spots to go kiteboarding as well and those places offer lessons just the same as Oahu.

People who’ve done it before claim that you need about 4 lessons to get good at kiteboarding. The cost for lessons ranges from $100 - $200 per 2 hour lesson. Some of the better lessons have teachers that use helmets with 2 way radios. They’ll run up and down the shore as you try and get the hang of it.

Gear

Kiteboarding gear can get expensive. You can spend thousands on a top notch kite. Or you can search around town for someone selling older gear. Just be careful of how used it is. Kites have bladders that inflate to keep their shape. Make sure there’s no holes in the bladder before you buy a used one.

You’ll need the following.

• Kite
• Lines
• Bar
• Harness
• Board

These all come in different shapes and sizes like 9m kites or 14m kites, 2 lines, 4 lines, 5 lines, wide bars, two direction boards, no strap boards, bootstrap boards, and more. We suggest talking to someone who knows what they’re doing, at one of the shops where they sell or rent, and get their opinion on what you should purchase.

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Stand up paddle boarding and stand up paddle surfing has become extremely popular throughout the Hawaiian islands. Anytime you head out to a great break like Canoes or Pops, you’ll probably see someone standing up on a wider than normal surfboard, using an abnormally long paddle to cruise through the waves.

Stand up paddle boards range in size from smaller boards for light riders to 16 foot boards for long distance paddle boarding. Paddle vary based on the height of the paddler and can be made of all types of materials. Stand up boards, like any surfboard or kayak, can range in price from beginner around $1000, to several thousand dollars for a nice competition board.

Stand Up Paddle Boards

As mentioned, stand up paddle boards come in all sorts of sizes and prices. You don’t even need a specific stand up board if you have the balance or a large enough surf board. Stand up boards, however, are made with stand up in mind. They are wider and thicker and have a flater top usually with a deck pad running 3/4 the length of the board.

If you’re thinking about doing some open ocean stand up paddle boarding you’ll be much better off with a competition board like a 16 foot board. These boards are extremely thick and have a lot more rocker. Meaning the front ends of the boards are angled up.

A good beginner board is a South Point or a C4 Waterman. I would suggest an 11′ or 11′6″ board. Some prefer a shorter board like a 10′, but if you’re beginning a longer board will help you. Plus longer boards will enable you to use them in more conditions, like Kailua Bay, or Black Point at Diamond Head.

Stand Up Paddle Surfing

If you’re looking to get into stand up paddle surfing you may want a little shorter board, or a fish tail, or something with a little different shape in the back to allow for easier maneuvering on the wave. Although you can use your paddle for turning and guiding you down the face of the wave, a slightly different shape to your board can go a long way.

Stand up paddle surfing is really the same thing, only you’re headed out with the intention of surfing. In Hawaii, these guys can be dogged in the water by other surfers, although as time goes on, you may see more stand up paddle surfers than surfers on some breaks.

It takes a lot of skill to stand up and paddle out over breaking waves. You’ll want to start out in smaller surf and stay to the end of the break. Being able to drop to your knees quickly and pop back up on your board is also a good skill to have.

Stand Up Paddles

Stand up paddles for paddle boarders and surfers are long. The suggested length is about 6 inches over your head. These paddles are best made out of carbon fiber or some type of carbon composite material. Another popular material for paddles is wood. Although more expensive, some claim the feel is better than those carbon counterparts. Also the traditionalists will promote wood over carbon composites any day.

Traveling between the 5 main Hawaiian islands can be pretty easy and doesn’t cost a ton. You can easily get between Oahu, The Big Island, Maui, Lanai, Kauai, and Molokai. These are the main islands you’ll be able to travel to and stay on within the island chain.

Flying

The most likely way you’ll traveling between the islands, and the only way most tourists could do so until recently, is flying. There are several carriers that make the trip between the islands. They include Hawaiian Airlines, Island Air, and go! Airlines.

All of these off tickets prices for round trip tickets of about $100 to $150. Sometimes they’ll run promotions and sell flights for a lot less, more like $30 one way, which is a great deal if you can get it. The flights are all around 1 hour, give or take depending on where you’re going.

The main airport cities you fly in and out of are, Honolulu on Oahu, Kahalui on Maui, Kona and Hilo on The Big Island, Molokai Airport on Molokai, Lanai City on Lani, Lihue Airport on Kauai.

Hawaii Superferry

The newest way to get between the islands is the Hawaii Superferry. The Hawaii Superferry currently only travels between Oahu and Maui. The trip is right around 3 hours and I’ve been told is a very good way to get back and forth between Maui and Oahu.

The cost right now is right around $80 round trip. You can also bring your car on the Hawaii Superferry for just over $100 round trip. This is the big advantage of the superferry. You can save a lot of money if you’re going to another island for longer than a day trip and want to bring your own car. Car rentals can cost quite a bit depending on what time of year you go. Plus with your own car you have your own insurance, always a good thing.

Boating

The Hawaiian waters are some of the most dangerous to travel by small boat in the world. The channel between Oahu and Maui/Molokai can get pretty trechorous. If you go this route you need to know what you’re doing so we don’t suggest it for anyone.

You don’t have to worry too much about forgetting something on your trip to Hawaii, especially if you’re traveling to Waikiki, there are plenty of stores like Wal-Mart, ABC convenience stores, and tons of other little shops. But you’ll pay a bit of premium for something that you might already own, or could have gotten cheaper back home.

Here’s a list of things to pack on your trip to Hawaii. It’s not all inclusive, but its a good starting point and a list of some of the essentials that you’ll need to remember in a place where the weather is always nice.

• Swimsuit - unless you don’t like the water, a bathing suit is essential. These can get expensive if you buy one here so save your money for other things like food, and bring on along
• Sunscreen - Hawaii is south, way south, and the sun is always shining, so bring some sunscreen to keep from burning and help prevent skin cancer. We recommend something like SPF 30 or 40, and waterproof.
• Sunglasses - Especially if you’re driving, sunglasses are a must. Reflection off the water, off buildings, off other cars, can all be dangerously blinding.
• Comfortable clothing - You can pretty much bet on 75 - 85 F weather, all year round. Dress accordingly. Maybe pack one set of clothing if it cools at night or if you’re in upcountry Maui. Other than that, shorts, skirts, short sleeves, tank tops. You don’t need much.
• Slippas - Slippers might also be called flip flops, or old school, thongs. Bring open footwear. It’ll make you feel better as you walk around.
• Comfortable shoes - although you may never remove your slippers, a nice pair of walking shoes will be great for walking, sightseeing, and hiking on Hawaii’s many many trails. Pack a pair just in case you want to get some exercise.
• Beach towel - Although you may have access to a beach towel depending on where you stay, you should pack one just in case. Buying one on your trip can be an unnecessary expense.
• Extra duffel bag - You may think you won’t buy trinkets on your trip, but you’ll buy stuff. It’s inevitable. Bring a duffel bag you can fold up and pack on the way out to Hawaii, but then fill with everything you bought on the way back.
• Umbrella - Being a tropical climate an mountainous, the islands of Hawaii can get rainy at a moments notice. You’ll be on the beach taking in a the sunshine when all the sudden a group of clouds can rain heavy on your parade. Bring an umbrella.
• Camera - digital or old school film will do. You can buy waterproof disposables which are fun. We suggest the olympus waterproof digital camera if you’re in the market. You want to capture everything so bring your camera.
• Money - If you’re traveling from the US don’t worry, you’re still in the US. Cash, checks, credit cards all work just fine. If you’re from another country, pretty much everyone accepts credit card. You may not get to go to some super local plate lunch places that only accept cash, but you can get around just fine.
• Snorkel gear - You can definitely buy snorkel gear here in Hawaii, but we suggest buying and bringing. You can use it on your next trip and can probably get it cheaper back in your hometown.

Although some may have their opinions on what makes a person kama’aina, for the sake of local discounts in Hawaii, you need to be a Hawaii Resident. Which means you need a state identification card of some sort. Either a Hawaii drivers license or a Hawaii State ID will do the trick. With this identification you can get tons of discounts from hotel rooms to discount golf rates, the kama’aina discount is there to show appreciation for local residents.

Where and how to get a state ID card:

The easier of the two is a state ID card because you don’t have to take a written test to get it. Depdenting on which island you live on you can get your Hawaii state ID card at the following locations Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm.

Island of Oahu
Kekuanao’a Building
465 S. King Street, Rm. 102
Honolulu, Hawaii 96813

Island of Hawaii
Hilo
75 Aupuni St.
Hilo, HI. 96720
Phone: (808) 974-6265

Kona
75-5722 Kuakini Highway
Kuakini Tower, #215
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740
Phone: (808) 327-4953

Island of Maui
2264 Aupuni St., Ste. #1
Wailuku, Hawaii 96793
Phone: (808) 243-5798

Island of Kauai
3060 Eiwa St., Rm. 106
Lihue, Hawaii 96766
Phone: (808) 274-3100

What you need to bring with you

1. A certified birth certificate issued by the state repository in the state where you were born;
2. A certificate of citizenship or naturalization;
3. A document for a child born abroad of American parents.;
4. A valid United States Passport if issued in your legal name.

And of course, your Hawaii residential address.

What can you get with your Kama’aina discount.

Golf. Golf courses are probably the place you get the biggest discount for being a resident. Island golf courses have reputation of being expensive. If you’re a tourist visiting Hawaii for only a week, you may only have this one time to play. But if you’re a resident it would be impossible for a lot of people to play regularly. With the Kama’aina discount, you can. Places like Turtle Bay and Luana Hills give you a round for almost a third of the regular price. Just show your state identification or drivers license.

For discounts on Honolulu county courses like the Ala Wai Golf Course and The Pali Golf Course see our section on obtaining a Hawaii Resident Golf ID Card.

Rentals. You can discounts on most rentals like kayaks, surf boards, snorkeling, scuba, and the like. Without a lot of room to stash your toys this can be a big help. Being able to rent a surfboard for a little cheaper down in Waikiki after you get done with work just makes you feel a little better about cutting out early to enjoy the waves.

Hotels. Hotels around the islands offer huge Kama’aina discounts. You can stay at a four star resort on Lanai for half price. A room that’s regularly $500 now costs you $250. It’s a great deal! Even Waikiki hotels offer a discount. This should definitely be utilized if you’re going to be traveling to other islands. It can be your excuse to finally go to that resort you never thought you could afford.

The island of Oahu is home to more than three quarters of the population of the state of Hawaii. The state capital, Honolulu, is located here, along with such tourist attractions as Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, and the historic Pearl Harbor.

Oahu has the famous beaches of Waikiki and Waimea Bay. Surf Breaks line it’s shores like Canoes at Waikiki, and the world famous Banzai Pipeline of the North Shore.

If you don’t like the water or crowded beaches you can head inland to Ala Moana shopping center, hike one of the many mountain trails that wind towards the middle of the island, or just relax on a lanai with a good book and a Mai Tai.

Hawaiian Scale - Define
Long Board, Short Board
Brief History of Surfing in Hawaii

Waikiki
Diamond Head
Kaisers
Ala Moana
Kewalos
Flys and Point Panic
Sandy’s
Sand Island
Old Mans
Publics
Tonggs

East Shore

Makapu’u
Cockroach Bay
Flat Island

North Shore

Haleiewa
Puena Point
Waimea Bay
Banzai Pipeline
Sunset

West Shore

Makaha

Check out our section on Snorkeling in Hawaii for information on gear, history, and how to do it.

Hanauma Bay, enough said. Although may be some better places to snorkel within the islands, nothing is easier than Hanauma Bay. However, no matter what shore you happen to be on there’s a place to snorkel. Whether its Sharks Cove on the north shore swimming with turtles and dolphins on the west you’ll find something to see under the surface.

South Shore
Hanauma Bay

Whenever you’re on vacation you hear people say “Get there early.” Well at Hanauma Bay listen to this advice, especially if you are driving. By about 11:00 am the Hanauma Bay parking lot is full and a few of the park volunteers are sitting outside the entrance directing confused tourists where they can park and walk. By 3:00 pm the traffic has subsided and the staff is gone, and reopened the lot again. If you do go during peak hours and need to park elsewhere we suggest the park thats just before Hanauma Bay. To get to the park turn left at the stop lights after the Foodland. Then make the first right followed by another right and follow that road all the way back to the park. Park your car and walk down the path located at the back of the parking lot. This will take you to Hanauma Bay. You can also park here if you want to save the $1 parking fee.

One more little tip is to make sure and call ahead of time before you plan on going. Depending on the status of the moon, Box Jelly Fish come in and they close the bay. These guys can sting a little and I am told that Hanauma Bay just fills with them. Also, Hanauma Bay is closed on Tuesdays, so make sure to call 808-396-4229 to double check if the ride out there is worth it.

Once inside Hanauma Bay, if you haven’t been there before you will need to watch a very short informative video. It’s actually kind of neat. There is a cool song that goes along with it which is quite catchy. It helps to remember to not feed the fish or step on the coral. Please remember to not step on the coral.

Then after that its down the hill into the bay. If you need to rent snorkel gear you can get it at one of the grass huts located to your right at the bottom of the hill. The gear is about $7. However if you plan on snorkeling more than just this one time, I suggest bringing or buying some. They sell it at ABC stores, Wal-Mart, the International Market Place, all over. Just look around and get some decent stuff. There’s a whole world under the surface so I would plan on going several times around the island and having your own hear is great.

Next it’s time to get in the water. There’s a whole beach so find some place where there aren’t too many people and plop your stuff down. Although at Hanauma Bay there doesn’t seem to be too much theft you never can be too sure so please try and leave your valuables in the car or at home. They have security guards roaming the parking lot so your car should be a safe place. They also offer lockers for a small fee so this too is an option. Once you’ve found your a place for your stuff head to the water. There is aquatic life everywhere in the bay so just head towards the water. The bulk of the coral where most fish hang out is on the left most 2/3rds but like we said you can find fish everywhere.

Once you have your general region selected, sit on the sand just before the water and put on your fins. Then your mask… and your ready to go.

Tip: One thing we have been told is that if you take some plane white toothpaste and put some on the inside glass of your mask, rub it around, let it dry a little, then wash and wipe it off, this will work as a anti-fogging solution to your snorkel gear fogging up. We’ve tried it and it works!

Now get in the water already!!! If you’ve never walked in fins before it can be difficult. When walking forward you must remember to pick up your feet or you will surely trip. One thing you can do is walk backwards, WARNING you must never turn your back on the ocean. So to get around this look over your shoulder to see not only where you are going, but whether or not there are freak waves that could knock you over and worse case pull you down. Although Hanauma Bay is usually pretty calm, you never know, plus you don’t want to get in the habit.

Once in the water just lay on your belly and kick around. Be prepared to see a ton of fish all in one place. Hanauma Bay is filled with all sorts of colors and sizes. Look for eels sticking their heads out of coral holes, or large schools of fish darting back and forth. You may see a sea turtle out there as well, we tend to see them towards the left hand side everytime we go, but they can be anywhere. We have been told by people who have snorkeled in Australia, the Florida Keys, and Mexico, that Hanauma Bay has the most diverse, most abundant, and most easily accessible fish population out of all of them. Although we haven’t been to all of these places, we believe the sources and just feel lucky to live 10 miles from such a place.

North Shore
Shark’s Cove

Just after passing Waimea Bay coming from Heliewa on the Kamemehamea Highway you come across a great snorkel spot. Just across the highway from Foodland is Shark’s Cove. With the high surf of the winter months Shark’s Cove is just a few jagged rocks sticking out of the ocean. In the summer the cove opens up into a wonderful sheltered sea creature haven. Both snorkelers and scuba divers swarm Shark’s cove everyday.

Coming from the west you have to enter the parking via the second entrance, its a one-way moving east to west. If you arrive early enough there should be parking left within this area. However, if you find yourself without a place to park don’t fret. There is another parking lot just before the fire station to the west and also road parking to the east of the Shark’s Cove lot.

Once there you will see a large pennisula sticking out into the ocean wrapping from left to right. This is what creates the cove. The left side of the cove is very shallow and really nice to just sit around in and relax. You may also want to start here if you have smaller children who haven’t snorkeled much before. There is a sandy entrance and the shallow water will give you a little more peace of mind.

On the right hand side of the cove it gets much deeper. This is the side that opens to the ocean. Be careful here, strong currents can sometimes pop up and pull you out. Just be sure to check with those more experienced people around you. This deeper half has a huge amount of fish, turtles, and if you look close enough eels. You can go to the right and the left of this half and see it all. Often time huge schools of fish venture in to feed and swarm all around you. We have been lucky enough to see quite a few eels in here as well. You have to really be observant when scanning the rock and coral formations below. Eels tend to hide within the holes of the coral and just stick their heads far enough out to grab unsuspecting fish that wander to close.

After we spend a few hours hanging around and playing in the water we usually run across the road to the Shark’s Cove Cafe. It’s basically a permanent lunch wagon parked on the Kamahamea Highway. They have great teriaky burgers. Stop by if you get a chance.

East Shore
Waimanalo

Although you won’t see tons of fish Waimanalo Beach and Waimanalo Recreational Area can be a relaxing spot to snorkel on the east side of Oahu. Traveling from town past Hanauma Bay, Sandy’s Beach, and Makapu’u you will find Waimanalo Beach Park. This beach is a very low traffic beach with plenty of spots to stretch out and relax.

After a few hours of getting pounded by the shore break just up the road we like to stop by and float around in the water. We always see a turtle or two pop up for air while we’re there. We have also snorkeled a bit and some some fish but nothing like other places on the island. The reef on the east side of the island is farther off shore and takes a long swim to get there. We don’t suggest snorkeling out to the reef unless you’ve packed a lunch.

West Shore
Ko’olina

Ko’olina has many public lagoons that you can go to and lay on the beach, play in the water, and snorkel around. The lagoons act to shelter predators and strong currents so fish swim in to protect themselves. These lagoons can be a great place to swim schools of fish without a ton of people around you. Each lagoon has a maximum number of cars that are allowed to park there so the amount of people let in is kept to a minimum. Although it feels more like a water park or attraction area we suggest going if you have younger children. We enjoyed going and found Ko’olina like it’s own separate city.

Overview
Terrain
Map of Island
Hikes

Overview
Golf Tournaments
Map of Courses
Golf Courses Addresses, Fees, and Web Addresses

Ala Moana Mall
Outlet Mall at Waikele
Haleiwa
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Dolphin
Pearl Harbor
Shark Cage

Kayaking
Snorkeling
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Body Surfing
Scuba Diving
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Water Activities
Surfing
Kayaking
Snorkeling
Stand-Up Paddle Board
Scuba Diving
Tours
Pearl Harbor
Dolphin Tours
Shark Cage
Shopping
Ala Moana
Outlet Malls
Haleiwa
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Water Park

People who are interested in what you do will more than likely want to contact you for more information. Provide location, phone numbers, hours of operation, emails addresses and any other means of contact here.

People who are interested in what you do will more than likely want to contact you for more information. Provide location, phone numbers, emails addresses and any other means of contact here. People who are interested in what you do will more than likely want to contact you for more information. Provide location, phone numbers, emails addresses and any other means of contact here. People who are interested in what you do will more than likely want to contact you for more information. Provide location, phone numbers, emails addresses and any other means of contact here.

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