Kualoa Beach Park

Never crowded, this is the perfect site to just enjoy a relaxing day at the beach. The water is calm and warm. Located in a stunningly beautiful area of Oahu's Windward coast with the Kualoa Mountains in the background. This area was considered sacred by the ancient Hawaiians as whalebones used to wash up on the beach. The bones were then made into valuable tools and jewelry.

Great For

Swimming, picnics, camping, sunbathing, beach-combing.

Kualoa Mountains- where Jurassic Park, 50 First Dates and Lost were filmed

Kualoa Mountains- where Jurassic Park, 50 First Dates and Lost were filmed

Mokoli'i-Chinaman' hat

Kualoa Mountains- where Jurassic Park, 50 First Dates and Lost were filmed

Koko Head Hike

Location: 800 Kalanianaole Hwy Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96825
Distance: 0.7 miles
Elevation: 1208 ft
Number of times hiked: 2

Koko Crater is on the east side of Oahu in the Hawaii Kai neighborhood. The hike takes your from the Koko Head District Park at the bottom of Koko Crater to it's summit. The trail isn't very long, about 1K (1100 yards) but the challenge is the elevation rise of 1,200 feet. The top of Koko Crater provides an awesome 360deg view of eastern Oahu and the Pacific which makes the hike worth the effort. There is a rail track going up the entire trail and hikers walk on the rail cross ties. There is also a 30 foot rail bridge that can be tricky for some. Koko Crater is often mistaken for Koko Head which is actually at another location close to the Hanauma Bay and Portlock area of Hawaii Kai and tops out at 640 feet. Parking at the name of the park called Koko "HEAD"
District Park compounds this confusion.

A view from Kalanianaole Hwy

Along the paved road that leads to the stairway to hell.

At the bottom.
A view from 200th step.

The dreaded bridge - Bridge-like portion of the Koko Head Trail Hike.

A view from the top of the stairs

Hikers on top of the used to be a heliport.

A view of the Hanauma Bay

A view of the botanical garden inside the crater.

A view of Hawaii Kai

Going back down -it was easier than coming up but way scarier.

Going through the bridge

And we are done--my daughter was ecstatic that it was finally over.

Don't let the height of the stairs scare you. Anybody can do it, we saw a 4 year old did it, just take your time! The first time I hiked Koko Head, I probably stopped more than 10 times and I enjoyed it. I was tired and in pain but that didn't stop me from doing it again 2 weeks after with my cousin.

Rest and sit down when you are tired and enjoy the view. Always give way to the hikers that are coming down, this will also give you another reason to stop and rest :). Don't forget to bring water and make sure you alternate legs when coming down other wise you will have one leg that is more painful than the other one the next day.

Kapi'olani Park

Kapi'olani Park is a big and beautiful park with diamond head as the backdrop.It is a great place to have a picnic, kick a ball around, blow bubbles, go for a run, people watch, take pictures, food/cultural/art festivals, etc.! This is where the Honolulu marathon is held as well as many half marathon races. It is a nice place to relax after climbing Diamond Head, watch the sunset at the beach, and if it happens to be a Friday, watch the fireworks by Hilton Hawaiian Village.

Mokuleia Army beach - Dog Friendly Beach Park

Mokuleia Army beach -is one of the dog friendly parks listed on Hawaii Humane Society. The beach is gorgeous and there is usually no one around – perfect for dogs like our Thor to play at the beach for the first time. BTW, “Lost” was filmed here -on the stretch of oceanfront. This is the easiest of the beaches on this list to get to. It’s just a few feet off a paved road. But that also means it is sometimes a spot for car break-ins. Put all your valuables in the trunk and leave the windows rolled down. That way there is nothing to take.

Directions:
From Honolulu/Waikiki, enter H1 west, then take H2 North. H2 will end, and keep going straight. After the town ends, ignore the right turn to North Shore/Hale'iwa, and just go straight toward waialua and you will be on Kaukonahua Rd (803). Eventually the road will wind downhill with ironwood trees flanking both sides of the road. At the bottom, go through the yellow blinking light to Farrington Hwy (930). After a half mile there is a traffic circle-- go toward Mokule'ia under the bridge. Continue straight as you see Dillingham Airfield on your left. Before the last entrance to Dillingham Airfield (which is the best access point to view the fuselage storage area), you will see Army related structures on your right. The beach here is the general area of Mokule'ia that was filmed for the pilot. The tree marks the arbitrary border along the Mokule'ia coastline between this "east" or "army" beach, with the "Tiger beach" beyond it to the west that was used for subsequent episodes. Even further out is the beach beyond Camp Erdman, used for the tail-enders' scenes.

Oyster Dome Hike

Location: Off Chuckanut Drive, south of Bellingham

Distance: 3.8 miles roundtrip to overlook; 6.5 miles to Dome

Elevation: Starting elevation 160; high point 2,025 feet

Above: Overlook

The Dome

Me and my cousin Chad-my hiking partner

For More info about Oyster Dome: http://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes-of-the-week/oyster-dome

Directions:

From the south, take the Larrabee State Park/Chuckanut Drive exit off of I-5 (exit 231) and drive just past the 10 mile post on Chuckanut Drive (SR 11) and park on the paved, wide place on the west shoulder. From Bellingham, take exit 250 and drive south on SR 11 about 12 miles to the paved right shoulder. There probably will be a string of parked cars, and there isn't much room, so come early. The Pacific Northwest Trailhead is on the east side of the highway.