Hawaii Adventures: 5 Best Things to Do

Oahu is paradise. Surrounded by crystal clear beaches, lush landscapes (as seen on Jurassic Park) and endless outdoor activities, the island is full of adventures.

After living in Honolulu with a group of friends for one month, here are 5 outdoor activities that you should consider for your next holiday, from kayaking to a helicopter tour to scuba diving. This includes links to the specific experiences that we went on, and tips to make the most of them. This post contains affiliate links.

1. Tackle Nature's Stairmaster at Koko Crater Railway Trailhead

Koko Crater Trail is equally fun and challenging. Known as “Nature's Stairmaster,” the trail consists of over 1,000 steep steps to reach the top - perfect for leg day! For some historical context, the steps are made up of abandoned railroad ties that run along the crater's side, up to the top. They were used by the military during WWII to transport supplies. It's now evolved into a popular hiking trail, at roughly 1.6 miles round trip and taking about 1.5 hours to complete. Those who are up for the challenge are rewarded with sweeping, panoramic views at the top. We started the hike at sunrise to catch the morning glow and it was stunning.

Tip: Given that it wasn't originally built to be a hiking trail, there are some points of the path that aren't well-maintained. One example is a “bridge track” portion without ground underneath - there's an option to go on a side trail if you want to be extra careful.

2. Kayak and Rope Climb Chinaman's Hat

Mokoli'i, also known as Chinaman's Hat, is a basalt islet in Kāne'ohe Bay, Hawaii. Its name comes from its unique shape, which is said to resemble an old-style Chinese laborer's hat. The islet is accessible by kayak, which we rented from Kailua Beach. The rental consisted of a two-person kayak, paddles, life vests and a short overview with instructions from the staff. The kayaking itself is self-guided, though it's straightforward, taking only about 20 minutes to reach the small island. Once we arrived, we hiked to the top and were met with breathtaking views.

Tip: The hike up Chinaman's Hat was only about 10 minutes, but it's extremely steep. It requires rope climbing and is not ideal for those who are scared of heights.

3. Take a doors off helicopter tour of Oahu

We were in Hawaii for Blake's birthday and he's afraid of heights, so naturally, I surprised him with a doors off helicopter tour of Oahu. This tour was not cheap, but it was worth every penny and was truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The 45-minute scenic helicopter island tour gives you an epic bird's eye view of the island, with highlights of flying over Diamond Head, Maunalua Bay and the Ko'olau Mountains. You can choose between “doors on” or “doors off,” but I highly recommend doing doors off. It was a little scary, but took the experience to a new level. We had our seatbelts on and felt safe the whole time, and they also gave us lanyards to keep our phones secure while taking photos and videos.

Tip: Try to book the tour an hour or two before sunset to catch golden hour.

4. Snorkel with sea turtles at Turtle Canyon

Spend the afternoon snorkeling in dreamy, turquoise waters with sea turtles and tropical fish. Turtle Canyon is one of the top snorkeling sites near Waikiki, as Hawaiian green sea turtles gather at a “turtle cleaning station,” a place where they go to find fish that will eat the algae off of their shells. We went on this guided snorkeling tour, which was great, especially for first-timers. They fitted us with snorkeling gear, gave us a lesson on snorkeling safety and pointed out sea turtles and other wildlife that were swimming by to make sure we didn't miss any sightings. In April, the waters were warm enough for us to explore without snorkel suits, making for a perfect afternoon in the sea.

Tip: To capture underwater shots, I used an old GoPro, but lately, I've seen photographers get some fantastic results with underwater housings for smartphones.

5. Try scuba diving for the first time

Scuba diving is something that's been on my bucket list for a long time, but I've always been intimidated by it. I'm not a great swimmer, and the fear of being stuck deep below the water has kept me away from the activity. But for this Hawaii trip, I found a small-group scuba diving tour for complete beginners and decided to finally face my fears. For this experience, our instructor guided us through a 45-minute training and safety briefing, showing us all we needed to know about scuba diving. We were then led on a tour in a small, controlled area. I found this experience to be an ideal first dive, and it gave me the confidence and knowledge to try scuba diving in deeper waters next time.

Tip: Don't expect to see amazing sights on this tour, as it stays in relatively shallow waters. The purpose of the experience is on the instruction, and making sure that students get used to breathing and basic techniques.

This list only scratches the surface of the outdoor adventures that Hawaii has to offer. With so many choices among the surrounding natural beauty, Oahu truly has something for every adventurer.