It seems like most people shudder at the idea of swimming with sharks, saying, “That’s crazy!” and, “Aren’t you scared?”. Actually, sharks are some of my favorite animals and swimming with them is always an amazing experience.

Cage Diving with Sharks

Being in a cage is definitely the way to go if you are feeling nervous or are not a strong swimmer. You still get super close to the sharks and sometimes they even bump into the cage, but you are very secure. They can usually fit about 6 people in the cage at once so it can feel a little cramped. The one downside to being in the cage is that the cage is bobbing up and down in the water. You need to hold onto the cage so that you do not hit your face or body on the cage as it moves, this means you are also bobbing up and down and if you are the type to get seasick then it can be unpleasant.

Free diving with Sharks

Diver Nick in black

Rule 1: Research

Rule 2: It’s THEIR House

Rule 3: It’s All About Body Language 

Rule 4: Fix Gear on the Boat

Rule 5: Do Your Part

Snorkeling is one of the most exciting things you can do in the ocean, and even in fresh water. Once you know how to swim the rest will come naturally. Exploring the beautiful oceans or checking out some fresh water dive spots will open a whole new world. There is so much to see underwater and this guide will help you get there confidently.

Safety First

Gear

Practice

Avoid Dirty Water

Look But Don’t Touch

Have Fun

Isn't it just magnificent? This "Mermaid Cave" is one of the most beautiful places on the island of O'ahu. The impressive, but sometimes dangerous grotto is really an extraordinary sight to take in.

The fun is in the finding! If you know anything about the landscape on O'ahu, then it should not be too hard to figure out where this cave is located. And if you do not know much about the geography of O'ahu then the search will be a great adventure, I promise!

I will not reveal the location, so if you came here for that then tough luck. Not that you cannot find the location, as this "secret" spot has been geo-tagged in so many photos that it is actually no longer a secret. Knowing the whereabouts of this cave used to be a privilege. Hidden along some remote beach, was this gorgeous cavern, carved from the ocean. But now, when you go, you have to stand in line to get inside because the amount of people milling about it's entrance is staggering. Never mind that the cave is essentially in some body's backyard, but visitors seem to think it is also a garbage dump. The very last time I went, I cut my finger on a broken beer bottle. Yep.

You would think that people coming to experience the ocean's beauty would have more regard for it than to leave their garbage strewn among the rocks.

I have nothing against people coming to see the spectacular work of art that Mother Nature has made, but I am against people littering and ruining the overall experience by their loudness and general lack of respect. This breathtaking cavern has become a tourist hot spot with the aid of social media.

Treacherous 

Now that I have all that off my chest, I do have a serious message for you concerning this exquisite cave. The tide can easily fill the cave up and the strong waves have been known to pull people into the ocean through the opening in the back of the cave. Be careful, especially with your little ones.

Mahalo

When you do visit, be sure to respect it and the people who live nearby. There are memorial sites in the ground here for people who are no longer with us. The people who have made their homes in this area are saints to put up with the ruckus I have seen surrounding this cave. Besides the boisterous crowds, the littering needs to stop. Our natural world is very important and taking care of the 'aina is part of the Aloha spirit. Please, do not litter and if you see trash pick it up because there are trash cans in the parking lot.

Sand Cloud is a company that donates 10% of profits towards efforts for marine conservation, like beach cleanups. Their products, like this towel, are pretty great. Use code Alecia25 for a 25% discount at http://www.sandcloudtowels.com

Mahalos,
Alecia <3

Hamama Falls is one of the lesser known waterfalls on O'ahu. In the back of Waihe’e Valley, this 4 mile round trip trail takes you past a swimming hole before reaching the magnificent, 40 foot waterfall. Spring fed from the Ko'olau Mountains, this waterfall is always flowing. The hike is more of a nature walk than anything, as you just follow a gravel path to the base of the falls; kids and dogs can do this one.

Beginning

Swimming Hole

Trail

The Falls

The items in a beach bag say something about the owner. The things I carry are tailored to my needs while I am at the beach, or actually, in the ocean. For instance, I rarely carry a music speaker because all of my beach time is spent in the water and not on the sand. While the items in my beach bag can vary based on my activities, these are the essential items that I have no matter what I am doing.

Sunblock & Zinc

Besides your typical luaus and incredible beaches, O'ahu has so much more to offer. These are some ways to enjoy the island, just like the locals do. 

1. Meet a Sea Turtle 

As a Honu Guardian with the Malama Na Honu organization based out of the North Shore, and as an avid snorkeler, I know how awesome our Green Sea Turtles are. The best spot to get a glimpse of these precious creatures is on North Shore's Laniakea Beach. There, the honus (sea turtles) come up to rest on the sand and are protected by the Honu Guardians who are there to answer any question you have and are happy to snap a photo of you with the sea turtles. Of course, you may get lucky and see a turtle while swimming, but you have a great chance of spotting one on this beach.

2. Go Hiking

There are so many wonderful hikes on this island, it would be hard to choose a single one that is a "must do". Asking around and researching online will give you a good idea of what kind of hike you may want to try. The flora on O'ahu is eye-catching and the numerous trails can take you anywhere, from the top of a mountain ridge ,through a bamboo forest, or to a waterfall. We have hikes for all skill levels and I have posted about several of them here on my blog.

3. Watch the Sunrise or Sunset

Watching the sunrise or sunset from the beach is one of my favorite things to do. The colors are just unreal and it is a great way to end or start a day at the beach. The best sunrises can be caught anywhere on the East side, especially at Makapu'u Lookout or at Lanikai Beach. The sunset is spectacular on the West side, my favorite spot on the whole island is at Yokohama Beach with the gorgeous mountains as a backdrop.

4. Visit the Pear Harbor Memorial Sites

The World War II Valor in the Pacific national monument is a part of our great system of national parks. Visiting the USS Arizona memorial and walking through the small museum brings you back in time to that solemn day. The opportunity to pay your respects and keep the memory alive cannot be passed up. You will find yourself surrounded by people from all over the world who are just as eager to learn about the event, and if you're lucky, there may just be a survivor speaking that day.

5. Stroll Through Historic Hale'iwa

North Shore is considered the surf capitol of the world and while those legendary waves have brought many visitors, Hale'iwa Town seems to retain its picturesque standards of a typical surf town. The many shops and delicious food trucks make for a great place to stop on your way to and from North Shore. The acai bowls and shave ice that Hawai'i is famous for can be found here, among the surf shops and friendly locals.

6. Snorkel/Dive

You can snorkel pretty much anywhere here, it's an island! Our reefs and colorful fish need to be seen in the wild to be truly enjoyed, so forget the aquarium. Hanauma Bay is one of my favorites because it is a protected marine environment  by the state parks service. While it costs to get in, the money goes to conservation of the reef and you have plenty of educational opportunities at your finger tips here. Another favorite is Shark's Cove in North Shore because the cove is protected by rocks and reef and is shallow enough for new swimmers to enjoy.

7. See a Volcano

While O'ahu has no active volcanoes, the ones we do have are beautiful. Diamond Head, our most famous one, provides the perfect background from the beaches of Waikiki and the top gives you a good spot to view the city and surrounding areas. Koko Head requires quite a hike to get to the top, but the views are spectacular, check out my blog post on it to learn more about that hike.

8. Swim in a Waterfall

Nothing beats a hike out to a cool waterfall, especially after it has been raining. There are several, easy, waterfall hikes that the whole family can enjoy, like Manoa Falls, Waimea Falls, and Maunawili Falls. You really cannot go wrong with whichever waterfall you choose to visit. Always remember, Leptospirosis is something to be careful of when playing in Hawaii's fresh water.

9. Watch Fireworks in Waikiki

Every Friday night, the Hilton puts on an awesome fireworks display in Waikiki. Watching the fireworks from the beach is the best way to kick off the weekend or finish a day of shopping and eating downtown.

10.  Drive around the Island

The island is not very big, but just big enough to spend a day driving around viewing the scenery. I have found some of the best food and coolest, little, shops by simply driving and stopping when I feel like it. Some places are off the beaten path and require you to do a little discovery of your own. Pause at all the scenic lookouts labeled on the side of the road to get a true glimpse of the different parts of the island.

11. Visit the Valley of the Temples

The Byodo-In Temple requires a small admission fee, which is why I did not include it in the list of 10. The Buddhist temple is home to wild peacocks and it's lush gardens hide several koi ponds. The temple and cemetery are so peaceful, I cannot help but just walk around or sit on a bench to take it all in.

Mahalos,
Alecia <3

Mokoli'i island (meaning Little Lizard in Hawaiian) is a small islet just off the coast in Kaneohe, surrounded by pristine waters. It looks like the hat of a Chinese rice farmer, giving it the name Chinaman's Hat. While you can actually walk to the island during low tide, we chose to kayak the 1/3 mile there.

After researching, we found out that the back of the island has a tiny cove which was where we decided we would park the kayak.  We brought hiking shoes so we could climb to the peak and put all of our gear in waterproof bags and tied them down to the kayak. Be aware that if you decide to walk, you need to keep track of the tides so that you know when to leave the island. Please note, that hammerhead sharks are often spotted in the area, and while they are usually harmless, they are still wild animals and can be unpredictable so treat them, and any other creatures you come across with respect.

The Legend

While Chinaman's Hat is usually seen as a great photo opportunity for tourists and locals alike, it actually has a Hawaiian legend surrounding its mysterious presence. Pele, the volcano goddess, had a sister named Hi'aka who created the islet. Hi'aka sleighed a great no'o, or dragon, and laid his massive flukes down in the water to mark the battle.

Kayaking Out

Kayaking out there was pretty easy until we got closer to the backside of the island where the waves were a little rough and the rocks were sharp. We had to get out of the kayak and push it through the water to maneuver it onto the sand in the cove. It took us about 30 minutes to kayak to the island and then around to the backside.
Once parked, we scoped out the mini beach and found some cool, little tide pools had formed among the rocks, little fish darted through the tide pools, hiding from our shadows as we walked.The backside of the island was mostly rocky formations and small caves poked up from the waves.

Hiking to the Peak

We found a small trail through the brush and followed it as we walked up to the top of the “hat”. The view of the coast of O’ahu from the different points of the island was gorgeous; the Ko'olau Mountains looked so majestic from this vantage point. The trail is pretty steep and requires you to boulder some areas so I do not recommend bringing beginner hikers on the trail.
We probably spent about an hour on the island, mostly just taking photos. On our way back, we kayaked around the island the opposite we had come to get a 360 view of it. At this point, the winds were picking up and the water was more choppy so it took us longer to get back to Kualoa Regional Park.



After all these years of driving past that cute, little islet, I was so glad we got to finally explore it. While there is not much on the small formation, it was nice to have an entire island just to ourselves. The cove in the back made it feel like we had a private beach to relax on.

Please be safe and remember to pick up your trash so other can enjoy the beauty.

Mahalos,
Alecia <3