Adventure: Hawaii

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Due to Hawaii’s unique landscape and tropical setting this island chain is ideal for adventure seekers, offering a wide variety of activities and challenges. Hawaii is traditionally known for its big wave surfing, beautiful beaches, perfectly manicured golf courses and of course the annual Ford Ironman World Championship. The thought of climbing a 13,000 foot peak, paddling into sea caves, or putting on full pads for downhill mountain biking does not always enter our mind as possibilities when we plan a trip to Hawaii. But due to Hawaii's unique landscape and tropical setting this island chain is ideal for adventure seekers, offering a wide variety of activities and challenges.

While this year's Ironman presents a chance to see some of the world's premiere athletes, it is also an opportunity to explore a unique environment only found on the Hawaiian Islands. Of all the activities that are available, kayaking, canoeing, hiking, diving and mountain biking should be at the top of your list and will enable you to see a different side of the Hawaiian Islands.

Kayaking - Kayaking in Hawaii is unique, like the islands themselves. Whether you are a beginner or an expert, the clear cerulean waters of the Pacific Ocean are ideal for a variety of memorable kayaking excursions. With all the adventure activities the islands have to offer, few are as versatile as kayaking. Maui, in particular, has a great range of kayak expeditions, from open-ocean programs to multiple reef and cave locations. South Pacific Kayaks is a great option when considering a kayak tour on Maui and their Turtle Reef Tour will undoubtedly include a close encounter with several sea turtles. The iridescent water and the spectacular views of the island's shoreline make kayaking a must do when looking for unique adventure activity. 

Canoeing - Kaanapli Beach resort, on the island of Maui, is well known for its canoe racing and traditional Polynesian culture. The resort offers a truly authentic Hawaiian experience with a chance to sit inside an outrigger canoe and experience the power and speed these boats can exhibit across the water. The history and tradition that encompass these boats, and the races they support, are worth a trip to Kaanaplai. The races themselves are restricted to trained athletes, however on most days these canoe teams open up their boats to the general public. 

Hiking - One of the most distinctive and awe-inspiring features of the islands are their vast number of volcanoes. Hiking through Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a must for any outdoor enthusiast. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park displays the results of over 70 million years of volcanism, migration, and evolution. The character of this national park is best discovered on foot with over 150 miles of trails offering day hikes and longer backcountry trips. If you only have a single day, explore Kilauea's summit trails. For multiple day backcountry trips the Mauna Loa Trail is highly recommended. This 19-mile trail, from the lookout shelter to the Manua Loa Cabin, is an ideal way to see the park and challenge yourself with a 6,600 foot elevation gain over the length of the trail. The summit sits at 13,677 feet and is a view to be remembered forever. Permits are issued on a first-come basis no earlier than the day before your hike. Stays are limited to three nights per site and the group size is limited to eight people. Backpackers to Mauna Loa should be adequately equipped, experienced in high altitude trekking, and physically fit. 

Diving - Anyone choosing scuba diving in Hawaii is rewarded with one of the most beautiful perspectives the islands offer. Drifting beneath the sea is an exceptional experience complete with ancient coral reefs, green sea turtles, exotic fish, walls of submerged volcanoes, a multitude of curious crustaceans and several world-class shipwrecks. One of the most popular is the Mahi shipwreck off the shore of the Waianae coast. A WWII minesweeper in its former life, the Mahi was sunk in 1982 to be made into an artificial reef. This shipwreck off Oahu is now home to reclusive moray eels, elegant eagle rays, and scores of tropical fish darting in and out of the Mahi's hull. There are two other shipwreck scuba sites off Oahu; these sites are closer to Waikiki. One of them, the YO-257, was a Navy Yard oiler, sunk as an artificial reef in 1989. There are a lot of large swim-through holes for scuba divers in the YO-257. There is also a sunken airplane that is home to school upon school of angelfish, butterfly fish, wrasses, and large marine animals such as sea turtles and reef sharks. 

Mountain Biking - In Kauai, a pristine 553 square mile island, you will find many epic single tracks, several dirt roads and numerous cane trails which you can mountain bike on. Kauai's mountain biking is extraordinary because of its many mountains, hills, valleys and great terrain. The majority of Kauai's mountain biking trails are found in Waimea Canyon, Kokee and Wailua. If you are an experienced rider looking for a challenge, the Power Line Trail is one of the hardest mountain biking trails on all of Kauai. It is approximately 26 miles long with huge pot holes that are often filled waist-high, making for a few interesting sections. This is definitely a trail for the experienced rider and if you like mountain biking this is one is a classic. 

For more information on these adventure activities please contact our preferred providers (and find tourism information below):

Kevin Jackson is the owner of TST Adventures, an elite adventure training and guiding organization in San Diego, California. To learn more about their global adventures or corporate development programs call 858-309-2311 or e-mail info@tstadventures.com.

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