Pearl City, HI Outdoor Activities

Founded with the goal of curating unique island adventures that promote up-close encounters with local wildlife, Island Water Sports Hawaii facilitates humans’ return to nature with intimate tours and activities. Working out of the Hawaii Kai Marina, Island Water Sports’ passionate staff of boat captains ferries guests out into Maunalua Bay to partake in aquatic adventures including kayaking and snorkeling. The company’s signature eco-friendly submarine scooters secure riders' heads in clear, bubble-like helmets that draw on the principles of diving bells to safely seal air inside and keep faces dry, comfortable, and breathing easily throughout underwater tours. On boat tours, the balmy sea air tussles the manes of Island Watersports’ skippers as they point out awe-inspiring vistas and wildlife such as humpback whales that migrate to Hawaii from Alaska to nurse, mate, and take their sundresses out of storage.

From the pristine beaches of Waikiki, Diamond Head, or North Shore, instructors with CPR and lifeguard certification lead students into Go Nuts Hawaii's open-water surf lessons. Privately or in groups, students find their sea legs atop long boards that can be rented or bought onsite; alternatively, they can skim the water buoyed by the shop’s standup paddleboards. Waterproof accessories add a technological edge to voyages and range from cameras for aquatic action shots to waterproof headphones for drowning out mermaids loudly counting their pirate gold. The company's helpful staffers—including one Japanese-speaking member—put customers and surf students at ease.

Big Wave Dave Surf Co.'s staff of experienced wave riders hits the shores of Waikiki Beach for private and small-group lessons in surfing, standup paddleboarding, and outrigger canoeing. Each instructor's résumé boasts at least 10 years of teaching experience, an extensive knowledge of first aid, and at least one semester as Poseidon's college intern. During classes, first-time surfers learn the basics on land before heading into the warm waters to hang their first 10, whereas advanced riders barrel out into the waves atop fiberglass and epoxy boards. Outrigger canoes recall ancient Hawaiians' exploration of Oahu's colorful reefs, and standup paddleboards combine an intense workout with clear views of the pristine waters below. The shop also offers daily and long-term rentals of equipment, with complimentary delivery and pickup from local hotels.

Frank Uehara watched as his neighbor, who had just returned from Japan, showed him a new piece of gear—an airsoft gun powered by springs and gas. Frank was intrigued as he held the pellet gun, and began to practice the sport. But as airsoft grew over the next 30 years and Frank continued to pursue it, he came to realize that many airsoft fields were unwieldy for first-time players and saw his chance to change that. At Action Pursuit Hawaii's outdoor field, he provides an easy introduction for first-time airsoft players while also welcoming competitors of all skill levels into challenging play. The facility’s safety officials remain on hand to oversee players who blast pellets at competitors and exchange witty Shakespearean taunts from behind the field’s giant tilted plastic columns and plywood barricades.