Waimalu, HI Outdoor Activities

Honolulu’s azure beaches and lush mountain ranges beckon eyes downward as passengers team up with a commercially rated and FAA-certified pilot to cut through the air on glider tours offered year-round. Seated snugly in a bubble-topped glider plane, passengers and pilots survey panoramic views from up to 3,000 feet above the island's famously scenic North Shore. Surfers wave from the surging whitecaps far below and, on clear days, one can view distant landmarks such as the Kaena Point satellite-tracking station, the volcanic tuff cone known as Diamond Head, and the lava dam that stands between Honolulu and certain destruction. Known for their aerobatic prowess, pilots sometimes offer upside-down views of these and other sights as they guide their gliders through a series of loops and turns. A team of technicians tends to gliders and tow planes as soon as they land, ensuring that each remains safe and ready for the next flight.

With its pink sails filling with ocean breezes, the Island Magic Catamaran carries passengers out to sea in search of painted sunsets, playful humpbacks, and salty sprays. During sails, the crew carefully handles the 30-passenger vessel, allowing it to float lazily on glassy water or race against the island's fast-flowing swells. In addition to cruises, the team leads snorkeling adventures near Turtle Canyon, where sightseers can splash among green sea turtles before they finish hatching into boring, shell-less lizards. Sunset cruises depart 1.5 hours before the sun dips below the horizon, allowing passengers to admire the waves as they catch the last few bits of sunlight.

West Oahu SUP's staff of professional surfers and lifeguards rent out equipment, lead tours, and conduct lessons on a secluded beach flanked by mountains on both sides. Their passion for the region’s natural splendor defines their tours. The guides can pinpoint the best times of day to spot sea turtles or take advantage of the calmest breezes; lead groups to their favorite lava formations for midday dives; and remember the satisfaction of discovering the sea by paddleboard and kayak for the very first time.

The enthusiastic wave-tamers at Hawaiian Surf Adventures infuse students with their waterlogged passions for surfing, standup paddleboarding, and outrigger canoeing. With access to areas such as the uncrowded waters of Maunalua Bay, instructors give their students the space needed to learn how to balance atop a board while riding the backs of white-crested, aqua-blue waves or vacationing Loch Ness monsters. Whether paddling surfboards, hanging ten, or navigating a canoe, the team makes adventures easy for beginners and informative for more seasoned watersports enthusiasts.

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.

Paradise Pedals employs the leg power of up to 15 riders to explore Honolulu's sites and neighborhoods in a manner that earns a high-five from Mother Nature. A series of bicycles joined together beneath a mobile bar, the fuel-free vehicle moseys through streets at approximately 5 miles per hour, and sometimes faster when going down a slope or being pulled by concerned sailors who confuse the structure for a boat. As onboard speakers crank out tunes, one of the company's drivers steers groups along one of two routes, each of which provides unique photo opportunities and chances to check out bars, restaurants, and the beachfronts. With an attached roof, riders can relax, sip nonalcoholic drinks, and remain protected from the sun or the unpredictable downpours of leis that plague Honolulu's forecasts.