Things to Do in Waimalu

When it comes to spearfishing, Westside Dive and Tackle founder Kris Tyler considers using scuba tanks as cheating. So when he suits up to spearfish, the seasoned outdoorsman plunges 20 feet below the water’s surface, holds his breath in the stillness, and waits: “You become a part of the reef or rock, and you wait for the perfect situation—for the one fish that might give you that really good shot.” A self-described “water baby,” Kris has been swimming and fishing in Hawaii and Florida since childhood. Most of all, he loves the way spearfishing enables him to connect with the underwater universe and partake in a tradition Hawaiians have enriched for generations.

In addition to his spearfishing expeditions, Mr. Tyler totes explorers to his favorite sunken wrecks and lava caverns off the coast of Oahu on scuba-diving charters, and equips them to chart their own expeditions or challenge blowfish to staring contests during scuba-diving certification.

With more than 22 years of experience as a professional surfer and parasailer, Greg Longnecker knows how to master unruly waves and harness coastal winds. He shares his adrenaline-charged experiences with clients with the aid of USCG-certified crews at X-Treme Parasail. They lead many of their ocean voyages aboard the Honolulu Screamer, a vibrant water-propelled jet boat powered by twin C-12 engines.

The vessel cuts through coastal waves at up to 40 miles per hour as musical beats pump from its 20-speaker sound system, just below the decibel range of Poseidon's hearing. Greg and his captains alternatively provide tours up the Waikiki coastline, as well as jet-ski training and parasailing tours, which can send customers soaring up to 850 feet above the water's surface. On most excursions, participants may lay their eyes on Diamond Head and the Ko'olau Mountains, or turn seaward to gloat obnoxiously at green sea turtles and spinner dolphins.

X-Treme Parasail ferries clients along Honolulu's coastal waters by land, air, and sea with trolley, parasail, jet-ski, and powerboat rides with the option of hotel pickup. The staff and family of watersports enthusiasts who founded the business share a love of the region's coastal beauty. Tours aboard the custom-built Honolulu Screamer send passengers zooming amid Hawaii's diverse wildlife, and jet skis vie with motorcycle gangs of sharks for supremacy of the seas. For an aerial lay of the land, boats tow human kites above the ocean's azure playing field during parasail adventures.

The staff at Sea & Board Sports Hawaii honors its island ancestry by using only Hawaiian-designed boards, which they can customize for those desiring a one-of-a-kind deck pad. Handy board mechanics tend to tarnished planks as sea-faring adventurers browse the store’s voluminous selection of accessories, which ranges from paddles and leashes to athletic-grade peg legs. Proud locals bring their love and knowledge of Oahu’s shorelines to Sea & Board’s lessons, during which students learn balance and paddling techniques as spinner dolphins, sea turtles, and whales lazily drift beneath the ocean’s crystalline waves.

Aqua Zone Scuba Diving & Snorkeling Center owner and captain Devon Merrifield and his team of certified instructors and staff share a deep love for Honolulu's sprawling, clear coastal waters. Each member of the nine-person crew sought Hawaii's warm waters after garnering experience along faraway shores in places such as Oregon, Thailand, and Kansas. Today, the sprightly team shares its passion for the sea via snorkeling and scuba-diving tours, cruises along the reef or to shipwreck sites, and onsite or in-pool diving training. Throughout each excursion, Aqua Zone's staff remain committed to sea turtle conservation, informing customers of the endangered creatures' lifestyle, behavior, and ecosystem. Staff members also sanitize each of the dive center's silicone dry snorkels and masks, as well as prescription masks, after each use, leaving divers worry-free so they can focus on ventures such as braiding an octopus's tentacles.

Marksmen weave in and out of buildings clustered on Kapolei Airsoft's barricade- and obstacle-littered fields, an expansive urban terrain that accommodates up to two indoor and outdoor bouts at a time. Under the watchful eye of trained field officials, participants clad in face protection commence contests that simulate military scenarios, urban combat, and armed square dancing. Before firing off 6mm BBs fashioned from ABS plastic at opposing teams, players run through safety instructions at pre-game briefings. Visitors can join new rounds of combat––lasting until midnight every Friday and Saturday––during walk-on contests, via membership outings, or through one of Kapolei Airsoft's party packages.