Choosing Adventure
When booking flights home from an incredible trip to Australia, I stumbled across a much better deal that connected through Hawaii—if I was willing to switch airlines and have a layover there. That left me with a choice to have a 5 or 24-hour layover in Oahu. I had never been to Hawaii, and I never turn down a chance for an adventure. So I booked a hotel near the airport and a rental car, and decided to throw caution to the wind and just see where the journey would take me.
Ready … Set … Go.
I landed in Honolulu at 6:00 a.m. and headed straight for my rental car. As I exited the airport parking garage, I asked the woman working the exit booth what she would do if she had 24 hours on the island. Without missing a beat, she suggested hiking Diamond Head Crater. So, I navigated to the crater, and off I went!
Diamond Head Crater
The road wound through neighborhoods, gaining elevation with stunning views of the Waikiki coastline. I stopped at a lookout on the way up to the crater entrance and took a photo just as the sun was rising. I drove through the tunnel entrance to the crater, and was greeted by park staff. Unfortunately, Diamond Head wasn’t as spontaneous as I was—it required a reservation to hike. However, I enjoyed driving into the tunnel and getting to see the vast open space inside of it.
Manoa Falls Trail
As an avid hiker, my heart was set on exploring Hawaii’s wild side, so I did a search for great places to hike in Oahu. I settled on Manoa Falls Trail, which was about a 15-minute drive from Diamond Head. The trail was a filming location for the movies “Jurassic Park” (much like another site I came across that you will read about ahead) and “Hunger Games: Catching Fire.”
I paid $7 to park and hike. I was a little nervous to hike alone, but the trail was busy enough that I found myself hanging back at times just to avoid the crowds. (Pro tip: go early for a more solitary experience.)
The trail is 1.6 miles long in and out, with some strenuous elevation changes. Manoa Falls is 150 feet tall, and flows into a small pool of water below and on into a lower stream with smaller waterfalls along the way.
As I made my way up the trail, lush vegetation came to life with birds singing their morning songs. Sweet tropical smells of Hawaiian flora filled the air. On the way back down, I took a few detours to small secluded spots along the stream where I could sit and soak up the sounds of the birds and rushing water.
A Scenic Drive
After leaving the falls, I headed toward a scenic road a friend had told me about which goes up the east coast of the island. Hwy 83 North offers striking views along the coastline. (It was dark on my route back to the hotel—Hwy 99 South—but if you’ve got more time, the Dole Plantation is a popular attraction on this road.)
I found a spot on the southernmost tip of the route on the map, and plugged it into my GPS. I rounded a bend and was met with towering emerald green hills on my left and the glowing blue ocean stretching out on my right.
Halona Blowhole Lookout
I came across a lookout on the side of the highway. Halona Blowhole Lookout offers breathtaking views of cliffs leading down to dark volcanic rock ledges with contrasting white-tipped blue waves crashing over them. I took in the view, snapped a few photos, and then noticed there were people climbing down the side of the lookout, so I followed.
At the bottom were small pools of water and a tiny beach where children were splashing in the waves. I took my shoes off and decided to wade into one of the pools as a refreshing reward for my tired, trail-worn feet.
Sandy Beach
A few miles down the road I came to a place called Sandy Beach. I stopped for a quick beach walk and a bathroom break before moving on up the road. There were full bathroom and shower facilities, and several food trucks serving lunch. As I drove on, I noticed food trucks were everywhere on the island, most advertising either shrimp or shaved ice.
Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail
Not far up the road I saw a pull-off with so many people at it, that cars were parked all along the side of the road. Curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to stop and see what everyone was flocking to. I followed the crowds to a wide paved walkway, and I decided to just go and see where it might take me. I had no idea I was about to go on another (much longer, and much higher) hike.
The walkway climbed steeply up, and views became more and more beautiful as the path wrapped around to a point in which you could see off both sides of the tip of the Oahu.
On the way there were signs stating that this area was a humpback whale sanctuary so I kept my eyes peeled. Other onlookers and I were lucky enough to see three humpback whales from the overlook! The view at the top was panoramic with steep cliffs on one side lowering into white sandy beaches, and a lighthouse below us, nestled into cliffs of volcanic rock.
This was by far the best view of the day, and I recommend not missing it if you’re visiting Oahu. Make sure you take water and a sunhat with you. The path is 2.5 miles to the tallest lookout and back, and the sun can be relentless.
Waimānalo Beach
After hiking back down the mountain, I continued on the same road heading north until I came across Waimānalo Beach and decided to go for a swim. The water was calm, warm, and crystal clear. There were no crowds, and it felt as if I had paradise nearly to myself.
Kualoa Regional Park (Jurassic Valley)
Continuing north, I passed by what I can only describe as a backdrop straight out of the movies. And well, it was—because I then passed a sign that offered Jurassic Park tours! Kualoa Ranch is a privately owned ranch and home to Jurassic Valley, another filming location for scenes from Jurassic Park as well as Jurassic World. I didn’t have time to visit the ranch on this trip, but I stopped to take a few photos from afar and to video chat with my son Beckett who’s a big fan of the Jurassic movies.
Ehukai Beach Park at Sunset Beach
My top goal was to end the day watching the sunset at the most iconic spot on Oahu’s North Shore to do so—Sunset Beach. I could tell when I arrived at Ehukai Beach Park that this was a popular place. By the time I found a parking spot, I had about a quarter-mile walk back to the park entrance.
I had never felt sand like this before. My feet sank deep into the sand with every step—ten feet felt like a mile. This was not a beach for a leisurely walk. It struck me just how different each beach I’d visited that day was, not only in the sand beneath my feet but in the rhythm of the surf.
There were crowds of people lining the beach, and photographers everywhere with tripods topped with cameras with telephoto lenses. A steep cliff of sand doubled as bleachers for the spectators. I took my place sitting nearest the water at the base of the hill. “Wow,” I thought, “watching the sunset here must be a really big deal.” But I would soon find out that the sunset wasn’t the only star of this show.
Banzai Pipeline
I was shocked to see a surfer who walked by in front of me, his board snapped clean in two and a look on his face as if he’d just seen a ghost. I looked out over the water and spotted tiny dots in the distance. That’s when I realized—those dots were surfers! Only then did I understand the sheer size of the waves and swells that I was witnessing.
Ruthless Radiance
Lifeguards on jet skis patrolled the waters. I looked up into the sky to see a cloud of drones flying above the waves. This wasn’t just any beach. I had unknowingly stumbled upon one of the most legendary (and most dangerous) surf breaks in the world—The iconic Banzai Pipeline.
What makes the Banzai Pipeline so dangerous is that its waves break directly over a shallow reef. Most of the surfers don helmets—nothing I have ever seen a surfer wearing where I’m from in Florida. While I was there, lifeguards had to rescue a surfer who had been pulled far out into the ocean.
The day I left Hawaii, a pro surfer barreled headfirst into the reef and was knocked unconscious. He had to be rescued after spending two minutes under water, and ultimately he spent some time in a coma. (Thankfully, he made a full recovery!)
A Sacred Place
The waves began to calm and a rainbow streaked across the sky. I heard a group of people behind me chatting about how far they had traveled to get to Banzai—one as far as Chile. “You know,” one said, “the gravity of how special this place is, is unreal.”
Strangers who had just met were rejoicing in each other’s victories over the wave, hugging, high-fiving, sharing stories, and making plans to meet up for group celebratory dinners after sunset. It was clear this was a community that was bonded by a shared passion for this place.
As the sun dipped behind the roaring waves, 24-karat gold plated the clouds. You could hear gasps of awe, and snaps from cameras. As the sky grew darker, the tide crept higher. A wave suddenly surged toward those of us nearest to the water. We jumped to our feet, laughing as we scrambled away from the shoreline. I took it as a gentle hint from the ocean that the show was over—it was time to go home.
The End of an Epic Day
It was dark as I left the beach, which was still full of beachgoers. Children danced and played in the sand, donning glow-in-the-dark necklaces. The night breeze felt cool on my now sunburned skin. I settled into my rental car for the hour-long drive back.
My body was exhausted from the many miles I’d trekked that day—from trudging through deep sand, and swimming in the ocean—but a sense of giddiness and awe washed over me. What an unforgettable day! To think I would have missed out on all of it had I chosen the shorter layover. I may have only spent 24 hours in Oahu, but left with a lifetime of memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.
Life is short—choose the long layover.
Follow the path to see where it leads.
Take the swim, chase sunsets, and take the time to soak it all in.
Mahalo for joining me on my adventure! Until we meet again… A hui hou!
Had an awesome vacation in Oahu in 2021, shortly after they reopened after COVID. You really make me want to go back and check out the North Shore!!
You should! I can’t wait to go back. That was probably the best day I’ve had in my travels- ever. It was so beautiful in so many different and unique ways!