Waimano Falls Hike

Waimano Falls is a somewhat longer and in some parts a harder hike than many that we have done.  A good description of how to get here and what paths to follow can be found here: http://www.haolejuice.com/waimano-falls.  This trail goes through lots of different scenery and you can even pick and eat strawberry guava on the way.  It has a portion of the hike called 'cardiac hill' that certainly earns its name, not just because it's steep, but because it is full of loose rocks and leaves and the only stable thing you have besides dirt are tree roots.  It's an interesting hike because you start it by hiking down into the ravine and then have to hike up to get out.  I prefer to do the hard part first.  The waterfall and pools at the end are lovely and it is a great place for cliff jumping.  There are some small spots to jump off of as well as super high ones.  If you are looking for a slightly more challenging hike that could take up a good portion of a day with some fun swimming at the end, this hike is for you.

Laniakea Beach

Whenever we would drive by this beach, traffic would always slow down and there would be tons of people standing on the beach staring at the water.  We had no idea what they were looking at until we visited the beach ourselves.  There are a ton of sea turtles frolicking in the waves at this beach all the time!  It is a beautiful beach itself, and it is lots of fun watching the sea turtles glide through the waves.  I was lucky enough once to get to watch one climb out of the water.  They really are fantastic creatures.  There are always 'Honu ladies' around making sure no one touches or bothers the turtles, so try not to upset them.  If you're traveling around the north shore and have some extra time, stop by this beach and spend a few minutes watching the sea turtles, it's definitely worth your while.

Makapu'u Lighthouse Hike

The Makapu'u Lighthouse trail is a straightforward hike up a mostly paved trail.  To get to the trailhead, turn off of Kalanianaole Highway where there is a sign that says 'Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline' and find a parking spot.  The trail goes right up the mountain from there.  If you do this hike in the winter months, be sure to keep an eye out for whales.  We were lucky enough to see a bunch of them spouting just off the coast while we were hiking.  This hike isn't too difficult and has spectacular views from the top.  It can be a little hard on the knees and joints on the way down though, so be prepared for that.  I think it's a great choice for a shorter hike that has a high payoff. 

Whale spout!

The view from the top