Little Bird Blog
Off The Beaten Path
The Makapuu tide pools sit at the base of dramatic sea cliffs on the southeastern tip of Oahu, reached by a steep, rocky descent off the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail. They’re not a beginner detour — the trail is loose and uneven and the pools are dangerous when surf is up. But when conditions are right, […]
The Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail is a paved, 2-mile round trip hike on the southeastern tip of Oahu, about 30 minutes from Waikiki. The trail climbs gradually from a protected lower section, then rounds a corner and opens up to two coastlines, ocean air, and the kind of view that makes a short hike feel […]
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Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden is a free, 400-acre botanical garden at the foot of the Ko’olau Mountains in Kaneohe, about 30 minutes from Waikiki. It’s open daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, admission is free, and parking is free. The garden has hiking trails, a lake with catch-and-release fishing on weekends, camping permits, bike-friendly paths, […]
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Kuliouou Ridge Trail is a 4.4-mile round trip hike in the southeast corner of Oahu, about 30 minutes from Waikiki. It starts in a quiet residential neighborhood and climbs through ironwood and guava forest to a wind-swept ridge with views of Hawaii Kai, Koko Head, and the Pacific. Most families take about 3 hours with […]
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Diamond Head (Lēʻahi) is the volcanic crater at the eastern end of Waikiki that appears in roughly every aerial photo of Honolulu. The hike to the summit is 1.6 miles round trip, moderately steep, and entirely worth it for the 360-degree views of Waikiki, the Pacific, and the Ko’olau Mountains. You’ll need a reservation. Go […]
Halona Beach Cove is a small pocket beach tucked below the Halona Blowhole lookout on Oahu’s southeast coast, about 20 minutes from Waikiki. It’s best known as the filming location for the famous beach scene in the 1953 film From Here to Eternity, but these days it’s better known for turquoise water, lava cliffs, whale […]
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Diamond Head Beach Park sits at the base of Diamond Head crater, about five minutes east of Waikiki. It’s not a swimming beach. The shore is rocky and the surf runs consistently, but it’s a genuinely good spot for tidepool exploring, sunset picnics, and watching surfers from the viewpoints at street level before you descend. […]
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Sans Souci Beach sits at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki, next to the Waikiki Aquarium and across from Kapiolani Park. It’s smaller and quieter than the main strip, with showers, bathrooms, a lifeguard, shade, and a grassy area. The real draw is the jetty and the Waikiki Marine Life Conservation District just offshore — […]
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The Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon is a five-acre saltwater lagoon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village on the western end of Waikiki. It’s protected from surf, shallow enough for toddlers, and has equipment rental for snorkeling and stand-up paddleboarding. On Friday evenings the Hilton launches a fireworks show directly above it. This beach is not a personal […]
Goat Island (officially Mokuauia Island) sits just offshore from Malaekahana State Park in Laie, about an hour from Waikiki. At low tide on a calm day you can walk, swim, or paddle across. On the other side you get a small crescent beach, a seabird sanctuary full of wedge-tailed shearwater burrows, dramatic lava rock on […]
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Best Playgrounds on O’ahu (Updated 2025) | Parks with Swings & Family Favorites If you’ve visited more than one playground on Oahu, you’ve probably noticed they all look identical. That’s not a coincidence. The City installs them in batches, ordering the same structures in bulk to cut costs. The result is a lot of climbing […]
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Likeke Falls is the shortest waterfall hike on Oahu — 0.8 miles round trip, with a modest climb through rainforest, a stretch of historic cobblestone road, and a stream crossing before you reach the falls. The two-tiered drop is about 20 feet with shallow pools at the base. It’s spring-fed so it runs year-round, though […]
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