Little Bird Blog
Off The Beaten Path
Most families assume summer is the obvious time to visit Hawaii. They’re not wrong, but they’re also not getting the best version of the islands. Winter in Hawaii runs December through April and brings cooler temperatures, dramatic surf, humpback whales, flowing waterfalls, and significantly fewer people on the beaches and trails. The caveat is rain, […]
The Ehukai Pillbox Trail sits above Sunset Beach on Oahu’s North Shore, near Banzai Pipeline, about an hour from Waikiki. At roughly 2 miles round trip it’s one of the shorter hikes on the island, mostly shaded by ironwood and banyan trees, and ends at two WWII-era bunkers with sweeping views of the coastline below. […]
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The Aiea Loop Trail sits inside Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area, about 12 miles from Waikiki in the hills above Aiea. It’s one of the better options for families who want a real forest hike without driving to the windward side or the North Shore. The park has picnic areas, a historic heiau worth seeing, […]
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Malaekahana State Recreation Area sits on Oahu’s northeastern coast between Laie and Kahuku, about 35 miles from Waikiki. It’s one of the best family camping spots on the island: a long, wide beach, shady ironwood trees, Goat Island just offshore, and far enough from town to feel like a real escape. This is a spot […]
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The best day on Oahu looks different depending on who you ask. We found this out firsthand when we asked each member of our family to plan their own version during the pandemic, with one rule: stay on the island. What came back were four very different days including windward snorkeling, North Shore beaches, horseback […]
Sea Life Park sits at the base of Makapuu Point on Oahu’s southeastern coast, about 15 miles from Waikiki along one of the most scenic drives on the island. It’s a marine park with dolphins, sea lions, sea turtles, sharks, rays, penguins, and a bird enclosure where colorful parakeets and lovebirds will land on your […]
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Gunstock Ranch sits on 900 acres in Kahuku on Oahu’s North Shore, about 45 minutes north of Kailua and an hour from Waikiki. It’s a working cattle ranch with longhorn bulls, wild pigs, peacocks, and horses that know the trails well. Rides range from one-hour scenic trail rides to private sunset dinners on the mountain, […]
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Pokai Bay Beach Park sits on Oahu’s leeward coast in Waianae, about 45 minutes from Waikiki. An offshore breakwater keeps the water calm year-round, even in winter when the rest of the west side gets big surf. Sandy bottom, gentle slope, lifeguards on duty, free parking, restrooms, showers, and a playground. It’s not a beach […]
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Secret Island Beach sits along Kaneohe Bay at Kualoa, a narrow strip of land bordered by open ocean on one side and an ancient Hawaiian fishpond on the other. The secret is, it’s not an island. Visitors who arrive via the Kualoa Ranch tour cross the fishpond by boat, which makes it feel like one. […]
Bellows Beach is a 2-mile stretch of white sand on the windward coast in Waimanalo, part of Bellows Air Force Station. It’s open to the public on weekends only, from around noon on Friday to midnight on Sunday, and sometimes closed for military training. Check for signage at the guard shack on Kalanianaole Highway before […]
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The Honolulu Zoo sits in Kapiolani Park at the edge of Waikiki, 42 acres of African savanna, tropical forests, and Pacific island ecosystems. It’s home to elephants, giraffes, rhinos, lions, cheetahs, orangutans, Komodo dragons, and a keiki zoo where kids can get hands-on with farm animals. The shaded playground in the middle of the zoo […]
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The Waikiki Aquarium sits on the Waikiki shoreline next to Kapiolani Park, about a 20-minute walk from most hotels along the strip. Founded in 1904, it’s one of the oldest public aquariums in the United States and has been run by the University of Hawaii since 1919. It’s small so plan an hour, maybe a […]
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