Little Bird Blog

Turtle Bay sits on the northeastern tip of Oahu’s North Shore, where five miles of coastline (seven beaches in total) stretch between Kawela Bay to the west and open ocean to the east. It’s about an hour from Waikiki, far enough to feel like a different island. In July 2024, the longtime Turtle Bay Resort […]

If your family loves nature, the ocean, and a little adrenaline, this list of Oʻahu activities for adventurous families is for you. After more than two decades exploring Oʻahu, our local family rounded up the island’s most exciting beaches, hikes, and experiences. These are activities for families who love the outdoors, a good challenge, and […]

Lulumahu Falls is a 1.7-mile out and back waterfall hike through bamboo forest and dense jungle near Nuuanu on Oahu’s windward side. It’s moderately challenging, has enough diversity to keep all ages of hikers interested, is super short, and rewards you with falls you can stand under. You need a $2.50 state permit to hike […]

The Lanikai Pillbox hike (officially the Kaiwa Ridge Trail) is one of the most rewarding short hikes on Oahu. It’s a steep but manageable ridge trail above Lanikai Beach with panoramic views of the Mokulua Islands, Kailua Bay, and the Koolau mountains. The round trip to the second pillbox is less than a mile and […]

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. […]

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 […]

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 […]