If all you want is a fabulous beach and a perfectly mixed mai tai, then Hawaii has what you're looking for. But the islands' wealth of natural wonders is equally hard to resist; the year-round tropical climate and spectacular scenery tend to inspire almost everyone to get outside and explore.
If you don't have your own snorkel gear or other watersports equipment or if you just don't feel like packing it, don't fret: Everything you'll need is available for rent in the islands. We discuss all kinds of places to rent or buy gear in the island chapters that follow.
Using an Outfitter--There are two ways to go: Plan all the details before you leave and either rent gear or schlepp your stuff 2,500 miles across the Pacific, or go with an outfitter or a guide and let someone else worry about the details.
Experienced outdoors enthusiasts may head to coastal campgrounds or even trek to the 13,796-foot-high summit of Mauna Loa on their own. But in Hawaii, it's often preferable to go with a local guide who is familiar with the conditions at both sea level and summit peaks, knows the land and its flora and fauna in detail, and has all the gear you'll need. It's also good to go with a guide if time is an issue, or if you have specialized interests. If you really want to see native birds, for instance, an experienced guide will take you directly to the best areas for sightings. And many forests and valleys in the interior of the islands are either on private property or in wilderness preserves accessible only on guided tours. The downside? If you go with a guide, plan on spending at least $100 a day per person. We've recommended the best local outfitters and tour-guide operators on each island in the chapters that follow.
But if you have the time, already own the gear, and love doing the research and planning, try exploring on your own. Each island chapter discusses the best spots to set out on your own, from the top offshore snorkel and dive spots to great daylong hikes, as well as the federal, state, and county agencies that can help you with hikes on public property; we also list references for spotting birds, plants, and sea life. We recommend that you always use the resources available to inquire about weather, trail, or surf conditions, water availability, and other conditions before you take off on your adventure.
For hikers, a great alternative to hiring a private guide is taking a guided hike offered by the Nature Conservancy of Hawaii, 1116 Smith St., no. 210, Honolulu, HI 96817 (tel. 808/537-4508 on Oahu, 808/572-7849 on Maui, 808/553-5236 on Molokai; www.tnc.org/hawaii), or the Hawaii Chapter of the Sierra Club, P.O. Box 2577, Honolulu, HI 96803 (tel. 808/538-6616 on Oahu; www.hi.sierraclub.org). Both organizations offer guided hikes in preserves and special areas during the year, as well as day- to week-long work trips to restore habitats and trails and to root out invasive plants. It might not sound like a dream vacation to everyone, but it's a chance to see the "real" Hawaii -- including wilderness areas that are ordinarily off-limits.
All Nature Conservancy hikes and work trips are free (donations are appreciated). However, you must reserve a spot for yourself, and a deposit is required for guided hikes to ensure that you'll show up; your deposit is refunded once you do. The hikes are generally offered once a month on Maui, Molokai, and Lanai, and twice a month on Oahu. For all islands, call the Oahu office for reservations. Write for a schedule of guided hikes and other programs.
The Sierra Club offers weekly hikes on Oahu and Maui. Hikes are led by certified Sierra Club volunteers and are classified as easy, moderate, or strenuous. These half-day or all-day affairs cost $1 for Sierra Club members and $3 for nonmembers (bring exact change). For a copy of the club newsletter, which lists all outings and trail-repair work, send $2 to the address above.
Local ecotourism opportunities are also discussed in each island chapter. For more information, contact the Hawaii Ecotourism Association (tel. 877/300-7058; www.hawaiiecotourism.org).
Using Activities Desks--If you're unsure of which activity or which outfitter or guide is the right one for you and your family, you might want to consider booking through a discount activities center or activities desk. Not only will they save you money, but good activities centers should also be able to help you find, say, the snorkel cruise that's right for you, or the luau that's most suitable for both you and the kids.
Remember, however, that it's in the activities agent's best interest to sign you up with outfitters from which they earn the most commission. Some agents have no qualms about booking you into any activity if it means an extra buck for them. If an agent tries to push a particular outfitter or activity too hard, be skeptical. Conversely, they'll try to steer you away from outfitters who don't offer big commissions. For example, Trilogy, the company that offers Maui's most popular snorkel cruises to Lanai (and the only one with rights to land at Lanai's Hulupoe Beach), offers only minimum commissions to agents and does not allow agents to offer any discounts at all. As a result, most activities desks will automatically try to steer you away from Trilogy.
Another important word of warning: Stay away from activities centers that offer discounts as fronts for time-share sales presentations. Using a free or discounted snorkel cruise or luau tickets as bait, they'll suck you into a 90-minute presentation-and try to get you to buy into a Hawaii time-share in the process. Not only will they try to sell you a big white elephant you never wanted in the first place, but since their business is time-shares, not activities, they also won't be as interested, or as knowledgeable, about which activities might be right for you. These shady deals seem to be particularly rampant on Maui. Just do yourself a favor and avoid them altogether.
Our favorite islandwide discount clearinghouse is the Activity Warehouse (tel. 800/343-2987; www.travelhawaii.com), which offers discounts of up to 50% on all kinds of activities (although most discounts are in the 10%-20% range), with lots of operators to choose from. The company has offices on Kauai (tel. 808/822-4000), the Big Island (tel. 808/334-1155), and Maui (tel. 808/875-4050 in Kihei, 808/661-1970 in Lahaina). All in all, we've found Activity Warehouse to be helpful and not too hard-sell. While the company does represent time-shares, we've never once had anyone pitch us. The Maui and Kauai locations also function as branches of Rental Warehouse, offering discount rentals of all kinds of equipment, from snorkel sets and beach chairs to golf clubs and kayaks.
There are also a number of very reliable local activities centers on each of the neighbor islands. On Maui, your best bet is Tom Barefoot's Cashback Tours (tel. 888/222-3601; www.tombarefoot.com), 834 Front St., Lahaina (tel. 808/661-8889). Tom offers a 10% discount on all tours, activities, and adventures if you pay using cash, a personal check, or traveler's checks. If you use a credit card, you'll get a 7% discount.
On the Big Island, check out the Activity Connection, Bougainvillea Plaza Ste. 102, 75-5656 Kuakini Hwy., Kailua-Kona (tel. 800/459-7156 or 808/329-1038; www.beachactivityguide.com); it offers up to 15% off on various island activities.
On Kauai, call Chris The Fun Lady, 4-746 Kuhio Hwy., Kapaa (tel. 800/353-4020 or 808/822-7759; www.christhefunlady.com). Chris doesn't offer discounts, but she's great for one-stop shopping.
Finally, you can book activities yourself and get the commission by booking via the Internet. Most activities offer from 10% to 25% off their prices if you book over the net. Check the net first and save a bundle.
Here's a brief rundown of the many outdoor activities available in Hawaii. For our recommendations on the best places to go, the best shops for renting equipment, and the best outfitters to use, see the individual island sections on the website.
