The Adrenaline Junkie’s Guide to O‘ahu

Not into jumping out of planes? Fair. But don’t skip out on seeing Oʻahu from above. A doors-off helicopter ride is just as exhilarating, with the added bonus of unreal photos. Fly over waterfalls, skim past mountain ridges, and over secret beaches you’d never see from the road. Hold onto your phone—it’s a long way down. This is the perfect place to make a mental note of all the trails and hidden beaches you’ll want to hit when you’re back on the ground.

You’ve probably heard of the Makapuʻu Lighthouse Trail, but the real adventure is off the beaten path. Halfway up, look for an unmarked trail leading down to the tide pools. It’s a scramble over lava rock (sturdy shoes, trust me), but the reward? Natural saltwater pools with unbeatable views. Just time it right—this isn’t the place to be when the surf is high.

Oʻahu’s east side was made for the open road. Rent a bike, start in Honolulu, and ride up past Lanikai, Kailua, and Kualoa. You’ll hug the coastline the whole way, with mountains on one side and nothing but blue on the other. Stop at a roadside fruit stand, grab a coconut, and soak it all in.

For our PADI Certified friends: Oʻahu’s underwater scene is just as wild as what’s on land. Head out for a wreck dive and explore sunken ships covered in coral, home to turtles, reef sharks, and massive schools of fish. One of the most popular wreck dives is the YO-257, a sunken Navy ship off the coast of Waikīkī. It's a cool, eerie dive with history and plenty of marine life.