With a highly developed commercial infrastructure and finance provided through the National Parks system, Hawaii activities can be found in every shape and form and in every corner of the islands. With outstanding natural beauty and a rugged and wild coastlines adventure travel is one of Hawaii's greatest assets. There are several absolutely outstanding hiking trails, notably the Napali Coast and Kokee State Park on Kauai and Volcano and Mauna Kea Forest Reserve on the Big Island. Kauai is renowned for its excellent kayaking, both sea kayaking along the rugged Na Pali coastline and river kayaking into the otherwise impenetrable rainforest. There are also excellent river kayaking opportunities on Oahu and the Big Island. The public has access rights to much of the state-owned land as well as all rights to the coastline making exploring easy.
Hawaii is the most isolated group of islands in the world, over 2000 miles to its nearest landmass. It's isolation within the worlds greatest ocean mean two things - lots of unique marine life (about 2000 different species, 30% of which are endemic to Hawaii) and BIG surfing waves. Add to that the states advanced tourist infrastructure and the keen independent game fishing, sailing and scuba diving charter companies and Hawaii becomes one of the best places in the world to enjoy watersports.
The capital for surfing is undoubtedly Oahu, with its huge winter waves of the north and east shores and the reliable summer waves of Waikiki on the south shore enticing all levels of surfers. Maui's reputation is for excellent scuba diving and snorkelling around the sheltered waters between Maui's west coast and the offshore island of Lanai. In Hawaii the focus is on marine life rather than spectacular coral reefs. The Big Island is renowned for its world-class game-fishing off the warm west Kona Coast waters. Seven-hundred-pound blue marlins are common year-round with catches of a thousand-pound not unusual.
A note of caution for sightseers:
Hawaii, being a part of the USA, has an excellent National and State Park system and many of the spectacular sites around the islands have being designated as such with paved pathways, railings, rest rooms and picnic shelters. Unfortunately you can drive right up to most of these spectacular sights which appeals to the five-minute stop coach tours and can create crowds. As half the glory of sightseeing is in the exploring, Hawaii's hugely impressive sights can, after a day of driving from vantage point to vantage point, leave you feeling unfulfilled. Take time to get out and explore some of the lesser attractions and wherever possible, take a trail into the countryside to appreciate the surroundings.
Readers may also be interested in the following destinations:
Cook Islands Activities Guide
Fiji Activities Guide
Samoa Activities Guide
Tonga Activities Guide
Tahiti Activities Guide
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