Busy, Busy, Busy

Man, have we been grinding it out.  Between work, play, people visiting and the rest of the stuff that life throws at you...we have definitely been struggling to find some "us" time and take to trails and bays to do our two favorite things on Oahu:  Hike and Snorkel

The good news is that we have a trip for the middle of May schedule to go to Kauai.  We plan on hiking, snorkeling, zip lining, hanging out at the pool, and eating as much as we can jam into 6 days on the short, Island hop.

And, oh man, has it been a while since I've posted over here!  We were actually on the Big Island late last year where we did some really awesome snorkeling with dolphins, manta rays (at night, no less) and took a short hike to the Captain Cook Memorial for some awesome hiking there, too.  We stood on top of Mauna Kea and watched stars and planets together.  It was pretty awesome.

I'll promise to get back here more often.  Thanks for sticking with.

In the meantime, watch our awesome video of snorkeling with dolphins on the Big Island.  It was really one of the most peaceful and amazing experiences I've ever had.

Ken

How to Find the Best Snorkeling Conditions in Hawaii for Tourists and Locals

Since I've arrived in Hawaii I've been chasing the best snorkeling.  The truth is that depending on where you are on the Islands then the snorkeling can vary from day to day and even hour to hour sometimes.

You know, the winter months on Oahu can get down right treacherous.  Winter runs from October to around early April in the Islands.  Yes, its a few degrees cooler and it rains a lot so "winter" is only a relative term, especially if you're from Massachusetts like me.

Don't Snorkel North or South in the "Winter"

So, in the winter, the North Shore and West side of Oahu beaches can be dang treacherous, like I was saying.  Shark's Cove, fore example, can be a calm sheet of glass with gorgeous, clear snorkeling water during the summer months and in the winter be a death trap.  You just don't snorkel on the North Shore or West Oahu during the winter.  Don't do it.

However, depending on weather patterns, storms (on or off the Islands), and tides the snorkel and SCUBA conditions can still be very different from day to day and (in my case) weekend to weekend.

My Go To Snorkel Conditions Report for Oahu and the Other Islands

So, I've been using this page:  http://www.hawaiiweathertoday.com/dive-and-snorkel/

Hawaii Weather Today is a pretty awesome reference point for the entire Island chain and includes sections like our snorkel and SCUBA report, surf report and a WHOLE bunch of other stuff that I don't completely understand.  The guy who owns/runs it, Glenn, is a genius in my eyes and he does a thorough and extensive job. 

For people like me, though, he keeps it pretty dang simple.  Snorkeling conditions are either Poor, Marginal, Good or Excellent.  Also, the snorkel report covers 2 days...the current one and the next and, as an added bonus, the water temperature.  And the site does this for South, West, East and North shores.

Beware of Ratings on Oahu Hiking Trails on Review Websites

The more that I've hiked on Oahu, the more I realize that you can't really trust the ratings that some people give to certain trails.

What some people will get on Yelp! and TripAdvisor to rank as a "novice" trails are actually, in many cases, a lot more difficult than that.  Many people don't realize that, while they may hike often, many of the people who are reading these types of reviews are visitors to the islands, or people who don't hike often.  They're looking for a workout and some good views.  They're not looking to get extreme or start the next "Unreal Hawaii".

Sure, some of them are in great shape but that doesn't equate to great hiking shape.

Here's an example that I like to keep in mind:

I did the Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail with my wife and daughter recently.  While this isn't an extreme hike, it is not a novice hike.  It is muddy and steep in some areas.  There is an area where you have to use the help of  a rope to get up and down.

So, if my mother or a family with really young kids had read "novice" trail then they may have attempted it. That would have sucked.

In my time hiking on Oahu, I've seen kids with flip-flops being drug through the mud on trail, like the Maunawili Falls Trail.

I've seen a 75 year old lady, in high-wedged shoes huffing and puffing up Diamond Head. I thought she was going to die.

Nothing makes me shake my head more than seeing men and women hiking in flip-flops (or "slippers" as they tend to be called here.)

Keep this mind when Hiking in Oahu:

• You can't always trust the ratings on review sites like Yelp! and TripAdvisor.  Consult many different sites.
• Always read a hiking safety article that is Hawaii based.  There are unique risks when hiking in Hawaii.
• If you're just looking for a photo walk or a real easy hike DON'T read Hawaii adventure blogs or extreme hiking blogs.  
• When in doubt, hire a tour guide.  

The Views are Great Though!

Shark's Cove: Honu and Scuba

Sharks Cove, North Shore Oahu

Sharks Cove was something I had put off for a while.  I had wanted to do it a lot but I don't really spend a bunch of time on the North Shore.  It is a gorgeous lava rock "beach", but it's more of just a cove to snorkel in than any kind of sun bathing spot.

When I finally did snorkel there a couple of weeks ago I wanted to kick my own butt because it was just that awesome.  It might actually be cooler than Hanauma Bay.  There aren't as many fish but there are still a bunch and the water is calmer and clearer at Sharks Cove, too.

The water is crystal clear and there are warm thermal spots where the fish actually gather.  It's not really a place for kids unless you're taking them to the Pupukea tide pools which are south of the cove.  (You can see them and they in the same area. No worries.)

Fish and Marine Life that I Saw Snorkeling  at Sharks Cove:

Sea Turtle Sharks Cove

• HONU!!  (2 of them!)
• Angel fish
• Reef trigger fish
• Needle Fish
• Perch 
• Wrasse
• Box Fish
• Butterfly fish
• Parrot fish

(What I didn't see was any eels but the two Honu kind of made up for that!)

Sharks Cove Tips:

Parking is small.  Get there early.
No beach. Not really.  Just a place to sit while not snorkeling.  It gets crowded too.
Wear beach shoes.  It's rocky especially entering the water.  Get down and snorkeling ASAP
Sharks Cove is a marine conservation district.  Respect the environment!

Need snorkel gear?   Check out our recommended products!