Oahu, Hawaii
Have you recently moved to Hawai'i or are you coming for a visit?Let us give you the lay of the land and some ideas on how to use the site so you get the most out of it.
Start with the RESOURCES and click on Activities & Family Fun to see all the things to do. If you are looking for child friendly places to eat, visit the Restaurant section.
You can find babysitters on our Classifieds and under Childcare . Click here for a list of Parks . If you are in need of baby equipment go under the Travel Page for a list of places that will deliver cribs, strollers and more to you.
Manoa Falls Trail
Ever feel the need to get away from it all and just be in total nature? Well, just minutes away from the concrete confines of Downtown and Waikiki lays a lush valley of tropical splendor - Manoa Falls Trail. We chose this trail for the ease of the hike, not even a whole mile and the reward of a waterfall at the trails end.
After our keiki hikers, aged 3, 6, 6 & 9 were slathered in sunscreen and mosquito repellent, we braved our way inland. But not without a few basic rules: 1) Always stay on the path, 2) Always stay within our sight, 3) which is the hardest of all, as our natural tendency is to yell like Tarzan, but shhhh so you can hear the water trickle and the birds sing, and 4) have FUN!
The trail is very well maintained from the beginning to the end. So
different from the muddy, leafy trail I remembered as a little girl. Natural stairs are created in muddy uphill areas for walking ease. There are some areas that may be a challenge, such as walking up tree roots, but they are manageable and give keiki a chance to explore their natural dexterity. Side trails along the way provide a closer look at Manoa Stream. I was advised that the water is ok to touch, just be sure that you and your keiki are free of any cuts or open wounds.
Majestic trees and giant ferns along the way provides an appreciation of timeless beauty. In the center of the trail, the path cuts through a large bamboo grove. Here, our keiki imagined they hiked all the way to China and they could imagine Panda bears roaming free. We also met up with a group of bird enthusiasts who were more than happy to share their knowledge of the native birds that reside here.
At last we reach our reward =The waterfall. There is a huge warning sign regarding a landslide which occurred back in 2002. The area by the waterfall is roped off for your safety. But this does not deter you from witnessing the simple beauty of Manoa Falls as the rushing water slides down a steep cliff into a fresh, clear pool of sustenance.
The entire trip took about 2 1/2 hours as we took our time exploring along the side trails. The 3-year-old made it fine and everyone agreed that Manoa Falls was definitely worth returning to.
You may park your car inside the park for $5.00 per car, or in the residential area for free and walk in. Going East, take Punahou cutoff to Manoa Road. Continue on until you reach the park. From East, take Wilder exit, then right on Punahou, straight onto Manoa Road. For more information on this trail and other trails in the state, visit www.hawaiitrails.org. We will try to make this a monthly feature. If you have a trail experience that you will like to share, or if you have any questions on other trails that you would like to see featured please Contact us.
uncover the oceans precious treasures. On this particular weekend, we chose the north end of Sandy Beach, where the surfers don't go. Here, wefound an abundance of natural gems which kept us busy for hours. Hermit crabs are a favorite for keiki as they wobble around in their borrowed homes. They're too small to pinch fingers, but large enough to not be too fragile for nimble fingers. They're also easy to catch. Slow moving sea cucumbers are also fun, a little squish, rubbery texture-- but safe. 
We found a sea snail which emitted a bright purple mucus when provoked. (see picture) Beautiful, but unsure if mucus is safe, so let keiki observe only. Fishes and crabs are abundant, yet hard to catch. A rare find that was hidden well beneath the rocks was a brittle starfish. This proved to be fascinating for keiki of all ages. The best part of going tidepooling is meeting the other keiki who are on the same mission. Finding ocean treasures become a team effort as keiki proudly show their finds and work together to catch a fish. Suddenly, video games become not as important as the real video of life unfolds
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The months December through April are a magical time for the islands as the Humpback
Whales migrate from the North Pacific to breed, feed and frolick in our warm, welcoming waters. I don't know if you noticed, but this year the whale population seems more abundant than usual. The beautiful plumes of water spraying in the air could be seen near the coasts of Sandy's beach and not too far away from Magic Island where we managed to capture this beautiful shot of thisWhale's tail.
Aboard the boat, Starlet, Joshua and I decided to take advantage of this season to do a little whale watching up close. It was 1:30PM and the boat ride was scheduled for two hours. We were instructed to yell, Whale or Dolphin if anyone spotted one. As we passed by Ala Moana Beach, less than a mile away from the breakers at Magic Island, the captain started yelling, "Whale on the Starboard side!" Now what is Starboard? Couldn't they say Left or Right? A tourist taught me the saying, "There is no Port Left." Ah, so Starboard must mean Right! We spotted a small pod of whales coming up for air and then they disappeared. How could animals so large and beautiful just disappear? After about 45 minutes into the boat ride, this tremendous splashing started to occur. The captain brought us as close as legally possible and we watched this spectacular scene of a whale repeatedly slap his tail on the surface of the water, take a breath, and then return to slapping his tail again. While spectacular, many passengers aboard the boat felt that the behavior was not normal and the whale was in trouble.
That night, both Joshua and I dreamt of whales in the deep blue ocean. The next day, we heard news that a whale was caught in a drift net and was rescued. I don't know if the slapping tailed whale was the same one that was caught...but I'm so glad it had a happy ending. This incident just increases our awareness of how much more work we need to do to protect these whales and other ocean life in our seas around us. Go, and enjoy nature at it's best and teach your keiki, too. ~Aloha, Ann
Nestled in beautiful Kaneohe with the Ko'olau range majestically looming in the background, Ho'omaluhia Botanical Gardens hosts over 400-acres of amazing rainforest trees and shrubs from all over the world. Some species come as far as the Philippines, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, India and Africa. Ho'omaluhia means to "make a place of peace and tranquility" and once you drive into the park--that is exactly what you feel. Go towards the Visitor Center where you can park and gather more information about Ho'omaluhia. Once there, follow the path that leads down in a zig-zag fashion,passing by beautiful Hawaiian native trees and yes, large geckos. The path leads you down to a clearing that overlooks the lake. Here, the large trees are most amazing: Giant stumps shoot towards the sky and then umbrellas into a canopy of gorgeous leaves. Stroll down
towards the pond and you'll be greeted by numerous ducks wondering what you brought them for lunch. Oh, and the fish are not shy to ask as well. Ho'omaluhia has several different trails, one for each visit because you want to come back another day. Or, if hiking is not on the agenda, you can just relax and picnic by the pond. Bring walking shoes, lots of insect repellent and rain gear. There are free guided tours on Saturdays at 10:00am and Sunday at 1:00PM. Ho'omaluhia also hosts catch and release fishing on Saturdays and Sundays. Please see our Weekly Event Calendar for more information.
Take A Hike Series - Maunawili Falls
Nestled at the foothills of the majestic Ko'olau, the hike to Maunawili Falls is a rewarding experience. Some hiking websites list this hike as an easy 1 ˝ mile hike which can be accomplished in an hour and a half. Actually, the State gages this hike as 2.6 miles roundtrip, and for the sake of our keiki, I’m going to grade this as a moderate hike, that can be accomplished in 2 ˝ - 3 hours with keiki in hand. I would not recommend this hike is not for the very young.
A certain amount of dexterity is needed to cross the five beautiful streams, navigate over roots, under fallen trees and on loose rocks, then climb up the steep mountainside - only to go all the way back down to reach the falls. You may need to wade through low running streams to reach the falls. Remember, we must go back where we came from…to get home – so conserve your energy when monitoring your keiki. Take it slow.
Along the way, the surroundings are immensely enjoyable; lush greenery, mango, eucalyptus, bamboo trees and the smell of mountain apples wafted through the air. Keep your eyes open for hidden treasures. During our hike, a keiki spotted a cardinal feeding its’ newborn chick in a low-laying nest.
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| First Stream crossing |
The trail is well taken care of and clearly marked in case you forget to bring your GPS. Upon reaching the falls, parents may want to take their chances by climbing up the slippery rockside to jump down 15 feet to the pool below.
Overall, Maunawili Falls is wonderful hike with all of the elements to challenge you, just a bit...not too much, and the reward of reaching the falls at the end. Just being outdoors, exploring and discovering nature with your keiki and 'ohana is a reward in itself.
Some cautions to consider when hiking Maunawili:
Wear good foot wear – as the trail is slippery and muddy with lots of protruding roots and rocks.
Mosquito repellent is a must.
Leptospirosis - Do not drink the water, or venture in if you have an open cut.
Flash Flooding – be extra careful after a rainfall.
To access Maunawili, take the Pali exit from H1. Go over the mountains. Turn right onto `Auloa Road after Kamehameha Hwy, at the fork stay to the left on Maunawili Road. Follow the signs to Maunawili Falls.
