The weather on Oahu is usually sunny, with trade winds providing cooling breezes -- perfect for a walk. Below are our favorites, from city to trail.
Diamond Head Crater: Most everyone can make this moderate walk to the summit of Hawaii's most famous landmark. Kids love the top of the 760-foot volcanic cone, where they have 360-degree views of Oahu up the leeward coast from Waikiki. The 1.4-mile round-trip takes about an hour.
Makiki-Manoa Cliff Trails: A 15-minute drive from downtown, this walk passes through a rainforest and along a ridgetop with nonstop views. The somewhat strenuous loop trail is one you'll never forget, but it's more than 6 miles long, gains 1,260 feet in elevation, and takes about 3 hours to finish. The views of the city and the shoreline are spectacular.
Manoa Falls Trail: This easy .75-mile (one-way) hike is terrific for families; it takes less than an hour to reach idyllic Manoa Falls. The often-muddy trail follows Waihi Stream and meanders through the forest reserve past guava and mountain apple trees and wild ginger. The forest is moist and humid and inhabited by nothing more dangerous than giant bloodthirsty mosquitoes.
Chinatown: Honolulu's Chinatown appeals to the senses: The pungent aroma of Vietnamese pho mingles with the sweet scent of burning incense; vendors and shoppers speak noisily in the open market; retired men talk story over games of mah-jongg; and the constant buzz of traffic all contribute to the cacophony of sounds. No trip to Honolulu is complete without a visit to this exotic, historic district.
