One Week Adventure

If you're looking for a vacation filled with adventure, Oahu provides plenty of opportunities, from gliding over the rolling surf to plunging under the sea to diving out of a plane, even coming eyeball-to-eyeball with sharks. You can make your entire vacation as thrilling and as heart-pounding as you desire, or you can experience just a couple days of spicy escapades. Below is an itinerary that you can pick and choose from, or -- as we say in Hawaii -- you can "go for broke."

Day 1: Arrive in Hawaii & Head for Waikiki Beach

At Waikiki Beach, learn to surf, ride in a Hawaiian surfing canoe, or snorkel. Ease into your vacation and go to bed early, so you'll be raring to go the next day.

Day 2: Adventure on the Water: Both Above & Below

Take your pick: Sign up for scuba diving; dive down in the Atlantis Submarine, which takes you below the water's surface in the comfort of a high-tech submarine; or get out on the water in a boat. Even if you've gotten seasick in the past, Navatek I guarantees a smooth ride.

Day 3: Hike Through a Tropical Rainforest & Up a Volcano

Spend the day hiking, either into the rainforest (the Manoa Falls Hike) or up to the top of an old volcano (the Diamond Head Hike). Serious hikers might check out the Makiki-Manoa series of trails. In the afternoon (except Tues, when the park is closed), get a mask, snorkel, and fins at Snorkel Bob's and go to Hanauma Bay.

Day 4: Up in the Air

Soar through the air on gossamer-like wings via a glider ride; get a bird's-eye view from a hang glider; or, for the truly adventurous, leap from a plane in a sky-diving venture. If these sound a bit too adventurous, take to the air in the Island Seaplane Service's unforgettable tour of the entire island. Plan to spend the rest of the day at one of Hawaii's beaches along the North Shore.

Day 5: Deep-Sea Fishing or Dolphin Watching

Serious fishermen from around the globe dream of catching a "grander" -- a Pacific Blue Marlin weighing a thousand pounds or more. You might try your luck by booking a sportfishing boat at Kewalo Basin. Or spend the day in the water with spinner dolphins -- with Wild Side Tours, you can get up close and personal with these protected marine mammals.

Day 6: Jaws: Eyeball-to-Eyeball with a Shark

The truly adventurous will actually pay money to come eyeball-to-eyeball with a shark. Of course, a 6-foot x 6-foot x 10-foot aluminum cage separates the two of you. (You're the one in the cage, as the shark -- or sharks! -- swim around you.) Call North Shore Shark Adventures for this unforgettable experience. If you'd like a little more protection, head over to the Waikiki Aquarium and view some sharks through protective glass.

Day 7: Relax & Be Pampered at a Spa

After a week of adventures, plan a few hours at a spa. Oahu has several world-class spas sprinkled throughout the island.