Hawai’i Unplugged: Embracing Nature’s Playground Beyond the Beaches

It’s little surprise when we picture Hawai’i our minds drift to postcards of white sand beaches flanked by coconut trees and the dark blue Pacific Ocean.

Sea turtles, or honu in Hawaiian, basking in the sun; palm trees swaying in the ocean breeze; surfers hooting as they give each other shaka signs and catch waves are all befitting descriptions of the islands. “Why bother leaving the beach?” - I hear you ask.

If you dare put your swimming suit and flip flops aside for a day or two and venture further inland, you might be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.

Picture this: You are hiking through lush rainforest to waterfalls cascading into clear pools where you can feel the mist of the water on your skin; you are horse riding over endless rolling hills carpeted in green grass; you are cycling along a singular flat highway that cuts through dried black lava fields, giving you a sense that you are pedalling through a blazing lunar landscape - these are also befitting descriptions of the Hawaiian Islands.

Each one of the seven visitable islands has its own draw, making the state one that is brimming with adventure at every bend. However, there is one activity that every island offers: hiking.

You will never go wanting in Hawai’i if hiking is what tickles your fancy. Watching the sun rise from the summit of Maui’s dormant Haleakalā shield volcano makes you feel like you are on top of the world yet on another planet entirely. You feel the palpable thrill of knowing you are hiking next to an active volcano in the­ Big Island’s Volcanoes National Park. The Waimea Canyon on Kaua’i reminds you of sections of the mighty Arizona Grand Canyon. The treacherous hike down a rocky cliffside to the old Kalaupapa leper colony on Moloka’i jolts you back to darker historical times. O’ahu has more hiking options than you can count on two hands.

It’s Hawai’i’s Big Island, however, that takes the ticket when it comes down to outdoor activities. Given it accounts for 63% of the state’s entire landmass and is bigger than all the other Hawaiian Islands combined, it’s not very surprising it has more to offer – and the island is still growing.

Unknown to most, the Big Island has a rich and long history linked to horses and cattle. Even before the mythology of the cowboy in the American “wild west” became popularized, Hawaiian cowboys – or paniolo – were wrangling longhorn cattle on Hawai’i island. Nowadays, you’ll find these paniolo up in the ranches on the grassy hills above Waimea, where you can hop on a horse and disappear into the mist and swishing grass to overlook the sprawling island from a unique and high vantage point. The fresh, cool breeze of the hills offers a refreshing alternative to the hot, humid air by the beach.

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If you’re craving water, the Big Island offers the opportunity to kayak down the water flumes of the Kohala Ditch. Hand drilled and blasted over a century ago out of the solid rock deep in the canyons of Kohala, the ditch brought water to the people of the region. Kayaking the ditch glides you through three scenic miles of Hawaiian history, nature, and engineering. Kayakers delve underground and float down thousand-foot-long tunnels dripping with spring water and covered in soft moss. At times, the kayaks soar over rushing streams then drift across the mountainside next to thick forests through elevated flumes.

Heading back down the mountain to the hot and rugged Kona coast of Hawai’i, it’s hard to miss the major sporting event that happens here each year: the Ironman World Championship. This ultra-triathlon has been held annually in Hawai’i since 1972. Throughout the year, you can see cyclists training and pedalling through the hazy heat on Highway 19’s unforgiving asphalt concrete between Kailua-Kona and Hawī. You don’t need to qualify for the Ironman to cycle in Hawai’i though, as you can easily be a triathlete by running, cycling, and swimming all in one day.

Golf, zip-line, tennis – the list of land activities available in Hawai’i goes on. Luckily, being outdoors is in vogue all year round, thanks to the islands’ tropical climate.

Best of all, as you walk, run, kayak, cycle, or ride along these trails, you’ll encounter Hawai’i’s abundant nature and wildlife. Thanks to millions of years of isolation and remoteness, the islands are home to over 3,000 plants that can’t be found anywhere else on earth. Hawai’i also houses the only tropical rainforest in all the United States, with approximately 48 different native Hawaiian forests that have over 175 species of trees. More than 100 bird species live in these forests, many of which are endemic to the islands. In fact, the Hawaiian Islands claim eight out of the world’s 13 climate sub-zones. From snow to desert, it is the only place on earth with so many climates concentrated in one small area. If these natural facts alone aren’t enough to draw you to Hawai’i’s hills, we’re not sure what will.

Maybe next time you picture these Pacific islands, you will imagine postcards of paniolo cantering in the hills of Waimea or cyclists braving the hot asphalt in Kailua-Kona.