Honolulu is an outdoor-lover's dream, with mild temperatures and tropical beauty that make outdoor activities a no-brainer on any trip to the island. The question is not whether you should get outside and enjoy the bounty of opportunities, but what to do first. Hiking, biking, running, swimming, surfing, bodyboarding, snorkeling, scuba diving, canoe paddling, golfing---so many possibilities, each of them worth consideration.
Location and Climate
Honolulu is located on the island of Oahu, and is the capital city of Hawaii. The city of Honolulu covers much of Oahu's southern shore, including the popular Waikiki beaches. Honolulu's mild climate offers ideal conditions for outdoor activities. The average annual temperature is 77.2 degrees F, with August generally the hottest month at an average of 81.4, and January the coldest at 72.9.
Running and Bicycling
Honolulu has an active running community, with its flat, paved trails that meander alongside the Pacific Ocean and long stretches of sandy beaches that make great running surfaces. Among the more popular running trails are those at Ala Moana Beach Park in Waikiki and around Diamond Head crater. Many of these running trails double as ideal bicycling surfaces, and there are a handful of shops in Honolulu that rent out bikes.
Water Activities
The warm waters of the Pacific Ocean that surround Oahu's south shore offer a variety of opportunities, including surfing, bodyboarding, swimming, canoeing, snorkeling and scuba diving. Rent surf boards, bodyboards and outrigger canoes from vendors on the beaches in Waikiki or at one of the many surf shops in Honolulu. Surfing and bodyboarding lessons are also available. Join a guided snorkeling or scuba diving tour for a boat ride to ideal spots to mingle with marine life, or head out on your own off the shores of Waikiki or Ala Moana Beach Park.
Hiking
Diamond Head crater towers over Waikiki on the southeastern edge of Honolulu. The crater's summit provides an excellent lookout point from which to view all of Honolulu and the surrounding Pacific Ocean. The hike to the top is short but steep, ascending 560 feet in just 0.8 miles. The trail includes switchbacks, some paved surfaces, a steep flight of stairs and a 225-foot lighted tunnel. The hike is a great workout with a worthwhile payoff at the top. As of 2010, entry to Diamond Head State Monument costs $1 for pedestrians and $5 per car.
Golfing
The city of Honolulu is home to eight golf courses that offer different layouts and features. One of the area's more popular courses is Ala Wai Golf Course, located just across the Ala Wai Canal from Waikiki in downtown Honolulu. The 18-hole, par-70 municipal course is one of the island's busiest, with an estimated 145,000 rounds per year. As such, be sure to make your tee time ahead.
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