While you could happily spend your whole vacation right here on the Kohala Coast, soaking in the sun and history, I know that many of you are looking for a variety of experiences, especially if you're traveling with family or hopping between islands. While the Big Island is my home and my heart, my ʻohana and friends who visit from the mainland always ask for recommendations on Oʻahu. If that's you, here are two spots that always get rave reviews.
For the Thrill-Seekers: Coral Crater Adventure Park (Oʻahu)
If your travel crew includes some adrenaline junkies who need a break from just lounging on the beach, Coral Crater Adventure Park is your answer. Located in Kapolei on Oʻahu, it's an incredible outdoor playground built in a reclaimed rock quarry. This place is all about action. Their signature activities include a thrilling 6-line zipline course that sends you soaring through the jungle canopy, rugged off-road ATV tours that let you kick up some dirt, and a massive 60-foot "Adventure Tower" with climbing walls and an 18-element aerial obstacle course. It's a fantastic option for families with kids (most activities are for ages 6 and up) and a great way for groups to challenge themselves and have a blast together. You can find all their packages and book your adventure on their website, coralcrater.com.
A Journey into History: Pearl Harbor National Memorial (Oʻahu)
On the other end of the spectrum is an experience that every American visiting Hawaiʻi should have. A visit to the Pearl Harbor National Memorial is a powerful, moving, and essential journey into one of the most pivotal moments in history. It's a place of quiet reflection and profound respect.
The memorial is made up of several sites. The centerpiece is the USS Arizona Memorial, which sits above the sunken battleship where 1,177 crewmen lost their lives. You can also visit the Battleship Missouri Memorial, where World War II officially ended with the signing of the surrender documents on its deck. Other key sites include the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
Here is my most important piece of advice for Pearl Harbor: you must plan ahead. While entry to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and the USS Arizona Memorial program is free, the boat trip out to the memorial requires a timed ticket. These tickets are in high demand and are released on the official government website, recreation.gov, 56 days in advance. You absolutely must reserve these online as soon as you know your travel dates.
For the other museums, which have admission fees, you can purchase a "Passport to Pearl Harbor" which bundles them together.
🎢 Coral Crater Adventure Park
Location: Kapolei, Oʻahu
Best For: Thrill-seekers, families with older kids
Activities: Ziplines, ATVs, climbing walls
Booking Info: coralcrater.com
⚓ Pearl Harbor Historic Sites
Location: Honolulu, Oʻahu
Best For: History buffs, all visitors
Experience: A day of reflection and learning
Booking Info: pearlharbor.org & recreation.gov (for USS Arizona)
Explore the Complete A-Bay Guide
Complete your Anaehoʻomalu Bay journey with our comprehensive guide to this special Hawaiian destination.
🗓️ Adventure Planner
Coral Crater
Ages 6+, Full day activity
Pearl Harbor
Book 56 days ahead
📖 Complete Guide
⚓ Pearl Harbor Tips
- Book 56 days in advance
- USS Arizona is free
- Other sites have fees
- Consider Passport bundle
🎢 Coral Crater Activities
- 6-line zipline course
- Off-road ATV tours
- 60-foot Adventure Tower
- 18-element obstacle course
✈️ Island Hopping
Both recommendations are on Oʻahu, easily accessible from the Big Island via short inter-island flights.
Flight Time:
Big Island to Oʻahu: ~45 minutes
A Hui Hou (Until We Meet Again)
As the last light of sunset fades from the sky over Anaehoʻomalu and the first stars begin to appear, a deep sense of peace settles over the bay. The laughter from the beach club softens, the waves whisper against the shore, and the ancient fishponds hold their silent watch, just as they have for centuries.
I hope that in our time together, you've come to see A-Bay as I do: not just as another beautiful beach, but as a place rich with stories, innovation, and a spirit that connects us to the past. It's a place where you can build sandcastles with your kids in the morning and walk in the footsteps of a king's runners in the afternoon. A place where you can feel the simple joy of the sun on your skin and the profound weight of history under your feet.
This is the gift of Anaehoʻomalu. It's a place to connect—with your ʻohana, with the stunning beauty of our islands, and with the deep, enduring culture of Hawaiʻi.
When you visit this special place, I ask that you do so with respect. E mālama pono—take good care. Leave nothing behind but your footprints in the sand, and take nothing with you but memories. Listen to the stories that the stones and the water have to tell. If you care for this land, I promise, it will care for you in return.
Mahalo for letting me share one of my favorite places with you.
A hui hou,
Kalani Miller
