Beyond Carlsmith

Expanding Your Hawaiian Adventure

The Big Island has a powerful, primal magic all its own, but I know many of you are island-hopping. Your journey might include Oʻahu. The adventure doesn't have to stop when you leave Hilo! If you find yourself on the "Gathering Place," here are two experiences I always recommend to friends looking for very different, but equally unforgettable, days.

These recommendations complement the peaceful, natural beauty you've experienced at Carlsmith by offering completely different perspectives on Hawaiian culture, history, and adventure. Whether you're seeking thrills or contemplation, Oʻahu delivers experiences that will round out your understanding of these remarkable islands.

If your idea of a perfect day involves adrenaline and getting a little muddy, you have to check out Coral Crater Adventure Park in West Oʻahu. It's the ultimate outdoor playground and the closest major adventure park to the Waikīkī area. This makes it super convenient. This place has it all: a course of six thrilling ziplines that send you soaring over the jungle canopy, a massive Aerial Adventure Tower with climbing walls and obstacle courses, a giant "king swing," a heart-stopping 50-foot freefall, and my personal favorite—side-by-side ATVs that you can rip through the rugged terrain.

It's fantastic for groups and families, too, with activities suitable for kids as young as six.

For a completely different kind of powerful experience, a visit to Pearl Harbor is something every visitor to Hawaiʻi should do at least once. It's a place of profound historical weight and deep solemnity. It's a site that changed the course of world history. There are several key memorials to visit, and you can easily spend a full day taking it all in.

The centerpiece is the USS Arizona Memorial. This is a beautiful and haunting tribute built over the sunken battleship where 1,177 crewmen lost their lives on December 7, 1941. You can also walk the decks of the Battleship Missouri, the "Mighty Mo," where Japan formally surrendered. This officially ended World War II. For a look into the "silent service," the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum offers a fascinating perspective.

Island Hopping Like a Local: Practical Tips

Moving between Hawaiian islands might seem daunting, but it's actually quite straightforward once you know the ins and outs. Here are my tried-and-true tips for making the most of your multi-island adventure.

A Hui Hou (Until We Meet Again)

As the sun begins to dip low, casting a golden glow over the lagoons and painting the clouds above Mauna Kea, the true essence of Carlsmith Beach Park settles in. It's more than just a place to swim. It's a feeling. It's the cool, life-giving kiss of the freshwater springs. It's the quiet, humbling presence of the honu as they navigate their ancestral waters. It's the sound of laughter carrying across the green lawn. It's the deep, silent echo of the stories—of demigods and chiefs, of families and resilience—that are held in this sacred land.

This park is a gift. It's a gift from the ʻāina itself and from the community of Keaukaha that cares for it. As you leave, with salt on your skin and the peace of the lagoons in your heart, I hope you'll carry with you a sense of kuleana to protect it. Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but memories, and treat this special place with the love and respect it deserves. By doing so, we ensure that the magic of Carlsmith will be here to welcome us all back, for generations to come.