Hiking the Islands of Aloha - Traveloscopy Information Portal: Cruise Explore Expedition Travel News

Just saying the word “Hawai’i” brings up images of swaying palms, sunny beaches and lapping waves, evoking a place of relaxation and remedy. However, rewards await those who are willing to burn a little more energy!

With its broad appeal to all Hawai’i-bound travellers, soft adventure activities remain popular on many itineraries. Hawai’i’s diverse natural landscape, appealing climate and spectacular scenery offer the ideal conditions. Whether it is riding down Waimea Canyon on a mountain bike or riding the crest of a wave in Waikiki, snorkeling Hanauma Bay or lending a hand on an outrigger canoe, Hawai’i offers visitors an endless variety of soft adventure holidays. [ http://www.gohawaii.com/outdoor ]

Hiking in Hawai’i offers the simplest and least expensive means of soaking up the scenery and gaining a new perspective of paradise. Taking in the landscapes and getting a work out at the same time, hiking is the perfect activity when you desire a move away from the palm trees and the beach.

For avid hikers, Maui offers landscapes as diverse as cliff walks passing azure-tinted oceans and blustering blowholes on the Nakalele Coastline. There are hikes beneath the jungle canopy of tropical rainforests and along the mountainous lunar-like landscape of the Haleakala Crater - the world’s largest dormant volcano ( http://www.haleakala.national-park.com ).

On O’ahu, Waikiki’s famous landmark, the extinct volcanic cone of Diamond Head, offers a good hiking option without having to venture too far. A lesson in the geology of the Islands can be gained along the way. Hikers will be rewarded by the vista at the top, with sensational views stretching over most of O’ahu ( http://www.hawaiiweb.com/html/diamond_head.html ).

Kaua’i’s stunning natural beauty, tropical vegetation and privacy draws hikers of all abilities. The Kalalau Trail on the Napali Coast appeals to the experienced hiker. With its 1000 foot drops to the Ocean below, the sheer beauty and physical exertion make it a breathtaking experience. The Waimea Canyon and Kokee region also offer an extensive system of hiking trails ( http://www.gohawaii.com/kauai/outdoor ).

The Big Island offers hikers the draw card of the Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, the number one tourist attraction in Hawai’i. The Crater Rim Trail ( http://www.volcanolive.com/craterrim.html ) in the Park offers an alternative to taking in the experience by car. The natural diversity of the Island explains why it has become such a popular hiking location. From the extremes of climbing snow-capped summits to hiking to a vantage point where lava-flows in to the ocean: the Big Island has a lot to offer hikers ( http://www.hawaii.volcanoes.national-park.com ).