You’ll hear it a lot leading up to your vacation to Hawaii, and once you get here, you’ll instantly recognize it: the Hawaiian Islands are a very diverse place. The interior of each island is largely made up of rainforests and mountains, the results of millions of years of volcanic activity. While the island’s coastlines and shores are lined with beautiful beaches, made up of soft sand and pristine waters, easily the biggest draw to the islands. But there, is something else about the islands that you may not know, which is that large parts of the islands, generally the south and southwestern coasts, are more of a desert climate than the lush rainforests that comprise the rest of the islands. And one of the best Hawaii destinations to visit to see the diversity is the South Shore of Oahu
All along the South Shore of Oahu, you’ll find scenic lookout points, rocky sea cliffs, beaches that are favorites amongst locals, and scenery that is very raw and authentic. A drive around the South Shore shows you all of this, and you’ll see just how diverse the island is, especially if you have been to the North Shore, or driven across the island heading toward the Windward Coast. Those lush areas receive plenty of rain, while the southern part of the island receives far less, and maintains a dry, arid environment.
That’s not to say that the South Shore of Oahu isn’t downright beautiful, because it certainly is. Stop at the Halona Blowhole Lookout, offering views of nearby Sandy Beach and Halona Cove. And the star of this show is the blowhole itself, an extinct lava tube that is now a spouting geyser, spraying ocean water high into the air from the crashing waves. You’ll also want to stop at the Makapu’u Lookout, overlooking nearby Makapu’u Beach and Rabbit Island, with views of the entire Windward Coast on clear days.
The South Shore is not a very far drive from Waikiki Beach, and as you’re traveling south, you’ll encounter the town of Hawaii Kai, Koko Head Crater, Hanauma Bay, and have unreal views of the Pacific Ocean and the towering mountains. The beauty is indescribable and once you’ve seen it, you just might have a new favorite part of the island. Hanauma Bay Snorkeling is a very popular activity to do on this site of the island.
There are great options for a visit to South Shore Oahu during your visit to Hawaii. You can choose to make the drive yourself, or enjoy a Hawaii Sightseeing Tour with an expert guide. Spend an entire day on an Oahu Circle Island Tour, or take a shorter South Shore Oahu Tour that takes you to all of the great sites around Oahu’s south shore.
Due to the high volume of visitors traveling to Hawaii year round, our Oahu tours and Oahu activities sell out quickly. In many cases, tours sell out weeks or months in advance, especially our top seller Sea Life Park Luau in Hawaii. To ensure your spots on tour, we recommend reserving your tours today. Call our office or book online to take advantage of our low price guarantee today.
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