Celebrate your love of nature in Honolulu as an eco-tourist. Drink in tranquil, unpolluted spaces with stunning vistas, waterfalls, steep trails, and wildlife. Honolulu’s eco-tourism offers minimal travel to natural destinations designed to preserve the environment. Eco-tours are growing in number and popularity. They often include a walk or hike that takes a deeper look into local culture or history along with the stunning landscape. Other eco-tours take you out on the water where you’ll experience wildlife and a unique view of this tropical paradise.
Whale Watching
Humpback whales visit Oahu every winter where they mate, bear young, and nurse the young until the young are big enough to journey back to Alaska. Seeing these amazing mammals is something that you’ll never forget. Whale watching season in Honolulu starts around December 15 and usually goes through April, but the prime months for sightings are February and March. Whales can be spotted from the shoreline, but the best way to see these magnificent creatures is by booking a tour on one of the whale watch boats. A naturalist comes along to explain everything that you’d like to know about whale behavior, from the sounds they make to their rituals.
Hiking Eco-Tours
Honolulu also offers hiking trails for every skill level and eco-tours that highlight native birds, plants, and interesting tidbits about Hawaiian history, mythology, and geology. Oahu features nine different eco-tours that offer breathtaking views of diverse tropical beauty. Tour the picturesque Mountain valley overlooking Pearl Harbor, and witness some of the most stunning waterfalls in the world. Drink in the beauty of Hawaii’s rainforests, discover the myth behind a secret waterfall, or visit sites from Hanauma Bay to Pali Lookout. Guided eco-tours include round-trip transportation offered at select hotels available through Gogobot. These eco-tours provide rain gear, binoculars, backpacks, bottled water, and CPR-trained guides.
Stand-Up Paddleboarding
While Hawaii is known for surfing, it is also the home of the trendy sport known as stand-up paddleboarding (SUP). While the sport started back in the 1960s, SUP has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity as a total body workout. It offers an unusually fun way to see Honolulu from a unique perspective. Visitors can hire a guide to explore the coast on an ocean-going downwind experience, or rent a board and explore areas such as the flat waters of Keauhou Bay on their own. It’s a great way to experience nature firsthand and have some fun. If you’re not sure about standing and paddling, kayaking is another exciting way to get out on the water.
Eco-tours highlight a distinctive side of Honolulu appreciated by those who love nature and want to preserve it. Whether you want to explore a volcano, go birding, try your hand at kayaking, or visit the rain forest, it’s a unique opportunity to explore Hawaii’s natural beauty as well as the cultural significance so easily overlooked by many. Fall asleep to the sound of the surf at one of the many eco-friendly green hotels located directly on the beach, or choose a more affordable option such as the Aqua Bamboo Waikiki, which is a half block from the beach. Whatever you do, be sure to bring your camera.