Hawaii is made up of multiple islands, which means there is a lot of water space to explore. The state is aware of this and provides and promotes many water activities as a result. This article will help you find the best one to enjoy.
Once you’ve sailed to your vacation spot from one of the many luxury Maui private charters, you can drop your stuff off at your resort or hotel and enjoy snorkeling, various boat activities, swimming, surfing and more. We’ll start by explaining snorkeling.
Snorkeling
While the sights above the ocean’s waters are beautiful, they’re nothing compared to what resides below. Scuba diving and freediving both give you the opportunity to explore these hidden gems but there is another diving activity that is popular in Hawaii: snorkeling.
Snorkeling is easier than scuba diving as it doesn’t go anywhere near as deep and requires less equipment. Snorkelers wear a mask so they can see underwater, a snorkel so they can breathe, and usually some fins, a wetsuit and a snorkeling vest.
The snorkel itself is a tube that attaches to the mask. You put one end in your mouth while the other sits above the water, allowing you to breathe without leaving the water. This allows you to see the beautiful ocean life that swims and lives near the surface of the ocean but is too deep to see from the shore.
Boat Activities
There are a wide range of boat activities to enjoy in Hawaii. Visiting between the months of December and May might allow you to catch a glimpse of a humpback whale as they stick around during their breeding season. You may get to watch them swim past, pop up for a breath or even breach.
If you’re looking for something a bit more thrilling, why not enjoy some parasailing? This is when someone is towed behind a boat while attached to a specific kind of parachute.
As the boat picks up speed, the parasailer is lifted high into the air. You’ll feel like you’re flying as the boat driver takes you on a journey. Of course, the thrill isn’t the only reason to consider parasailing. From that height, the views are impeccable.
There are even more boat activities to enjoy in Hawaii as well, from boat tours to kayaking. If you enjoy boating, you’ll find something to enjoy about it here.
Swimming
We’d be remiss not to mention swimming. One of the most popular swimming activities aside from snorkeling is scuba diving. You’ll don a wetsuit, fins, mask and an oxygen tank before diving deep into the ocean.
The flexibility provided by the tank allows you to explore the ocean a bit longer than you would if you were just snorkeling. You can swim through crevasses, past schools of fish, get close-up views of sea creatures or even take in the splendor of a coral reef. The only downsides are the amount of necessary equipment and how tiring it can be.
If you’d prefer a more relaxing and slow-paced swimming adventure, then you can take a dip in a pool or into the ocean from a beach. You can splash around with friends or float alone and just relax.
There are still some fun things to see with this kind of swimming, from pretty seashells to small schools of fish that explore just off the shore. There’s a lot to do in Hawaii, but don’t forget to include a relaxing swim in your schedule.
Surfing
The so-called sport of kings, surfing, was born in Hawaii. Hawaiian royalty used to be the only ones allowed to use their wooden boards to ride swells, or wind-generated waves.
The 1800s saw all commoners be able to enjoy this activity until western missionaries arrived and discouraged it. Both it and the hula saw a resurgence in the 1900s and surfing has been an integral part of many trips to Hawaii ever since.
The strangest part about surfing is that the surfer remains upright even as the wave they ride curves upward, sometimes completely enclosing them in a tube of water. Surfers have only a board between them and the water they ride on, which may seem intimidating at first. However, you can take lessons to teach you to ride the waves. You can also simply watch if you want to see how the professionals do it.
Surfing is so popular that many other activities spawned from it. Stand-up paddleboarding, skateboarding, windsurfing and more are all a result of people finding creative ways to experience the excitement of either the waves or riding a board. The most interesting thing about surfing, however, is that it is commonly seen as a lifestyle.
You probably imagine a calm person riding the waves and relaxing on the beach when there are none. We could all learn a bit from these relaxed people who have learned to go with the flow, literally and figuratively.
Experiencing Nature in Raw Form
This last entry is likely the most confusing, but is probably also the most important. It’s very easy to get caught up in deadlines. You may try to pack your Hawaiian vacation full of fun, scheduled activities.
While this can be nice, it’s more often than not just stressful. Any shift in your schedule could ruin all of your plans and make your vacation not as eventful as you desired. If this has happened to you then you’ve forgotten that this may be the reason why you need a vacation in the first place. Deadlines are likely the main cause of distress in your life, yet here you are, creating more. The best thing to do in this situation is to head down to the beach.
It has been found that natural sounds increase healing. In other words, listening to the natural sounds of the world makes you feel better. On your beach trip, lay out a towel, set up an umbrella and rest. Let your eyes view the gorgeous sky above you and the deep blue waters of the ocean in front of you.
Maybe lay down, close your eyes and allow the rest of your senses to experience the beach. Hear the sound of waves crashing and people splashing the ocean’s waters. Smell the salty air as your skin touches the soft towel and grainy sand.
While you can enjoy a lot of thrills in your vacation, make sure to leave yourself moments for simply experiencing the beauty around you, with no time limits or deadlines.
