This year, my family and I have decided to give each
other gifts of activities rather than stuff. We have plenty of stuff, we
figure, but don't get around to using it nearly as often as we would like.
And so, instead of upgrading old boogie boards or
buying new binoculars, we are going to dust off the old gear and use it
for all its worth. Here are some ideas we have for some fun Hawaii marine
gifts:
Plan a day at
Hanauma Bay. I can't count the number of Hawaii residents who have
said to me: "How is it there now? I haven't been there in
years."
The answer is, it's better than ever. Take with a
grain of salt the dreary news of people trampling the coral, of
fish-feeding being unnatural and parking being impossible.
Even though it may not be 100 percent perfect,
Hanauma Bay is still one of the world's premier snorkeling sites. It's
worth every ounce of energy it takes to get there.
To give this as a gift, do the hard parts: Choose the
day, gather the gear and do the driving. (Everyone should bring their
Hawaii drivers licenses for free admission.)
Visit the Waikiki
Aquarium. It's small but it's excellent. Check out the recent
renovations and great new exhibits of coral and other marine animals.
Going to the aquarium seems easy, but recently I
planned such an excursion and the kid I was taking decided he didn't
want to go -- really, really didn't want to go.
What to do? The boy's mother made the decision: The
kid was going, like it or not.
Of course, he had a wonderful time and was soon
running excitedly from exhibit to exhibit, showing me all the cool
animals he was discovering there.
It taught me how important it is to sometimes
force-feed kids experiences. If they hate it you can drop it. But they
might love it.
You can change a life that way.
Take someone on a
whale-watching trip. I know people who have lived in Hawaii all
their lives and have yet to see a humpback whale. You can fix that
deficiency with a gift of a boat excursion.
There are several excellent choices. I like the
Navatek for its smooth ride. This Honolulu Harbor boat is a good one for
those who tend to get seasick.
Another fun boat is North Shore Catamaran Charters.
This gentle ride is an extra treat because you get to go to charming
Haleiwa to catch it.
Check the yellow pages under Boat Excursions and
Sightseeing Trips.
Take a hike. Tell
your friends to get their hiking boots out from under the bed, and take
them on a walk to Kaena Point, an easy 21/2 miles, one way. Bring water
or make it a picnic.
Some of my best marine animal sightings have occurred
on this walk. I have seen white-tailed tropicbirds, Laysan albatrosses,
Hawaiian monk seals and humpback whales. At the end of this nature trail
are tide pools to explore.
Rent kayaks and go
paddling. You can rent kayaks in Kailua and Haleiwa. (See Boat
Renting and Leasing in the yellow pages). This is fun for both beginners
and experts.
Visit the Arizona
Memorial at Pearl Harbor. Every time I make this excursion, it's
like my first time there. Not only do I remember the significance of
World War II to the world, I rediscover the beauty of Hawaii's largest
estuary.
Take someone
boogie-boarding at Bellows Beach. Everyone who lives here should do
this at least once. Bellows is open only on weekends and holidays.
Marine-activity gifts take time, but you can plan them
for quieter times of the year. Also, they have one major advantage over
traditional gifts: You get to enjoy them, too.
Happy adventurous holidays.
