SPORTS & RECREATION

"Sun or not, don't stay inside!"

Arial Tours | Body Surfing | Boogie-Boarding | Camping | Cruises | Fishing | Golf | Gliding
Hang Gliding | Hiking | Horseback Riding | Jogging | Running | Scuba Diving | Skydiving
Snorkeling | Snuba | Surfing | Tennis | Water  Sports | Windsurfing | MyMall-Hawaii

Aerial Tours  Tours on jet-powered helicopters or sail planes leave from Honolulu International Airport and Dillingham Airfield on the North Shore. You can talk to your pilot via radio, choose music to go along with your flight, and hookup your video camera. Most tours last from 20 minutes to an hour.

Boogie-Boarding and Body Surfing  Hot spots for these sports include Waimanalo Beach, Bellows Beach, and Kapahulu Groin at Waikiki Beach for beginners. Sandy Beach, Makapuu, Waimea, Pounders, Kalama, and Makaha are other hotbeds for boogie-boarding and body surfing activity. The yellow pages lists a variety of shops that rent boogie boards.

Camping  Camping at county parks requires a permit, which you can get from the Department of Parks and Recreation, Honolulu Municipal Building, 650 South King Street or at any satellite city hall on the island. State park permits are free. You can camp for up to five days. Contact the Division of State Parks, 1151 Punchbowl Street, Rm. 310, 587-0300.

Cruises  Walk around Waikiki to find offers for scenic catamaran cruises that set sail throughout the day. Board a yacht, submerse yourself in a submarine, take a glass bottom boat cruise, or go cruising for whales.Anything's possible.

Fishing  The period from March through October is the best time to get that big fish you've always wanted to catch. Charter a boat for four to eight hours from an island company. Most are harbored near Kewalo Basin (Fisherman's Wharf) near Ala Moana Beach, about fifteen minutes from Waikiki. Pokai Bay and Kaneohe Bay also harbor charters. Charter captains can give you the equipment and expert advice. A license for salt-water fishing is not needed in Hawaii.

Golf  Oahu has quite a selection of beautiful golf courses; you just have to choose among them. Although the island has several private courses and five municipal courses, you may have to book days or weeks in advance due to the high demand. Courses include the Ala Wai Golf Course, Kahuku Golf Course, Pali Golf Course, the Hawaii Kai Golf Course, and the Ted Makalena Golf Course.

Hang Gliding, Skydiving, and Gliding  A few professional companies can provide hang gliding lessons, or allow you to jump with a professional skydiver from 10,000 feet.

Hiking  Oahu has many trails for hikers to navigate their way through and discover the natural beauty around them. The Diamond Head Crater is the most accessible for those staying in Waikiki. Contact the Hawaii Nature Center (955-0100) for free maps and trail information on various hikes, including the popular Manoa Falls, Makiki Valley Trail, and the Moanalua Trail.

Horseback Riding  Stables offer guided rides typically lasting from one to two hours. The windward and north shore areas are where riders should go, even if they just want to watch polo (from March through September). Call 396-POLO for more information. If rodeos strike your fancy, watch a championship rodeo in April and August with the paniolo cowboys and bull-riders.

Running  Jogging is a popular sport on Oahu. Kapiolani Park and Ala Moana Park are favorite jogging spots. Near Waikiki is the 4.8 mile run around Diamond Head that will get your heart pumping. To participate in an official running event, get information through the Department of Parks and Recreation at 523-4525.

Scuba Diving, Snorkeling, and Snuba  Much of the beauty around Oahu can be found beneath its clear blue waters, where hundreds of different species of fish habitate. Scuba diving and snorkeling offer a chance to see this underwater world. Check out local companies for introductory scuba dives or tank dives for certified divers. Snorkeling equipment can be rented at dive shops, beaches, or hotels. Great places to dive include Hanauma Bay, the area around Diamond Head, the Waianae Coast, the North Shore, and Rabbit Island, off Makapuu. Snuba is an alternative to scuba and snorkeling. All you need is a flotation raft (your source of air) that moves with you, freeing you from the heavy scuba gear and training time. Snuba companies can rent you the needed equipment and also provide guided tours.

Surfing  The ultimate Hawaiian sport since it was started by Hawaiian royalty centuries ago. Oahu has more than enough spots to surf, whether you're just learning or have some experience on your belt. The beaches in the Waikiki, Ala Moana, and Diamond Head areas are great for beginners. Surf shops have an ample supply of surfboards to rent, and beach concession stands and lesson sign-ups are available.  The waves reach their peak in the winter on the North Shore and in the summer on the South Shore.

Tennis  Hotels and tennis clubs offer courts, equipment, clinics, stringing, and private lessons, not to mention being able to arrange suitable matches. Or you can venture to one of the 175 public tennis courts on the island. Call the Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation for a complete listing at 523-4182.

Water Sports  Basically, any water sport you want to do can be done on Oahu:  water-skiing, jet skiing, kayaking, outrigger canoeing, parasailing, etc. Lots of companies will rent you the necessary equipment, arrange a tour, or give lessons.

Windsurfing  Did you know that windsurfing was born on Oahu's Kailua Bay twenty years ago? The bay is still the windsurfing spot on the island, a great site for all levels of windsurfers. Fort DeRussy Beach is a windsurfing beach conveniently located in Waikiki. More challenging areas include Diamond Head Beach in Waikiki and Backyards on the North Shore. It's easy to get lessons and rent equipment at any of the windsurfing beaches on the island.