Epic Travel → North America → Hawaii → Oahu → Chinaman’s Hat

Location: East Shore of Oahu, Hawaii

Time Required: 3 hours

Red Tape/Notes: Bring shoes with you to the island – flip-flops are not a good choice but I’m sure a lot of people will do it anyway. We wore wetsuits because a) we didn’t want to be freezing for the whole time and b) the extra buoyancy is nice

What’s Nearby?: Kaneohe Bay Sunken Island, Maunolua Valley to Haiku Stairs

I keep expecting some group of people to protest the politically incorrect name, but it hasn’t happened yet. The island does actually have a real name (Mokoli’i) but no one really uses it. Anyway…this island is immediately identifiable, and lies conveniently near to shore. It’s a little over 550 meters (600 yards) offshore if you start at Kualoa Beach Park near Kaneohe. Just strap on your fins and a mask and snorkel and strike off into the water. You’ll want to bring water shoes also, so you can play on the island when you get there. Flounder ashore upon your arrival (there’s a small beach on the back of the island, but it’s easy enough to get ashore by scrambling up the rocks at the front). There are faint use trails around the island that make it easy to explore, and you can hike up to the top if you’re not afraid of a little scrambling/easy climbing. It’s rocky though, so you’ll definitely want shoes for the exploring part.

Epic Travel → North America → Hawaii → Oahu → Chinaman’s Hat