Category Archives: Off the Beaten Path

In the summertime North Shore can be quiet and boring without surf, but there are still many things to do on such as swimming, diving, motorbiking, or just plain relaxing on the beach. I was at Waimea Bay the other day enjoying the crystal clear water and warm sunshine. I forgot how beautiful the bay is in the summer. At Waimea Bay there is cool spot local kids and tourists alike enjoy called Jump Rock on the far side of the bay.

Jump Rock is approximately 25 feet high at the highest jumping spot and can bring hours of jumping and viewing entertainment. The top of the rock is filled with young high school kids and adolescents there to jump and socialize. I had not done this jump in over 10 years and remember spending hours here in the summer amongst the crowd of people jumping multiple times.

Since its been so long since I had jumped I thought it would be fun to try it once again. My sister Marissa and I climbed up the rock that afternoon to give it a try. From the beach the jump looks pretty small, but once at the top, looking down, with eyes staring at you I must admit I got a few butterflies in my tummy. Nevertheless, we both jumped and lived to tell the tale! If you are ever in Waimea Bay during the flat summer months, a quick jump off Jump Rock will bring you back to your carefree childhood days.

Less than 10 minutes from my house is one of the 5 Honolulu Botanical Gardens, Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens located at 45-680 Luluku Road in Kaneohe. This is a 400 acre garden that has rainforest trees and shrubs from the tropics of the world.

Taryn at the lake at the Gardens

Ho’omaluhia means to “make a place of peace and tranquility.” The Gardens are open to the public for picnic areas, walking trails, weekend campsites, meeting rooms, and an art gallery. There is also a 32 acre lake (no swimming) where wildlife live and visitors can do catch-and-release fishing.

This Garden is an enormous hidden gem in the middle of Kaneohe with the majestic Ko’olau mountains in the back and acres to explore. Ho’omaluhia is a perfect place for children to run around and enjoy the scenery and activities or for families to enjoy a private picnic. All large trees, shrubs, and plants are labeled with their names for educational purposes.

The Garden is open daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm except for Christmas Day and New Year’s Day. Free guided garden tours for the general public are Saturdays at 10:00 and Sundays at 1:00 pm. Camping is available from 9:00 am Friday thru 4:00 pm Monday and a permit and reservation is required. Catch-and-release fishing is open weekends from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Dogs and alcohol are prohibited in the Garden. For more information call (808) 233-7323 or visit the Hononlulu.gov website online.