Hiking Oahu: Kualoa Park

Hiking Oahu: Kualoa Park - Mokoli'i island in Kane'ohe Bay on Oahu's windward east side is one of the most iconic island scenes in Hawaii. The little island is part of Kualoa Beach park which is a stop along the way while you're driving up Kamehameha Highway on your way to the north shore. If you want to stop and take a break, check out this peaceful beach park or make it your destination. Visitors can paddle or kayak out to the island to explore and swim and snorkel around the reef. The island is also known as Chinaman's hat because, well it looks like those hats they sometimes wear in China. It also looks like a shark fin, maybe they should rename it? 🤔 Anyway... legend has it that Hi'aka the volcano Goddess Pele's sister made the island by killing a dragon and setting his fins in the water as a landmark- see it should be called Shark Fin Island! 🦈

Mokoli'i Island and the surrounding area has been viewed in many movies and TV shows that are set in Hawaii. This might be because not only is this a beautiful natural site but it's also close to Kualoa Ranch, Hawaii's movie set. Movies, TV shows and music videos such as Jurassic Park, 50 First Dates, Karate Kid II, Magnum P.I. and Nicki Minaj Starships among many others were filmed here. Kualoa Ranch itself is a popular tourist attraction where you can drive through movie sets in an off-road vehicle or on horseback and other activities. Other nearby activities are the Macadamia Nut Farm right before Kualoa if you're driving north and the scenic Kahana Bay and Crouching Lion hike a little further up the coast. But if you're going on that drive, let me know if you find my shades, I think I lost them on the beach!