Luxury Meets Adventure

O’ahu beckons everyone to come experience its beauty.

BY DAVID DURAN

You don’t need an excuse to head to O’ahu. While known for being an island intended for relaxing, it’s not always about chillin’ at the beach or slurping down drinks in the cabana. Travelers nowadays are searching for a bit of adventure to mix in with their resort time. The Four Seasons Resort O’ahu at Ko Olina, located outside of the wildness of Waikiki, in a more tranquil part of the island, has partnered up with local operators that include retired Navy SEALs, professional competitive surfers, and conservationists to fill its guest’s itineraries with incredible oncein-a-lifetime experiences. Ever shared a massive standup surfboard with five of your friends or hovered over the ocean in a helicopter with your scuba gear strapped on your back, moments before you jumped in? Now you can, and afterwards, you have the luxury of heading straight back to that cabana for a well-deserved cocktail. Following are some of the incredible adventure activities offered at the Four Seasons Resort O’ahu at Ko Olina.

RIDE A WAVE WITH YOUR FRIENDS

Grab your friends and get on a SUPSquatch. What in the world is a SUPSquatch, you ask? It’s basically an oversized inflatable stand-up surfboard that fits up to six people. The Four Seasons offers an exclusive Surf Safari Experience unique to the resort, and the adventure begins with a hotel pickup by Let’s Surf HI (LETSSURFHI.COM). Let’s Surf HI takes you to a nearby, secluded beach where you will learn how to ride the waves on one board (it’s easier than you think). The expert guides will be out there with you, making sure you are safe while snapping some great shots of you riding the waves to shore (proof you did it). Afterward, enjoy an easy uphill climb to Pink Pillbox, where you can take in breathtaking views of the coastline. The Surf Safari also includes a stop for lunch. When booking, make sure to ask for a stop at Ruby’s food truck, a local favorite that makes the most incredible healthy-ish fruit bowls and sweets.

SCUBA DIVE WITH NAVY SEALS

Whether you are a diver or a novice, you can spend the day underwater with the world’s best. Experience the wonder of being submerged in the clear blue waters, exploring the ocean world as you learn basic diving skills and enjoy hand-held experiences with certified PADI instructors. All equipment for this adventure is provided, including snacks and a fun crew of professionals. You will head to Electric Beach and the natural surrounding reef, which are known for pristinely clear waters and an abundance of reef fish, turtles, octopi, and the occasional white tip reef shark. Trident Adventures (TRIDENTADVENTURES.COM) also offers more elevated experiences such as diving out of a helicopter directly into the water with your gear on—if you really want that full Navy SEAL experience.

LIVE OUT YOUR MAGNUM P.I. FANTASY

There are quite a few helicopter options on the island, but none can compare to the Magnum P.I. Experience provided by Paradise Helicopters (PARADISECOPTERS.COM/TOURS/OAHU). Covering the island from above, the Magnum Experience O’ahu helicopter tour will show you all the island’s highlights. See the North Shore, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, fly over Waikiki, and more. Did I mention this is all done in a doors-off helicopter that looks exactly like the Magnum P.I. chopper? If you’re not really into Magnum P.I., other helicopter options and tours are available. Paradise Helicopters is the only green helicopter company in Hawaii and donates $6 of each booking to plant trees throughout the state.

STORYTELLING AT ITS FINEST

What makes a tour guide extra special is when the guide is not only friendly and knowledgeable but also an excellent storyteller. Hawaii Horse and Trail (HAWAII-FOREST.COM) offers experiences that take you into nature. From lush forests to diverse communities, the company takes guests outside of their resorts to enjoy the nature and culture that shapes O’ahu. The tours are designed around exclusive access to places visitors cannot go on their own, as well as interpretive guides who are highly knowledgeable about the Hawaiian Islands—and who share their personal interpretation of what makes the land, culture, and lifestyle on the island so special. Guests will leave their tours with an enhanced love for Hawaii. Tours include a Farm-to-Forest Experience that explores the confluence of West O’ahu’s natural and cultural histories through its historic sites, stories, people, and food, as well as a Birds and Wildlife of O’ahu experience that takes advantage of Hawaii Forest and Trail’s unparalleled land access and expert birding guides.

PLANT A LEGACY + RIDE INTO THE SUNSET

A unique experience on O’ahu is a visit to Gunstock Ranch (GUNSTOCKRANCH.COM), which offer various options and packages. One of the most popular is the two-and-a-half-hour Horseback Planter’s Experience, in which you embark on a guided horseback tour that travels up the beautiful mountainside trails, offering stunning views of the ocean, coastline, and hills and valley of the Koolau Mountains. On the way back, you will descend into the Hawaiian Legacy Forest, where you will be able to select your own Legacy Tree that you will personally plant and dedicate. The trees are tracked via radio-frequency identification technology, and you are provided with a certificate of planting that enables you to track your tree’s growth. Gunstock Ranch also partners with Paradise Helicopters so that guests who want to do both can incorporate a stop at Gunstock into their flight plan.

#RESORTLIFE

After your adventures, there’s an incredible resort waiting for you to enjoy. The Four Seasons Resort O’ahu at Ko Olina sits on O’ahu’s wild and rugged western coast, where vast ocean views and lively pools and lagoons provide the setting for an unforgettable resort adventure. Guest rooms and suites provide some of the most coveted views of the island and come with all the modern comforts that you never knew you needed, like an in-room iPad for your use during your stay (used to order room service). The resort is also home to Mina’s Fish House by acclaimed Chef Michael Mina. The signature line-to-table restaurant has a menu that features locally caught whole fish and local produce. Spend some time with the in-house fish sommeliers to learn more about the fresh catch for that day.

The Four Seasons Resort (FOURSEASONS.COM/OAHU) O’ahu at Ko Olina is more than happy to help arrange any of the above experiences during your stay at the resort. You can also rest assured that if you want to modify or combine any of the experiences, they will happily make it happen.

STAYCATION ABROAD

The Four Seasons, O’ahu offers additional localized experiences.

ACTIVITIES

• Ko Olina Golf Club

• Sunset cruises

• Paddleboarding

• Deep-sea fishing

FOODIES

Taste of O’ahu with executive chef Richard Polhemus gives local, sustainable cuisine found only on the island. Enjoy with Hawaiian Agricole rum on the Ko Hana Rum distillery tour.

SPA SERVICES

Naupaka Spa & Wellness Centre offers specially curated experiences that mirror the mindset of Hawaii such as:

• Quest for Wholeness (80-minute experience)

• Mana ‘aina, a healing therapy using native plants

• Intraceuticals facials

• Sodashi face therapies

• Keiki o Ka ‘Aina therapies

EXTRAS

Adult infinity-edge pool, a child-free zone with views of the Waianae mountain range. After your swim, they’ll have a cocktail waiting.