I. Introduction
A. Attention Getter: Have you ever wanted wake up, tumble out of your covers, stumble into your living room and see a beautiful sunrise across the Pacific Ocean horizon? That’s what you have almost every day when you live Hawai’i Nei. Being a part of this wonderful culture and landscape, you get the opportunity to take in nature’s wonderful resources such as the mountains and the oceans.
B. Thesis Statement: I would like to give light and new perspective to you, the audience members, on which hiking and surfing spots on Hawaii are safe and fun to enjoy, and which ones to avoid.
C. Preview of the main points:
a. First, I will talk about the top hiking spots and surfing spots in Hawaii and the reasons why they are so.
b. Next, I will talk about the worst and most dangerous hiking spots and surfing spots in Hawaii and the reason they are so.
c. Lastly, I will talk about how you are able to use your judgment and determine whether or not you will be able to hike/surf at that certain spot.
Transition: Now I know that pretty much everyone has not been to Hawaii, so I will help give you some personal insight on the best and the worst hiking and surfing spots. After this presentation, you should have the confidence to go to Hawaii and know that there are at least two things that you can do, have a safe time doing it, and have a fun time as well.
II. Body
A. While you may have thought that all of the hiking and surfing spots on Hawaii were amazing and beautiful, there are actually a lot that aren’t a “sight for sore eyes”.
a. A lot of the most beautiful hikes in Hawaii are actually very easy, so they are enjoyable for everyone. Oahu’s “Olomana” trail is one of the most breathtaking hikes, taking you above the clouds for a 360 degree view of the island. This 2.5 mile hike is long enough to get a few beads of sweat going, but short enough to take in all of the island’s nature.
b. After your long hike, why not cool down in the magnificent Pacific Ocean. Oahu’s “Bowls” beach in Ala Moana is a well-known surf spot amongst the locals. With the mix of islanders and tourists, this spot is sure to be loved by all. This 76 acres beach is the home to many small waves for beginners, larger waves past the coral, and beautiful sandy areas for the family to relax at (Davies, 2011).
Transition: Now that you know of the most beautiful hiking and surfing spots, you should be aware of the most dangerous. Being on a well forested island, you can easily get lost and misdirected, leading to an unfortunate fate.
B. There are hundreds of obstacles that can get in your way, both surfing and hiking, and these are a few of the places that should not be on your list, unless you are experienced.
a. “People have a hard time with some of the drop-offs.” says Kathy Valier while talking to Backpacker Magazine (Bastone, n.d.). These rugged terrains on the “Kalaulau” trail in Kauai are reasons why some hikers, unfortunately, do not return to their families in one piece. There have been numerous reports of close calls that ended up in quite gruesome outcomes due to the steep hills and staggered boulders. I would advise against this trail unless you are with a group, are a well experienced hiker, and you have done your research on the hike.
b. “Peahi” also known as “Jaws” lies on the North Shores of Maui. This surfing spot is quite the attraction for many surfers due to the high waves, but it is also one that many take high caution to. If you are caught under the waves or by the coral, you are pretty much on your own because the high wind speeds and rushing currents are often times too much for the jet skis to rescue you. Big-wave surfer Mark Healey told National Geographic “…it just moves faster and hits harder…the liquid avalanche ends in a 300-foot cliff.”(Endo, 2013).
Transition: I probably scared you all to death by now, with these horrible hiking and surfing spots in Hawaii, but if you know what you are doing and are educated about