"Take the road heading northwest on O‘ahu all the way to its end, and you’ll come to the wild and remote Ka‘ena Point. The hot and unshaded 2.5-mile trail (Ka‘ena means “the heat”) along an old railroad bed follows the shoreline and rewards you with tidepools, sea arches, and stunning coastal views. The nature reserve is home to one of the largest seabird colonies in the Hawaiian Islands, including native birds like the ‘ua ‘u kani (wedge-tailed shearwater), the ‘iwa (great frigatebird), and the pueo (short-eared owl). Keep a lookout for monk seals sunning themselves on the shore; in the winter, you’re likely to glimpse whales spouting in the distance." - Martha Cheng
