Honolulu, HI

No, I don’t mean whitewater rafting, as in the adventurous kind. I’m talking about relaxing, lay out on your inexpensive, 1-person-dayglo-green or pink raft as you float just off the beach in the gentle near-shore waters of Waikiki. My wife and I enjoy this activity (especially my wife), when we want to go to the beach but not do anything too active. Floating on a raft is a great way to get out on the water without exerting yourself too much, and believe me—you’ll get all the sun you can handle.

At the time of this writing, the kind of rafts I’m talking about can be purchased at any ABC convenience store in Waikiki for $2.99, plus an extra dollar if you want them to inflate it for you (recommended unless you own your own pump and have it with you). These rafts are so super-common in Waikiki that if you look up at the lanais (balconies) of the big high-rise hotels, you’ll see little neon pink and green spots—these are the rafts! We see people walking down the street with them all the time.
 
Once at the beach, you can hit the water with your raft pretty much anywhere along Waikiki all the way from Sans Souci Beach (up by Diamond Head) down to Fort DeRussy. One of the most popular spots is what’s known as “the pool” by lifeguards, right behind the Duke Statue in the middle of Waikiki Beach. This is a part of the beach where a protected area has been created with seawalls, which makes it especially perfect for rafting.
 
Mostly, rafting is just a relaxation activity, but it can be combined with other things, such as snorkeling, if you’re looking for some diversity. My wife usually just lays out on the raft, and I’ll bring a mask and snorkel along so I can stick my head under and see what might be lurking beneath our rafts. For those of you who think it might be fun to try and ride the waves on your raft, check the impulse (trust me, I learned the hard way).

Tips & info:

-It’s not worth bringing a raft from the mainland—you can buy them in the ABC stores for $3 or less
-Sunscreen—you get a lot of sun when laying out on a raft because the sunlight reflects up from the water, so be careful!
-Swimming caution: a raft should not be used as a substitute for a lifejacket or for knowing how to swim; if you are not a good swimmer, don’t allow yourself to float farther from shore than you would be comfortable swimming or walking in from!
-Don’t try to inflate the rafts manually by blowing them up yourself on the beach in the hot sun—you’ll give yourself heat stroke.
-If you use too much suntan oil, it makes it difficult to stay on the raft
-Wave to your fellow rafters!
Have fun and relax!