Malia Leinau

Best place for horseback riding

Kualoa Ranch

If you’re not riding for the practical purpose of getting from point A to point B, then scenery is probably the most important criteria for a recreational horseback ride (that, and a horse that won’t buck). That’s why Kualoa Ranch wins hands down, reins up. Choose between a one-hour ride ($69) past an ancient fishpond with vistas of Chinaman’s Hat or a two-hour jaunt ($99) into Ka’a'awa Valley, where you can pretend you’re riding a dinosaur and relive scenes from Jurassic Park. Kualoa Ranch also offers short keiki rides as well as a therapeutic horseback riding program for the disabled on Saturdays from 9am to 2pm. Dishonorable mention: ‘Nowhere. How would you like some fat human on your back all day?’

49-560 Kamehameha Hwy, 237-8515, [www.kualoa.com]

Best outdoor bash

Waikiki- Shell

This is one category where ‘lucky you live Hawai’i’ rings especially true, since the success of outdoor events is inextricably tied to the weather. And of all our open-air venues, the Waikiki Shell consistently puts on outstanding shows for the masses, accommodating an audience of 8,400. Among this year’s best were the Kokua Festival (who can forget Paula Fuga’s show-stopping performance with Damian Marley and Jack Johnson?) and KCCN FM100’s annual birthday bash–both of which were runners-up in this category. The other bonus is that Hawai’i can host outdoor events all year (remember Carl Cox’s millennium New Year’s rave at Kaka’ako?) while cold temperatures keep people in other U.S. metropolises indoors. Pity the vampire who answered ‘anywhere out of state.’

Waikiki Shell, 2805 Monsarrat Ave., 591-2211, [www.waikikishell.com]

Chris McDonough

Best beach for avoiding sewage spills

North Shore

How bummed we were about those days at Bowls when the surf was pumping and the sewers were dumping? The annual Memorial Day Local Motion Surf Into Summer contest relocated to Sandy’s, opting for wind swell over bad smell. During those few weeks, even the most reluctant weekend warrior dug deep into his couch for loose change to fill up his tank and roll up to country (where the water was still brown, but at least we know it was just from the rivers).

Ken Dahl

Best place to avoid tourists

Wai’anae

These days, homeless outnumber visitors something like 3,000 to 1 along the Wai’anae coast. You might see tourists on a dolphin excursion or dive trip, but generally speaking, most tourists don’t venture that far. (Editor’s note: The best place to not avoid tourists is ‘Turtle Beach.’ This misfortunately named beach–hello, there are turtles everywhere–has single-handedly slowed traffic along the North Shore between Laniakea and Chun’s to a permanent crawl.) The runner-up for this category was Waimanalo. You won’t find tourists in Waimanalo, either. (But if you’re looking for hippiesÖ) Finally, too many tourists for your taste in Waikiki hotels? Someone suggested you could always arrange for accommodations at O-Triple C, free meals to boot.

Best place to spot local wallabies

Kalihi Valley

The wallaby population in Hawai’i got off to a rough start and never really recovered. Three wallabies (a male, female and juvenile) were brought to O’ahu in 1916 to be part of a privately owned zoo in ‘Alewa Heights. The breeding pair was being held in a tent when a dog broke in and attacked them, setting the wallabies free. In 2002 the Hawaiian wallaby population hovered around 100, which isn’t really considered successful. Biologists indicate that most of the population lives in an ‘ewa Kalihi valley, between a series of cliffs and ledges that protect them from predators. Only a few accounts of attacks by dogs are known. The animals are not formally managed or tracked, but are protected by the state. –Candice Novak

Best place to get away from it all

Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden

Ho’omaluhia means ‘to make a place of peace and tranquility.’ Designed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to provide flood protection for Kane’ohe, Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden offers a day-use area, overnight campgrounds and a visitor center that has an exhibition hall and a botanical library. The 400-acre botanical gardens bordering a 32-acre lake (alas, no swimming) take you to far away places including the Philippines, Africa, Sri Lanka, India, Melanesia, Malaysia and other parts of Polynesia, no passport necessary. Permits are required for weekend camping and can be obtained at the Parks Permit Section at City Hall or any satellite city hall.

Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden, 45-680 Luluku Road, Ka-ne’ohe, 233-7323

Chris McDonough

Best way to experience Pamplona’s running of the bulls without having to fly to Spain

Hit the streets on a bike

So you’re a thrill seeker, eh? Base jumping. Done it. Ate fugu. Done it. Sat through Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings in one entire sitting without having to get up to use the restroom. Done it, but just barely; you can only bear so many shots of teary-eyed hobbits professing their man-love for each other. But you haven’t tried biking on Honolulu city streets during rush hour? Well, then you haven’t lived. While you would think that a place like this, with its near-perfect year round weather and its back-to-nature vibe, would be a wonderland for the urban biker, it isn’t. But who cares about bike paths anyway, especially when our city streets are as thrilling as any ride at Disneyland. Everyday is an E-ticket when you ride. –Chris Haire

Best activity to give visitors a taste of Hawai’i’s great outdoors

Kayaking to the Mokes

If your visitors marvel at the vistas from atop Diamond Head or the turquoise waters at Waikiki, you would be an irresponsible host not to take them over to Kailua, where the majesty of the Ko’olau Range is guaranteed to blow their minds. A memorable day outing: Pack up or pick up a picnic lunch. Rent a kayak from the trailers at Kailua Beach or from Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks across the street in the Kailua Beach Center. Enjoy an easy paddle across Kailua’s calm waters out to the Mokulua Islands, where you can land and have lunch on the beach. Frolic and check out the birds. Paddle back at your leisure. Don’t leave your trash behind and don’t forget the sunscreen.

Best place to get outerwear with UV protection

Xcel Wetsuits

As any surfer knows, neoprene and lycra can be great allies in the water. A thin layer of neoprene can warm up an early dawn patrol and allow you to get a few more than ‘one more wave’ on the days the trades are kicking. But Xcel’s rashguards, wetsuits and moisture-wicking tops also shield you from the sun with various degrees of built-in ultraviolet protection. The lightweight, breathable VENTX tops are ideal for paddlers and tennis players alike. (Note to kooks: Yeah, you think you look hot in the spandex and all, but it’s really not cool to wear your rashguard to dinner. When you’re not outside, take if off, already.)

Xcel Wetsuits, 66-590 Kamehameha Hwy (Hale’iwa), 637-6239 1116 Auahi St (Ward Village), 596-7441, [www.xcelwetsuits.com]