Page 28 - Holly Carney Issue (3)

Traveling With Teens

“I’ve been there!”
By Diane Garner (travelingwithteens@cox.net)

AloooooooooHA! snorkeled before? No problem. The calm, shallow waters of
this bay provide the perfect introduction to what may be-
Believe me, your teenager will roll her eyes at the exagger- come a lifelong sport. Only ten miles from Waikiki, this state
ated pronunciation used by tour guides on buses, emcees park is hugely popular. So, go early to avoid the crowds and
at shows, and even the flight attendants on your plane. get into the parking lot before it’s full. Depending on your
But, hopefully by the end of your trip to Hawaii, the normal teen’s swimming ability, some common sense independence
pronunciation of “aloha” will roll easily off her tongue to offer can be enjoyed here. Of course, set reasonable limits and
others the standard Hawaiian greeting. enforce them. Then give him one of those one-use under-
water cameras and let him go exploring. Meanwhile, parents
“I already took my kids to Hawaii when they were younger,” can do some snorkeling of their own or simply enjoy the
you may be saying. A lot of us in San Diego have taken sights from the beach. Several websites are available with
multiple trips to the islands. However, a vacation in that detailed information about hours, directions, facilities, etc.
tropical paradise
is different with
a teenager. Duh!
Isn’t every trip?
But, the difference
this time is actu-
ally positive. There
are just so many
more things you
can do and places
you can visit that
28 a teenager will
appreciate more
than a child.

Because each
island offers a
wealth of possi-
bilities, I’ll con-
centrate on one
island at a time.
This article will
focus on Oahu
since it’s the first
island folks usu-
ally visit. However,
I must confess it
is not my family’s
favorite. If you’ve been there, you know what I mean when I Even closer than Hanauma Bay, Fort DeRussy Beach Park
say it has become too commercial. Take away the beaches, is located at the west end of Waikiki Beach. A coral reef situ-
and Honolulu could be any one of several other American ated a few hundred feet offshore creates another excellent
cities: Traffic, noise, congestion, slums, high rises. See the snorkeling environment. Take your snorkel equipment with
city quickly, rent a car, and go enjoy the rest of the island. you whenever you travel around the island. Your teen will
Remember, it isn’t a foreign country! They speak English. enjoy spontaneous stops to discover new beaches. A word
Traffic laws are familiar, Hawaiians drive on the right side of of warning- we made one such unplanned stop and got quite
the road and you can understand the highway signs. Your a shock. Halfway down the steep path, my husband and I
teen will give you a lot less ATTITUDE if not forced to mingle noticed something unusual about the people on the beach
with a bunch of strangers on a guided tour. Promote a feeling below; they were naked! Big awkward moment with the kids!
of adventure by tackling Oahu on your own. Nude or clothing optional beaches are not legal in Hawaii,
but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Be aware or your
After the requisite visit to famous Waikiki Beach, get out of teens may get an education that you hadn’t planned.
town. Take your teen snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. Haven’t
July/August 2008