Hawaii’s best adventure activities: HAWAII Magazine Readers’ Choice Awards 2015

Ready to get your adventure on? Today we’re sharing the best Hawaii ziplining companies and courses, the best surf instruction companies and the best hiking trails for both beginners and experts.

The best, you ask, says who? Well, says you!

Last summer we asked our more than 200,000-strong HAWAII Magazine reader ohana to share their favorite Hawaii things for our third annual Readers’ Choice Awards. They submitted thousands of ballots filled with their nominations for Hawaii’s best hotels, resorts, bed-and-breakfasts, indoor and outdoor activities, places to nosh, swim and snorkel, go road tripping and much more.

We tallied votes across 98 categories to bring you this year’s 617 HAWAII Magazine Readers’ Choice Award winners. We’ve even compared this year’s list with last so you can see how time has changed rankings within each category.

You can find all of our winners—including all 22 categories in our Indoor & Outdoor Activities section including “Best Golf Course,” “Best Luau,” “Best Live Show,” “Best Wedding Spot,” and “Best Snorkeling/Scuba Rental or Instruction Co.”–in the March/April 2015 issue of HAWAII Magazine. Want it now? Head to Apple iTunes or Google play stores to download the issue instantly.

We’ve already shared 18 of the 98 categories from our 2015 Readers’ Choice Awards Issue here on HawaiiMagazine.com. See the links to each below, and be sure to check back for more lists soon. Until then:

Best Zipline Co. & Course
 

1.
Skyline Eco-Adventures: Kaanapali
Kaanapali, Maui
(2014 ranking: 1)

2.
Princeville Ranch Adventures
Princeville, Kauai
(2014 ranking: 2)

3.
Piiholo Ranch Zipline
Makawao, Maui
(2014 ranking: 3)

4.
Skyline Eco-Adventures: Akaka Falls
Honomu, Hawaii Island
(2014 ranking: 4)

5.
Skyline Eco-Adventures: Haleakala
Haleakala, Maui
(2014 ranking: 8)

6.
Skyline Eco-Adventures: Poipu
Poipu, Kauai
(2014 ranking: 9)

7.
Kohala Zipline
Kapaau, Hawaii Island
(2014 ranking: 5)

8.
Flyin’ Hawaiian Zipline
Wailuku, Maui
(2014 ranking: 7)

9.
Kauai Backcountry Adventures
Hanamaulu, Kauai
(2014 ranking: 6)

10.
Kapohokine Adventures Honolii Mountain Outpost
Honolii, Hawaii Island
(2014 ranking: not ranked)

Best Surf Instruction Co.
 

1.
Goofy Foot Surf School
(2014 ranking: 5)

2.
Maui Wave Riders
(2014 ranking: not ranked)

3.
Hans Hedemann Surf School
(2014 ranking: 2)

4.
Waikiki Beach Services
(2014 ranking: 3)

5.
Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy
(2014 ranking: 4)

Best Hiking Trail for Beginning Hikers
 

1.
Diamond Head Summit Trail
Oahu
(2014 ranking: 1)

2.
Manoa Falls Trail
Oahu
(2014 ranking: 2)

3.
Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail
Oahu
(2014 ranking: 3)

4.
Kalalau Trail, aka Napali Coast Trail: Kee Beach to Hanakapiai Stream
Kauai
(2014 ranking: not ranked)

5.
Nounou “Sleeping Giant” Trail
Kauai
(2014 ranking: 5)

Best Hiking Trail for Expert Hikers
 

1.
Kalalau Trail, aka Napali Coast Trail
Kauai
(2014 ranking: 1)

2.
Haiku Stairs, aka Stairway to Heaven*
Oahu
(2014 ranking: 2)

3.
Koko Crater Trail
Oahu
(2014 ranking: 3)

4.
Pipiwai Trail
Maui
(2014 ranking: not ranked)

5.
Olomana Trail
Oahu
(2014 ranking: 4)

*Hiking the Koolau can be dangerous. This trail is currently closed to hikers.