Oahu Hawaii - A Perfect Day on the Windward Side

Somewhere on the Windward side of O’ahu, Hawaii, the ocean is an endless pool of light shades of turquoise and Caribbean blue; the pace of life has slowed down and the towering Koolau mountain range shelters the residents with sharp ridged switchbacks in lush shades of green. Instead of beaches bordered by high-rise hotels, the sandy shoreline blends with the grass lawns of private house rentals where guests can walk 15 yards and be immersed in the warm water.

This is the Windward side of oahu hawaii, and a perfect day here is easy to come by, especially if exploring the natural beauty of Hawaii is on your agenda. The Windward side is only 20 or so minutes away from downtown Honolulu, so even if you are staying in a beachfront hotel in Waikiki, it is readily accessible.

The short, beautiful drive over the Pali highway features waterfall spotted mountains and a tunnel that goes underneath them, ejecting visitors into the arresting view on the other side. Like some bizarre wormhole, the Pali highway tunnel transports visitors from their town experience into an idyllic island paradise. Here is an ideal itinerary during the visit:

The Beach:

Kailua Beach is and its continuation, Kalama Beach, is long enough to accommodate thousands, but it rarely seems overcrowded. The best place to park is in the beach parking lot, but roadside parking can be found. The Kalama Beach parking lot is also available a couple of minutes down the road. Here the sands are fine and the views are unobstructed.

This is a great place to start for an early morning swim, surf, paddle, run or walk. It is also ideal for a little ocean adventure. The top two choices are kayaking and windsurfing, which Kailua is famous for. The kayak outfitters are close by and rent out sit-on-top kayaks at reasonable rates. Pack a snack from the First Stop convenience store and paddle out to the Mokuleia islands, about a mile off the shore.

The paddle out is typically easy-going, but be prepared for light surf breaks at about the midway point. While not usually large enough to land on your head, they can be enough to turn over the kayak if you run into them sideways! This is a beautiful paddle, and is frequently punctuated by visits from groups of green sea turtles or a rare appearance from the Hawaiian monk seal.

Once you arrive, a small sandy shore offers a place to rest and beach the kayaks before exploring the small bird sanctuary. Pack out what you pack in, especially your trash. Not only does it pollute the environment, but it can be dangerous to birds and sealife. Around one side, a rocky hike rears up against the raw Pacific Ocean, and around the other an enclosed grotto ripe for diving awaits. Sturdy sandals are recommended.

After returning to the shores of Kailua Beach, you may want to get a good lunch in and enjoy the sun before your next activity. But first, if kayaking isn’t for you, Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks offers windsurfing lessons and rentals, and rents a variety of other ocean toys as well. If you need to learn, the lessons are first rate.

Don't worry if you never make it off the beach today. Stay in town and walk over to Buzz’s Original steakhouse where the atmosphere is mellow and the food is delicious. Lunch ends at 3:00 and dinner starts at 4:30.

If this day has a second phase it should be spent hiking the trail to Maunawili Falls. Approximately five miles up, this is an easy to moderately difficult hike requiring good river sandals or hiking shoes. The hour and a half trail to the falls is lush and scenic and humid! Bring extra water!

From Kailua Beach, head back up to the Pali highway and turn left at Auloa street. Stay left on Maunawili Road which will take you through a residential area. Take it to Keewina street and find a place to park. This is a good neighborhood, but mind any posted warnings and to be prudent, stay on the trail. At the falls, a nice swimming area sits beneath the cliffs, where people can sometimes be seen jumping off into the water below.

Fitting both of these activities into a single day can be exhausting, so if you are headed back to your beach rental in Kailua, don’t miss the opportunity for a final dip in the ocean to restore your spirits. For those headed back to Waikiki or another part of town, may I suggest cocktails by tiki torch at Dukes on the beach? Do try to make it for the sunset. Ahhhh, what a way to spend a day.