Oahu's Windward Coast

The Windward Coast is a natural paradise. The  world-class Kahala Hotel & Resort is here, some of the world’s favorite beaches, Diamond Head, gorgeous Kahala Beach and Wai`alae Beach Park. Then there is Hanauma Bay State Park and the Halona Blow Hole. Other spectacular natural attractions are Makapu`u Head (home to the Makapu`u Lighthouse) and then Sea Life Park, Waimanalo Bay, home to O`ahu’s longest sandy beach, and then the busy town of Kailua, which has shopping, great dining and lots of water activities. Kane`ohe Bay, is where you’ll see famous and hard-to-miss Mokoli`i Island, better known as “Chinaman’s Hat.” This is also where you’ll find 4,000-acre Kualoa Ranch, which offers many outdoor adventures. This guide covers it all and more in detail, with color photos throughout. Restaurants reviewed in the guide range from the most luxurious dining to the best take-out places. The top beaches; secret spots for snorkeling; the best outfitters for everything from diving to deep-sea fishing; the galleries and shops. Accommodations and activities for those traveling with children; how to get married on the island; the best honeymoon resorts; finding the lowest airfares and package deals. Where to fish, hike, play golf, tennis, scuba, ocean kayak, along with camping, horseback riding, biking, whalewatching – it’s all here. Our author lives in Oahu. She has hiked the trails, taken the boats, scuba’d the reefs, dined in the restaurants, visited all the resorts, snorkeled the coastline, explored the hidden waterfalls and she shares all of her knowledge. This guide is drawn from our larger guide to Oahu.