Kailua, O´ahu
A little history first: The island of Oahu is nicknamed the Gathering Place because Honolulu Harbor provided safe anchorage to whalers, traders and visitors from the late 1700s. The city of Honolulu quickly became the center of commerce, government, culture and the arts, education, and population, which is still true today. The Koolau Mountain Range dominates the eastern part of the island, and west of the central plain region is the Waianae Range.
Our original plan was to hit the beach on Monday, but extended travel time got us into Honolulu Airport around 8:00 pm and we made it to the B&B around 9:00 pm, so we hit the sack and got up early Tuesday morning for our first day in Hawaii. We headed north from Hawaii´Kai and drove to Kailua in search of the much anticipated beach day.
Tuesday morning we finally get a clear daytime look at the rental car, it's a red Mustang convertible parked in front of the Aloha B&B which is located in Mariners Ridge in a community called Hawaii Kai. We captured over 1,000 images while on the trip, so it will be impossible to show them all, some are duplications and quick series shots so we will highlight the trip with a fraction of those taken. Click on the thumbnail images for a larger view of the originals.
By the way, we highly recommend the B&B, it is run by Don and Phyllis Young, who are transplants from the Boston, MA area. He is retired it seems and she is a real estate agent in Hawaii Kai. Very nice people, and the breakfast's are wonderful, including daily fresh local fruit such a pineapple, papaya, mango and fresh baked breads too. Phyllis prepared a homemade Musseli with oatmeal, yogurt, and fresh fruit, it was a great treat one morning!
Traveling for about 5 minutes on Kalanianaole Highway toward Koko Head we stopped at a road side viewing area on the right and took a few shots just after the bend in the road.
Then we got back on the road again and traveled about 10 more minutes and stopped along the side of the road after we passed Makapu´u Head. And in view from here is Makapuu Beach Park and Rabbit Island. After a few minutes we started back up again and drove about a half hour and found a little place called Kalama Beach Park in Kailua which is located on N. Kalahoe Avenue and a short walk from the parking lot is the secluded beach. This place was off the beaten path and we loved it, we saw maybe just a few dozen people at this beach all day. Once we settled in we were there sunning, walking or running on the beach, and playing in the clear waters of Kailua Bay.
Here are a few images from our day playing in Kailua beach!
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Driving north on the windward side
By early afternoon we logged about 4 hours in the sun and were feeling like a good burn was on. Getting hungry we decided to pack up and leave the beach in search of a bite to eat, and we found Maui Tacos in Kailua Village near the Kailua District Park. We all got the Tuesday special which was 3 Crunchy Chicken Tacos for $6.95 and then had some ice cream too at Cold Stone Creamery.
After a nice break from the sun we then drove further north along the coastal road making our way along Kamehameha Highway to Kualoa Regional Park were we stopped for a little sight seeing. All of these parks along the coast are operated by the State of Hawaii or the City of Honolulu and are free. We also saw some folks who were setting up tents and camping overnight in some of the coastal beach parks. Some were very elaborate with generators and huge canopy covers over multiple picnic tables. All of the parks had rest room facilities, showers, and most had potable drinking water.
 Monique decided it was time to get her hands on the steering wheel of the convertible so we continued to drive north on the windward side as I snapped more photos! |
  We rounded the bend and headed toward Kahana Bay and then decided to stop at the Kahana Bay Beach Park which is situated near the confluence of the Kawa Stream and Kahana Stream. But this was really an afterthought as I had said something like "Let's check out this little park..." and then Monique proceeded to put on the brakes and turn a sharp 90 degrees to get off the road. Meanwhile some pickup truck was tailgating us and shouted out "Idiot..." and then we all broke out in huge laughter. We would joke about "Idiot..." the rest of trip. |
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 Since it was late in the afternoon we decided it was time to turn around and drive back to the B&B to wash up before dinner. Along the way Monique drove and I still snapped some photos, here are a few of them on the drive back south on the windward side of the island. |
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