It’s hard to believe that only a 30 minute drive from the bustle of Honolulu can bring you to the tranquility of Kailua, an area on Oahu’s windward side that seems like another island all together. This shore is known for its slower pace and is home to Lanikai Beach, a stretch of sand voted as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
If you’re looking for some quiet time in paradise with an island-style pace, consider staying in Kailua in a Lanikai villa. The area has plenty of sights to see. You can enjoy incredible views atop the bordering Koolau Mountain range, enjoy multi-cultural history and lounge in the beauty of the incredible Lanikai beach. And should you have a hankering for the buzz of Honolulu’s nightlife, the city is but a short drive away.
Lanikai Beach is a destination in and of itself. This white sand beach spreads out for sun and shade, revealing the distant Mokulua islands that quietly rest off this coastline of clear azure water. Remote and accessible only by public footpaths, this beach is still popular, especially on the weekends. It is also known as one of the island’s best windsurfing spots. In the right conditions you can enjoy watching top wind surfers jump and soar over the cresting waves.
An epic view of this area of the island can be seen from a lookout point at nearby Nuuanu Pali State Wayside Park. The summit is 1200 feet in elevation at the top of the Koolau mountain range. Wind gusts can be so strong from this vantage that you can lean into the wind and it will hold you up. Admission to the park is free and it is open every day from 9am to 4pm.
This windward side of the island is full of history, as it rests upon the ancient battleground that brought King Kamehameha victory and the ultimate unification of all of the islands. In a famous and fierce battle, the King’s troops pushed the Oahuans into the Nuuanu Valley, eventually driving them to the cliffs where they fell to their death. In the late 1800’s when the old Pali road was being constructed through the Koolau mountain range it is said that over 800 human skulls and other bones were unearthed at the bottom of the cliffs.
An historic site worth visiting is the Byodo-In Temple which is nestled at the foot of the Koolau mountains in Kahuluu. This sacred building is a replica of a 900 year old Buddhist temple in Kyoto, Japan. Built in honor of the first Japanese immigrants to come to Hawaii, it houses a bronze bell weighing 7 tons, which is said to bring fortune and good luck to those who ring it.
Take in view of the beautiful Koolau mountain range and crystalline blue waters. Soak in the simple island-style pace of this quiet area. Whether you decide to sight-see or simply lounge at one the most beautiful beaches in the world, Kailua offers a quaint pocket of paradise on Oahu’s windward shore.
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