Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Central Oahu: The Ewa Plain
Flanked by the Koolau and Waianae mountain ranges, the hot, sun-baked Ewa Plain runs up
and down the center of Oahu. Once covered with sandalwood forests (hacked down for the
China trade) and later the sugar-cane and pineapple backbone of Hawaii, Ewa today sports a
new crop: suburban houses stretching to the sea. But let your eye wander west to the Waianae
Range and Mount Kaala (at 4,020 feet the highest summit on Oahu); up there in the misty rain-
forest, native birds thrive in the hummocky bog. In 1914, the U.S. Army pitched a tent camp
on the plain; author James Jones would later call
SchoieldBarracks
“the most beautiful army
post in the world.” Hollywood filmed Jones's From Here to Eternity here.
Leeward Oahu: The Waianae Coast
The west coast of Oahu is a hot and dry place of dramatic beauty: white-sand beaches border-
ing the deep blue ocean, steep verdant green cliffs, and miles of Mother Nature's wildness.
Except for the luxurious
J.W.MarriottIhilaniResortandSpaatKoOlina,Roy'sKoOlina
Restaurant
(a sister of Roy's in Hawaii Kai), and the
Makaha Golf Course,
you'll find vir-
tually no tourist services out here. The funky west coast villages of Nanakuli, Waianae, and
Makaha are the last stands of native Hawaiians. This side of Oahu is seldom visited, except
by surfers bound for
YokohamaBay
and those coming to see needle-nose
KaenaPoint
(the
island's westernmost outpost), which has a coastal wilderness park.
OAHU IN 1 WEEK
The island of Oahu is so stunning that the alii, the kings of Hawaii, made it the capital of the
island nation. You can see all of Oahu's highlights in 1 week, presuming that you're staying in
Waikiki; if you're in another location, be sure to factor in travel time. In this itinerary, I've in-
cluded the all-star things to do and see on this island: Waikiki Beach, Waikiki Aquarium, Pearl
Harbor Memorial, Polynesian Cultural Center, Hanauma Bay, Sea Life Park, Bishop Museum,
historic downtown Honolulu, Kailua Bay, shopping, art galleries, and a few surprises.
DAY 1:
Waikiki Beach
★★★
Lather up with sunscreen, put on your sunglasses and a hat, and plop down on the most
famous beach in the world. If you have kids in tow, or if an hour in Hawaii's intense sun
is all you can handle, consider checking out Hawaii's water world by dropping by the
WaikikiAquarium
, or take the children to the
HonoluluZoo
. For insight into Waikiki's
past, take the
WaikikiHistoricTrail,
a 2-mile trail marked with bronzed surf boards. Try to
see the sunset on your first day—just sit anywhere on Waikiki Beach; if you'd like a liquid
libation, all the hotels on the beach can accommodate you—and then get an early dinner.
