Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
From the high-rises of Waikiki, venture down Kalakaua Avenue through tree-lined Kapiolani
Park to take a look at a different side of Oahu, the arid south shore. The landscape here is more
moonscape, with prickly cacti onshore and, in winter, spouting whales cavorting in the water.
Some call it the South Shore, others refer to it as Sandy's (after the mile-long beach here), but
Hawaiians call it
KaIwi,
which means “the bone”—no doubt because of all the bone-cracking
shore breaks along this popular bodyboarding coastline. The beaches here are long, wide, and
popular with local daredevils.
This open, scenic coast is the best place on Oahu to watch sea, shore, and even land birds.
It's also a good whale-watching spot in season, and the night sky is ideal for amateur astro-
nomers on the lookout for meteors, comets, and stars.
To get to this coast, follow Kalakaua Avenue past the multitiered Dillingham Fountain and
around the bend in the road, which now becomes Poni Moi Road. Make a right on Diamond
Head Road and begin the climb up the side of the old crater. At the top are several lookout
points, so if the official Diamond Head Lookout is jammed with cars, try one of the other
lookouts just down the road. The view of the rolling waves is spectacular; take the time to pull
over.
Diamond Head Road rolls downhill now into the ritzy community of
Kahala.
At the V in
the road at triangular Fort Ruger Park, veer to your right and continue on palm-tree-lined Ka-
hala Avenue. Make a left on Hunakai Street, then a right on Kilauea Avenue, and look for the
sign h-1 west—waimanalo. Turn right at the sign, although you won't get on the H-1 Free-
way; get on the Kalanianaole Highway, a four-lane highway interrupted every few blocks by a
stoplight. This suburban bedroom community to Honolulu is marked by malls on the left and
beach parks on the right.
About a half-hour outside of Waikiki, you'll see the turnoff to
Hanauma Bay
★★ on the
right. This marine preserve is a great place to stop for a swim; you'll find the friendliest fish
on the island here.
Note:
The beach park is closed on Tuesdays.
Around mile marker 11, the jagged lava coast itself spouts sea foam at the
Halona
Blowhole.
Look out to sea from Halona over Sandy Beach and across the 26-mile gulf to
neighboring Molokai and the faint triangular shadow of Lanai on the far horizon.
Sandy
Beach
is Oahu's most dangerous beach; it's the only one with an ambulance always standing
by to whisk injured wave catchers to the hospital. Bodyboarders just love it.
