Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
military memorabilia ranging from ancient Hawaiian warfare items to modern-
day, high-tech munitions. (Kids will love the big guns.)
Fort DeRussy Park, Waikiki.
&
808/438-2822.
http://www.hiarmymuseumsoc.org/museum/index.html. Free
admission. Tues-Sun 10am-4:30pm. Bus: 8.
BEYOND HONOLULU: EXPLORING THE ISLAND BY CAR
The moment always arrives—usually after a couple of days at the beach, snor-
keling in the warm, blue-green waters of Hanauma Bay—when a certain curios-
ity kicks in about the rest of Oahu, largely unknown to most visitors. It's time
to find the rental car in the hotel garage, load up the kids, and set out around
the island. You can also explore Oahu using
TheBus
(see “Getting Around,” ear-
lier in this chapter).
OAHU'S SOUTHEAST COAST
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 Sandy's (after the mile-long beach here), but Hawaiians call it
Ka Iwi,
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.
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 the triangular Fort Ruger Park, veer to your right
and continue on the palm-tree-lined Kahala 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 freeway;
instead, get on Kalanianaole Highway, a four-lane highway interrupted every
few blocks by a stoplight. This is the suburban bedroom community for Hon-
olulu, marked by malls on the left and beach parks on the right.
One of these parks is
Hanauma Bay
(p. 126); you'll see the turnoff on
the right when you're about a half-hour from Waikiki. This marine preserve is a
great place to stop for a swim; you'll find the friendliest fish on the island here.
A reminder:
The beach park is closed on Tuesday.
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
(p. 127) 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 this beach.
The coast looks raw and empty along this stretch, but the road weaves past
old Hawaiian fishponds and the famous formation known as
Pele's Chair,
just
off Kalanianaole Highway (Hwy. 72) above Queen's Beach. From a distance, the
lava-rock outcropping looks like a mighty throne; it's believed to be the fire god-
dess's last resting place on Oahu before she flew off to continue her work on
other islands.
