Oahu Coastal Loop - The Most Scenic Drives in America: 120 Spectacular Road Trips - page 223

8. Malaekahana State Recreation Area
Remote from Waikiki both in spirit and in miles, serene Malaekahana appears just as the
drive begins its gentle westward curve around northernmost Oahu. The park invokes an
older, simpler Hawaii, where sea breezes stir the fronds of coconut palms along a sunny
crescent of sand. You can rent a campsite or rustic cabin and enjoy a peerless Pacific sun-
rise. At low tide, you can wade out to Goat Island, a seabird sanctuary with two exquisite
beaches.
9. Waimea Bay
At Sunset Beach and Banzai Pipeline, enormous tubular waves challenge the world's most
daring surfers. Just ahead lie the creamy sands of Waimea Bay, where in winter the stout
of heart ride thunderous 30-foot waves. A more serene venue can be reached by following
Pupukea Road to the ruins of Puu O Mahuka Heiau, the largest of Oahu's sacred sites. Just
south of Rte. 83 and the town of Waimea, follow the banks of the Kamananui Stream on
Waimea Valley Road to the lush green landscapes of Waimea Valley. Well-marked hiking
paths at the center wind through botanical gardens. Long ago a Hawaiian village stood on
these grounds, and the heritage of that time is recalled in displays of archaeological arti-
facts and the opportunity to view rare and endangered Hawaiian flora and fauna, providing
a lively link to Oahu's storied past.