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- Gift Shop with Many Native Handmade Items
- Great Wedding Locations
- Walk Where Movie Stars have Walked
Covering an area of more than 4,000 acres, Kualoa Ranch located on Oahu's windward coast in close proximity to the town of Ka'a'awa. The area offers very scenic views. The majestic ... morecliffs and spires of the Kualoa Mountains, an ancient fishponds on the south side of the ranch, lush greenery, fantastic views of Chinaman's Hat, all set the backdrop of the ranch. The beautiful scenery is also the reason why the ranch has been the location where many movies have been filmed in the past including Jurassic Park, Godzilla an 50 First Dates.
Many activities and educational programs are also undertaken at the ranch. Horseback rides, ATV (all-terrain vehicle tours), movie tours, Jungle expedition, Hawaiian Fishpond and Garden tour, hula lessons and snorkeling excursion are just some of the many activities and programs undertaken at the ranch. It is possible to find different packages depending on the activity.
Kualoa Ranch is located in the Kualoa Valley. The history of the valley is very interesting. The land sold in 1850 by King Kamehameha III to Dr Gerrit P Judd and his brother-in-law who started a sugar mill. The area was taken by the military in 1941 and built the Kualoa Airfield. The area is today under the Morgan family name who are Dr Judd's descendants. The name of the ranch was given in 1927. In Hawaiian, the name means "long back" which describes the ranch beautiful valley and mountain peaks.
There are also lots of legends and myths that surround the Kualoa Valley. For example, it is believed that the ranch's Moli'i fishpond had been built by Menehune, a legendary little people of Hawaii in just one night. You can also embark on a legend and legacy tour. The tour takes visitors through the foothills of the majestic Kualoa cliffs while the guide explains the legends and stories of the area. The Kualoa Ranch is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Type: Attraction, Geological Feature, Hike, Historic, Mountain, Plantation / Ranch, Scenic Lookout, Landmark, Scenic Road
Features: Bathroom, Drinking water, Equipment rentals, Food for purchase
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- Spectacular view of the surrounding
- Hiking to the top
- Learning about the history of Diamond Head
Type: Geological Feature, Hike, Mountain, Park, Scenic Lookout, Volcano, Landmark
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- Spectalar moments watching The Eddie competition
- Jumping of the Waimea cliff
- Body boarding and snorkeling
Waimea Bay has become renowned worldwide since the 1950's when adventurous surfers challenged the powerful waves that forms on its coast, hence giving birth to the big wave-riding ... morephenomenon. Waves at Waimea Bay can reach 20 feet or more in height. Surfers from all over the world gather at the location in the months of November through February, the big wave season, to take part in the thrill and excitement.
Waimea Bay is home to the Quicksilver competition, in honor of Eddie Aikau, a legendary Hawaiian Waterman. The Quiksilver contest only takes place during massive swells. Several other famous competitions take place at Waimea Bay or the beaches in the vicinity. One such competition is the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing also known as the Super Bowl of surfing which happens between the months of November and December.
Despite being renowned for the big waves and surfing competitions at its beach, Waimea Bay is also a beautiful place to enjoy the beach. During the summer months, the water is calm and give the perfect opportunity to swim in the crystal clear blue waters or undertake any other water activities such as canoeing, scuba-diving, wind surfing and more.
Exploring the surrounding is another experience. Not far is the town of Haleiwa with shops and restaurant. A botanical garden and cultural attraction can be found nearby in Waimea valley and is home to very beautiful Waimea Falls. Waimea Bay nevertheless, still attracts surfers from all over the world seeking excitement and adventure and to take part in the most famous competitions in surfing.
In other seasons, the beach provides the perfect conditions for body boarding or body surfing. Another activity that is often undertaken is cliff diving from the popular 'Waimea cliff".
Overlooking Waimea Bay Beach Park is the Saints Peter and Paul Church, a popular landmark on the North Shores of Oahu. It can easily be seen from the beach. Humpback whales and dolphins can also be spotted particularly at dawn from the beach. The beach also has a nice grassy area, which is great for playing football or just relaxing in the shade of trees when it is too hot.
Nearby Waimea Bay Beach Park is also other attractions such as the Botanical garden home to the beautiful Waimea Falls. The town of Haleiwa is also not very far when shop, restaurant provides the opportunity to have some wonderful time. You may also want to try the famous cool shave ice.
Type: Beach, Park, Scenic Lookout
Features: Bathroom, Drinking water, Lifeguards, Parking, Picnic tables, Showers
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- Pineapple garden maze
- Insight on various fruits and plants grown in the region
- Scenic tour of the surounding
Dole Plantation began in 1950 as it operated as a food stand. Since, it has become a very popular attraction on Oahu. Visitors of the Dole Pineapple Plantation can experience a fun ... moreday trip and learn about the history of pineapples in Hawaii. Everything from the agricultural aspect, the soil chemistry, and the tale of James Dole.
Dole Pineapple Plantation is but two miles away from the town of Haleiwa and a
45 minutes drive from Honolulu. The train ride to the plantation offers the opportunity or some scenic views which can leave you breathless.
The Pineapple Garden Maze, which obtained the spotlight in the Guinness Book of Records as the biggest maze in the world can also be seen at Dole Plantation. Going through the maze made of green hedges, twists and turns can have you painfully seeking the way
out! The maze covers more than two acres and incorporates 1.5 miles long.
Many different activities can be undertaken while at the plantation. The garden tour will have you explore many other plants and trees, some native to the region others brought to the country. They include, bananas, cacao, coffee, papaya, mango and lei flowers.
The
plantation also has a visitor center where snacks and drinks can be obtained or simply for relaxing. A gift shop provides the perfect opportunity for obtaining pineapple-related gifts and other souvenirs. It is thought that the first pineapples were planted on the island when a
shipwreck coming from Mexico brought with it plants, tools, garments and pineapples. From then on, Spanish explorers started growing pineapples and other fruits. Jim Dole, then pioneered the pineapple industry and established the Dole Pineapple Plantation in Hawaii.
Various
activities are organized on the plantation subject to a small fee. Some
of the activities even include a stop to Pearl Harbor or scenic excursions of the surrounding. Dole Pineapple Plantation is world famous and a distinct attraction of Oahu, Hawaii.
Type: Botanical Garden, Cultural, Historic, Plantation / Ranch
Features: Bathroom, Food for purchase, Parking, Wheelchair access
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- Scenic view of the surrounding
- Spotting humpback whales and the Hawaiian green turtles
- Great for diving when the water is calm
The Halona Blow-hole located on the island of Oahu off of Hanauma Bay is a rock formation and a blow-hole formed by underwater lava which took the form of a tube and has an opening ... moreon both sides of it. As the ocean water enters the tube, the pressure increases as the tube narrows such that the water shoots upward into the air sometimes to a high of 30 feet or more. The Halona Blow-hole is a popular attraction. The location is very scenic, there are steep cliffs and fantastic views.
The blow-hole is most active during high tide. It is also the best location to go and look out for humpback whales or Honu (the Hawaiian green turtle). When there is no surf and a light northerly wind blowing, diving is possible along the coast. If the waves are breaking, it is recommended to dive elsewhere. The tidal change produces very strong currents known as 'Molokai Express" that can drag a person out to sea. Some persons have lost their life trying to sit on the blow-hole or trying to hold parts of their body into the stream of water. The area is quite dangerous, so it is best to be careful and stay at the lookout point and enjoy the view from a safe distance.
The Hawaiian name Halona means "peering place". On a very nice day, the view can be very fantastic. From far off on the horizon, the islands of Molokai, Maui and Lanai can be seen. To the right of the blow-hole is located Halona Cove, a small sandy beach that is perfect for swimming when the surf is calm. The site is also known for the famous love scene of Burt Lancaster and Deborah Kerr in the film "From here to eternity".
Type: Attraction, Geological Feature
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- The most expensive real estate of Hawaii is located here
- Very clean and hardly ever crowded beaches.
- Kahala resort features an off-shore man made island, as well as a dolphin lagoon.
Located just at the eastern end of Diamond Head, by Oahu’s south shore, is a Honolulu neighbourhood, by the name of “Kahala”. This region is most famous for the fact that it has the ... moremost expensive real estate in all of the State of Hawaii. The average house in Kahala, would go for around 2 Million USD. Prices skyrocket when we look at bigger houses, or even beach-front properties, going up to even 25 Million Dollars. Kahala has become a symbol of wealth and fame in Hawaii, a sort of status symbol. Luxurious is the only word to describe what this neighborhood is.
Kahala is a favorite for not only international glitterati, but also for investors, who restore a broken-down property into beautiful mansions, and sell them for huge sums of money. Buyers generally keep these properties as vacation homes, and not as primary living homes. There are beach parks like Waialae Beach Park. The beaches are also not recommended for swimming, due to the rockiness near the shore. The beach park further includes grassy areas. The beaches of Kahala are beautiful, and hardly ever crowded, making this a truly exclusive place. A main attraction of this neighborhood would be the Kahala Resort and Hotel, formerly known as the Kahala Mandarin Oriental. This Resort features a private man-made island, and also a dolphin lagoon, and shows of these dolphins are put on for guests, daily! The Kahala Mall is also an attraction, featuring many familiar as well as unfamiliar stores and restaurants.
Kahala uses the zip code 96816. The population of the Kahala-Waialae neighborhood is 7,870 people in an area of about 4 sq. Miles. This gives the neighborhood a population density of almost 2000 people per sq. mile.
Type: Beach, Neighborhood, Park, Town
Features: Food for purchase, Parking, Picnic tables
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- The Amida Buddah
- The meditation pavillon
- The various wild life
Located on the island of O'ahu, Hawaii, The Byodo-In Temple at the foot of the Ko'olau mountains had been established on the 7th of June 1968 to
commemorate the 100th anniversary of ... morethe first Japanese immigrants arrival to the island. The temple is a smaller replica of the 900 years old Byodo-in Temple in Uji, Japan, which has been designated as a United Nations world heritage site.
The temple is a non-practicing Buddhist temple where people of any faith can go for worship, meditation, or to admire its beauty. The temple has a three meter lotus Buddah inside which is covered in gold and lacquer. The Amida Buddah is thought to be the largest figure carved outside Japan. The hall and the entire artistry reflects the essence of the culture of the Fujiwara aristocracy. On the outside, a large brass peace bell can be seen and the temple is surrounded by Koi ponds covering an area of 8000 square meters.
A
plush landscape gives a sense of serenity and tranquility. wildlife in the surrounding includes peacock, black swans, turtles, and other animals. The Byodo-In Temple has gained increased popularity as many sequences of famous TV series had been filmed there including: Hawaii Five-O, House of the Rising Sun, ABC series Lost and many others. Various events can be organized at the temple such as weddings, concerts, funerals, classes and so on. The Byodo-In temple is a landmark of Hawaii reflects all of Hawaiian heritage.
Type: Attraction, Cultural, Historic, Temple, Landmark
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- Great for surfing very powerful waves
- Beautiful coral reef, nice for snorkeling
- Swimming
Sunset beach on the north shore of Oahu offers a combination of nice surfing conditions, beautiful sun and soft nice sand at the beach. The sand is golden, and there are palm trees ... morethat line up the beach providing shade. In the summer the water is calm and perfect for swimming and snorkeling. A tide pool also can be seen where people often collect shells and observe marine life. The best place to snorkel is in the offshore tide pool around the protected area of the beach.
The winter period is most active. Many surfers converge to Sunset beach which is a world famous beach. Waves can reach 30 feet high, there are very powerful currents. The currents known as Sunset Rip runs on every big swell. Many well known international surfing competitions take place at the beach. Sunset Beach is not the place for beginners. The powerful current sucks back the water with great force that it could potentially hurl inexperienced surfers deep into the ocean.
Sunset Beach is about 2 miles long not very far to two other popular surfing beaches, Ehukai Beach and the Banzai pipeline. The powerful current is such that you may enter the water in a certain area, and just a few minutes later find yourself further down the beach. There are different amenities including lifeguards. Sunset beach is also a very nice place for watching the sunset, which is also the reason the beach was given the name Sunset Beach.
Features: Bathroom, Lifeguards, Parking, Showers
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- Watching the pipeline
- Riding the pipeline
- Braving the wave
The Banzai Pipeline is well known among surfers and found at Ehukai Beach. It literally is a surfing break that takes the shape of a tube. The reef break occurs when ocean waves start ... moreto break as they reach the
shallows of a reef. They form caverns on the inside, hence creating giant air bubbles that pop in front of the wave as it lurches upward just before breaking.
Four types of waves are associated with the Banzai Pipeline. The most commonly surfed, the left (meaning that the wave breaks from the left from the perspective of persons watching on shore), the peak occurs when the reef is hit by a north swell (the highest tipping point of the wave when it begins to curl). The peak becomes an A-framed wave as the pipe starts to close out a bit and peeling to the left. The Backdoor pipeline is also quite famous and occurs as the pipe is peeling away to the right simultaneously.
The
Banzai Pipeline or simply "Pipeline" or "Pipe" is considered the world's deadliest wave. Many surfers have lost their life trying to ride the wave. The take off zone (the location where the surfer needs to be to catch the wave) is quite small. Many surfers congregate there as it is breaking large. Three reefs activate in progressively deeper waters at Pipeline depending on the increasing size of the approaching ocean swell.
The
name Banzai Pipeline derives from the name of the beach (Banzai Beach) and the surf break (Pipeline) which has been combined. The name Pipeline
was first used in December 1961 as movie producer Bruce Brown filmed at
the location. Mike Diffenderfer, a surfer in the movie production, made
the suggestion to name the break 'Pipeline'. The name was used in Brown's movie "Surfing Hollow Days".
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- Riding some of the biggest waves in the world
- The Kahanamoku Classic Surfing competition
- The O'Neil World Cup of Surfing competition
The north shores of Oahu offers some fantastic opportunities for enjoying various water sports on some of the best beaches in the world. Sunset beach in particular is world famous ... morefor having some of the most monstrous waves that can be surfed upon. Sunset beach is the widest beach on the island of Oahu and spans some two miles in length.
The
surf season generally begins in the winter period, from October through
May. In the summer, the water is calm and mostly enjoyed for swimming.
Surfing at Sunset beach necessitates adequate experience as it can be quite dangerous for inexperienced surfers because of coral formations near the surface that can potentially cause injury. The current is also very powerful that it sucks backwaters with immense power which can potentially pull inexperienced surfers deep into the ocean. The best waves for surfing occurs during the months of December and January. Various contests are held throughout the year such as the O'Neil, World Cup of Surfing competition, or the Duke Kahanamoku Classic Surfing competition.
Many different amenities can be found on the
beach such as showers, restrooms, parking, and vendors selling cold drinks and snacks. Surrounding Sunset beach are attractions, restaurants, galleries, surf shops including the North Shore Surf & Cultural Museum and the North Shore Marketplace.
Features: Bathroom, Equipment rentals, Food for purchase, Lifeguards, Parking, Picnic tables, Showers
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