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- Beautiful coral reef and abundance of marine life
- Snorkeling
- Swimming & sunbathing
Hanauma Bay Beach Park on the southern shores of Oahu was named the best beach in the United State in 2004. The beach is a protected cove with a stretch of white sand and tall palm ... moretrees. Because of the shape of the bay, the water is mostly kept calm providing ideal conditions for swimming and snorkeling and also making it very accommodating for kids of all ages. No surfing or body boarding is allowed on the beach.
The curved bay had been declared a protected marine wildlife conservation area and underwater park in 1967. A rich coral reef extends throughout the cove and into deeper water. The marine life is diverse and abundant, making snorkeling and scuba diving, particularly fun and exciting. As a protected site, visitors watch a short video of the bay's history and wildlife before entering the beach. The bay floor is the crater of an ancient volcano that flooded as the exterior walls collapsed letting the ocean water rush in.
The bay is often full and finding parking can sometimes be difficult. Most amenities can be found at the beach. Gift shops also provide the opportunity for obtaining souvenir. Non-Hawaiian residents have to pay an entrance charge of $7.50 dollar, which is waived for Hawaiian residents, children under 12 and active military persons. Opening hours of the beach is at 6:00 am daily with the exception of Tuesdays when the beach is closed.
As a protected marine conservation area, no fishing is permitted neither is it allowed alcohol on the beach or intervening with the marine life. The sun is quite blistering at the beach therefore it is recommended having sun glasses, sun cream and other such items.
Type: Beach, Geological Feature
Features: Bathroom, Drinking water, Equipment rentals, Food for purchase, Lifeguards, Lockers / storage, Parking, Picnic tables, Showers, Wheelchair access
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- Strong trade wind that can sweep you of your feet
- Very beautiful panoramic scenery
- Fantastic picnic area
Located about a 5 mile drive from downtown Honolulu, Nu'uanu Pali lookout offers one of the best scenic views of O'ahu. At a height of a 985 foot cliff of the Koolau Mountain Range, ... moreKing Kamehameha defeated the O'ahu army in 1795 on that location. It includes breathtaking views of Kanoehe Bay, Chinaman's Hat, and Hawaii Pacific. The location has also made history in the Hawaiian Kingdom struggle, and offers visitors a thrilling experience with strong trade winds that can sweep you off your feet and great panoramic scenery.
Since ancient times to present day, Nu'uanu Pali has been vital as the traversal section that connects the leeward side, and Honolulu to the windward side. Settlers made villages and populated the Nu'uanu valley for thousands of years. Of importance is also the Nu'uanu reservoir. It consists of small bodies of water that have various species of catfish. The river bed offers great opportunity for picnicking.
Stories told include superstitious tales that two black stones near the Nu'uanu Valey represent a pair of goddesses who are guardians of the passage down Pali. Visitors often left flowers to ensure a safe passage, and parents buried their new born umbilical cord for protection against evil.
The landscape is made up of big trees and dense forest. The terrace thousands of feet above the Oahu coastline, at occasions covered with clouds, overlooks areas of Kanoehe and Kailua. The University of Hawaii marine biology research center and Coconut Island are also visible. Continuing through the Pali tunnel, you can reach Windward Oahu and either to the beach town of Kailua or toward Kaneohe.
Type: Scenic Lookout, Scenic Road
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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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- 2 mile Scenic Hike
- 500 foot Climb in Elevation
- Ocean looks Turquoise from Here
Located within the 38-acre Makapuʻu Point State Wayside
Park, is the Makapu'u Lookout. The trail leads from the former Coast Guard
residential area to the summit on a relatively easy ... moresandy path.
From the summit, visitors can watch for
whales from November to April using the provided telescope or their own
binoculars. If it is a clear day, it is sometimes possible to see the blowholes
on Makapu’u Head’s rocky shore from the summit. On almost any clear day,
visitors can see magnificent sea cliffs, Visitors can also often see Makapu’u
Beach Park, Rabbit Island, and Kaohikaipu Island.
Visitors to the park can also take another
short hike to see the Makapu’u Lighthouse. This path starting near the same
trailhead also offers stunning views of the Pacific Ocean.
Type: Hike, Scenic Lookout, Landmark
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- Queen Emma's possession
- Exploring the estate
- Souvenir shop
Hānaiakamalama is located in the Nu'uanu Valley. It long used to be a popular retreat for the Hawaiian royal family. Queen Emma of Hawaii and her husband, King Kamehameha IV, Prince ... moreAlbert Edward and their son often sought refuge there between 1857 and 1885 particularly for enjoying the upper climate of the upland.
Now known as Queen Emma Summer Palace, it has become an historic landmark, a museum, and a popular tourist attraction. It can be reached for less than a minutes drive from
outside Honolulu.
The
frame of the home had been built in Boston and shipped to Hawaii in 1848. The house was built on a property bought by John Lewis from the Hawaiian government. It included six rooms, a story and a porch. Two years after its completion, the home was purchased by John Young for $6000. He Kept the estate until 1857 after which he gave it to his niece, Queen Emma. In 1869, Queen Emma refurbished the home and added a
large room at the rear of the structure. The property was then purchased by the government of Hawaii after Queen Emma's death. A plan was made to build a basketball court, but the Daughters of Hawaii purchased the site with the aim of restoring it and keeping it as a monument to Hawaii's history.
The estate sits on 2.16 acres. The surrounding landscape is full of native plants. The estate is a museum which displays Queen Emma's possessions and those of her husband, King Kamehameha IV, and their son, Prince Albert Edward, as well as that of other Hawaiian royals.
The estate features, an entrance hall, front bedroom - which originally was a dining room, a parlor, a cloakroom, a back bedroom, a center hall, and the Edinburgh room which had been built by Queen Emma. Photographs are not allowed inside the estate, but visitors can obtain various items for souvenir from the gift
shop. The estate is listed on the National Register as an historic landmark.
Type: Attraction, Cultural, Historic, Museum, Landmark
Features: Bathroom, Parking
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