DK Travel : Honolulu & O’ahu : Places of interest

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Kahana Bay Beach Park/Kahana Valley

This deep, green valley is state-owned watershed land, fronted by an eight-acre city and county park. The park has a sandy beach, bathrooms, picnic tables, lots of chickens (escaped fowl are ubiquitous all along this coast) and the remnants of two fishponds. Watch for fishermen wading out to catch akule (big-eyed scad).
Kahuna (Wizard) Stones

The four misshapen slabs at Kūhiā Beach represent four mysterious historical figures called Kapaemahu (“people of a changeable nature”). These men came to Hawai’i from abroad and lived with the islanders, curing and educating them. The stones were erected in their memory and have since occupied various locations, currently gathered at the beach formerly known as Ulukou.
Kailua

This country-chic town consists of a few blocks of shops and restaurants, peaceful ’60s-era neighborhoods, and a string of popular beaches. Park along Kailua Road and explore on foot to find interesting gift and clothing shops, and the “antiques corner” at Kailua Road and Hamakua Drive.

The beach at Kailua
Kaka’ako Waterfront Park

Honolulu’s newest park – in its most-changed neighborhood on the waterfront between Sand Island and Ala Moana Beach Park – offers grassy knolls, views from ’Ewa to Diamond Head, picnic pavilions, a walking path, and a chance to watch the surfers up close at the infamous Point Panic.
Kāne’ākī Heiau

Located in a lush, park-like setting at the back of Mākaha Valley, this superbly preserved and restored sacred site was once a benign agricultural temple for the god Lono. It became a luakini (temple of human sacrifice) when Kamehameha I used the area as a gathering point for his troops while preparing for battle with Kaua’i.
Kapi’olani Bandstand

The current, vaguely Victorian stone structure – a spacious circular stage with a peaked roof held up by a series of pillars – is the fourth incarnation of a band-stand first built in the 1880s. It’s a popular venue for concerts and often used for informal jam sessions.
Ka’ena Point

This sprawling state park begins at the abrupt and muddy end of Farrington Highway and takes you along a wild, boulder-strewn shoreline to the dunes at O’ahu’s westernmost tip. This is said to be where the souls of the dead leapt into the afterlife. It’s a broiling hot 2.5-hour hike (Ka’ena means “the heat”), but worth it for the beauty of the landscape and the whales you can spot in season. Take sunscreen, water, hat, and sturdy walking shoes.
Kualoa Ranch

The valley and rolling hillsides of Kualoa were once a sacred place of refuge, then passed to missionary descendants from royal hands. Today, it is a working cattle ranch, as well as a park where visitors can enjoy equestrian experiences (see Kualoa Ranch Horse Trails). The ranch has also been hired as a movie set, appearing in films such as Jurassic Park and Windtalkers .

Kualoa Ranch
Kualoa Regional Park

This flat, windy park, with its narrow sandy beach and shallow inshore ponds, is fantastic for kite-flying, snorkeling, launching watercraft, picnicking, and camping (by permit). The clearly visible peak sitting on the ocean (sometimes known as the China-man’s Hat) is the island of Mokoli’i (see Mokoli’i (Chinaman’s Hat)).

Kualoa Regional Park

The beach at Kualoa Regional Park
Kūhiō Beach

Once known as Hamohamo, this area was the location of Pualeilani, the beach home of Queen Kapi’olani and later her adopted son, Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana’ole, a delegate to the U.S. Congress. During his lifetime he opened the beach near his home to the public, and left it to the city when he died.

Kūhiō Beach