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

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Kukaniloko Birthing Stones

Bloodlines were all-important to ancient Hawaiians. In royal birthing areas like this, the upright stones served as support for the chiefly mother and also as chairs for the attendant priests and relatives, on hand to testify to the child’s lineage.
Kuli’ou’ou Beach Park

This family-friendly park on Maunalua Bay offers perfect picnic sites, restrooms, views and, at low tide, the opportunity for novice kayakers to take to the water. From Kalaniana’ole, turn right on Kuli’ou’ou Road, left on Summer Street and right again on Bay, which comes to a dead end in a parking lot.
Kū’ilioloa Heiau

This sacred site on Kāne’ilio Point is believed to have been a blessing point for travelers arriving and departing by canoe. Its name refers to a dog-god who protected voyagers.
Lanikai

Developed as a beach retreat in the 1920s, Lanikai (reached by a beach road south of Kailua) is one of the most sought-after addresses on O’ahu. The neighborhood remains tight-knit, hosting community plays and an exceptional pre-Christmas craft fair.
Mākaha Beach

Mākaha (“fierce” in Hawaiian) lives up to its name, with high surf and a runoff pond behind the beach that periodically breaks through the sand bar and rushes into the bay. In the old days, it was infamous for a group of bandits who terrorized the area. Today, with the exception of when the surf is high, this is a safe beach for swimming.

Mākaha Beach
Makapu’u Beach Park

This park contains some of O’ahu’s beloved landmarks – the beach (a bodysurfer’s mecca), the nearby lighthouse, and the shore trail. Just over the rocks is “baby beach,” where pools are safe for children’s play. Manana – better known as Rabbit Island – is a dramatic landmark offshore.
Malaekahana Bay State Recreation Area

This mile-and-a-bit of curving sandy beach is distinguished by bare-bones beach homes available for rent, a reef that keeps the inshore waters calm, and Goat Island, a wild and beautiful place that can be reached on foot at low tide; be sure to wear beach shoes.
Maunalua Bay Beach Park

This sun-baked park has picnic tables, restrooms, and some grassy areas for play. It’s a launching point for excursions onto Maunalua Bay, from outrigger canoe paddling and water skiing to fishing, diving, and snorkeling trips.
North Shore Surf & Cultural Museum

Opened and operated as a labor of love, this small network of rooms displays surfing collectibles, including such esoterica as Boscoe Burns’ board-glassing shoes – practically unrecognizable under layers of multi-colored wax – as well as boards, aloha shirts, and trophies. Surf movies spool in a back room.
Nu’uanu Cultural District

Also known as Gallery Row, this area is a blended community of shops, restaurants, theaters, churches, and bars between downtown and Chinatown proper. The best time to get a sense of its rich life is on the first Friday evening of each month, when galleries and boutiques celebrate Art Night and stay open until 9pm, offering wine and pūpū (snacks), music, and opportunities to meet the artists. Even if your timing is off, you can pick up a Gallery Walk self-guided tour map at any area gallery.