Top Things to do in Kailua
The 10 Best Free Things to do in Kailua, Hawaii (HI)
Oahu's Kailua, meaning "two seas" or "two currents," is named after either the two lagoons located on the island or the two currents that run through Kailua Bay. Steady trade winds make Kailua Beach a great windsurfing and kite-flying destination. Kailua Beach Park features pristine white sand and views of the offshore island known as Moko nui or "two islands."
Restaurants in Kailua
1. Kailua Beach Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,987 reviews
Reviewed By Vladimiramirela - Mississauga, Canada
For less experienced and brave swimmers, this is a perfect setting. Close to washroom facilities, with lots of parking within convenient distance and many shaded spots under the trees, this beach offers enough room for everybody to sit or walk around, without feeling crowded, even during the weekend days. The scenery is absolutely breathtaking, with nearby rock formations, and amazingly turquois water. As the slope into the waves is not too steep, even when the ocean is pretty rough, swimming is quite safe. The villages of Kailua and nearby Lanikai also offer many places to eat, have a good coffee or browse for souvenirs. Excellent location!
2. Lanikai Beach
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,992 reviews
Reviewed By Scubaluvr - Coto de Caza, United States
Had a great afternoon at this beach. Cannot imagine how crowded it must be in the summer. Hard to get parking in the side roads. Take an umbrella for shade. Nice for the day
3. Olomana Three Peaks Trail
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 132 reviews
Reviewed By riverbenthic - Los Angeles, United States
Here's the deal - this hike is extremely dangerous. You're risking your life to get a photo on top of the first peak. Past that it get's even riskier. I read all of the reviews before my wife and I hiked it, and came to the faulty conclusion that all of the extreme danger came into play if you went past the first peak and attempted the second and third peaks. That is false. There is a section where you risk your life to make it to the top of the first peak. It is a cool hike, and you get a great workout because it's all uphill. But you end up having to make a ridiculous choice at the end of the hike. There are four or five roped sections because the incline is so steep - nearly vertical in some places. If you fall on one of these sections, there's a high probability that you'll break a bone. Of course, if you hit your head, it could be fatal. That's pretty bad, but just wait... The most dangerous section is at the very, very end. When you're about 20 to 30 feet from the top of the first peak, you have to climb a giant rock section to summit in order to get your picture. It's nearly vertical, and if you would slip and fall, you will die. There is no rope, and the fall is hundreds of feet down. You're on the knife-edge of the ridge, and you have to do short section of straight-up free climbing. It's ridiculously dangerous. Of course, you'll want to risk it to get your picture since you hiked for hours to get there, and you're just about there. And you've seen all of the pics online of the folks who have summited. And you can't get the view and picture from the spot you're in. Maybe there's even some folks coming down from the peak - they did it, so why can't you? So we scaled that section to get the picture, but the whole time I knew that it was stupid and risky. Coming down from the peak is even worse because you can clearly see that you will absolutely die if you slip even once. Your nervousness does not help. Then coming down the roped sections becomes worse too because you can see that you'll break a limb or crack your head open if you fall. The fact that so many people summit the first peak without fatal consequences must show that when your life is on the line, you will tend to rise to the challenge out of an instinctive will to live. But why take that chance for a picture? But make no mistake, you are risking your life and the lives of your family/friends/partner/etc.,... if you do this hike. That last pitch to the first peak should technically only be attempted with a harness, ropes, and a belay partner. It's true rock-climbing with deadly consequences. Obviously, we made it back o.k but I told myself that I'd write a review to warn others that you do indeed have to risk your life to summit the first peak. It's just stupid. Attempting the second and third peaks is even more dangerous. Google Olomana Trail/Olomana Mountain to read all of the stories of people losing their lives or having to be rescued with helicopters. There are other hikes on Oahu that give you spectacular views of the ocean from up high. Even though it's also an intense workout to get to the top of the other hikes, you don't have to risk death to get the picture and have a great day. I would recommend choosing one of the pillbox hikes instead. We did those too, and I think that the pictures are even better. (I rated this hike with five stars in the hope that more people would read it).
4. Kailua Farmers Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 165 reviews
Like the more famous Saturday market at Diamond Head, this market features amazing foods and the nicest people -- very full of aloha!
Reviewed By 798tammyc - Boston, United States
A moderate sized farmers market on Sunday mornings with decent selection of produce, prepared foods, coffee, flowers, skin care and women’s clothing. There’s plenty of parking when we got there at 9am. Had breakfast at the crepe place - island special for $9 with bacon, avocado, tomatoes, pesto sauce. Many of the vendors also make the rounds at Kakaako (Saturday morning) and Blaisdell (Wednesday evening). The market is in walking vicinity of Whole Foods, Longs and other local shops and restaurants. Worthwhile to check it out while you’re there.
5. Muumuu Heaven
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 26 reviews
Reviewed By Sacklunch5 - Bellevue, United States
The ladies working here were so much fun; I wanted to hang out with them longer! I bought a pair a fun colorful earrings that I would only buy in Hawaii. Cute, small shop. There’s a chocolate store across the street too but we didn’t have time to stop—it looked good though.
6. Lanikai Pillboxes
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 916 reviews
Reviewed By jamesml2018 - Luzerne County, United States
Have done this hike a few times. Parking can be a challenge, as it’s street parking. The entrance is well marked, and the onset is up a dirt hill which can be tricky when wet. It opens up to an amazing view of Lani Kai and the bay, and from there you follow the exposed ridge to the pill boxes. Some steep area with poor footing, with loose first and rocks. This first part is often crowded, and then end point for many folks. You can continue on through brush and tress, partly covered, but exposed areas continue with amazing views of Kailua, Waimānalo, and the Ko’olaus. The descent to Kano Kai Drive is via a gulley and requires careful navigation, due to loose rocks. There are branches to use to hold onto.
7. Kalapawai Historic Market
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 32 reviews
Reviewed By VictoriaRez
We stopped off for a spot of lunch - yummy freshly made sandwiches, freshly squeezed orange juice & homemade banana bread. There is seating inside and outside too for eating and resting before/after the beach!
8. Kalama Beach Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 156 reviews
Reviewed By Woody0675
This is a beautiful family-friendly beach with restrooms & outside showers to rinse off. Parking is limited, so you may have to wait a few minutes for someone to leave. I would definitely recommend this beach :)
9. Manoa Chocolate Hawaii
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 153 reviews
Reviewed By SailorGirl74 - Kaneohe, United States
I had the opportunity to visit Manoa Chocolate Factory, thanks to Groupon. What a treat! Our guide was super knowledgeable and friendly, and she made the visit such fun! Learned a lot about the history of chocolate and how it's made, and got to try samples of their chocolate tea and all their craft chocolates (the Breakfast Bar sprinkled with Kona coffee beans and Cocoa nibs really is amazing). Highly recommended! However, get there a little early... parking is awful.
10. Madre Chocolate
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 22 reviews
At Madre Chocolate, our quest to make truly amazing chocolate is driven by a passion to inspire greater appreciation among consumers for the rich cultural heritage and ecological diversity surrounding cacao. We aim for our selection of organic, fair trade chocolate bars to connect chocolate-eaters directly to the source, and in doing so to contribute to the well-being of cacao farmers and their communities. Our chocolate is carefully made bean-to-bar in Honolulu, Hawaii from lightly processed cacao that preserve many healthy antioxidants while still providing a rich, deep flavor you can enjoy while feeling good. In most other chocolate, fermenting and roasting the cacao destroys many of the antioxidants. We also use many high-antioxidant fruit and spice flavors that are traditional ingredients of the Aztec, Maya, and Olmec tribes that invented chocolate, to both preserve their cultural heritage and give you that original taste.
Reviewed By psudino - Weehawken, United States
We found the Madre Chocolate stand at the Kapiʻolani Community College Farmer's Market after our sunrise Diamond Head hike. I'm so glad that the gentleman working there got our attention because talking with him was a treat. His passion for the chocolate was contagious. He gave us a variety of samples of the bars and the chocolate shell tea and my wife and I were hooked. In particular, the Nine Fine Mynahs and Horchata Bar are outstanding, with the former being among the best chocolate I've ever tasted, ever. It's rich flavor was just outstanding.
