Things to do in Oahu's Windward Coast, Oahu: The Best Nature & Parks

November 24, 2021 Diedre Savory

Discover the best top things to do in Oahu's Windward Coast, United States including Waipuhia Falls, Makai Research Pier, Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens, Kane'ohe Bay, Waimanalo Beach, Kailua Beach Park, Makapu'u Beach, Lanikai Beach, Kokololio Beach Park, Olomana Three Peaks Trail.
Restaurants in Oahu's Windward Coast Bed and Breakfast Inns

1. Waipuhia Falls

Kaneohe, Oahu, HI http://kenjisaito.com/moole-and-waipuhia-falls
Excellent
75%
Good
25%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 8 reviews

Waipuhia Falls

2. Makai Research Pier

41-305 Kalanianaole Hwy, Waimanalo, Oahu, HI 96795-1806
Excellent
83%
Good
8%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
0%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

5.0 based on 12 reviews

Makai Research Pier

3. Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens

45-680 Luluku Rd, Kaneohe, Oahu, HI 96744-1855 +1 808-233-7323 [email protected] http://www.honolulu.gov/parks/trees-gardens/honolulu-botanical-gardens.html?id=569:ho#96;omaluhia-botanical-garden&catid=182:site-dpr-cat&Itemid=2069
Excellent
58%
Good
33%
Satisfactory
7%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 380 reviews

Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens

A 200 acre botanical garden.

Reviewed By 87EdS - Birmingham, United States

Wonderful gardens, well maintained and laid it. Hiking is awesome for neophytes all the way to experienced folk. Well worth your time; fascinating collection of tropical plants.

4. Kane'ohe Bay

Kaneohe, Oahu, HI
Excellent
70%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
6%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 135 reviews

Kane'ohe Bay

Reviewed By Tivi50 - Bolton, United Kingdom

Worth a visit! Absolutely beautiful - caution re swimming though as there are sharks at some times of the year

5. Waimanalo Beach

41 Kalanianaole Hwy, Waimanalo, Oahu, HI 96795-1299
Excellent
72%
Good
21%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
2%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 715 reviews

Waimanalo Beach

A large beach in Oahu.

Reviewed By gbmir3 - Houston, United States

Incredibly beautiful beach, with soft sand, great waves and beautiful clear blue water. Plenty of room, very uncrowned even on State holiday.

6. Kailua Beach Park

526 Kawailoa Road, Kailua, Oahu, HI 96734 [email protected] http://www.facebook.com/gokailuabeach
Excellent
72%
Good
23%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,987 reviews

Kailua Beach Park

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!

7. Makapu'u Beach

41-095 Kalanianaole Hwy, Waimanalo, Oahu, HI 96795-1808
Excellent
71%
Good
26%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 320 reviews

Makapu'u Beach

Stretching more than 1,000 yards of sandy shoreline, this spot is considered the premier bodysurfing beach in Hawaii.

Reviewed By momoftwoboysnc

Enjoyed body surfing the big waves and exploring the area surrounding the beach, water shoes are a must.

8. Lanikai Beach

Kailua, Oahu, HI 96734
Excellent
75%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
1%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 2,992 reviews

Lanikai Beach

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

9. Kokololio Beach Park

55-017 Kamehameha Hwy, Hauula, Oahu, HI 96762-1109
Excellent
69%
Good
28%
Satisfactory
3%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 32 reviews

Kokololio Beach Park

Reviewed By 646lorit - Dawsonville, United States

We stayed in a guest home near this beach, so we were fortunate to be able to stroll the beach at sunrise, watching the waves break near shore. It is stunning. The white sandy beach is easy to walk, and I found some interesting wave polished stones, coral, and even a sand dollar. One morning we saw an endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal just basking in the sun on the beach. Unfortunately, like other beaches on Oahu, this beach has a certain amount of trash brought in by the ocean or left by the homeless people. Still, I recommend this beautiful beach which is much less crowded than others.

10. Olomana Three Peaks Trail

770 Auloa Rd, Kailua, Oahu, HI 96734-4648
Excellent
67%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
3%
Terrible
3%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 132 reviews

Olomana Three Peaks Trail

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).

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