Windward Coast

As you drive over the sloping Pali Highway, skyscrapers and the sprawling city of Honolulu give way to lush valleys and country landscapes. Exiting the tunnels east of the Koʻolau Mountain Range, it feels as if you’re entering a different world and a turquoise ocean shimmers in the distance. A trip to the Windward Coast reveals a slower-paced side of Oʻahu, and some of the most stunning natural beauty anywhere in Hawaiʻi. 

From Kailua town, you can head in two directions. Go clockwise down the coast to Sea Life Park, Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse and eventually Lēʻahi (Lēʻahi Head) and Waikīkī. Or drive north spend a day exploring the Windward Coast as it winds lazily around the island toward the North Shore, offering interesting stops along the way, like the serene Valley of the Temples, which is home to a stunning Japanese Buddhist temple. 

Driving along the two-lane highway you can't miss Mokoliʻi, the tiny island pointing up from the sea.  Stop at the park and stretch your legs or have a picnic. Just across the highway you’ll find one of Hawaiʻi’s most seen but least-recognized locations: Kuaola Ranch. A generations-old family-owned ranch, its scenic valley has provided the backdrop for countless movies and TV shows, including "Jurassic Park" and "Lost". Fortunately, it’s not just for the stars; visitors can enjoy horseback riding, ziplining, ATV tours and host of other activities. From here, Kamehameha Highway meanders past Kaʻaʻawa (“Ka-ah-ah-vah”), gentle Kahana Bay and around the northernmost tip of the island to Oʻahu’s North Shore, home of the best surf spots in Hawaiʻi—and some say—the world.