Oahu Areas

May 20th, 2004

The Leeward Side
The West Side of the island is normally hot and dry. My favorite community in this area is Ewa Beach, which will offer you good values on vacation rentals, and a long, sandy, mostly-local beach. A few of the military bases along this side have recently closed leaving open access to empty beaches.

Central Oahu
This is the area of Schofield Barracks, Mililani, and Wahiawa. The areas at elevation will be a little cooler than the rest of the island. Not many people choose to rent lodging here, because it is not near the ocean. You may pass through the area if you visit the Dole Plantation or go over the KoleKole Pass.

The North Shore
The surfing capital of the world is truly astounding to look at. The towns are small, the waves are big, and the scenery is gorgeous. If you are not a surfer, you should still visit the area, just to see it. If you are on Oahu in the winter (December to about May) go just to see the 40-foot waves pound the sand. Good lodging prices found here - check areas like Haleiwa and Waialua. If you see a shrimp truck, a shave ice (snow cone) van, or a fruit and vegetable stand on the side of the road, stop and support the local economy at fantastic prices.

Windward Oahu
These are the bustling towns of Kailua, Lanikai, and Kaneohe. These are residential areas with world-class beaches and lots of ocean-front vacation rentals. Since it is relatively close to the Honolulu area, without the crowds, many people choose to stay here. These days, though, Kailua Beach is becoming almost as crowded as Waikiki Beach. This is also the area where those small islands you can wade or kayak to are just offshore. You may get a little more rain on this side, but you will also get nice ocean breezes to keep you comfortably cool.

The South Shore
Honolulu, Waikiki, Diamond Head, and Pearl City make up this area. Waikiki has something like 30,000 hotel rooms for rent, and Honolulu is where all the jobs are, so the area can get pretty crowded. Waikiki Beach is big, but it quickly fills up every day. If you want a nightlife and easy access to lots of sights and attractions - this is the place to be. It doesn't rain much and Waikiki offers something for everyone.