Kailua - Place of Temples
Places to visit > Kailua - More in this category > Honolulu > Haleiwa > Hanauma Bay > Kaneohe > North Shore > Pearl City > Pearl Harbor > Sunset Beach > Wahiawa > Waikiki > Sea Park > Honolulu Zoo > WaterfallsKailua, meaning Two Seas, is Hawaii's place of ancient legends. It is said that Kailua was home to a giant that turned into a mountain ridge, the island's first little people known as menehunes and numerous Hawaiian Chiefs. It is true that Kailua was once a favourite dwelling place of many leaders and was the political and economic center for the region. Today Kailua is Eastern Oahu's largest town and an exclusive suburb of Honolulu.
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This shorefront town stretches along Kailua Bay four miles from the Nu'uanu Pali Lookout. Time here is best spent on the beach as Kailua boasts mile and miles of beautiful white sand and turquoise waters. One of the best swimming spots is Kailua Beach County Park which fills the main curve of the bay. Apart from being a terrific beach, this region is one of the most popular in Hawaii for windsurfing. Due to its location on Oahu's windward shore, Kailua Hawaii experiences predominant onshore winds that rip into sails and really get windsurfers moving across the water. Windsurfing equipment and kayaks are available from stalls all along the park.
Kalama Beach, just north of the park, has gentle waves good for bodysurfing. Surfers generally head to Kapoho Point or Zombies at the northern end of Kailua Bay to ride the bigger breaks. The Island offshore is Popoia Island (Flat Island) and is a bird sanctuary. The area around the island is great for sea kayaking and landings on the island are allowed, so have a bit of a walk around. While the beach is a great place to relax and enjoy the tropical sunshine, it is important to remember that the winds can pick up very quickly and leave you feeling a little sand-blasted.
A mile south of Kailua Road is Ulupo Heiau, an ancient temple once used for human sacrifices. It is a low, open platform of rounded lava boulders. According to legend the heiau was constructed by the menehunes (little people) in one night. Fittingly, Ulupo means 'night inspiration'. Many works of stone in Hawaii have been attributed to these characters. In the front of the heiau is an artists rendition of what the site might have looked like before the arrival of Westerners. Ulupo Heiau is one of the greatest links to Hawaii's ancient culture and history.
If you are in the mood to see some extravagant houses, take a drive through Lanikai, east of Kailua Beach. This exclusive residential neighborhood is fronted by a white sandy beach and offers a glimpse into rich local lifestyles.The other islands of Hawaii - Big Island - Kauai - Lanai - Maui - Molokai - Cruises
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