Wahiawa
Places to visit > Wahiawa - More in this category > Honolulu > Haleiwa > Hanauma Bay > Kailua > Kaneohe > North Shore > Pearl City > Pearl Harbor > Sunset Beach > Waikiki > Sea Park > Honolulu Zoo > WaterfallsAll routes through central Oahu pass through Wahiawa. It lies in the heart of the island, near the Schofield Barracks Military Reservation which is the largest army base in Hawaii. Wahiawa means "place of noise" in Hawaiian, and once you wander around the main street you will definitely understand why. This is a GI town, with just about every possible kind of fast food joint, surrounded by tattoo parlours and pawn shops. If you want some rough and tumble excitement be sure not to miss out on the bars along Wahiawa's main drag.
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When you need a time out from 'the noise', take a drive to Wahiawa Botanical Gardens and chill under the shady trees in the blissful silence. In the 1920's the garden was a site for forestry experiments for the Hawaii Sugar Planters Association. Today this 27-acre park is home to shady paths, forested ravines and impressive old trees. Stop and immerse yourself in the tropical forest.
Standing on California Avenue in Wahiawa just opposite the Methodist Church, is a small marble temple. Inside this temple are the once famous Healing Stones. The main stone is said to have been the grave-stone of a powerful Hawaiian Chief. In the 1920's people believed that this stone had healing powers, and so they flocked from all over Hawaii to be near its influence. Today however interest in the stones has waned. Truth be told, the story of the stones is more interesting then the stones themselves. Yet there are still those who believe in their power, so how will you know unless you see them for yourself?
Just north of Wahiawa are another set of holy stones referred to as 'Kukaniloko' or the Royal Birthstones. Once again, the myth is more impressive then the stones themselves. Legend has it that if a woman lay against these stones while giving birth, her child would be blessed by the gods. It so happens that many of Oahu's greatest chiefs were born here, thus proving that not all myths should be taken too lightly.
East of the Kamehameha Highway, about a mile from Wahiawa is the Dole Pineapple Pavilion. This is basically a marketplace selling souvenirs and craft items. But the pineapple is king here. You can buy anything from pineapple juice to pineapple pastries; they even provide boxed pineapples for you to take home. The gardens alongside the pavilion are home to the world's largest maze (according to the Guinness Book of Records). If you want to lose yourself in agriculture take a walk through these extensive fields. The walk can take anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes depending how lost you get! However, the walk can be monotonous so rather just look at the site, save half an hour, and buy a pineapple freeze!
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