There's just so much to see and do on Oahu besides Honolulu and Wakiki! Oahu vacation rentals are your best bet to explore the fascinating attractions which Oahu offers, such as Windward Oahu along the Kamehameha Highway. In Hawaii, windward refers to the eastern side of an island and leeward the western side. The prevailing winds in Hawaii blow east to west as opposed to the mainland where winds tend to blow west to east. Windward Oahu is the part of Oahu north of Makapuu Point all the way to Kahana Bay. The Kalanianaole Highway and Kamehameha Highway are the main roads that will take you close to all of the attractions on Windward Oahu. As you drive north on the Kalanianaole Highway past Makapuu Beach Park on your right and Rabbit and Turtle Islands off the shore, you will first come to Sea Life Park on your left. Much more commercialized than the Waikiki Aquarium, Sea Life Park is, nevertheless, a great place for a family outing. It's 300,000 gallon Hawaiian Reef Tank is filled with more than 2,000 species of fish. Other exhibits feature penguins, sea birds, sea lions, and the Whaler's Cove which is home to the park's dolphins and whales. With ongoing shows throughout the day, Sea Life Park remains one of Oahu's most popular attractions.
As you wind your way north from where you rent house Oahu and eventually come to the Kamehameha Highway, watch for the Kahekili Highway. The Kahekili Highway parallels the Kamehameha Highway but is a bit inland. If you take this road you will come to the Valley of Temples and the Byodo-In Temple. This temple is a precise replica in concrete of a 900 year old temple in Uji, Japan. The grounds of the temple are lovely. Chances are you'll see a wedding either going on or about to begin. After you rejoin the Kamehameha Highway you'll come to the intersection of Pulama Road. Up the road to the left you'll find the plantation and gardens of Senator Hiram Fong, which was opened to the public in 1988. Proceeding north on the Kamehameha Highway you will pass Mokolii Island, more popularly known as Chinaman's Hat, for obvious reasons. Before you reach the town of Laie and the North Shore of Oahu, you'll come to Kualoa Ranch. Most famous for the scene in Jurassic Park where actor Sam Neill runs for his life to escape a stampede of dinosaurs, Kualoa Ranch is not well known to most visitors. The ranch offers over 15 outdoor activities including ATVs, target shooting, helicopter rides and a ranch and movie set tour. Many choose just to relax at Secret Island, the ranch's secluded beach.
On Oahu's North Shore, apart from the amazing beaches where some of the world's largest surfing competitions are held annually, the area from Laie to Haleiwa is best known for two major attractions, the Polynesian Cultural Center and Waimea Valley Adventure Park. In Laie you will find the Polynesian Cultural Center, Hawaii's most popular privately owned attraction. Here you will find re-created villages of seven Polynesian cultures, Fiji, the Marquesas, New Zealand, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga and Hawaii. Representatives of these island cultures share their culture, their art and their dance. Activities abound at the Polynesian Cultural Center. The afternoon canoe pageant is a popular attraction as is the evening luau and show. If a drive to Laie is too far for you, there are many tour companies offering round trip bus transportation and admission from your hotel in Waikiki. After rounding the northern tip of Oahu, the Kamehameha Highway eventually makes its way to the town of Waimea, home to Waimea Valley Adventure Park. Owned the same company that runs Sea Life Park, Waimea Valley Adventure Park offers displays of cliff diving, hula, Hawaiian music as well as a nature center and adventure center including paintball and mountain biking. When planning your Oahu vacation, whether seeking a Hawaii villa, condo, or beachfront rental, call on the Hawaii experts - us! - for the latest information on the most popular Oahu attractions.
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