After our brief experience of Kailua Beach on Day 9, we had to return for a longer visit. So, bright and early on Day 11, which just happened to be a Saturday, we drove empty roads (rare in Oahu) and made it to Kailua in short order... to find it nearly deserted at 10am on a Saturday! (When we left, we drove south to Lanikai Beach Park, where we found everyone else!) As you can see, K and J had the entire slice of Heaven to themselves while they were out bodysurfing in the very mild waves! If you travel to Oahu, you absolutely have to spend at least 1/2 a day at Kailua Beach. It's an easy 30 minute drive from Waikiki up the Pali Highway and over the mountains, and the scenery is breathtaking.
This photo, taken probably 2 hours after the one above, shows the continued lack of humanity on this jewel of a beach. At no time did we see more than 50 people in either direction, on a beach that is probably 3 miles long!
After a wonderful 5 hours at Kailua (just enough time for me to finally get a sunburn), we headed back, stopping again at the Pali Lookout. This time, the wind was hurricane-force... easily blowing at 80-100 km/h in the big gusts (Ladies, hang on to your hems!). It was a treat to watch people walk down from the parking lot and nearly get bowled over, have a good laugh, and then set themselves up to watch the next unsuspecting victims arrive!
Our last sunset in Waikiki... the sun just moments before it winked out over the horizon... truly a sad and beautiful moment on any vacation.
Two very sad children watch their final sunset in Waikiki, knowing that tomorrow brings a plane ride home, and the next day brings a return to school and real life! Of course, they are already talking about the possibility of going again in 2011!
After our brief experience of Kailua Beach on Day 9, we had to return for a longer visit. So, bright and early on Day 11, which just happened to be a Saturday, we drove empty roads (rare in Oahu) and made it to Kailua in short order... to find it nearly deserted at 10am on a Saturday! (When we left, we drove south to Lanikai Beach Park, where we found everyone else!) As you can see, K and J had the entire slice of Heaven to themselves while they were out bodysurfing in the very mild waves! If you travel to Oahu, you absolutely have to spend at least 1/2 a day at Kailua Beach. It's an easy 30 minute drive from Waikiki up the Pali Highway and over the mountains, and the scenery is breathtaking.
This photo, taken probably 2 hours after the one above, shows the continued lack of humanity on this jewel of a beach. At no time did we see more than 50 people in either direction, on a beach that is probably 3 miles long!
After a wonderful 5 hours at Kailua (just enough time for me to finally get a sunburn), we headed back, stopping again at the Pali Lookout. This time, the wind was hurricane-force... easily blowing at 80-100 km/h in the big gusts (Ladies, hang on to your hems!). It was a treat to watch people walk down from the parking lot and nearly get bowled over, have a good laugh, and then set themselves up to watch the next unsuspecting victims arrive!
Our last sunset in Waikiki... the sun just moments before it winked out over the horizon... truly a sad and beautiful moment on any vacation.
Two very sad children watch their final sunset in Waikiki, knowing that tomorrow brings a plane ride home, and the next day brings a return to school and real life! Of course, they are already talking about the possibility of going again in 2011!
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