hawaii | oahu's windward side

After a week in Waikiki for Larry's business meetings, we were finally able to escape the touristy area of Oahu and head to the windward side for a week of vacation...and to get married!


The windward side is the eastern side of the island. It is gorgeous. There are amazing views of the Ko'olau Range, of rocky cliffs that drop off into the Pacific, and of the clear blue ocean and uninhabited islands. There are beautiful beaches for swimming and paddling. The windward side is also very...windy.

The drive from the southern side of the island around Makapu'u Point (Oahu's easternmost point) and to the windward side is a breathtaking experience. The best views seemed to be from the car and were impossible to capture with my camera - the rapidly changing landscape just has to be experienced.






Our accommodations for the second week were in the suburban town of Kailua. We were lucky enough to score a beachfront apartment that included a view of the ocean from our bedroom window. The house was located on a rocky lava beach just south of Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kaneohe. (Fun fact: Kaneohe means "Bamboo Man." Awesome. Sounds like a superhero!)

While this definitely wasn't a swimming beach (unless you have a death wish), we had a great view of the impressive plumes of sea spray that crashed against the lava shelf and sent sea water rocketing higher than the house. It was quite a theatrical performance by Mother Nature, and another experience that just couldn't be adequately captured with megapixels.





After checking out our accommodations and walking down the beach, we had our first meal in Kailua at Buzz's Steakhouse...a delicious dinner that almost ended in disaster...