Windward Coast
Windward Coast: Green Mountains, Beach Towns & Local Discoveries
4 min read
The Side of Oʻahu Most Visitors Miss
The windward coast — the green, rain-fed side of the island facing Kāneʻohe Bay — is one of the most beautiful and least-visited parts of Oʻahu. Kailua town has excellent restaurants, good coffee, and a beach that consistently ranks among the finest in the state.
The KCC Farmers Market on Saturday mornings is a genuine local institution — vendors selling Kona coffee, fresh fruit, prepared foods, and flowers, with a crowd that's mostly residents rather than tourists. It's one of the best ways to spend a Saturday morning on the island.
The windward coast is worth exploring whether or not you stay here. It's an easy drive from Honolulu, and the contrast — from city energy to green mountains and quiet beach towns — is part of what makes it memorable.
Kailua Beach on the windward coast — one of the finest beaches in the state, and a favorite of locals.
Photos by Rei An / COULTOUR
Kāneʻohe, Kailua & Waimānalo
Kāneʻohe is the gateway to the windward coast — a residential town with a beautiful bay, the lush Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden, and the Byodo-In Temple, a replica of a 900-year-old Japanese temple set against the Ko'olau mountains.
Kailua is the windward coast's most visited town, and for good reason. The beach is exceptional — wide, white, and rarely crowded, with calm water ideal for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. The town itself has good coffee, excellent restaurants, and a relaxed pace that rewards a slow morning.
Waimānalo, further south, is one of the most beautiful and least-visited stretches of coastline on the island — a long, quiet beach backed by the Ko'olau mountains, with a genuinely local character.
REI AN · COULTOUR
The Oʻahu I Call Home
I first visited Oʻahu in 2013. In 2021, I returned for graduate school — and today, I live in Kailua.
Living here has changed my relationship with the island. I still love arriving in Honolulu, but what makes this place home now includes friendships, familiar faces, and the everyday pleasure of connecting with people.
Oʻahu feels like a small big city to me: diverse and interesting, with communities where a smile can become a joke, a conversation, a chance to talk story. Coming from Taiwan, I've found something meaningful in that sense of welcome.
I'm still learning about the island, and still adding to my pocket list. Those small discoveries are part of what I bring to planning your trip.
My Little Black Book
Windward coast favorites worth knowing.
Kailua Beach
The finest beach on the windward coast — wide, white, and rarely crowded. Excellent for kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding.
Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden
Kāneʻohe. One of the most beautiful gardens in Hawaiʻi, set against the dramatic Ko'olau mountains. Free to enter.
Byodo-In Temple
A replica of a 900-year-old Japanese temple in the Valley of the Temples, Kāneʻohe. Peaceful and worth the visit.
Waimānalo Beach
One of the most beautiful and least-visited stretches of coastline on the island. Quiet, long, and genuinely local.
Explore the Windward Coast
I can help you plan a day trip or build a stay around the green side of the island.