Windward Coast Overview

An exuberant wind blows across the Kamehameha Highway and along the Windward Coast of Oahu. The roads that run around the misty Koolau Mountains and up the rural eastern edge of the island are chaotic, but they promise a scenic cruise from Honolulu to the North Shore. You’ll pass through a wide range of sights, from small towns like Lanikai and Laie, to roadside rooster fights, hidden hiking trails, and miles of unspoiled beaches. Kailua, the major tourist destination of the Windward Coast, lures visitors with a pristine white sand beach, brilliant turquoise bay, first-class windsurfing, and fine cuisine, all within shouting distance of Honolulu. Kaneohe is the starting point for sightseeing tours along the coast and North Shore. The smaller settlements along Kamehameha Hwy. add distinctive beauty, and the terrain varies from rugged mountain to barren oceanscape, rainy valley to sunlit beach.

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