Reminder to self if you every get lost and start to notice you are going in circles, DO NOT PANIC!…read more The smarter thing to do is to leave a trail of bread crumbs. Lol. Thank goodness I was with a group when I first visited the Kaniakapupu Ruins. We were feeling a little adventurous so headed to the ruins from the Lulumalu hike parking area. We ventured off into the thick thick bamboo forest. The route we took initially had a path to follow then it eventually disappears. When we got there, the site was well worth the journey of getting lost. The ruins are breathtaking in its own way. This was once the summer palace for royalty so when you visit appreciate the beauty, respect this historic site, and don't take anything from the site. Kaniakapupu Ruins is one of Oahu's best kept secrets and should be enjoyed by all.

It's one of Oahu's best kept secret (only because direction to this place is difficult for most…read morepeople)! At this point I'm pondering whether or not I should post directions...so if you can make it to here based on my directions, kudos to you! If not, it just wasn't meant to be. Nestled discreetly in the heart of Nu'uanu Valley lies Kaniakapupu Ruins. Through the bamboo forest and amidst the shady, grown trees sits what used to be the summer home of King Kamehameha III. What remains is a couple of walls, a stone walkway and an outdoor kitchen. This place is considered sacred for many Hawaiians. Even if you are a non-believer in spirits and such, you would be wowed by the presence of something spiritually powerful and present there. Allow yourself to quiet your soul a bit and you will feel what many believe to be a strong "mana," or spiritual energy. I walked around the ruins and gasped at the thought of having 10,000 people gather at this place many, many years ago and I felt a strong energy around me, untouchable and unseen but nonetheless harmless and powerful. I got goosebumps (or as locals say, "chicken skin") all up and down my back, neck and arms. The peacefulness and serenity of the surrounding forest lends to the magical feeling I felt. There are many directions of how to arrive at the Ruins, however the most accurate one was that from fellow yelper Eric Robert R. - Get on Pali Hwy - Get on Old Pali Road - Look for a small looking type water plant/bldg. **Now the difficult part - the opening to the trail is opposite the water bldg; discreet and well hidden to the passerby. It's an opening in the bamboo forest - refer to the pictures on YELP if needed. If you stay on the (main/obvious) trail - you will hit a waterfall and stream. The trail does not have an obvious fork in the road, however if you veer onto the trail on the left you will see a worn path, stay on that path and trek a short 10 minutes. The forest opens up and therein lies the enchanted Kaniakapupu Ruins. This is more of a "nature walk" rather than a hike. Expect it to be really muddy and "sticky" after the rains and always apply mosquito repellent prior, as the mosquitos here are quite hungry. As with any local historical site, DO NOT disturb the building, rocks and plants here. It truly is a beauty and the historical value is priceless. There is something very special about this summer home that words alone cannot describe. This walk is perfect for children and for the novice hiker or nature enthusiast. I'm told that large groups are discouraged from coming here however, upon exiting the trail we did see a small tour bus full of tourist congregating to commence the walk. I don't know about you but I'm a little selfish when it comes to things like sharing "treasures" with the general tourist population aka large groups only because you cannot assure that the "treasure" will not be destroyed. I'd venture to say that it'll be just a matter of time before attempts to preserve this gem on a larger scale is realized.

Off the beaten path, sits an ancient treasure, the Ulupo Heiau Historic Site. A massive rock…read morefoundation is the remnant of a sacred rock temple/platform that would have been important to Hawaiian chiefs for hundreds of years. Faded plaques near the site tell pieces of the story. The construction of the temple was supposedly by mythical people named "menehunes", who could build such temples overnight. The original temple would have measured a massive 140 x 170 feet and had walls 30 feet high. Construction is mind boggling, indeed. My math figures that over a million rocks were carried to the site. The Heiau was most likely used to oversee agricultural fields and fish ponds below by the chief or kahuna. Kailua (the town below) was once an agricultural capital on Oahu. In later years, the Heiau may have been used to oversee war efforts. The address is the parking lot of a YMCA. Go around the building to find the site. There is no admission, just a request to not remove any of the sacred stones. There are no amenities. The site could stand renovation of plaques. There are several benches under large shade trees to sit and think about Hawaiian ancestors that would have used the site. Worth a short visit if near Kailua. I was moved by the wondrous effort to build such a site.

This was really interesting to see and, since it's hidden behind a YMCA, it is not something one…read morewould just stumble upon. I couldn't believe how big it was! The signs explaining the history were helpful in getting to know more about the structure itself and about Hawaii as a whole.

Our tour guide Billy was amazing. Very knowledgeable about everything on the tour. Highly…read morerecommended this.

We had a great time with Lui. His knowledge of the history of the events of December 7 are…read moreexcellent. His knowledge of the history of the USS Missouri are interesting and engaging. We were loathe to hire a service to take us to Pearl Harbor, but I can say that in hindsight, it was a great experience. We had eight total people on our tour. I never felt rushed or as if I was going to miss something. This was my first time to Hawaii and I wanted to do all the "touristy" things. I can say, unequivocally, that our day with Lui and the Keawe adventures rates right at the top of our experience on Oahu. I actually felt sorry for the tourists on those huge buses. I also want to thank Lui for listening to my few stories...not sure he bought them...but they were true. Great guide. Great time.

The Wilson Tunnels are two lanes of highway passing through the Koolau Range getting to and from…read moreKaneohe. It's named after former Honolulu Mayor, John H. Wilson. The City and County of Honolulu spent $12M on the highway and tunnels. Construction began in 1954 and opened in 1960. Sometimes there's mad traffic during peak hours. My ears will pop going through the tunnels. There's nice greenery on both sides of the highway leading up to the tunnels.

The connection to Kaneohe…read more.. Who's John H Wilson...a former Honolulu Mayor which is more known as The Wilson Tunnels as it provides two lanes each direction taking us on an easy drive to and from Kaneohe though I'm not sure of the precise history they views and lush greenery the drive provides as it obviously takes us through the Ko'olau verus going completely around making it the ideal route. This is the primary route to Kaneohe via Likelike through Kalihi is an interesting vision they had back in the day and can't imagine what we would do without it as it has gone though various maintenance and closure does make it a challenge for many as they do rely on this convenient route on this cool tunnel I now know and come to appreciate. Thank you!

Beautiful! A misty day is THE TIME to visit! It lets you see the swirling winds (using the mist)…read moreas they come up the ridge line. Its is really cool! (No really, you'll need a jacket.) The views are incredible! The park is quite beautiful! (Tip: Understand the historical significance of the warring Hawaiian tribes and thus park before you come to see it.)

We had family visiting from the mainland and since their hotel wasn't ready and they never went to…read morePali decided to take them there which they really enjoyed also because they are watching the Hawaii series with Jason Mamoa. The Park is well kept and they have parking meters self pay for visitors, if you're kamaina or military no parking fee. No restrooms

After noticing Jarod & Maggie's check-ins, I was curious about this memorial. It's the familiar…read morelarge boulder at the corner of Pali and Kamehameha Highways as you head to the Windward side from Honolulu via Pali Highway. Thanks to Yelp, I broadened my horizon and improved my knowledge of our Hawaii... If you Google this Memorial, you will not find much. I looked up "Earl M. Finch" of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, who "became an outcast when he went out of his way to befriend the nisei soldiers in 1943." Mr. Finch presented this War Memorial to the Windward Community in 1946. It holds the names of 14 Japanese-American soldiers who were stationed in Earl's hometown of Hattiesburg and were killed in action in World War II in France and Italy. After the war, "the Patron Saint of the Japanese-American GI" visited Hawaii on a trip paid for by many of the soldiers that he had befriended. Like many tourists, he made Hawaii his home and even adopted a couple of Japanese young men - the most well-known was Seiji Finch Naya, the Director of the State Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism who had been an orphaned college student. Mr. Finch became a prominent businessman whose funeral was well-attended by the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the 100th Battalion. Governor John A. Burns delivered the eulogy, stating that, "Unpopular though it may have been with his neighbors, Earl recognized that those who were willing to make sacrifices in the face of adversity deserved no less than the hand of friendship". Earl, the "one-man USO (United Staes Organization)" passed away at age 49 in Honolulu in 1965.

Byodo-In Temple is absolutely beautiful. We've been coming here for over 12 years, and we never get…read moretired of it. We truly love this place. If you visit, I highly recommend going early in the morning. Parking is limited, and the grounds are much quieter earlier in the day, making it easier to take in the peaceful surroundings. For us, it's more than just a beautiful place to visit. It's an opportunity to slow down and reflect on life while enjoying the tranquility of the grounds, watching the koi, and ringing the bell. If you visit the temple, please be respectful and remove your shoes before entering. Take your time, enjoy the serenity, and appreciate the beauty of this special place.

Absolutely loved the Byodo-In Temple. Despite having so many people there, there was a tranquility…read moreyou could feel in the air. Highly recommended to visit even if just once. Tip: purchase your tickets online so you don't have to wait in the box office line.

A giant wave... It…read moregot me at "hello" whenever I drive up and down Waiakamilo Road and you just can't miss it though it's behind a chained fenced surrounded by parked cars you can never really get a clear view of it but this stunning work of art is something so worth seeing or at least drive by it for a closer look. I'm clueless of the details like my friend Nadine C but know that it's always so stunning to get a quick glance at regardless and I did have that chance as I was dropping off some cans for recycling and to see that it was located right next to the wall which was really cool. Whatever reasons you may find yourself here, as a crafter I appreciate the joy it brings to everyone and hope that it stays there forever and ever. Thank you!

Only in Honolulu…read more.. On a little Hawaiian island named O'ahu, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, is the World's Largest Wave Mural! Standing 5 stories high, this 14,000 square foot masterpiece was created by Hilton Alves from Brazil. It took him just 8 days to complete on October 26, 2013. However, 6 months of planning,150 gallons of paint, and $10,000 (for supplies) went into it! This Landmark in Kalihi, on the corner of Waiakamilo and Kalani Streets, reminds me of the Angel Wings project by Colette Miller. Colette has artwork all over the world, and so does Hilton Alves. While Ms. Miller reminds us that "We are the angels of the earth", Mr. Alves has more of an environmental theme and has educational projects which call upon children in our communities to get involved. There are about 11 wave murals in 5 different cities and 3 countries! For more information, visit the website: TheArtOfHilton.com Aloha!

Maybe I was Japanese in a previous life. Somehow, I'm drawn to Japanese things, but I've only been…read moreto Japan once. Luckily for me, there are enough Japanese things in Hawaii and LA! I was always curious about the pagoda top that I passed by every day on the way to school and work when I lived in Nu'uanu. After many years, I saw Cara M.'s review when I searched Honolulu Landmarks on this Yelp website! I finally had time yesterday to explore and get a close up look! It was really cool! I parked for free on Craigside Place - the street in the front of the big condominium. It's just a short walk down the paved driveway which is blocked off with orange cones. If you drive to the left, you'll pass by all of the Japanese style graves which are like crypts where urns of family members can be placed together. So - walking down the driveway which curves to the left, you'll arrive at the tall, faded Sanju Pagoda straight ahead. Although the it needs repair and is surrounded by a soft, saggy orange fence, it's still magnificent and beautiful! According to an article in Honolulu Magazine (11-1-06), it is one of the "9 Most Endangered Historic Sites in Hawai'i". It is believed to be the largest pagoda in the world! Before the Sanju Pagoda, to your right, sits a replica of the Kinkaku-ji Temple with the Mirror Lake Garden. It would look better if the water filled the ponds and if the temple were gold in color like the original one in Kyoto, Japan, but I was happy enough to be so close to it! There seems to be some controversy about the maintenance of this Landmark. It may take over $2 million to renovate. If you want to check it out before it falls down, you may want to do it soon... Just be careful!

After driving on the Pali Highway and seeing the top of that mysterious pagoda every day, I decided…read moreto investigate! and the Internet gave me the Kyoto Gardens of Honolulu Memorial Park, which is the eastern half of the Honolulu Memorial Park and Cemetery. We parked by the graves and walked down to the Sanju Pagoda, an impressive sight in Hawaii! To people from Japan, they'd probably just think that it's old and in SERIOUS need of repairs, but to my friends and I, it was super awesome! A for real pagoda outside of Japan! There was an orange safety fence around it, so we couldn't walk around the pagoda, but it was for the best because it really does look like it can fall down any moment. We then walked down to the replica of Kyoto's famous Kinkaku-ji. Although it doesn't have gold walls, the building looks practically exactly the same as the one in Japan! What makes this replica even more fun is that you can walk right up to it and walk around it, which you can't do with the one in Japan. Good for us! Good for the old building? Probably not... The Mirror Lake Garden was empty of water, so it wasn't really a lake, but we could see how the rocks were placed. It was interesting. If you are a fan of Japanese culture, have gone to Japan, or plan on going soon, the Kyoto Gardens of Honolulu Memorial Park is really nice! Just respect the grounds and don't throw rubbish around.

Landmark in Kalihi Honolulu, Hawaii…read more.. I saw a news article on 4-3-24 from KHON2 about the Berlin Wall Freedom Monument... and I had to go and see it! Located on the campus of Honolulu Community College, look for Building 2 and walk down the pathway to the end. It's past the little playground of Building 11. You will see the 911 Memorial next to it. Simple History: The Berlin Wall "fell" on 11-9-89. It kind of symbolized the end of The Cold War. The Wall was like "The Iron Curtain" - the division between the West and the East - or the USA and Russia. Many years ago, some students (Olin Lagon, Evan Tector, and their friend, Warren) at Honolulu Community College, together with their professors (Dr. Rick Ziegler and Professor Ron Pine), contacted the German Embassy and asked for a piece of The Wall. At the time, only 3 sections were being given away. Through many negotiations, they had the 3.2 ton section of The Wall Shipped to Honolulu via Matson. It is now encased and displayed in public for everyone to visit! Thanks to Fletcher Pacific Construction Company and Architects Hawaii, LTD. for designing and erecting the 12 foot high structure. Thanks also to U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye for participating in the dedication ceremony on 11-9-92! The students and staff appreciated your presence!