Like most of you — especially as Monday rears its ugly head — I needed to get away.
But, like most of you, I’m not drowning in cash.
So I decided to get away — at least from my home, office and piles of laundry — by spending the night at the Ihilani, a JW Marriott Hawaii resort just after Kapolei and before Nanakuli.
But I didn’t just want to lounge poolside — though that was tempting, I’ll admit — but I wanted to drive around Oahu’s west side.
Hands down, the Waianae coastline is the most stunning on the island. The water is a color of blue I didn’t think existed. And the entire area has that same look and feel as it did when I was a kid.
Of course, I didn’t get to see everything or do everything I had wanted to. Like hike around Kaena Point, visit Mao Organic Farms and eat at Kaahaaina Cafe in the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. There are a lot of great things happening out there.
Here’s how I spent 24 hours on Oahu’s west side:
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23 Comments
CAT: you are absolutely right. Nothing like recharging without going far. Guud choice have done it a couple of times including the spa which is great.
@Annoddah_Dave I feel like I need to recharge every other day, though. That’s not good…
Having four wheeled it out to the point and loved it this was a nice trip down memory lane. Have to agree the Waianae Coast is primo. It was one of the benefits to living Ewa last time I was in Hawaii.
My friends tell me if you can surf Makaha you can surf pretty much anywhere. I tell my friends you break ar at Makaha you can score well anywhere…. except Ko’olau. That golf course is someone’s idea of torture, some tourists need a bucket of balls to finish the front nine. I digress.
My ideal return to Oahu would be to buy a place in Ko’Olina, park a sailboat there, and enjoy being a long way out of town. Just need to make a note to file to never ever drive to town M-F starting at 6:30 to 9:00. 🙂 Makes the Ko’olau course seem like child’s play.
Make that PAR… fat fingered that one.
Gotta getaway to ease my soul….. that’s the way to do it. (C&K)
Yep, good to just leave things behind and go. In my house, I like go, but gotta clean house before we go. Good that you wen go 🙂
growing up on the windward side, my trips to the leeward side were exiting adventures. glad to see it hasn’t lost its beauty. plus…hotdog cart!! any chicago style dogs available?
Awesome pictures! Thanks for sharing. Glad you got a chance to rejunvenate yourself even if it was only 24 hours.
Back in 2006, seems like an eternity now, during my last visit, my wife and i drove out to Kaena Pt. I wanted to see the beaches I remembered from the 70’s. Unfortueately then the homeless camps took up most of the parks then but we did drive out as far as we could then walked to the point. I loved the solitude way out there. It’s still one of the prettiest parts of Ohau.
Wow, absolutely gorgeous photos. That cave looked pretty awesome, but I agree with you, I wouldn’t be venturing inside either. Pics #24 and #25 look heaven sent. Awesome stuff, I enjoyed reading and viewing the pics!
I concur with JMattHicks–wonderful photos. Picture #13 is the epitome of beauty; the sun glistening off of the smooth skin, the natural glow enveloping the tasteful cleavage teasing us with it’s natural sexiness…oh, it just makes one swoon!
Oh yeah, Cat looks good in the picture, too.
Are you engaged Cat? I saw you wearing a diamond ring in the picture of you eating a hot dog? If so, congratulations!
@liatia Good catch, sort of looks like it eh! Picture 13 tells a story.
@liatia good eyes!! Cat….?
@liatia yeah got that too. might explain her engagement ring blog a few weeks back. ‘Ju got sum splainin’ to do Lucy’
Really nice pics Cat. Staycationing is the way to go.
i relaxed just looking at the pics. stunning blues that we don’t see townside. used to love the walk/hike out to kaena point and seeing pods of whales, monk seals, even army guys jumping out of helicopters into the ocean. we’d take sunscreen, bento, lots of water. thnx for the memories!
Very cool! I agree with @DianeSeo that staycations are the bomb. Lots’s of great stuff happening out there. We should do a Cat Chat video maoorganicfarms
Thanks for sharing, Cat!
West side represent!
Of all the beauty that the West Side has to offer, I find it amusing that a handful of images were that of
food.
I remember 20 years ago going to the beach at Yokohama Bay for the day! It is a magical place. The highlight of the day was being out in the water when a school of dolphins swam by, all with their fins or heads up out of the water.
The Ihilani is an Oahu jewel… Been there several times for weddings, or photographing people on the grounds for sunsets, etc. However, I wish I could say the same for that Disney monstrosity though.
Cat, what Costco do you go to for hotdogs. The ones in Hawaii Kai are still only $1.50!
That cave looks fun. I’ve never been in there. Will have to explore it for sure! If you feel that way about caves, you’ll have to be sure and stay away from Carlsbad Caverns!
Hello Cat!
Is that an engagement ring that I see? Congrats!
Cat, My hubby proposed to me at the Ihilani! It’s a nice getaway from Waikiki’s Mainstream!
ah, C-Country. see it before it’s gone.
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