Travel Guide to Wahiawa, Hawaii
Nestled in Oahu’s central valley,
surrounded by the Wai'anae and Ko'olau mountain ranges and by placid Lake
Wilson (Kaukonahua), lies Wahiawa. Usually overlooked by visitors more drawn to
Hawaii’s stunning beaches and oceanfront towns, Wahiawa is an easy, laid-back
step off the beaten tourist track.
While most people bypass the town and drive
straight up Route 99 to get to Oahu’s famous North Shore, a stop off at Wahiawa
or a day trip up from Honolulu adds some variety to a beach vacation. For a
change of pace, get up off the beach towel, have a stretch, and see a bit of Hawaiian
countryside away from the surf and sand.
Highlights
- Wahiawa Botanical Garden: with 27 acres of lush gardens and forests to explore, Wahiawa Botanical Garden is the perfect place to find a little calm and serenity. Take a leisurely stroll through its tropical rainforest, admire its collections of native Hawaiian flowers and plants and take a deep, restorative breath before heading back out on your next adventure.
- Wahiawa Hongwanji Mission: this Shin Buddhist temple hosts an annual Obon Dance and Festival. The Obon (or Bon) festival commemorates the departed ancestors, whose spirits are believed to return during Obon to visit their families. During the festival, visitors can tour the temple, enjoy a children’s lantern parade and experience traditional Bon dancing.
- Dole Plantation: a tour of this historic pineapple plantation features beautiful gardens, the world’s largest pineapple maze (with almost 2 ½ miles of trail!), train rides on the Pineapple Express and, of course, fresh pineapple to purchase. Learn about the impacts of plantation-style agriculture on the land and the peoples of Hawaii.
- Kukaniloko Birthing Stones: these fascinating stones mark the ancient sacred site where royal women were taken to give birth to chiefs. Used since the 12th century, the stones may also have served some astrological purpose that isn’t yet understood, according to recent research.
- Schofield Waikane Trail: the more adventurous can hike this 18.8-kilometre trail that takes you to a scenic viewpoint overlooking the Kahana Valley, the peaks of Pu'u Keaumakua, Pu'u Pauoa and Pu'u Ohulehule and the distant ocean. This is an all-day affair and requires permits from the Department of Forestry and Wildlife as well as the Schofield military base. The trail isn’t maintained and therefore isn’t for the inexperienced, but the awe-inspiring views at the end keep hikers coming back.
How to Get There
Wahiawa is 32 kilometres northwest of
Honolulu, right in the center of Oahu. Most people make the half-hour trip from
Honolulu by car, although there are buses that run from Honolulu, as well. The
trip by bus is about an hour long.
If you’re already on the North Shore, you
can take a bus from Haleiwa. That ride is about half an hour. The drive from
Haleiwa takes about 20 minutes and you can stop at the Dole Plantation along
the way.
Best Time to Go
The best months to visit Wahiawa are April to
June and September to early December. Although the weather in Hawaii is great
year-round, spring and fall are slightly less hot and there should be fewer
crowds. If you want to experience the Obon festival, plan on a June visit.
feature image: Ben Stiefel; image 1: Wendy Cutler
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