Kailua (pronounced cai-luu-ah) is on the Windward Coast of Oahu in Hawaii.

Understand

The area includes the following districts:

• Aikahi - north Kailua
• Enchanted Lake & Keolu Hills - south Kailua
• Kaneohe Marine Corps Base - north of Kailua
• Lanikai - south-east Kailua
• Maunawili - south-west of Kailua
• Coconut Grove - Central Kailua

Get in

By car

• From Honolulu: Take the H-1 to Pali Highway (route 61), and follow the Pali through the mountains about 12 miles into Kailua town. The road name on route 61 changes twice: once after Castle Junction (Kamehameha Hwy., route 83) to Kalanianiole Highway, then again after Castle Hospital to Kailua Road. Don't let this confuse you.
• From the North Shore/Kaneohe: There are two routes:
  • Take Kamehameha Highway (route 83) west to the Kaneohe Bay Drive & Kamehameha Highway intersection. Take the left turn at the intersection to get onto Kaneohe Bay Drive. Keep going straight as you go over the hill (turns into Mokapu Saddle Road, which becomes Mokapu Blvd.). Take a right turn at the Mokapu Blvd. and Oneawa Street intersection (2nd intersection after the overpass) and keep going straight for about a mile; as this will lead you into Kailua Town.
  • You can also follow Kamehameha Hwy to its end and turn left at the junction with Kalanianaole Hwy (route 61); from there it is about 4 miles to Kailua town.

By bus

• From Honolulu: Take TheBus route 56 or 57 from the beach side city bus stop at Ala Moana Center into Kailua (to get to Ala Moana from Waikiki take route 8, 19, or 20). Wait for the 56 or 57 near the Windward 56/57 sign. One of these buses comes by about every 25 minutes, travel time is approximately 35-50 minutes, the last bus returning to Honolulu is at about 9:30PM.

Get around

By bus

TheBus has 4 routes that travels throughout the Kailua District.

• 56 (Westbound: Kailua/Kaneohe) (Eastbound: Honolulu/Ala Moana or Downtown/Bishop Street)
  • This route is Ala Moana to & from Windward Mall. It uses Kailua Road, Oneawa Street, and Kaneohe Bay Drive as it's main roads.
• 57 (Westbound: Kailua/Sea Life Park, Kailua/Waimanalo, or Kailua/Keolu Drive) (Eastbound: Honolulu/Ala Moana or Downtown/Bishop Street)
  • Sea Life Park Route: This route uses Kailua Road, Keolu Drive, and Kalanianaole Highway.
  • Waimanalo Route: This route uses Kailua Road and Kalanianaole Highway.
  • Keolu Drive: This route uses Kailua Road and Keolu Drive.
• 70 (Westbound: Kailua/MCBH/Maunawili) (Eastbound: Lanikai/Kailua Town)
  • 8AM-2PM: starts in Maunawili, goes through Kailua Town, circles on Mokapu Blvd (enters & exits Kaneohe Marine Corps Base), and loops route.
  • 2PM-7PM: starts at busstop on the corner of Hamakua Drive & Kailua Road, passes by Kailua Beach Park, circles around Lanikai, circles around Maunawili, and loops route.

See

• Sunrises - Got to go to Waikiki for sunsets.
• Sea Turtles
• Mokulua islands
• Mount Olomana

Do

Note: Hawaii has 88,000 cesspools across the eight major islands, an issue which could cost US$1.75 billion to remedy. The 740 cesspools in the Kahalu’u area are among the worst, contributing to high bacteria counts, harming coral and posing a risk of skin infections. Warnings have been in place since October 2014 due to unusually high amounts of bacteria in Kahaluu Lagoon; health authorites report the problems continue four years later.

Beaches

Lanikai Beach

• Kailua Beach. If you are coming from Honolulu, follow Kailua Road by taking the fork curving off to the right once you get into town. you'll pass a Ford dealership, Bank of Hawaii, Lanikai Juice, and a Whole Foods. Pass through the first stop light (at Hahani St. in front the Kailua Shopping Center). At the next stoplight (in front of a Mormon church), turn left to continue on Kailua Road for about 1 km. Then take the fork curving to the right. Kailua Beach Park is past the curve. TheBus is Hawaii's award winning transit service which can be taken into Kailua, where a traveler can then catch Route 70 in front of Macy's which goes to the beach. It might be faster to walk, since the 70 only comes by every 60-90 minutes. (updated Nov 2019)
• Lanikai Beach. Lanikai Beach is just past Kailua Beach. Take Kawailoa Rd to Aalapapa Drive. Aalapapa Drive and Mokulua Drive form a large one-way loop. One of Hawaii's most picturesque beaches with fine white sand, exceptionally clear and blue water, and two offshore island known as the Mokuluas. No public facilities, and access is only available by public access walkways. Please respect local residents' property. Also there are parking restrictions in Lanikai on weekends and holidays, in which case it may be best to park at Kailua Beach Park and take a 10-20 minute talk to Lanikai. 

Hiking

• Lanikai Pillbox (Kaiwa Ridge Trail) (Trail Head GPS: N 21 23.405 W 157 43.141). Kaiwa Ridge Trail climbs up the ridge behind Lanikai and ends at a WWII bunker. The trail is one mile 1.6 km) in length with a 600 ft (180 m) elevation gain, offering hikers 360° views of Lanikai, Kailua, the Mokalua islands, and the Ko`olau Mountains. 
• Maunawili Falls Trail (Trail Head GPS: N 21 21.536 W 157 45.807). This popular trail leads to a 20 ft (6.1 m) waterfall that feeds a deep, wide swimming hole. 2.5 mi (4.0 km) round trip. 
• Mount Olomana (Trail Head GPS: N 21 22.104 W 157 45.655). A strenuous hike with steep ascents, narrow, rocky pathways; and windswept ridgeline. 5 mi (8.0 km) round-trip with 1,300 ft (400 m) elevation gain. 

Other

• Windsurf. Windsurfers in Kailua Bay get the best of both worlds, with waves on the outer reef and cleaner slalom conditions inside. Spots such as 'Castles', 'Zombies', 'Flat Island' and 'Jump City' can be reached for those who want to try their hand at wave sailing and jumping. 
• Kiteboarding. Kailua has been known as one of the best spots for kiting in the world due to the combination of sandy beach, warm water and extreme beauty. Trade winds blow year round and can range from 12-25 knots, averaging around 16 in the summer. 
• Oahu Dive Center. Hahani St. Scuba diving. 
• Kailua Sailboards and Kayaks, 130 Kailua Rd (near the beach). Half-day or full day kayak rental, singles and doubles. Back rests, dry bags are extra. You can pull the kayaks on trucks (provided) to the beach, push off and kayak out to the various tiny islands there. Flat Island is a seabird sanctuary. Reef shoes are not a bad idea, as the bottom rocks around the islands are rather sharp if you flip or to push off. Beautiful views. 
• Stand-up Paddle. A sport that anyone can enjoy and the perspective you have while standing up and paddling on these boards is truly unique and enjoyable. 

Buy

• Global Village (on the corner of Hahani St & Kailua Road). Beautiful clothes and gifts owned by a Native Hawaiian family. 
• UDown Shop. Cool clothes and more. 
• Lanikai Bath & Body. All-natural locally made bath and body products with distinct and unique Hawaiian scents. 
• Kailua Shopping Center. Places to eat and shop. 
• East Honolulu Clothing Company, 41-1537 Kalanianaole Hwy, Waimanalo (in the Waimanalo Town Shopping Center by Jack in the Box), ☏ +1 808-259-7677. 9AM-5PM. Home of Double Paws Wear and Horsechicks Hawaii, it is a combination retail store and fashion design and production studio. Here you will find cool threads, beautiful locally made product, funky retro pop-culture items, fun, artsy, horsey, eclectic and one of a kind gifts. 

Eat

Early birds will find that Kailua has two excellent breakfast places: Boots and Kimo's and Cinnamon's. Both places are quite popular which means that they will fill up quickly; you may wish to get there early to avoid crowds.

• Baci Bistro, 30 Aulike St, ☏ +1 808 262-7555. Romantic Italian restaurant. 
• Boot's and Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen, 151 Hekili St (across from the bowling alley), ☏ +1 808 263-7929. Offering a signature breakfast dish of pancakes with macadamia nut sauce. 
• Buzz's Original Steakhouse, 413 Kawailoa Rd, ☏ +1 808 261-4661. Beautiful beach setting across the street from Kailua Beach Park. 
• Cinnamon's Restaurant, 315 Uluniu Street (parking behind the building, enter from Aulike St.), ☏ +1 808 261-8724. 7AM-2PM. One of the best breakfast places in Kailua; their signature dish is their Eggs Benedict. 
• Crepes No Ka 'Oi, 131 Hekili St (across the street from the bowling alley), ☏ +1 808 263-4088. M-Th 7AM-8PM, F Sa 7AM-99PM, Su 7AM-2PM and closed Tu. Sweet and savory crepes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and in-between. Also a great assortment of gourmet loose leaf teas and Illy Italian coffee. Under $10. 
• 1 Down to Earth, 201 Hamakua Dr, ☏ +1 808 262-3838. 7:30AM-10PM. Vegetarian deli & natural foods store. Under $10. 
• Fatboys's Plate Lunch, 301 Hahani St., ☏ +1 808 263-2697. 
• Kalapawai Cafe, 750 Kailua Rd., ☏ +1 808 262-3354. Coffee, sandwiches during the day; wine bar and small plates at night. 
• Nico's Kailua, 970 N. Kalaheo Ave, ☏ +1 808 254-6255. Pure beach house decor, family-casual local menu with over 25 pupus, and full bar with tropical drinks, beer and wine. (updated Nov 2019)
• The Shack, 1051 Keolu Dr., ☏ +1 808 261-1191. Sports bar setting with great burgers and sandwiches. 
• Times Coffee Shop, 153 Hamakua Dr, ☏ +1 808 262-0300. A small cafe that serves the great fried rice. 
• Zia's Caffè Italian Family Restaurant (on Hamakua Dr next to Boardrider's). Simple cafe with great taste. 
• Zippy's, 44 Oneawa St, ☏ +1 808 266-3780. Hawaii's favorite local restaurant. 

Drink

• Lanikai Juice Company, 600 Kailua Rd.. Smoothies & more. 
• Boardrider's Bar & Grill, 201 Hamakua Dr, ☏ +1 808 261-4600. 
• Creekside Lounge, 153 Hamakua Dr, ☏ +1 808 262-6466. 
• Kailua Palace, 115 Oneawa St, ☏ +1 808 261-7879. 
• Morning Brew, 600 Kailua Rd (near Times Market), ☏ +1 808 262-7770. Coffee and more. 
• Muddy Waters Espresso Cafe (in the Aikahi Park Shopping Center). Coffee and assortment of desserts & vegetarian delis. Listen to nightly entertainment; Blues, Folk, and Christian varieties. (updated Nov 2019)
• Ohana Karaoke, 131 Hekili St (Kailua Shopping Center), ☏ +1 808 263-0205.