Living on Oahu with Keiki
Living on island is such a wonderful opportunity and the chance you get to explore with your children as you take on your new duty assignment makes it even better. There are so many amazing places on Oahu to take enjoy with the kids. Some places do have a fee, some others are completely free… Let’s start with kid friendly beaches. Oahu has phenomenal beaches however not all of them are kid friendly and more so during the winter time when the waves get a bit stronger and bigger. Some of the favorite kid friendly beach spots include: Ko’olina lagoons at the Ko’Olina resort, Pokai Bay, Baby Makapu’u tidepools, JBPHH’s so called “Dog Beach”, Kuhio Beach & Duke’s Lagoon. When we say kid friendly, we describe these beaches as lagoons, tidepools or we know that there is a sea wall stopping major waves. These beaches are calm, little to no waves and parents feel comfortable with their kids splashing in the water on their own if able to swim. Adult supervision is always required but these sure give you peace of mind. One of our favorite places to visit is Moanalua Gardens. Bring a picnic, some bubbles, a ball and enjoy a day out under the monkey pod trees. The estate is full of trees, has a fish pond, is home to ducks and chickens and has structures such as King Kamehameha V’s Summer Cottage which you can get a private tour of. Entrance to the gardens has as small fee but it is a great place to just sit and enjoy the day while the kids play, run around and climb trees. https://www.moanaluagardens.com/about Another inexpensive place to visit which is loved by all coffee drinkers is Green World Coffee Farm. This family owned coffee farm is visited by many tourists daily however it is a great local place to take the kids to play and run around while you enjoy a cup of coffee. The farm has about 3,000 arabica coffee trees which you can walk through, the have a full menu with drinks and bakery items, a retail shop, indoor and outdoor seating, samples for guests and a friendly staff that is always welcoming. https://greenworldcoffeefarm.com/ Like any other place Oahu also has a Zoo, an Aquarium and Sea Life Park. https://www.honoluluzoo.org/ https://www.waikikiaquarium.org/ https://www.sealifeparkhawaii.com/ Sea life park has more of an amusement park feel, their prices are a bit higher and their experiences are different from a regular zoo or aquarium visit. Sea Life park has shows daily, many exhibits and even a luau. If you are looking to support local, Keiki and Plow is a fun experience for the kids. This family owned farm is a great place for kids to go to and understand how the farm to table experience works by checking out their U-pick hours. They kids can pick their own flowers, fruits and vegetables then play in their outdoor area where they have a slide, play kitchen, swing, outside chalk art, sand pit… They also have chickens and goats which you can get close to and pet. Keiki and Plow is loved by so many kids, the experience is great and hands on. https://www.keikiandplow.com/ Another great place to visit is Oahu’s Urban Garden. This place is great for all ages, has plenty of different flowers and plants to see and it is made up of different gardens which were built in an educational way. This is an outside garden, so be prepared with plenty of water, sun hat, bug spray. There is no fee however you must check-in at the front office to get a visitor’s pass. https://www.ctahr.hawaii.edu/ougc/visit.asp If you are looking for indoor play the Children’s Discovery Museum is a great place to take the kids. They have different exhibits and everything is hands on. The museum also offers different weekly events. They offer military discounts with ID. http://discoverycenterhawaii.org/ There are plenty more places to visit around the island with kids. Some places do have age limits on certain attractions like at Kualoa Ranch or CimbWorks zip line which is 7 years old and older. Seasonal events are also a must on Oahu. Every year there are many different events to join with the family. Everything from street fairs, farmers markets, carnivals, pumpkin patches, Christmas lights downtown and more. Do your research before going so you are ready to take on the next adventure with your family! Enjoy!
Oahu’s Popular Attractions
Living on island has major perks. Not only do we get to enjoy breathtaking sunrises, crystal clear beaches, delicious local foods and cotton candy colored sunsets but every day you get the opportunity to sightsee and visit some major attractions. Oahu has so many beautiful beaches. Some are major tourists’ spots such as Waikiki beach and some others are more local spots which you can enjoy as well. One of those many must see beaches is Lanikai Beach in the Kailua town area. This gem has been a must see for many tourists. To access the actual beach, you will have to find a pedestrian beach access which are usually marked with a sign. Unfortunately, Lanikai has no public parking lot or facilities such as restrooms but Lanikai is worth all the trouble! Once at Lanikai you can see the beautiful Mokalua islands from the shoreline for a perfect picture background. You can also kayak to the islands if the tide and surf allows. If you are looking to snorkel, Hanauma Bay is the spot! This area is always looked after and protected so make sure you don’t litter, don’t mess with the sea life and enjoy! Hanauma Bay is a natural bay which formed within the crater of an ancient volcano, pretty cool, huh? To maintain and preserve the bay and its ecosystem only a daily number of visitors is allowed so plan ahead and arrive early. There are some fees to visit Hanauma bay and fees for rentals.https://hanaumabaystatepark.com/ Byodo-in Temple is another magical spot to visit on Oahu. You will not need a beach towel this time but you will sure need to be mindful and take how peaceful your surroundings can be. The Byodo-In Temple is located at the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park in Kaneohe. The Temple opened in June 7, 1968, to commemorate the 100-yearanniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to the islands. The Byodo-In Temple in Oahu is a smaller replica of the over 950-year-old Byodo-in Temple, at the United Nations World Heritage Site in Uji, Japan. You can walk through the luscious grounds, see the Temple and go inside to pay a spiritual visit. The Temple is a non-practicing Buddhist temple, all faiths are welcome to worship. While walking through the grounds you will notice wild peacocks, their reflecting pond, many meditation areas, growing flora, Amida; a golden Buddha thought to be the largest carved outside Japan which sits inside the temple and the Bon-Sho or Sacred Bell which is at the entrance of the temple and it is rung as you enter to spread the teachings of Buddha. Definitely a must-see! 47-200 Kahekili HighwayKaneohe, HI 96744https://byodo-in.com/index.htm Waimea Valley This luscious botanical garden is located at the North Shore and is visited my thousands every year to enjoy all of its beauty. Waimea Valley is mostly known for its 45 ft waterfall which you can swim in once you visit. The way to the waterfall is a 1.5-mile roundtrip paved stroll. Along the way to the waterfall you can learn about Hawaiian history and will notice the many archeological and cultural sites along with beautiful flora. https://www.waimeavalley.net/ Is it even Hawaii without a Luau? Nope, don’t think so! Luau’s are usually one of the top things that all tourists do when visiting Hawaii. There are different Luaus on island that offer amazing entertainment but one of the favorites is Paradise Cove Luau located on the lovely leeward side of the island on the Ko Olina resorts. Paradise Cove Luau offers different packages for purchase. These include the Luau performance, specific dinning seating, buffet style meal and attractions before the performance for your entertainment. Enjoy a complimentary Mai Tai, the breath-taking sunset and the talent on stage! https://www.paradisecove.com/ If you want to learn more about Hawaii’s rich culture you can visit the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laei. The main attractions include the island villages where you can learn about 6 different Pacific villages and interact with their natives to learn about their music, dance and traditions. You can also enjoy their Luau and dinner along with the fire show. The center also has the Hukilau marketplace where you can shop, dine and relax. https://www.polynesia.com/ Looking for a more extreme experience? Then Kualoa Ranch is your next stop! Ever wondered where Jurassic Park was filmed? Look no further…. it’s in your backyard! Choose your next adventure: you can take on a movie tour around the grounds, Zipline across the ranch, go horseback riding, take a jeep expedition or an ATV raptor tour. These excursions are a lot of fun and loved by many. https://www.kualoa.com/ These attractions are here waiting for you and just like these there are plenty more to be explored! Don’t hesitate and enjoy all the Aloha the island has to offer! Daniella Horne Freelance blogger, Military Spouse, Social Media Coordinator for Blue Star Families Hawaii, and Motherhood Blogger for Momma & Sprouts.
On Base Recreation
Unwinding and relaxing is a must, and there's plenty of opportunity for that on Oahu. Here are some of our favorite spots around the island where you can enjoy a quick vacation or a couple days off with family or by yourself to unwind and get a break from the routine. Bellows Air Force Station If you are looking to boogie board throughout your day and take on some fun waves then Bellows Air Force Station in Waimanalo is a great area to check out. This beach has plenty of parking, beautiful scenery of the mountains and Mokulua Islands. The beach is close by to the AAFES Express and gas station. Bellows Air Force Station also offers campgrounds and cabins for rent. Their fully furnished cabins include a kitchen and dinning area. You can book using the link below https://www.bellowsafs.com/cabins There are also plenty of campsites to choose from and they offer availability for group and family size sites. The amenities include grills, picnic tables and restrooms. You can also rent equipment from their recreation office 2 weeks in advance if your check in. https://www.bellowsafs.com/campsites If you want something in between camp sites and cabins Bellows offers their Cedar Camper cabins which are a bit more rustic and allow 4 people. These have a grill and picnic table right outside the cabin. Keep in mind that linens are not provided so you will have to bring your own. https://www.bellowsafs.com/camper-cabins If none of these work for you and you rather enjoy a hotel-like room then their Condos might be what you are looking for. These Condos have more amenities such as sleeper sofa, tv, dinnerware, hair dryer, patio furniture… https://www.bellowsafs.com/condos While you are there enjoy their mini golf, driving range, marketplace events, horseback riding, paintball and more… Keep in mind that availability is limited due to current restrictions. Hickam Beaches Hickam Beach on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam is a great option for all the family. You can learn how to paddleboard, use their pavilions through the MWR and they have restrooms and showers available. The beach also has the restaurant The Lanai at Mamala bay which is currently open for dine in and take out. Their beach shack offers gear rentals. Honeymoon Beach is also on Hickam. This private lagoon is secluded and comes with your own lifeguard and picnic area upon rental. This lovely spot can be rented up to 5 hours. $175 (Available from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.) - Plus cleaning deposit of $100 (refundable). Additional Lifeguard: $20/hour For rental you can call 808-449-5215 White Plains Beach Located at the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station, White Plains Beach is a serene beach great for surfing. It has indoors and outdoors showers, volleyball courts and offers surf lessons and rentals. Barber’s point beach also has cottages located at White plains beach and offers 20 cottages for rent to spend your staycation by the ocean. They have 3, 2- and 1-bedroom cottages. Marine Corps Base Hawaii Marine Corps Base Hawaii offers beaches for military service members and their families. North Beach, Pyramid Rock Beach, Hale Koa Beach, Secret Beach, and Ft. Hase Beach are currently all open. No pets allowed. They also offer beach cottages available for up to a 7-night stay. They have 13, 2- bedroom beach cottages with 1 bathroom, kitchen, dinning area and other amenities. https://mccshawaii.com/lodging/ Pililaau Army Recreation Center The Pililaau Army Recreation Center located on the Pokai Bay on the Waianae coast offers multiple beach facilities for rental. They have everything from studios to 3-bedroom size rooms. These beach front rentals have a grill and picnic table right outside each cottage. The Beach House by 604 is also on location to offer a full menu for dine in or take out. https://hawaii.armymwr.com/programs/pillar-army-recreation-center-parc Kilauea Military Camp If you are able to travel and island hop, another military only recreational area is Kilauea Military Camp on the Big Island. They offer cottages and apartments to rent for your visit and have plenty of must-see experiences around the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. You can take a hike around the park, go on a helicopter tour or visit Hilo town. KMC is located within the park so keep in mind there will be entrance fees however your Active Military ID card will get you free admission into the park. https://www.kilaueamilitarycamp.com/accommodations Take advantage of all these great places offered to military service members, their families, retirees and veterans. Enjoy the outdoors and relax!
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