Hawaii, Kailua Sheffield House Vacation Rental...

Oahu
Eco-Adventures:

Rachel's Kailua Eco - Adventures and visit recommendations:

1. Hike the Kawainui Marsh levee early in the morning and watch the mist lift off the Marsh and move up the mountain. Head southwest on Kuulei Rd toward N Kainalu Dr. Turn right at Oneawa St. about a mile down turn left on Kaha St and park at Kaha Park. For work day or tour information contact: Chuck Burrows <chuckb@hawaii.rr.com> On the other side of the marsh is the radio controlled airplane area. Arrive from the Kapaa Quarry Road.
   
   
2. Hike to the pillboxes above Lanikai for an incredible view of Kailua and Lanikai Beach. Park near the boat ramp and hike up hill. Head northeaston Kuulei Rd toward S Kalaheo Ave. turn right at S Kalaheo Ave. turns left and becomes Lihiwai Rd then turn left on Alala and park at boat ramp. Continue walking on Alala taking left fork onto Aalapapa Dr. to Kaelepulu Dr just before the gate there is a driveway on left follow up on right side to ridge trail.
   
   
3. Swim/kayak/surf toFlat Island or to the Mokuluas from East end of Kailua Beach.
   
   
4. Hike Olomana Mountain trail. Begin behind Maunawili Elementary School.You can actually hike all the way into Waimanalo. (Strenuous hike, need ropes in some places) Head southwest on Kuulei Rd toward N Kainalu Dr continue straight onto Kailua Rd . Turn left at Kalanianaole Hwy turn right at Ulupii St school is on your left.
   
   
5. View an ancient Hawaiian agricultural heiau. Pull off the Pali Highway at Ulukahiki St. (Across from 7-11) then left on Manu Aloha St and left to YMCA parking go behind the Kailua YMCA and walk down the path. For work day or tour information contact: Chuck Burrows <chuckb@hawaii.rr.com>
   
   
6. Snorkel or walk the beach.Previous guests have seen a Hawaiian monk seal, an eel, a green sea turtle, or a manta ray. Look up to see if the albatross (aka: frigate or iwa birds) are riding the thermals up in the sky.The best place to snorkel is probably sand bags in Lanikai or around the rocks at Alala Point.
   
   
7. Kawainui Marsh Head up Pali Highway toward Honolulu and turn right on Kapa'a Quarry Road (We call it Dump Road) and hike into the Marsh to see the marsh at early morning. Native Hawaiian plant restoration project in progress.
   
   
8. Go swimming at theMaunawili Falls.

• Distance: 4 miles, head from Kailua back up to Pali Highway to Maunawili. Turn right on Auloa Rd. and take the right fork at Trinity Presbyterian onto Maunawili Rd., about a mile and a half up you will find a gated road on your left, Maunawili Trails Rd. Just a short way down that road you will find the trail on your left. It is about a 1 1/2 miles to the falls. There is a fork in the stream stay to the left. If its raining this hike will be very muddy and slippery.
  

  9. Traveling with Little Children: Bring bread to feed the fish beside the bridge crossing the canal at Buzz's Restaurant across from the Kailua Beach Park.Kailua Beach Park is a great swimming beach and is good for little children. Let them climb and be monkeys in the Hau tree tangle in the park behind Kalapawai Market . My advice with little children three words: Sunscreen, Sunscreen, Sunscreen
  

• Walk to the end of Kailua Beach Park past the boat ramp and out to the rocks on the point under the the Lanikai sign. Look in the tide pools under rocks for sea cucumbers, black sea stars and little fishes.
  

  10. Beginning surfers and boogie boarders love Kalama Beach Park.

  11. Kailua turtles: Drive down Kalaheo Road toward Kaneohe Marine Corp Base.Turn onKaimalino Drive (This is a neighborhood. Park on the side of the street. ).

• Stop at the Public Beach Access sign and walk in to a tiny beach , There are usually several green sea turtles swimming/playing in the area..

  12. It happens every day --- walk to the beach for Sunrise over the Mokuluas. AWESOME. Photo taken12/14/2010 by James Griffin.

  

• 13. Moonrise out of the ocean. It only happens a few days once a month but watching the full moon rise out of the oceanis another truly awesome event you will not want to miss. (It can be chilly on the beach in the evening so take a sweat shirt.) If it is August-Dec and a clear night you can see the Perseid Meteor Shower over the ocean.
  

  Kaneohe Eco Adventures

  14. Kaneohe - Haiku Gardens Haliewa Joe's is also in Kaneohe. Enjoy the prime rib and Caesar salad at Haliewa Joe's for dinner and view the gardens down below.
  Distance: 6.8 miles:KUULEI RD, KAILUA going toward N KAINALU DR - go 0.5 mi continue on KAILUA RD - go 1.3 mi continue on KALANIANAOLE HWY(HI-61 S) - go 1.8 mi turn Right on KAMEHAMEHA HWY(HI-83 N) - go 1.6 mi

  15. Kaneohe : Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden is in Kaneohe. The trails are lush and tropical. It is a great place to go where the plants have their names on labels. Definitely off of the beaten path. what a gem! It has trails, the reservoir, the ducks, feed the fish . Also if you bring your art supplies and want to draw there is (usually) a Wednesday from 10-12 a.m. water color pencil botanical art studio. The docents bring in plant material for people to draw.

  Distance: 5.5 miles:

  KUULEI RD, KAILUA going toward N KAINALU DR - go 0.5 mi continue on KAILUA RD - go 1.3 mi continue on KALANIANAOLE HWY(HI-61 S) - go 1.8 mi turn Right on KAMEHAMEHA HWY(HI-83 N) - go 1.6 mi turn Left on MAHINUI RD - go 0.3 mi the gardens are at the end of the road.
  

• Waimanalo Eco Adventures
• 16. Waimanalo Look for shells at Bellows Air Force beach. Since their is no reef in front of Waimanalo Bay. Sometimes you can find tinypuka shells on the beach at low tide or in the drainage areas.Distance: 5.25 miles going toward N KAINALU DR - go 0.5 mi continue on KAILUA RD - go 1.3 mi then turn Left on KALANIANAOLE HWY(HI-72 E) - go 3.5 mi entrance to Bellows wilI be on your left.
  
  17. Whale watching from January to March can be done from the Lighthouse trail at Makapu'u. Go early as the whales seem to be the most active right at dawn. Easy hike. It is paved and you can push a stroller up the walkway.Distance: 9.74 miles going toward N KAINALU DR - go 0.5 mi continue on KAILUA RD - go 1.3 mi thne turn Left on KALANIANAOLE HWY(HI-72 E) - go 9 mi entrance to Makapu'u trail parking wilI be on your left after the look out park.

  North Shore Eco Adventures

  18.Waialua: Drive to Kaena Point Bird Sanctuary in spring to see the iwa (albatross) birds nesting. The baby iwa birds grow to the size of turkeys and can not fly during this time. This is the western most point on the island.

  • Distance: about 40 miles, you could either take:
    tthe most scenic route to North side of point vie Kamehameha hwy :
  • going toward N KAINALU DR - go 0.5 mi continue onto KAILUA RD - go 1.3 mi continue on KALANIANAOLE HWY(HI-61 S) - go 1.8 mi turn Right on Kamehameha hwy to Waialua (2 hours) then on to Farrington Hwy to the point
• the fastest route to North side of point vie H2:
  • going toward N KAINALU DR - go 0.5 mi continue onto KAILUA RD - go 1.3 mi continue on KALANIANAOLE HWY(HI-61 S) - go 1.8 mi turn Right on Kamehameha hwy to H3 to H1 to H2 to Kamehameha hwy to Waialua (40 minutes) then on to Farrington Hwy (North end) to the point
• or you can go through Waianae to West side of point vie Farrington Hwy:
  • going toward N KAINALU DR - go 0.5 mi continue onto KAILUA RD - go 1.3 mi continue on KALANIANAOLE HWY(HI-61 S) - go 1.8 mi turn Right on Kamehameha hwy to H3 to H1 on to Farrington Hwy (West end) (50 minutes) to the point.

  Laie Eco Adventures

  19. Laie Malaekahana Beach Park -Choose a picnic table with great ocean views!! Watch the baby chickens that seem to be in the edges of the park. if the water is not to rough at low tide wearing reef shoes walk/swim across to Goat Island, a bird sanctuary. The birds actually nest in holes in the sand. The beach there is almost always deserted. Truly as beautiful as a dream..

• Distance 29 miles:
  • going toward N KAINALU DR - go 0.5 mi continue onto KAILUA RD - go 1.3 mi continue on KALANIANAOLE HWY(HI-61 S) - go 1.8 mi turn Right on Kamehameha hwy through Laie then watch for Malaekahana Beach Park
    

Link for more nature information: http://hawaiinatureguides.net/

Link for weather http://forecast.weather.gov/

Link for Oahu bird check list: http://www.oahunaturetours.com/

Coloring book of endangered species and Oahu Ocean Recreation Guide to Best Beaches put out by State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources

For school report info on Hawaii check out go/hawaii.com/Oahu