Coast drive up to La'ie

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Description

Most tourists don't drive the winding coast road up to La'ie. But it's a gorgeous drive. You first pass sparkling Kaneohe Bay. Chinaman's Hat Beach is next, with its yellow sand, pretty waters and real island that looks like a Chinese hat! A series of pretty little beaches hug the road. Ka'a'awa Beach (shown above) is framed by a gnarled old macadamia nut tree. These beaches can be windy. Also, if you park near a local's home you may be the recipient of "stink eye." You'll round Kahana Bay, a spooky dark bay fed by a muddy river lined by tangled jungle (see Crouching Lion Inn). You end in Lai'e, a Mormon town filled with Brigham Young University students, and home to one of the nation's few Mormon temples. Many Mormons travel here to be married at this impressive-looking temple.
For a nice walk, visit La'ie Point, a wild, rugged peninsula where you can view a natural sea arch in the distance (see directions below).
Past Lai'e, you can follow Kamehameha Hwy around the northern tip of Oahu to Turtle Bay Hilton Beach and the beaches of the North Shore. You will recognize the shrimp trucks in Kahuku from the TV show "Lost." The farmland everywhere is a pretty sight.
Kamehameha Hwy can be frustrating if are stuck behind a slow truck because it's one lane each way. Be prepared for a long drive!

Photo Gallery

The natural sea arch as seen from rugged La'ie Point.

Directions

From Kaneohe, take Kamehameha Hwy (Hwy 83) up the coast to Lai'e. It takes about 45 minutes with good traffic.
To visit Lai'e Point: From Kamehameha Hwy, opposite La'ie's Foodland supermarket, turn right onto Anemoku Street and then Naupaka Street.

This is an interactive map, you can zoom and move it.

Visitor Ratings

Overall Visitor Rating:

suyin 11/30/2010 22:42	great pictures! amazing! thanks!
bl 06/06/2010 14:38	going in August! Can't wait.
Katie 10/22/2009 20:11	2003 was my very first drive up this coast. It was the best, because I didn't really know what to expect !!!!
Benjamin 10/15/2009 13:51	Windward beaches are more beautiful than south coast beaches and hold more secrets. It was an awesome experience visiting Laie and driving down the coast. When I went, jellyfish (portuguese man of war) were around and restricted our swimming, which was a shame. I highly recommend Laie if you are looking for a secluded getaway. There are also some restaurants in the town.