Both Kailua and Waimanalo
have excellent beaches. Kailua beach can be crowded on
the weekends, however, Waimanalo beaches are still fairly
secluded and "hidden".
Waimanalo has a much smaller population, spread around
a handful of neighborhoods and the foothills of the
mountains. Waimanalo has minimal services (one gas station,
four fast food restaurants, three small stores for modest
groceries, an art gallery, and a handful of small businesses.
Most residents travel either to Kailua (15 minutes),
or Hawaii Kai (15 minutes) for grocery shopping and
other services. For light shopping, the stores in Waimanalo
tend to have a surprisingly good selection. There is
a 7-11 store and another small sundry store close by.
Getting to Waimanalo from the Honolulu airport takes
about 35 minutes, taking the scenic H3 Freeway. Once
in the windward area, it's a scenic ride through Waimanalo
town, then along the coastline out towards Makapu'u,
home to America's most powerful lighthouse.
Staying in Waimanalo at BeachFront Villa, is just plain
relaxation, the extra peace, quiet, and relative seclusion
makes for a fantastic balance on a visit to the islands.
