Most Scenic Drives on Oahu
Your first destination should be Mount Tantalus, the 2,010-foot ten-mile loop up the mountain not all that far from Waikiki. The winding road up Mount Tantalus should be taken slowly, while keeping an eye out for hidden driveways, stray kittens and roosters, and the occasional resident dog. You will also be watching for pullouts along the road, where you can park your vehicle and soak in the view. The ride up Tantalus may seem like a ride through the South American jungles, complete with the sounds of rare birds and the unfamiliar scents of rare foliage. You may ride in and out of small pockets of rain or sun showers, and you will likely catch at least one amazing rainbow or two. But the real payoff is near the top, where you will turn in to Pu’u Ualaka’a State Park. There you will park your vehicle and step out to the point, where you will see twenty-five square miles of Oahu, including all of Diamond Head and the concrete jungle of Waikiki. The view is breathtaking and you will undoubtedly wish you owned a larger memory card and a camera with a wider lens. To reach Tantalus from Waikiki, take Ala Wai Boulevard, make a right onto Kalakaua Avenue, left onto Kapiolani, right onto Keeaumoku. You will cross over H-1, then make a right onto Wilder, a left onto Makiki, another left onto Makiki Heights Drive, a right onto Tantalus when Makiki Heights Drive becomes a dead end. Up and up and around and enjoy.
Another amazing drive on Oahu that would make anyone’s vacation highlight reel is the ride around the coast on Kamehameha Highway (or simply Kam Highway). My favorite way to go about this is to take H-1 West out of Honolulu to H-2 up through Central Oahu. Once you pass through the town of Wahiawa (not the prettiest sight on Oahu), you will be on Kam Highway (a country road here) on your way up North Shore. This is a beautiful drive that should be taken with the windows and soft top down so that you can take in the scents of the pineapple fields, especially as you pass Dole Plantation. The mountains on your left may seem surreal. You will pass the quaint and famous beach town of Haleiwa, not a bad place to stop and grab a bite to eat and shop. I suggest a burger at Kua’aina Sandwich. Follow the road to the right (it’s also called Highway 83 here). You will pass through Waimea, and you will see Waimea Bay, Shark’s Cove and Sunset Beach. Continue through Kahuku, La’ie, and Hau’ula. You are now traveling south down Oahu’s windward side. The most spectacular part of this journey comes as you travel right along the Pacific Ocean through Ka’a’awa. I suggest stopping at one of the parks along Kane’ohe Bay. You have just looped around most of the island of Oahu and taken in some of its most beautiful sights.
No written description of Interstate H-3 can do this elevated freeway justice. No, H-3 isn’t really an interstate highway in that it does not take you to any state outside of Hawaii. It is called an interstate highway because it was paid for with federal tax money. A lot of federal tax money. In fact, at almost $100 million per mile to build, this 16-mile freeway is the most expensive in the United States. H-3 also took 37 years to complete. If you do not wish to splurge on a helicopter tour over Oahu, driving Interstate H-3 is a terrific alternative. You will be cruising high above the ground along the cliffs of the Ko’olau Mountain Range. You will travel through the mountain using the Tetsuo Harano Tunnel. Just before the tunnel (if you are coming from your ride along the windward side), you will find a metal staircase on the side of the mountain to your left. It winds up, up and up. Called the Haiku Stairs (or the Stairway to Heaven), ordinarily you could take these stairs up into the clouds for some of the most amazing views, not only on Oahu but on the planet. Note, however, that the stairs are currently closed to public use. Politics and issues of liability are to blame. For more information on the status of the Haiku Stairs, go to http://friendsofhaikustairs.org/
As a resident of the island of Oahu for the past year and as someone who moved here from the New York metropolitan area, I would be remiss not to mention the differences in driving in Hawaii than driving on the mainland. In Hawaii, you are expected to “Drive with Aloha.” That means not sticking your middle finger out the window when someone pulls in front of you. That means allowing someone to pull in front of you and flashing the shaka when someone else returns the favor. If you are on the islands long enough, you will undoubtedly become a different driver (I know I have). You will be patient at red lights and even slow down at yellows. You will drive the speed limit and obey traffic signals. You will hang loose and adopt the state motto for drivers: No honk, no hurry.
