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    Castle Junction War Memorial

    5.0 (1 review)

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    12 years ago

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    Ulupo Heiau Historic Site

    Ulupo Heiau Historic Site

    4.7(18 reviews)
    2.0 mi

    Off the beaten path, sits an ancient treasure, the Ulupo Heiau Historic Site. A massive rock…read morefoundation is the remnant of a sacred rock temple/platform that would have been important to Hawaiian chiefs for hundreds of years. Faded plaques near the site tell pieces of the story. The construction of the temple was supposedly by mythical people named "menehunes", who could build such temples overnight. The original temple would have measured a massive 140 x 170 feet and had walls 30 feet high. Construction is mind boggling, indeed. My math figures that over a million rocks were carried to the site. The Heiau was most likely used to oversee agricultural fields and fish ponds below by the chief or kahuna. Kailua (the town below) was once an agricultural capital on Oahu. In later years, the Heiau may have been used to oversee war efforts. The address is the parking lot of a YMCA. Go around the building to find the site. There is no admission, just a request to not remove any of the sacred stones. There are no amenities. The site could stand renovation of plaques. There are several benches under large shade trees to sit and think about Hawaiian ancestors that would have used the site. Worth a short visit if near Kailua. I was moved by the wondrous effort to build such a site.

    This was really interesting to see and, since it's hidden behind a YMCA, it is not something one…read morewould just stumble upon. I couldn't believe how big it was! The signs explaining the history were helpful in getting to know more about the structure itself and about Hawaii as a whole.

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    Ulupo Heiau Historic Site
    Ulupo Heiau Historic Site
    Ulupo Heiau Historic Site

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    Keawe Adventures - The is an image of the USS Arizona Memorial

    Keawe Adventures

    4.6(16 reviews)
    8.8 miHawaii Kai

    We had a great time with Lui. His knowledge of the history of the events of December 7 are…read moreexcellent. His knowledge of the history of the USS Missouri are interesting and engaging. We were loathe to hire a service to take us to Pearl Harbor, but I can say that in hindsight, it was a great experience. We had eight total people on our tour. I never felt rushed or as if I was going to miss something. This was my first time to Hawaii and I wanted to do all the "touristy" things. I can say, unequivocally, that our day with Lui and the Keawe adventures rates right at the top of our experience on Oahu. I actually felt sorry for the tourists on those huge buses. I also want to thank Lui for listening to my few stories...not sure he bought them...but they were true. Great guide. Great time.

    My wife son and I took the pearl harbor group tour. It was an incredible experience to be able to…read moresee these historic ships, and to learn about the bravery and tragedy on that 12/7/41. What help made it such a tremendous experience is out fantastic tour guide Lui. He was not only very knowledgeable about what led up to and including the actions on the day of the attack, but he was able to bring him own knowledge and personal experience into the tour to help explain at a level that couldn't be done with just any tour. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone and everyone who asks.

    Photos
    Keawe Adventures - Private Stand Up Paddle Tours

    Private Stand Up Paddle Tours

    Keawe Adventures - Private Pearl Harbor Tours

    Private Pearl Harbor Tours

    Keawe Adventures - Private Fly Fishing Tours

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    Private Fly Fishing Tours

    The Kaniakapupu Ruins - Access Restricted

    The Kaniakapupu Ruins - Access Restricted

    4.6(45 reviews)
    2.8 mi

    Reminder to self if you every get lost and start to notice you are going in circles, DO NOT PANIC!…read more The smarter thing to do is to leave a trail of bread crumbs. Lol. Thank goodness I was with a group when I first visited the Kaniakapupu Ruins. We were feeling a little adventurous so headed to the ruins from the Lulumalu hike parking area. We ventured off into the thick thick bamboo forest. The route we took initially had a path to follow then it eventually disappears. When we got there, the site was well worth the journey of getting lost. The ruins are breathtaking in its own way. This was once the summer palace for royalty so when you visit appreciate the beauty, respect this historic site, and don't take anything from the site. Kaniakapupu Ruins is one of Oahu's best kept secrets and should be enjoyed by all.

    I have been here several times, its easy to miss which I think is a good thing. Don't want it to…read moreturn into Diamond head. Don't disturb this historical landmark. Don't climb anything or walk on the low walls either. Everything is old and aged and cover with moss in wet, steamy nuuanu. Lot of people leave offerings such as leis and fruit at the plaque. You first see the main structure of a large room. maybe 20 x 20 and there will be several other structures around the site such as foundation walls, paths and some completely collapsed piles of rubble. I heard several different stories that it was used for kinda staycation parties and festivals and also as a point of retreat in invasions. the area is lush, beautiful and serene. it'll often be wet and drizzly and you'll see a rainbow over the front garden as one of the only places light penetrates strongly is above the main structure. The trail is short, first left after the split log on the main trail in the bamboo forest. You can continue down the main trail but there have been issue with people straying on to private property where one owner has a waterfalls in their yard and some had large dogs as i heard. There are other path and some water pipes in the area but those trails seem to be overgrown and some have collapsed trees and is quite dangerous as it is not designated for hiking but for maintenance. It's a bit more safe just to go to Lulumahu falls instead of wandering too much in this area. I guess DLNR has jurisdiction over this area and you are able to apply for a permit to visit. Without one you risk being charged with criminal trespass. They don't so much bother locals so much but I've seen them come to this area and Lulumahu falls identify rental cars, hold everyone there while they issue every single person a ticket. They'll sit there, park and wait till people exit the trail to issue a ticket. I mean hey. Probably just filled their monthly quota in one sitting.

    Photos
    The Kaniakapupu Ruins - Access Restricted - X marks the spot...don't be fooled!

    X marks the spot...don't be fooled!

    The Kaniakapupu Ruins - Access Restricted
    The Kaniakapupu Ruins - Access Restricted - Our 15 year old schnauzer loved it

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    Our 15 year old schnauzer loved it

    Lanikai Marker

    Lanikai Marker

    4.0(2 reviews)
    4.1 mi

    Also known as Alala Point Coast Guard Marker, Lanikai Marker is a concrete and stone monument built…read morein 1924 by the developers of the Lanikai housing subdivision on the rise overlooking the eastern end of Kailua Beach Park (near where Mokulua Dr. meets A'alapapa Dr.). This spot is popular with locals and visitors alike because it sits adjacent to the Kailua Beach Park bike path and affords picturesque views of Kailua Bay, Mokapu Peninsula, and Popoi'a (Flat Island). NGS brass survey marker #TU1072 (N 21° 23.745 W 157° 43.221) has also been placed at the base of Lanikai Marker as a benchmark (no cache). Many years ago, this region was a windswept plain filled with native grasses and overlooked by treeless mountains. The Hawaiians called it "Ka'ohao" which means tying or joining together. (Lanikai is a nonsensical word meaning "sea heaven" created by someone unfamiliar with the Hawaiian language.) The ancient Hawaiians used the mountain tops between Alala Point (near the stone monument at the entrance to Lanikai) and Wailea Point (near Bellows) to watch for fish. The first permanent houses were built in 1924. The owners used them as weekend and vacation retreats because the drive over the old Pali Road was very slow and winding. Beach-front property originally sold for 20 cents a square foot and was not very popular because there were no windbreaks to protect the structures from gusty sea breezes. Today, the area has become extremely popular as a tourist destination. Lanikai Marker itself rates three stars; while historical, it is not especially interesting or beautiful to see. However the view from Alala Point rates fives stars and is definitely worth seeing if you are in Kailua!

    Wow, the best view of Kailua Beach from here. And today an added bonus- spotted a plethora of sea…read moreturtles. Mother Natures bounty was shining bright today. Aloha

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    Lanikai Marker
    Lanikai Marker
    Lanikai Marker

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    Kyoto Gardens of Honolulu Memorial Park - I saw this along the highway

    Kyoto Gardens of Honolulu Memorial Park

    4.0(4 reviews)
    5.6 mi

    Maybe I was Japanese in a previous life. Somehow, I'm drawn to Japanese things, but I've only been…read moreto Japan once. Luckily for me, there are enough Japanese things in Hawaii and LA! I was always curious about the pagoda top that I passed by every day on the way to school and work when I lived in Nu'uanu. After many years, I saw Cara M.'s review when I searched Honolulu Landmarks on this Yelp website! I finally had time yesterday to explore and get a close up look! It was really cool! I parked for free on Craigside Place - the street in the front of the big condominium. It's just a short walk down the paved driveway which is blocked off with orange cones. If you drive to the left, you'll pass by all of the Japanese style graves which are like crypts where urns of family members can be placed together. So - walking down the driveway which curves to the left, you'll arrive at the tall, faded Sanju Pagoda straight ahead. Although the it needs repair and is surrounded by a soft, saggy orange fence, it's still magnificent and beautiful! According to an article in Honolulu Magazine (11-1-06), it is one of the "9 Most Endangered Historic Sites in Hawai'i". It is believed to be the largest pagoda in the world! Before the Sanju Pagoda, to your right, sits a replica of the Kinkaku-ji Temple with the Mirror Lake Garden. It would look better if the water filled the ponds and if the temple were gold in color like the original one in Kyoto, Japan, but I was happy enough to be so close to it! There seems to be some controversy about the maintenance of this Landmark. It may take over $2 million to renovate. If you want to check it out before it falls down, you may want to do it soon... Just be careful!

    After driving on the Pali Highway and seeing the top of that mysterious pagoda every day, I decided…read moreto investigate! and the Internet gave me the Kyoto Gardens of Honolulu Memorial Park, which is the eastern half of the Honolulu Memorial Park and Cemetery. We parked by the graves and walked down to the Sanju Pagoda, an impressive sight in Hawaii! To people from Japan, they'd probably just think that it's old and in SERIOUS need of repairs, but to my friends and I, it was super awesome! A for real pagoda outside of Japan! There was an orange safety fence around it, so we couldn't walk around the pagoda, but it was for the best because it really does look like it can fall down any moment. We then walked down to the replica of Kyoto's famous Kinkaku-ji. Although it doesn't have gold walls, the building looks practically exactly the same as the one in Japan! What makes this replica even more fun is that you can walk right up to it and walk around it, which you can't do with the one in Japan. Good for us! Good for the old building? Probably not... The Mirror Lake Garden was empty of water, so it wasn't really a lake, but we could see how the rocks were placed. It was interesting. If you are a fan of Japanese culture, have gone to Japan, or plan on going soon, the Kyoto Gardens of Honolulu Memorial Park is really nice! Just respect the grounds and don't throw rubbish around.

    Photos
    Kyoto Gardens of Honolulu Memorial Park - The view of the pagoda at Kyoto Gardens from the scenic lookout point.

    The view of the pagoda at Kyoto Gardens from the scenic lookout point.

    Kyoto Gardens of Honolulu Memorial Park
    Kyoto Gardens of Honolulu Memorial Park

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    Castle Junction War Memorial - landmarks - Updated May 2026

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