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.

It's one of Oahu's best kept secret (only because direction to this place is difficult for most…read morepeople)! At this point I'm pondering whether or not I should post directions...so if you can make it to here based on my directions, kudos to you! If not, it just wasn't meant to be. Nestled discreetly in the heart of Nu'uanu Valley lies Kaniakapupu Ruins. Through the bamboo forest and amidst the shady, grown trees sits what used to be the summer home of King Kamehameha III. What remains is a couple of walls, a stone walkway and an outdoor kitchen. This place is considered sacred for many Hawaiians. Even if you are a non-believer in spirits and such, you would be wowed by the presence of something spiritually powerful and present there. Allow yourself to quiet your soul a bit and you will feel what many believe to be a strong "mana," or spiritual energy. I walked around the ruins and gasped at the thought of having 10,000 people gather at this place many, many years ago and I felt a strong energy around me, untouchable and unseen but nonetheless harmless and powerful. I got goosebumps (or as locals say, "chicken skin") all up and down my back, neck and arms. The peacefulness and serenity of the surrounding forest lends to the magical feeling I felt. There are many directions of how to arrive at the Ruins, however the most accurate one was that from fellow yelper Eric Robert R. - Get on Pali Hwy - Get on Old Pali Road - Look for a small looking type water plant/bldg. **Now the difficult part - the opening to the trail is opposite the water bldg; discreet and well hidden to the passerby. It's an opening in the bamboo forest - refer to the pictures on YELP if needed. If you stay on the (main/obvious) trail - you will hit a waterfall and stream. The trail does not have an obvious fork in the road, however if you veer onto the trail on the left you will see a worn path, stay on that path and trek a short 10 minutes. The forest opens up and therein lies the enchanted Kaniakapupu Ruins. This is more of a "nature walk" rather than a hike. Expect it to be really muddy and "sticky" after the rains and always apply mosquito repellent prior, as the mosquitos here are quite hungry. As with any local historical site, DO NOT disturb the building, rocks and plants here. It truly is a beauty and the historical value is priceless. There is something very special about this summer home that words alone cannot describe. This walk is perfect for children and for the novice hiker or nature enthusiast. I'm told that large groups are discouraged from coming here however, upon exiting the trail we did see a small tour bus full of tourist congregating to commence the walk. I don't know about you but I'm a little selfish when it comes to things like sharing "treasures" with the general tourist population aka large groups only because you cannot assure that the "treasure" will not be destroyed. I'd venture to say that it'll be just a matter of time before attempts to preserve this gem on a larger scale is realized.

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.

Do you see it... Not…read moreat first I admit but once you know you certainly do and oh how fun it is to grab a glance at it where I usually don't get much a chance of that since I've been driving but on this day with Terry K I got that chance and boy what memories it brings as every moment as a child it represents celebration with family and what a drive it is as you need to take the scenic route as we call with the endless ocean views. Not exactly sure who discovered this unique rock formation but is a fun view point as you take in the stunning various parts of the island that's free yet a great photo opportunity along with some rest/lunch stop at The Crouching Lion Restaurant which is exactly what we did and hope that you do so to take the time and enjoy this stunning view. Thank you!

I went to this new opening with new menu and full renovation of the place. I was actually…read moredisappointed with the menu, the food was a cross over of Laotian food with Tex mex menu. I had the tacos, fries, and sliders. To me all that I had were spicy and it over powered the flavor. Presentations were good but flavor was just over powered by the spicy chili ingredient. The service was slow and confusing for them as to what people ordered and where they were sitting. Your server was 5 different folks and not consistent. Your drink runs out and your sitting there waiting. Maybe it's opening jitters. But the menu needs change and service needs to improve. Chairs were hard, the ambiance was good but it would be better if the waiting was not so long. I'll go again later in the year and see what happens . Aloha

What's the point…read more.. Lā'ie Point State Wayside to be precise where it's not quite a park but a lookout point with an easy access drive up located right across from Late Shopping Center on Anemoku Street though be aware it's a residential area and with very limited parking so you need to be mindful not to block driveways and find some area to park to take in the view. No trails or path and is quite rocky so be careful making your way around to take what nature has created which is quite interesting and it's nice to see that there is a plaque that explains the legend of how the scattered pieces of rock formations came to be was quite fascinating and one that I learned on this visit but a place not to be missed for a cool and unobstructed view of a unique part of the island. Thank you!

Laie Point State Wayside is quite a breathtaking scenic lookout with beautiful views of the Koolau…read moreMountain range and an interesting rock formation that's bridged together. Located in Laie, you take the street directly across from Laie Shopping Center, Anemoku St. Just follow it and make the next right onto Naupaka St and straight down. There's a few unmarked parking spaces. If none, you can park on the street. It can get pretty windy here and the walkable areas are quite rocky, sharp, and uneven. The waves crash onto the rocks as well. Just adds to the thrill! Cool place to stop by!

Landmark in Honolulu, Hawaii…read more.. I was driving my friends from New Jersey around the island. We stopped at Halona Blowhole, where I checked my Yelp app for other nearby Landmarks. Japanese Fishing Shrine (Umi Mamori Jizo) seemed like an interesting stop, so we looked for it. Located next to Eternity Beach, before the Halona Blowhole parking lot, on the way from Hawaii Kai, we parked on the shoulder of the road. It's a bit dangerous, so I wouldn't recommend this. However, one of my passengers has walking difficulties, and I wanted to park as close as possible for her. We struggled with going up and down the stone stairs, but it was worth it. The views of the ocean and Eternity Beach below are breathtaking! On the base of the Shrine are carvings - maybe it's the name of the person who drowned here many years ago? It's supposed to be a memorial for fishermen who lost their lives due to the strong, unpredictable waves along the beach. There's English, too: "Japanese Casting Club". When I used Google, I found out that there's an annual ceremony on the second Sunday in November, conducted by a Vietnamese Buddhist church. The Shrine was built in the 1940's. There's a carving of Jizo (Buddhist guardian) in the stone to protect fishermen. There were fruit and flower offerings, a solar-powered flower, and a flower lei at the shrine on 1-21-24. Rest In Peace...

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.

Incredible views from the lookout, a great spot for photography. The lookout is steps from the…read moreparking lot. There was nobody else there when I as everyone else was doing the lighthouse trail. We had other stuff planned so i felt this was a good quick option.

Makapuʻu Lookout is located on the southeastern side of Oahu along the Kalaniana'ole Highway. It's…read morenext to the Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail and is only a short walk from the small parking lot. From the lookout you'll see panoramic views of the coastline and the Pacific Ocean. From December to May, this spot and the general area as a whole are popular spots for humpback whale watching. It's also a popular spot for sunrise as this side is where the sun rises from. You will be able to get a lot of the same views as the lighthouse trial here without needing to go on the hike.

Thoreauvian will truly appreciate this wildlife sanctuary. Hamakua Marsh is located in Kailua and…read morethe adjacent Kawainui Marsh make up the largest remaining wetland habitat in the State. It currently depends fully on rainfall on the hillside rising up from the Marsh, as well as tun iff from parts of Kailua Town. Came in to checkout coz it's been on our radar for quite some times now. Come to find out that there is a path for the bikers and to stroll through. The main activity you can do here is bird watching. The green field of native plants are what you gotta see here. No fancy things just pure nature. Wildlife photographer can capture some of its native birds here like A'eo, Alae ke'oke'o, Alae 'ula and Koloa Maoli. An being a photo walk lover, it's my forte and enjoyed my time while here. Not to mention that green is my favorite color too. So, this Marsh deserve my 5-star for sure! You can't give a natural habitat lower than 5. Mahalo for reading and happy juandering fellow yeeps!

Hamakua Marsh is just one of many examples in Hawaii of how human development has permanently…read morealtered the 'aina and affected wildlife habitat. This wetland area is located on the mauka edge of Kailua Town and is one of the few places that endangered native, endemic, and indigenous waterfowl can be seen so close to human habitation. As the result of a water diversion project, Hamakua Marsh is now much drier than before--a dying marsh. Long ago, Hamakua Marsh was the site of an ancient lake near the ocean. Ocean spray, illuminated by the morning light, created mist on the hill behind the lake, called Pu'u o Ehu, or "Misty Hill." Eventually, ocean levels dropped, exposing more land and forming Hamakua Marsh around 1400 AD. Water from neighboring Kawainui Marsh flowed along Kawainui Stream to feed Hamakua Marsh. The water then skirted Ka'elepulu Pond and drained through a canal into Kailua Bay. In 1952, a canal was built along the entire length of Kawainui Marsh and past Hamakua Marsh. This canal replaced Kawainui Stream to aid in flood control, provide pastureland, and create flood-free land for housing development on the makai (ocean) side of the canal. This caused Hamakua Marsh to begin drying out. Due to flooding in 1987, the berm of the canal was raised 10 feet, permanently blocking water flow into Hamakua Marsh from Kawainui Stream. Today, Hamakua Marsh is dependent on rainfall runoff and saltwater backed up from Kailua Bay. There is minimal water turnover, resulting in poor water quality and further loss of habitat, particularly for native/indigenous/endemic plant and animal life. In Hawaii, less than 10% of former wetlands exist. This loss of habitat endangers four species of birds found only in Hawaii, the Hawaiian Coot, Black Necked Stilt, Common Moorhen, and Hawaiian Duck (Koloa). All of these are found in Hamakua Marsh in ever-decreasing numbers. Fortunately, a public-private partnership effort is under way to save the Kawainui-Hamakua Marsh complex. Public meetings are being held September-November 2011 by Ho'olaulima Ia Kawainui to share information and invite public input. To participate or learn more, download the flyer at http://ahahui.files.wordpress.com/2011/09/kawainui-outreach-flyer_sept11.pdf Yelp 365 Challenge #043/365

Historical building with beautiful architecture and a spacious garden. It was closed today so we…read moreweren't able to enter. This is the Royal palace for King Kamehameha and other royals until 1893. This is an easy walk from the piers if you are on a cruise. The Monkey Pod trees are huge and spacious. The grounds are well kept.

As a Kamaaina, i bought my husband to Iolani Palace to share our beautiful…read moreculture. From ticket to exit, Aloha is no longer present at the palace. No friendly warm smile. Poor customer service. Lack of docent knowledge. The strict rules are fine and understandable but just poor ambassadors of our alii's home.