Ka'a'awa is one of the best places on O'ahu to enjoy both mountain and ocean views and activities.  It is located on the windward side of O'ahu, near Kualoa Regional Park and Kahana Bay.  This side of the island is well known for it's relaxing effects... white sand beaches, beautiful clear blue waters and majestic mountains.  Unlike Waikīkī, it is not crowded or "touristy"... rather it's more laid back in a rural setting with lots of different wildlife (land and sea) and foliage.

This area of O'ahu is often described as being “where the Ko'olau Mountains meet the sea.”  Ka'a'awa, being on the “windward” side of the island, has some of the best surfing on the islands.  Plenty of snorkeling and diving spots are also available in the area.

Ka'a'awa is also just one mile from Kualoa Ranch, which is a 4,000-acre horse ranch that offers 40 minute or 1.5 hour trail rides into the Ka'a'awa Valley where Jurassic Park and other famous movies have been filmed. The ranch also offers helicopter rides, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, mountain biking and more.

Opposite the Kualoa Ranch is Kualoa Regional Park . This beautiful beach looks out towards Moloki'i Island, which is nicknamed "Chinaman's Hat" because of it's shape.  Enjoy a nice picnic lunch under the tall palm trees.

The windward side of O'ahu has a subtropical climate with prevailing northeasterly trade winds, which are a dominant factor that governs O'ahu's pleasant climate. The trade winds are consistent in summer months, and in combination with the warm temperatures gives O'ahu and all of Hawai'i great conditions for sailing, boating and other outdoor recreational activities.

O'ahu has two mountain ranges that separate the wet "windward" side from the drier "leeward" coast. The Ko'olau Mountains extend along the northeastern side and to the west lies the Wai'anae Mountains. Showers occur almost daily on the windward side, while on the leeward said, showers are light. Occasionally the trade winds shut down and it can become hot and humid. It is rare, however, for weather to become severe enough to interfere with outdoor plans.

Best beaches!  People from Hawai'i voted the following as the "best beaches on O'ahu"

• Electric Beach:  "Best easy dive site on Oahu. Lots of fish and marine life, nice facilities, etc... don't leave anything valuable in your car!"

• Kaimana Beach: "The sunsets are beautiful, it’s quiet and shady, a park is behind the beach (with restrooms nearby for kids), and parking is easy.

• Kailua Beach: "Perfect for swimming, kite sailing, wind surfing, kayaking, and even walking for miles with your dogs.

• Pounders Beach:  "The views are breathtaking, the surf is exhilarating, and it's where I go to put up my hammock and spend a lazy day watching my girls play in the sand!"

• Sunset Beach:  "It's very peaceful, the sand is deep, and you can walk for miles watching the amazing surf."

Beach	Location	Distance
Swanzy Beach Park	Ka'a'awa	200.0 ft
Ka'a'awa Beach Park	Ka'a'awa	1/2 mi
Kahana Bay Beach Park	Kahana	2 mi
Punalu'u Beach Park	Punaluu	4 mi
Pounder's Beach	Lai'e	8 mi
Kane'ohe Beach Park	Kane'ohe	14 mi
Sunset Beach	Waiāhole	19 mi
Kailua Beach Park	Kailua	20 mi
Lanikai Beach	Lanikai	21 mi
Waimānalo Beach	Waimānalo	22 mi
Waimea Beach Park	Waimea	22 mi
Makapu'u Beach	Makapu'u	25 mi
Kaimana Beach	Waikiki	27 mi
Electric Beach	Kahe Point	40 mi

Attraction	Location	Distance
Kualoa Ranch	Kaneohe Bay	3 mi
Polynesian Cultural Center	Laie	9 mi
Brigham Young University & Mormon Temple	Laie	10 mi
Gunstock Ranch	Kahuku	11 mi
North Shore's Sunset Beach	North Shore	20 mi
Matsumoto's Shave Ice	Haleiwa	27 mi
Aloha Stadium  (swap meet Wed, Sat, Sun)	Aiea	23 mi
Arizona Memorial	Honolulu	24 mi
Sea Life Park	Makapuu Point	25 mi
Honolulu Zoo	Honolulu	27 mi
Waikiki Aquarium	Waikiki	27 mi
Dole Plantation	Wahiawa	34 mi

Museum	Location	Distance
Bishop Museum	Honolulu	20 mi
Honolulu Academy of Arts	Honolulu	23 mi
Hawai'i Maritime Center	Honolulu	23 mi
USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park	Honolulu	24 mi
Naval Air Museum	Honolulu	36 mi

Museum	Location	Distance
7-11	Ka'a'awa	150 ft
Tamura's Grocery	Hauula	7 mi
Times Super Market Ko'olau Shopping Center	Ahuimanu	10 mi
Safeway 46-065 Kamehameha Hwy	Kaneohe	12 mi
Longs Drug Store 46-047 Kamehameha Hwy	Kaneohe	13 mi

Restaurants	Location	Distance
Uncle Bobo's Hawaiian BBQ 237-1000	Ka'a'awa	150  ft
Crouching Lion Inn 237-8511	Ka'a'awa	1/2 mi
Hauula Korean BBQ Maliko O Punaluu Bar & Grill Papa Ole's Kitchen Rainbow BBQ 293-1693	Hauula	7 mi
McDonalds Subway Pizza Hut Hawaiian Island Meals Lee's BBQ Loco Moco	Ahuimanu all in the Ko'olau Shopping Center	10 mi
Hukilau Cafe McDonalds Pizza Hut Taco Bell	Laie	10 mi
Haleiwa Joe's at Haiku Gardens 247-6671 Kin Wah Chop Suey 247-4812 Koa Pancake House 235-5772 Mui Kwai Chop Suey 247-3230 Starbucks  46-023 Kamehameha Hwy 234-5425	Kaneohe	12 mi
Kahuku Grill 293-2110	Kahuku	12 mi
Boots & Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen 263-7929 Buzz's Original Steakhouse 261-4661	Kailua	19 mi

State Park	Location	Distance
Kahana State Park	Kahana	2 mi
Kualoa Regional Park	Kaneohe Bay	3 mi
Sacred Falls State Park	Punaluu	6 mi
He'eia State Park	Kaneohe	11 mi
Waimea Falls State Park	Waimea	22 mi
Sand Island State Park	Honolulu	24 mi
Keaiwa Heiau State Park	Aiea	25 mi

Museum	Location	Distance
Hawaii State Hospital 247-2191	Kaneohe	12 mi
Kahuku Hospital 293-9221	Kahuku	13 mi