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Before you go
Your trip to Kailua.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
Kailua – Hawaii Destination Honolulu and Oahu about 20 km from Honolulu
How to get there
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Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) Honolulu · 30 km
Approximate distances. Check flights and bus, train or boat schedules before you travel.
From Honolulu, take the Pali Highway (61), which crosses the Koʻolau Range through a tunnel, in about 30 minutes. City buses connect downtown Honolulu and Ala Moana to Kailua.
How many days
One day is enough for the beaches of Kailua and Lanikai and the Kaʻiwa Ridge trail. If you like wind or paddle sports you might stay two or three days.
When to go
Year-round, with sun and brief showers. From April to October the weather is usually drier. The trade winds blow most of the year, weaker in winter.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
Helpful to have a car. There are buses from Honolulu, but a car makes it easier to stop at the Pali lookout on the way. Parking in Lanikai is restricted: leave your car in Kailua. Drive on the right.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in Kailua
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Morning
Lanikai
Watch the sunrise at Lanikai Beach and hike the Kaʻiwa Ridge trail up to the old bunkers.
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Afternoon
Kailua Beach
Rent a kayak and paddle out to Popoiʻa Island or spend the afternoon at Kailua Beach.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
Are Kailua and Kailua-Kona the same town?
No. Kailua is on the east side of Oʻahu, near Honolulu; Kailua-Kona is on the west coast of the Island of Hawaiʻi, the Big Island.
How long from Waikiki to Kailua?
About 30 minutes by car via the Pali Highway, or roughly an hour by bus.
Which beach should I choose, Kailua or Lanikai?
Kailua has facilities, lifeguards and space; Lanikai is narrower and has no services, with views of the Mokulua islets. Many visitors go to both in the same day.
What is the Pali lookout?
A lookout high on the Pali Highway in the Koʻolau Range, with views over the windward coast. A decisive battle in Kamehameha I’s unification of the islands took place there in 1795.