Kalanianaole Highway weaves through epic mountains and gorgeous beaches – offering one of Oahu’s most beautiful scenic drives. Along the way, the towns of Waimanalo, Hawaii Kai, Kahala, and Kaimuki welcome with a bevy of eateries, shops, and entertainment options. Rapid residential and commercial development has rolled out to the east of Honolulu and Kailua. With preservation of the land as a priority, pristine landscapes like Sandy Beach and Hanauma Bay continue to boast an epic roster of outdoor activities that include hiking, biking, boating, surfing, and snorkeling. An ideal place to enjoy many of these activities is Bellows Air Force Station – an oceanside destination in Waimanalo geared to military members. NATIVE HAWAIIANS TO CATTLE TO MARINA COMMUNITY Waimanalo means “potable water” and is thought to be the one of the first areas explored by Native Hawaiians. Around the eastern-most point of Makapuu, the neighboring town of Hawaii Kai was once called Maunalua, referring to the two iconic mountains of Koko Head and Koko Crater. Early Polynesian settlers enjoyed the bountiful fish in calm Maunalua Bay, building innovation fishponds in the water and heiaus (sacred site) on the land. Following the Great Mahele land division in 1848, the Bishop Estate would acquire the dry Maunalua land. Cows roamed the valley for decades until the 1946 tsunami destroyed barns, fields, houses and more. The land then turned to swamps and pig farms, with unpleasant smells. But in 1961, the visionary entrepreView of the Mokes from Bellows Beach East Oahu 294 EAST OAHU
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