Kailua beachfront rentals ensure that you will be steps from what is often cited as Hawaii's best beaches and hidden gems. The Windward Oahu town of Kailua—population 36,513—is only a 30-minute drive from the hustle and bustle of downtown Honolulu, but it may as well be a world away. There are Oahu residents who go for years without making the drive over to this part of the island. And to be truthful, Kailua residents are perfectly okay with that. They rather enjoy having a scenic slice of Hawaiian heaven all to themselves.
Getting to Kailua was always a challenge. Ancient Hawaiians only had two options: hiking over the Koolau Mountains or sailing around Makapuu Point along the island’s eastern shores. More often than not, they chose the direct route and climbed a trail up and over the pali (cliff). Find your perfect Kailua beachfront rentals in the Kailua area, Looking for an alternative vacation rental to the hustle and bustle of Waikiki? Look no further and stay in Kailua town, where the most beautiful beaches on the island can be found.
Lanikai Beach, located just off of Kailua, has been voted by the Travel Channel as one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and the #1 beach in all of Hawaii. It is crescent-shaped heaven, about 2 miles (3.2 km) in length and 50–150 feet wide. The steady trade winds make Kailua Beach one of the world’s preeminent windsurfing and kitesurfing destinations and a wonderful place to call home for a few days, a week or longer. Kailua was densely populated before the arrival of Captain James Cook, and was the ancient capital of Oahu's kings. The biggest event in Kailua and the entire Windward side was in 1795 when King Kamehameha I conquered O'ahu in his quest to unite the Hawaiian Islands.
The King granted Kawai Nui Marsh and old Kailua, which included large freshwater fish ponds and saltwater ponds at Mokapu, to warriors and chiefs who had helped him. The land was used in various forms for agriculture (e.g., sugarcane, rice, and taro), and eventually was used primarily for cattle raising. Many ancient temple ruins, such as those at Ulupo Heiau State Historic Site, are in the area. Kailua vacation rentals offer everything from small cottages tucked under lazy trees to massive estates for entertaining or gathering with friends and family.
This article was added on Monday 08 February, 2010.
