Friendship Gardens Trail

Stand Up Paddleboards can be rented in the nearby town of Kailua at various watersports shops. Kayaks can also be rented as another option. The bay can be reached by public access points in neighborhoods at Kaneohe Bay (there are 3 on Mikiola Drive) or at Kaneohe Beach Park.Rental Options: Kailua Beach Adventures Sammy's Aloha Watersports

Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden is on my list of the top ten most beautiful nature places you can drive to. Hoʻomaluhia means "to make a place of peace and tranquility."  This breathtaking gem was built in 1982 by the US Army Corps of Engineering to prevent flooding.  There’s a lot to do here, you can even camp and fish.  There’s a nature trail by the Botanic Library that takes you to a lake. It...

Kayaks can be rented in Kailua. Popoia Island, also known as Flat Island, can be seen from Kailua Beach Park and is a short paddle out.Rental Options: Kailua Beach Adventures Two Good Kayaks

Resting at the foot of the Ko'olau Mountains, the Byodo-In Temple was built to commemorate the first Japanese immigrants that came to Hawaii. This beautiful Buddhist temple is a smaller-scale replica of an over 950 year old Buddhist temple in Uji, Japan.The temple grounds host wildlife such as hundreds of koi, black swans, and peacocks replicate a feeling of being in a different country.The bes...

The Lanikai Pillbox Trail, also known as the Kaiwa Ridge Trail, is a dog-friendly hike . The beginning of the trail is steep with loose gravel, but gets more manageable as you climb the trail. The hike is ~1.4 miles one-way and is an out-and-back trail with a 500ft elevation gain. If you’re an early-riser, this is a great hike to do just before the sun rises. The pillboxes offer panoramic views...

There are two islands off the coast of Kailua known as the Mokulua or 'Mokes'. The island on the right, Moku Iki, is off-limits. However, the larger of the two islands, Moku Nui, is accessible via a 30 minute kayak, SUP or outrigger.You can push off from Kailua Beach Park for a longer paddle or head to Lanikai Beach for a more direct route. The island's small, sandy beach area is perfect for a ...