Makapuu

The Devil Dog has frequently mused that Oahu is the most beautiful island in Hawaii, but these days is all too frequently passed over as people head straight to Maui, Kauai or the Big Island. Thats fine, as those are amazing places, but when I was a boy, growing up on Oahu in the 60's and 70's, coming to Hawaii meant Oahu and Waikiki, and not without reason. Oahu has the best surf and the finest beaches in all of the Hawaiian Islands.  Here's an example.  Above is a picture I took last year of Makapuu,  where, along with nearby Sandy Beach, I spent many a day at the beach as a youth, 35 - 40 years ago.  The point is that it looks exactly the same as it did when I was a boy. How many places can you say that about.  

I'll tell you one...Oahu.  From the North Shore to the two lane highway down the windward side past the Crouching Lion on the windward side, and as seen below, the rugged stretch of coastal road from Hanouma Bay to  Sandy Beach, just around the point from Makapuu, is exactly the same as it was when the Devil Dog was twelve, and would frolic a day away body surfing and enjoying a paradise that remains unchanged, unsullied, to this day, 40 years later.

Oahu's North Shore

Speaking of Oahu, it is also  the home of the North Shore, 10 miles of the most spectacular beaches and legendary surf spots on the planet.  The Devil Dog grew up on Oahu, spending 9 idyllic years of my youth here, and one of the most amazing things is how the North Shore has remained, with minor exceptions, virtually intact from the way it was 30 or 40 years ago. Above, two surfers ride the same break at Epukai Beach Park, better known as the Banzai Pipeline. In the winter the perfectly tubed waves here can reach 20 feet and more.  

At Waimea Bay, when the surf is down, the locals amuse themselves by diving off the large rock at one end of this picturesque legendary beach.  Waimea Bay itself, seen below, is a stunning beach park where the winter off shore swells can reach 30 and 40 feet.

And at the end of the day there is nothing like a Hawaiian sunset, where the couple below enjoy the last rays of the sun at Waimea Bay. The North Shore is an epic destination and one the Devil Dog never tires of revisiting, no matter how many times he may go there.

Aerials over Oahu

Speaking of Hawaii, the Devil Dog has  always been a big fan of taking helicopter rides while in the islands, if only to get amazing views of unforgettable scenery which can be seen in no other way.  Sometimes its fabulous to see major landmarks and traditional attractions from an aerial view, as on a recent trip to Honolulu, on Oahu.  The amazing thing is how well you can see from the sky, and how remarkable familiar sights can be from a different perspective.  Above we see the USS Arizona resting on the bottom of Pearl Harbor with the gleaming white Arizona Memorial straddling its decks. Over 1600 American servicemen remain entombed in this living reminder of Pearl Harbor and WWII.

Below is the brilliant pink landmark, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, the symbol of Waikiki Beach since its opening in 1926. A magnificent 5 star luxury resort, the Royal Hawaiian retains the charm and phenomenal location of another age that has made it the epitome of comfort and timeless accommodation.
Just past the Royal Hawaiian, in the  early morning light, lies the iconic glory of Diamond Head crater and the ring of luxury condos at its base.   Its an amazing view of a legend from the sky, and part of what makes Oahu an indelible destination even when too many pass it by to see the outer islands of Maui and Kauai.  We will explore the charms of Oahu further in the weeks ahead.