Driving on the windward coast

I%26#39;m going to Oahu in March with a couple of friends and want to take them on a scenic drive on the first day we%26#39;re there. Can I drive with a normal car (no jeep or SUV) on Farrington Hwy all the way around Ka%26#39;ena Point to the North Shore/Dillingham field area where we%26#39;ll be staying? I see on Google Earth that there is some kind of path there, but I want to know if it is safe to traverse with anything less than an off-road vehicle?

Driving on the windward coast

You are not allowed to take any vehicles all the way around Kaena Pt.

Coming from Dillingham Airfield, you can go a couple of miles past where it is closed to regular traffic (where the pavement ends) if you have a 4-wheel drive. There are a couple of beaches in that area (I%26#39;ve not been to them).

So the only way to get around Kaena Pt. is to hike or take a bicycle (mountain bike).

The road was washed out in the 60%26#39;s %26amp; never rebuilt. I was able to take a motorcycle around Kaena Pt. in 1971. But even motorcycles are not allowed now.

If you do hike around Kaena Pt., don%26#39;t leave any valuables in your car

BTW, Windward coast is from Makapuu Pt. to Turtle Bay Hotel area, not any where close to Kaena Pt.

Lots to do on Oahu:

tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g29222-i37-k647862鈥?/a>

Buy a copy of %26#39;Oahu Revealed%26#39;. It has lots of info on Oahu including Kaena Pt.

Driving on the windward coast

Thanks for the info. I guess I%26#39;ll have to drive up the other side of the island, where I know for sure there%26#39;s a road! And I thought ';Windward'; just meant the entire north/west side of the island, guess I was wrong!

jerry,

the west coast of the island is the lee side.

Windward is the east coast.

this applies to all the islands in Hawaii, as our dominant wind pattern comes from the east (broadly speaking).

I think that%26#39;s your confusion. You were thinking of driving up Waianae coast, which is the leeward side.

Personally I would recommend you go to your lodgings first, unload your luggage, and then go on a scenic drive. (so drive up through central Oahu). There are lots of car break-ins on Hawaii, so if you plan to stop and leave your car unattended, best to have little or nothing in it.

I recently drove from Kaena up the North Shore and down the windward side for a day trip, WITH our stuff, because we were checked out and had a late flight, and it was kind of nerve-wracking having to watch the car. Then just as I was starting to feel overly paranoid we ran into someone who had just gotten his window busted out at a nice crowded beach parking lot (nothing desolate). So we knew we had been right not to leave the car unattended.

Make your drive as carefree as possible.