Kaneohe vacation rentals

Kaneohe is the other side of Oahu

Sat over the rugged volcanic hills on the far side of Oahu from Honolulu, Kaneohe is like a postcard image of the Aloha State. It's surrounded by serrated ridges of black-rock hills, enclosed by bluffs draped in verdant rainforest. Historically, it's been a booming agricultural center, but these days it's mainly given over to secluded beach parks, intriguing marine research facilities, golf courses, mystical Japanese temples, wild forest reserves, and stylish Kaneohe vacation rentals with front-row seats overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Temples and gardens in Kaneohe

You can transport yourself to the mystical land of the Far East just a stone's throw from the door of your Kaneohe vacation rentals by hopping across to the painted bridges and Zen gardens of the Byodo-In Temple – it was raised to mark the 100-year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to the Aloha State. Then, more soothing pursuits await in the Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens on the south side of town, where Polynesian trees and lily-spotted ponds sit in the shadow of the rugged Koolau Mountains.

Kaneohe is Oahu's rain pocket

Things are fine if you're looking to bag Kaneohe vacation rentals as a base for exploring the shimmering south-coast beaches of Oahu island. But if you're looking to settle in the town for your whole trip, it might be worth considering dodging the slightly rainier months of December and January. That's because this pocket of the Windward Coast, sat below the Koolau ranges, is one of the wettest of all. The rest of the year is all fair game, though, offering plenty of sun and temperatures between 75 and 80 most days.

Wide bays and rugged peaks around Kaneohe

Kaneohe is plugged at the end of photogenic Kaneohe Bay. It's a place you're likely to have seen in many a Hawaii travel brochure – think soaring bluffs of green rock emerging from a sky-blue ocean; sinewy volcanic mountains; wild marshlands sprouting loulu palms. You can go off-track and delve into thickets of tropical rainforest by heading for the soaring reserves of the Waiahole Forest. Or you can stick to the coast, where the greenery spills into the Pacific at the He‘eia State Park. You can do marine tours to see sharks there, and see the wide lagoon of the He_eia Fishpond.

How to get to and around Kaneohe

The nearest airport is in Daniel K. Inouye Intl. Airport (HNL), located 9.1 mi (14.7 km) from the city center. If you're unable to find a flight that fits your schedule, you could book a flight to Kapolei, HI (JRF-Kalaeloa), which is 18.6 mi (29.9 km) away.