January 2015 – Ohana Oasis

10 Best Places to Stay When in Kailua, O’ahu under $100

July 16, 2020January 23, 2015 by Analyst Team

When in Kailua, O’ahu, one is excited to try windsurfing and explore its fine, white sandy beaches. If you are planning to visit the beautiful and pristine beaches of Kailua, O’ahu such as the Lanikai Beach and Kailua Beach, staying in hotels can be quite pricey. But the good news is, there are available homestays that tourists can book at a very reasonable price without having to sacrifice the quality of the place. Not to mention the welcoming and gracious hosts who can even help you around when exploring Kailua.

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Below are the top 10 places in and arround Kailua under $100 where guests can book unique accommodations via AirBnB.com:

(The list is not ranked.)

Paradise Studio Walk to Kailua Beach

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2858460?alsm=1&s=5doY

Price: $80/night

Host: Hannah

Newly renovated in June 2014, the space can accommodate two (2) guests and is just two blocks from the beach access and is 5-minute away from Lanikai Beach. It sits in a peaceful and relaxing area and gives high value for privacy and security. Beds are extremely clean and comfortable. Guests are welcome to enjoy the amenities such as snorkeling equipment, beach chairs and towels, tents, bicycles, surfboards and kayaks.

Lanikai’s Breathtaking View

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3039295?alsm=1&s=oOaK

Price: $100/night

Host: Faye

Lanikai's Breathtaking View — Lanikai’s Breathtaking View

Built in 1970, enjoy the stunning view from the hillside while having peace and quiet in this house located a block away from Lanikai Beach. The bedroom has the perfect ocean view and has a queen bed, dresser, desk and is adjacent to a private bathroom. Guests are provided with continental breakfast during their stay. Bonus – a fresh water pool is available at the house!

Kailua Affordable Room and Bath

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/3923766?alsm=1&s=ISp6

Price: $70/night

Host: Jennifer

Located on a quiet street in Kailua, this room has its own private entrance and has more than everything you need. The accommodating and gracious host makes sure that everything is ready for her guests. It is just a walking distance to Kailua Beach and a 5-minute walk to the shopping center and bus line. If you wish to just stay around, there is a tiled pool that you can enjoy.

Kailua Blue Ocean Breeze

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/279986?alsm=1&s=nghO

Price: $80

Host: Melissa and Frank

If you are traveling with your family, Kailua Blue Ocean Breeze is the perfect place to stay in. It is a 5-bedroom, 2-bathroom furnished home and is extremely clean and cozy. They also offer amenities such as the use of the kitchen and the outside shower. If you love surfing, this house is just 30 minutes from Oahu’s North Shore. The hosts also offer private surfing lessons. The guests are very clear with their instructions on the house rules to keep their home’s ambience.

Private room for 2 guests

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2736889?alsm=1&s=uE-H

Price: $85/night

Host: Sharon

Cozy room - walk to Kailua beach — Cozy room – walk to Kailua beach

This private room is part of a lovely island style home and has everything you need – a comfortable queen sized bed, bathroom, large kitchen and dining area with internet access. Guests can also enjoy the outdoor lanai while having a fun-filled BBQ party. It is located near the prettiest beaches of the island so make sure to ask tips from the kind host.

Aloha Surf Hotel Central Waikiki (Rm 502)

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/26454?alsm=1&s=oOaK

Prize: $100/night

Host: Ron and Sallie

If you have the budget for a boutique condo hotel, this is the place for you. Aloha Surf is a clean, spacious room and is very comfortable. It is a fully-equipped room with lanai and free wifi. It is located in the center of everything – beach shops, supermarkets, and of course, beaches. The hotel also has an in-house restaurant, exercise area, spa, and internet café. You might also be treated for some little surprises from the hosts.

The Olomana Room

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/2191014?alsm=1&s=uE-H

Price: $88

Host: Thomas

If you are planning to stay a bit longer in Kailua, O’ahu, this place is more than you could ask for. It is located in a safe and peaceful neighborhood yet still near the best beaches of Hawaii. It boasts of its Olomana Room which is very similar to a hotel room – complete with beach towels, beach mats, internet access, maps and guidebooks. The house also provides a furnished kitchen, dining area and living room. The host also has bikes, surfboard, sea kayaks, and body boards available for rent which are affordable and in great condition.

Private room near the beach

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/1014438?alsm=1&s=uE-H

Price: $85

Host: Eric

This bright and beautiful room is right in the heart of Coconut Grove in Kailua, O’ahu. It is half a mile away from the beach which is approximately a 7-minute walk and public transportation is just down the street. The house is big and it has a furnished kitchen. You can even have a barbecue party at the garden. The host also allows his guests to use his gears – surf boards, snorkeling gears, kayaks and beach cruisers.

Private Micro-House: Kailua Coconut

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/591375

Price: $70/night

Host: Denise and Henrik

Located in the heart of Kailua town, this custom-designed micro-house aims to showcase a tropical experience to its guests. Kailua Coconut micro-house is walking distance to almost everything – less than 2 blocks to Kailua’s best restaurants, less than a mile to Lanikai and Kailua beaches, less than a quarter mile to the bus stop. Cooking is not allowed and no coffee maker and microwave available. It even has an outdoor shower and a lanai which adds charm to this lovely place. Best place to stay in if you want to discover the best coffee shops in the island and experience Hawaii like a local.

Tropical Garden Cottage

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/4198900?alsm=1&s=Avjn

Price: $95/night

Host: Phyllis

This cottage is a private re-furbished shed in the back of the host’s home. It can accommodate 2 persons and has everything you need – double bed, remodeled kitchen with amenities, dishwasher and lots more. The host also provides WiFi, Apple TV and Netflix. Guests can also enjoy the garden patio fire pit while having a BBQ party. Nearest bus stop is located half a block from the house and 4 blocks from the Kailua beaches.

5 Unique Features of Winters in Kailua

July 16, 2020January 21, 2015 by Analyst Team

Hau’oli Makahiki Hou! Aloha and Happy New Year from Kailua! Wishing all the best for you and yours this 2015.

Sometimes people on the “mainland” (as we call the continental USA) or other non-tropical places, who have never been to Kailua, Hawaii before, wonder what winter is like in Kailua. They think it must be strange and foreign because, after all, the Hawaiian islands are the most geographically isolated landmasses on Earth, they’re mostly tropical, and there’s no snow (other than on the tallest summits of our highest mountains, but that’s another story). So everything has got to be way different here, right? The answer is, well, yes and no. You might be surprised by some of the similarities—and differences—of our Kailua winters to winters elsewhere.

So, for those of you who may have a similar question, I thought I’d share with you 5 unique things about the Kailua winter season. We may not have snow, we but that definitely doesn’t mean we don’t know how to have fun! Let’s just say winters in Kailua have a special Hawaiian twist :).

It’s freezing!! (To us–hey, it’s all relative, right?)

During the winter months, temperatures often dip below 70 degrees Fahrenheit In the mornings and evenings, forcing many a Kailuan to actually use a blanket at night, to put on a sweater and possibly even a scarf, and to squeal “It’s freeeeeeeeezing!” to anyone who will listen (…or is that just me???).

Then, of course, there’s the uniquely Hawaiian phenomenon of “slippahs with socks.” Slippahs (also known as “slippers,” “flip-flops,” or “thongs”) are the beloved unofficial footwear of Hawaii, and many of us can’t bear the thought of wearing shoes, so if it’s cold, we’ll wear our socks with our slippahs, thank you very much. This local style goes great with the surf shorts and aloha shirts.

The chilly weather also makes ideal conditions for a cup of hot chocolate or tea, and evening bonfires.

But it’s not too freezing.

But don’t worry, we keep plenty warm during the day. The blankets, sweaters, socks, and scarves soon fall away and are replaced by shorts, t-shirts, hats, and sunscreen. So, just how warm does it get? Well, here’s a picture of the thermometer in my car at 11 a.m. on Christmas day:

78 degrees. Sounds like perfect beach weather!

Which brings me to….

We dream of a white Christmas, too.

And we are not disappointed. There’s nothing quite like spending the day on the beautiful white sands of Kailua’s beaches. Kailua is a beach town, so no matter where you are in Kailua, you’re always just a few minutes’ drive, walk, or bike ride from the beach. “Kailua Beach” stretches the length of the town and can be walked from one end to the other–about 2.5 miles of soft white sand and beautiful turquoise-blue water.

Apparently, I wasn’t the only one who headed to the beach on Christmas day.

Kailua Beach on Christmas day was more crowded than usual, but that didn’t stop anyone from enjoying the day. Children played in the sand and shore break; some people sat or laid around reading books and soaking up the sun; and the more adventurous folks swam, kayaked, surfed, or boogie boarded. Others played games of volleyball or frisbee, and some had picnics in the shade.

If you love playing in the snow, you’ll probably love playing on the beach, too. Actually, you can find a lot of similarities between beach and snow activities.

If you love sledding: try boogie boarding.
If you love snowboarding or skiing: try surfing.
If you love making snow angels: try making sand angels.
And if you love making snowmen? Well…

We also build cute guys with carrot noses.

If you love building snowmen, don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

Allow me to introduce you to my friend “Sandman”:

Isn’t he adorable? Look at his cute starfruit* buttons.

*In case you’re wondering what starfruit is, it’s a delicious fruit that looks like stars when sliced–but that’s another story for another day.

If you thought all you could do with sand is build sand castles, think again! Building sandmen has all the fun of building snowmen, minus the frozen fingers.

You’ll often find sand sculptures of all kinds while walking Kailua Beach–mementos left behind of a family’s fun day at the beach.

But if sandmen aren’t really your thing, check out these guys I stumbled across in Lanikai (a neighborhood in Kailua):

Buoymen! Besides being super cute and friendly-looking, they are also eco-friendly—upcycled from old buoys that washed up on the beach :).

We DO have ice in abundance!

There may be no snow on the ground, but there is ice in abundance: shave ice! Shave ice is a delicious treat made from very finely-shaved ice that looks like snow and is flavored with syrups that come in a rainbow of colors and flavors—including (but certainly not limited to) local favorites like coconut, mango, guava, passion fruit, etc. Shave ice is often served with a scoop of ice cream and a sweet bean paste. You can also get a “white cap” of condensed milk poured over the top.

Shave ice on O'ahu Kailua — Shave ice on O’ahu Kailua by http://matsumotoshaveice.com

Shave ice may sound like just a summer treat to cool down, but it’s actually a Christmastime favorite. President Obama has been known to visit his favorite shave ice shop, Island Snow in Kailua, with his family every year during their Christmas vacation in Kailua.

In case you’re wondering, shave ice is similar to snow cones, but even tastier because the finely shaved ice better absorbs the flavors instead of pooling at the bottom of the cup.

So there you have it, five things that make our Kailua winters different (or maybe not so different) from places with snowy cold winters. As you can see, we have plenty of fun here in our beautiful island home. I hope you’ll come experience a Kailua Winter for yourself!

Best Kailua Restaurants – The Insider Kailua Restaurant Guide

July 16, 2020January 13, 2015 by Analyst Team

Kailua is very popular tourist destination. There are so many restaurants that are recommended in tourist guides, online, and from travelers who have been there before. However there is also a world of culinary delights that is completely unknown to the mass majority of the people who are visiting the island. Here are some of those amazing options and best Kailua restaurants that one should be sure to try if they are traveling to the area.

Many travelers prefer to find dining options that not everyone else is visiting. Some prefer to eat at all of the local places where they can try things that they might not have tried before.

Tips to Find the Best Local Restaurants in Kailua

You need to listen to the natives. People who live in the area are always going to know where to go to get the best food. This can include knowing which restaurants offer the best priced choices, are not over populated with tourists, and have the most delicious foods. Locals are always going to the places with the best values so it is important to ask around and find out what information and recommendations are available from those who live there.

Grab a copy of the local newspaper. When visiting the city make sure to pick up one of the newspapers. This can show off some of the restaurants that are in the area as well as some of the ones that might be new to the area.

Spend some time digging online. When one is first looking at restaurants in a city online they are going to find all of the choices for the chains and the popular places to eat.

Look at the city guides and online websites that feature city guides. Looking at city guides might not be the best way to find a local restaurant. However if it is the only option then it can come in handy for helping one to find out where they should be going.

9 Favorite Restaurants of the Locals in Kailua

**Cinnamon’s Restaurant (315 Uluniu St)
Cinnamon’s Restaurant has been one of the local favorites for nearly 20 years. The restaurant features a lot of traditional dishes that the locals love. Travelers will be able to sample some of the foods that they might not get if they do not live on the islands.

Cinnamon's Restaurant Kailua — Cinnamon’s Restaurant Kailua

**Crepes No Ka ‘Oi (143 Hekili St #130)
Chris and Rosario Tarvyd are the owners of Crepes No Ka ‘Oi. The restaurant was Chris’ dream to bring his favorite part of childhood summers spent in French Polynesia to life. He loved the food trucks where he could buy the freshest crepes and vowed to one day take those home with him. The menu is full of an expansive collection of sweet and savory crepes that are sure to please anyone, even the pickiest eaters.

**Uahi Island Grill (131 Hekili St)
Uahi Island Grill is a restaurant that is known for its contemporary foods that are exciting and full of flare. They pay special attention to the fresh ingredients that are readily available in the area. The prices are fair and the food served features a variety of different styles of cuisine that all have an island twist on them. Locals love the comfortable atmosphere that reminds them of former years and the menu that provides modern spins on old favorites.

**Boots & Kimo’s Homestyle Kitchen (151 Hekili)
Boots & Kimo’s Homestyle Kitchen is one of the most popular restaurants on the island and is known for having long wait times and long lines. The thing is that the people who are generally waiting in these lines are not tourists. The restaurant does not even have their own website. They are actually just locals who love the food that much. The restaurant features amazing pancakes and traditional breakfast foods with an island spin. One of the top specialties is the Macadamia nut sauce that many guests travel great distances just to have again.

Boots & Kimo's Homestyle Kitchen Kailua — Boots & Kimo’s Homestyle Kitchen Kailua

**Baci Bistro (30 Aulike St)
Baci Bistro offers some of the best Italian food in Kailua. This restaurant is known for its “old world” feel with a “new world” menu. Most of the visitors to this popular restaurant are locals and it seems to remain unknown to most travelers. The restaurant opened in 1997 and has been going strong since thanks to the menu that keeps diners longing for more and coming back time and time again.

**Tokoname Restaurant (442 Uluniu St)
Visitors who wish to sample the freshest sushi on the island are going to love this local favorite. Their expansive menu even features great options for carry out making it perfect for travelers who are looking for some sushi to take to their rooms or to enjoy on the beach. There are a number of specials throughout the week on food and drinks as well.