Travel to Oahu, Hawaii – Episode 184 Transcript

Travel to Oahu, Hawaii – Amateur Traveler Episode 184 Transcript

back to page 1

Chris: Ok. One of the reasons I was bringing up leeward and windward: The weather is a little different depending on where you are on the island. That’s true on Oahu too I assume?

Robin: It is, absolutely. Because any time we have a mountain range, that’s what’s going to stop the weather and the weather on the windward side typically is a little bit rainier. It doesn’t detract from having fun. But you do have to expect that when the showers are coming, they will frequently say in a weather forecast, “Expect windward and mauka showers” because the clouds bump up against the mountains and they’ll drop their rain and it’s a great time when the rains coming down to count all the waterfalls on the Ko’olau Mountains. And then on the leeward side, that is much drier. Actually out on the leeward side of Oahu, you may find it very dry and not as green and lush as other parts of the island. And the weather is beautiful. Probably the best weather is definitely in the Waikiki and the Honolulu area and that certainly goes back to the days of the monarchy when Waikiki was the playground of royalty. They choose the best spots on the island for their fun. So to this day it remains a popular place and the weather remains great.

Chris: So if we want a little more cosmopolitan, a little better weather, not as lush, we’re staying down by Waikiki and Honolulu. And then if we want a little more remote, a little more lush, a little more tropical and a little wetter, we’re going up to the North Shore?

Robin: Going up to the North Shore. Also there is a resort area that is not very far from Waikiki but it is in a residential area and that’s the Kahala. And it has been the place where dignitaries, Presidents of the United States, Heads of States from around the world have stayed. And it is set in a community, a residential community. It is beyond Diamond Head so you really have a much quieter experience when you’re staying out there and yet you are not far at all from all of the excitement of Waikiki and downtown Honolulu. And then going out to the North Shore, for people who wanted to rent homes out there, they do have homes available. And then they also have the Turtle Bay Resort. That resort was built at a time when the zoning rules were not as strict and they were able to build right out on the promontory so they are up close, on the beach and it’s an absolutely grand setting. But there again, it is away from everything. It’s residential out there and it’s a neighbor island experience and you are still on Oahu.

Chris: Ok. Now you mentioned Diamond Head a couple of times. I think if someone isn’t familiar with Oahu, they’re picturing a large head made of diamonds and that’s perhaps not the right mental picture.

Robin: Well, that was actually the illusion that some people had when they first saw Diamond Head because it was just glimmering in the sunshine and they thought it really was diamonds. But come to find out, no it was just minerals that were sparkling in the sun. But it got that name. The name has stuck. And it is probably one of the most identifiable features and pictures when you see pictures of Hawaii that you would recognize Diamond Head right off the bat.

Chris: And what is Diamond Head?

Pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10