With a population of over 34,000, Kaneohe is one of the biggest residential communities on the coast of Oahu, Hawaii, located less than 20 kilometres from central Honolulu. Its name, meaning “bamboo man”, comes from a local legend of a wife comparing the cruelty of her husband to the sharp edge of a bamboo stick. It is a place of stunning natural beauty, with gorgeous bays and beaches, in addition to its cultural tourist attractions and commercial centre.
Kaneohe Bay is a particularly stunning part of the area, where locals relax in their boats, barbeque on the sand and snorkel with the hammerhead sharks that populate the ocean. There are three golf courses for visitors to enjoy and the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden to explore, which hosts an impressive collection of exotic plant life. The Byodo-In Temple is another key attraction and, although built in the 1960s, it has a magnificent Buddha statue replicating an ancient temple of the same name in Japan, commemorating the first Japanese migrants in Hawaii. Visitors can enjoy the commercial centre that runs along the Kamehameha Highway by visiting the Windward Mall or relaxing in the many bars and restaurants in the area.
Drivers can reach Kaneohe via the Kamehameha Highway, which travels to central Honolulu in addition to other small towns like Kailua. In Honolulu, visitors can find a local bus that takes visitors the North Shore of the island and regularly stops at Kaneohe. It takes less than an hour, and the journey is beautiful, as it follows a road passing the forest reserves of the island.
Kaneohe was once an important agricultural area due to high levels of rainfall.However, the only commercial crop of the area today is the banana. Now, it is primarily a residential community, celebrated for its beautiful coastal location, small and appealing cultural attractions and authentic local atmosphere.