I appreciate the history surrounding Oahu and if one is relocating to Hawaii or just coming to visit, I strongly encourage to seek out the historic sites. There is more to an area besides the stores and malls and the history of an area will provide insight into the past to present.
The Waianae Range spreads the length of the West Coast of Oahu (Nanakuli, Maili, Lualualei, Waiane and Makaha are a few of the communities along the way) and separates it from the rest of the island. To get to the West Coast of Oahu you can just go down Farrington Hwy around the mountain range. The Waianae Coast was named after the mullet that was once farmed in the area. To break down the word, Wai (pronounced why) means water and enae (eh na ee) means large mullet. This community was known for it's agriculture, sugar mill, fishing and religion.
As any other state in the nation transportation evolved from saddle to wheeled carriage and eventually to steamer that left each Friday from Honolulu to Waianae (West Coast of Oahu) and Waialua (North Shore). By 1888 the service increased to twice a week.
By 1889 the construction of Oahu Railroad started and by November 16, 1889 was open to Aiea and on January 1, 1890 it reached Pearl City and serviced the vicinity of Ewa and Honouliuli. During the 1890's the railroad service extended to the West Coast through Kaena Point to Waialua and Kahuku.
To this day fishing is a huge part of every day life for many residents on the West Coast of Oahu and most recently I had the opportunity to meet a commercial fisherman who turned out to be a wonderful client. Life on the West Coast is not for all but for him it's just a simple but hard working way of life. If he's not out fishing he's taking care of his one acre lot home he bought last November.
Needless to say, the Waianae Coastline is breathtaking with clear blue oceans to lush valleys. Truly, the West Coast of Oahu is a local area with living the simple life with many beach parks filled with family and friends having beach parties for the baby's first birthday luau or just to get together. Definitely a place minus the hustle and bustle of city life. (a few of the stops to consider along the coastline are Kahe Beach Park, Tracks Beach Park, Nanakuli Community Park, Maili Beach Park, Waianae State Park, Lualualei Beach Park, Pokai Bay Beach Park, US Army Recreational Center Waianae, Maunalahilahi Botanical Garden)
A couple of other posts to see what's happening on the West Coast of Oahu.
Preservation & Conservation: Military Land Use on Oahu Hawaii's West Coast (Waianae) which is about the history and current land use on the West Coast with regards to the military.
The Legend of Makua Cave: Northwest Coast of Oahu, Hawaii is only a smidgen of the history surrounding the islands. This cave is known as "the cave of man". Read about the legend.....
Bottom lines, every part of Oahu (Honolulu County) has history and many points of interest ....
.....and the Waianae Coast is just one of them.
Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate® and Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocations, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents, Home Buyers and Sellers.
© 2007-2012 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog.
All rights reserved.
Hi Sally, Thanks for the beautiful tour and history. I love to explore the past of an area - find out how it got to where it is today. Most of my time in Hawaii has been on the big island, in Kona or on the other side around Hilo. I'd love to visit and see more of Oahu besides Honolulu. One day ...
Being a huge history buff myself, I certainly appreciate learning about other places. Especially those as beautiful as your area Sally.
Interesting information. I had never thought about trains being on HI...thanks for the lesson!
Woo Hoo! Nice to see you post your beautiful Oahu here for the PhotoBlogger group. I especially like this thought that you shared . "There is more to an area besides the stores and malls". A beautiful presentation and the photos and your writings are always beautiful and exciting to see and read.
Sally, what a fabulous hyper-local post and I really like your use of the larger pictures!
BTW congrats on having a post featured about you! You really DO ROCK, you now ;-)
I've always appreciated your in-depth knowledge about your state. You go far beyond what the reader expects. Once again, you've outdone us all! =D
Really great information and photos. My 9 year old grandson had me google hawaii the other day so that he could zoom in on the satellite view...
Sally everyone seems to think of Hawaii for its beautiful beaches, but after reading several of your blogs, the history is amazing.
My breath has been taken; I believe they call that "breathtaking". There's only two places I'd rather live than the place I'm living in now:
Near my folks and somewhere in Hawaii.
Beautiful as always, Sis:)
Wow! I really never thought that there were trains in Hawaii. Beautiful photos! When going through your blog, it made me feel like I needed to take a vacation to Hawaii.
Sally - you are so knowledgable about the history of Hawaii and present the information so beautifully.
Jeff
Hello Sally and some very beautiful photographs and it looks a bit like Phuket Thailand that I am visiting right now!
Vegas Bob from Thailand
I really enjoyed this story, Sally - and your photos are beautiful. You can hardly go wrong with such gorgeous subject matter - paradise, of course!
Debi
Sally - thanks for the beautiful photos and the local history lesson! Hope you are doing well !!!
Wowee...thanks all for stopping by...if anything the pictures and a bit of history grabs many.
Your gorgeous pictures always make me homesick.