A Day in O‘ahu

🗺️ ROUTE MAP Kailua ➡️ Lanikai ➡️ Makapu‘u Lighthouse ➡️ Lānaʻi Lookout ➡️ China Walls Total drive from Waikiki ≈ 45 min to first stop, full loop back by sunset = 8 h of jaw-drops. 1️⃣ Kailua & Lanikai Beaches 🏖️🐶 Parking: Kailua Beach Park lot fills by 09:30; overflow on side streets (free 3 h). Lanikai = residential only—circle loop twice, if no luck slide into the church lot ($10 cash, supports youth group). Scene: powder sand + water so clear you can count leg hairs. Jennie’s fave stretch is the 3rd beach access—look for the pastel mailbox she IG’d. Bonus: local uncle throwing tennis ball for his golden retriever—dog swims diagonal fetch lines like an Olympian; film in slow-mo = instant B-roll. 🐕 Tip: bring dry bag; tide can sneak up and soak towels while you’re busy selfie-ing. 2️⃣ Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail 🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️ Distance: 2 mi (3.2 km) paved, 500 ft gain—stroller & grandma friendly. Parking: free lot, but gates open 07:00; by 11:00 you’ll orbit for a spot. Go-to gadget: fill reusable bottle—zero shade, sun reflects off asphalt like skillet. View payoff: candy-striped lighthouse perched on cliff lip; winter = humpback spouts every 30 seconds. Zoom 300 mm and you’ll catch breach splash. 🐋 Photo hack: halfway bench faces the Ko‘olau ridges—position friend on railing, shoot low for “Jurassic Park gate” vibe. 🦕 3️⃣ Lānaʻi Lookout 🌊🎣 Roadside pull-off 3 min past lighthouse—no hike needed, engine stays warm. Geography 101: layers of lava shelves act like giant steps; waves explode upward 20 ft—mist rainbow guaranteed. 🌈 Local intel: uncles casting bamboo poles for tako (octopus); ask politely and they’ll show you suction-cup bruises. 📸👍 Composition tip: include left bend of Kalaniana‘ole Hwy for leading line; long-exposure 1/4 s turns surf into silky smoke. Time budget: sit on hood, munch poke bowl, watch show for 60 min—stress evaporates. 4️⃣ China Walls 🏔️🌅 Official name: Koko Head Regional Shoreline – Portlock section. Parking: tight cul-de-sac, 20 slots max. Arrive 16:00 or you’ll parallel on grass praying for ticket forgiveness. Safety: lava ledge 6-10 ft above water; surge can slap entire platform—never turn your back. Wear grippy shoes; slime = ice-rink. Sunset magic: sun drops behind Diamond Head, sky gradient mango ➡️ lavender; wide-angle 16 mm makes cliff edge look like infinity pool into the Pacific. 🌇 Post-splash food: drive 8 min to Koko Marina Center – poke + acai bowl + public shower = civilized. 🚗 MICRO LOGISTICS Start 08:00 from Waikiki; hit Kailua before 09:00 to beat lot closure. Bring reef-safe sunscreen (law) & 1 L water per person; Hawaii heat sneaks. Use “ParkHawaii” app to extend street meters remotely—no coins needed. Return via H-1 east ➡️ south; GPS will try to send you over Pali = nausea curves, stay coastal for scenery and shave-ice stops. 🕰️ SAMPLE TIMELINE 08:00 Depart hotel 08:45 Kailua chill + dog-show 10:30 Drive to Makapu‘u, hike 1 h 12:30 Lunch-picnic at lookout 13:00 Lānaʻi Lookout sea-spray therapy 14:30 Arrive China Walls, stake parking 16:00 – 18:00 Watch jumps + sunset 19:00 Back in Waikiki, spam-musubi reward 📸 INSTA CODES Lanikai: pastel kayak for foreground pop. Makapu‘u: vertical 9:16, lighthouse center, whale fin top corner (winter only). Lānaʻi: 0.5 sec exposure, human silhouette on ledge for scale. China Walls: GoPro chest-mount jump—set 240 fps, slow-mo splash. Pack dry clothes, leave only footprints #US #Hawaii #Honolulu