Pronouncing the name is much harder than feeling at home in Waimanalo

Just because it has more syllables than your home town and most people don’t even know it exists, Waimanalo could very well become your favorite place to spend a week or two. Escape the city clusters and bustling beaches in favor of a lesser known, but no less appealing, vacation destination that will refresh and revive you.

The Eastern edge of Oahu is a little removed from the likes of wild Waikiki and happenin’ Honolulu, but this region is still jam-packed with possibilities to swim, snorkel, hike, stargaze and partake of all the fresh fish and fruits that your belly can handle. Waimanalo Beach Park has the amenities you’ll need to spend a comfortable day at the beach (showers, lifeguards, phones and a wide expanse of soft, sloping sand), and is conveniently located next to several easy-to-love vacation homes - meaning you’ll come away wishing you could stay longer (maybe forever).

Napping in a hammock that overlooks the sea, sipping a mai-tai on the lanai, and exploring the peaceful three-mile stretch of shops, restaurants and beach houses should be attractive enough reasons to choose Waimanalo, and those are just the obvious ones.

Hawaii is overflowing with desirable and delightful destinations and choosing the right one is both easy and hard; you won’t go wrong very often but you want to find the perfect fit, too. Waimanalo’s quiet charms and proximity to the rest of Oahu’s sweet spots allow it to claim the coveted title of Best of Both Worlds; check it out with your own eyes if you’d rather decide for yourself.