Plan Some Central Oahu Sightseeing Time

As you plan your Oahu vacation, I hope you’ll have some time to drive around Central Oahu as it has some unique scenery. Central Oahu is rich farmland nestled between the Waianae and the Koolau mountain ranges.

Just a simple drive through the area in between Haleiwa and Honolulu offers interesting views of pineapple, coffee, and sugar cane fields. In addition, there are a couple of spots worth a brief visit. Those two stops are:

• Kukaniloko Hawaiian Birthing Stones – These historic stones and the surrounding area were set aside as a sacred place for chiefs and chiefesses to give birth. See my article for directions and details on visiting this peaceful and spiritual place.
• Dole Plantation – Let me preface this suggestion by first letting you know that the Dole Plantation is definitely a tourist trap, but a tourist trap you’ll most likely enjoy. At Dole Plantation, you’ll find a pineapple-shaped maze, a narrated train ride, and a garden tour – all for a fee. My favorite part is is free. It’s the pineapple garden featuring many varieties of pineapples and several pineapple information placards. In addition, there’s a great gift shop and cafe where you can purchase all sorts of pineapple treats. My favorite treat is the DoleWhip which is a refreshing frozen pineapple delight. The Dole Plantation offers a little bit of every thing to suit all ages. It’s open every day from 9:30am to 5:00pm with the exception of  Christmas Day. The visitors center is located at 64-1550 Kamehameha Highway (Hwy 99).

Central Oahu is located about 40 minutes away from Waikiki Beach. From Waikiki Beach, central Oahu is located on your way to Haleiwa and Oahu’s famous North Shore beaches.

See more of our photos from central Oahu. Have you been to Central Oahu? Did you stop at either the Kukaniloko Birthing Stones or Dole Plantation? What did you think? In your opinion, was it worth the visit or not?