Pros and Cons of Vacationing in Makaha and Waianae Area

In July 2020, Sajal and I stayed in Makaha, Hawaii. Makaha is a small town on Oahu, the most populated island in Hawaii. Most people when they come to Oahu stay in Waikiki. Waikiki is a tourist location that is a subsection of the city of Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii. However, Sajal and I decided to stay in Makaha so that we could get a beachfront view. Below are the Pros and Cons of Staying in this location.

Pros

1) Not a Tourist Trap

The Makaha/Waianae area feels more like real Hawaii. It's not very touristy, and you can experience real Hawaiian culture. The people in Hawaii are so nice. Every single person I've met has amazed me with their kindness. Hawaii's real culture can be experienced in Makaha and Waianae.

2) Apartments are Much Cheaper

Sajal and I were able to get a one bedroom BEACHFRONT apartment only for $2,500 for a month. If you're looking for apartments to stay at, I would highly recommend the Makaha Beach Cabanas. They are beautiful apartments that all have beachfront views. Since we are the west coast, I saw breathtaking sunsets every day (look at the picture above). I went to sleep every night hearing the waves crash on the beach. There are mountains close by that you can hike.

3) Less Crowded Beaches

Because Makaha is away from the main city, the beaches are open and less crowded. You can take morning walks on a beach all to yourself. The waves here are also amazing. The water wasn't too cold or hot. The beach here is the best reason to come.

4) Reliable Public Transportation

If you can, I would highly recommend having a car in Oahu. That way you can drive around to all the different locations- North Shore, Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, etc. However, if you don't have a car like me, the bus system here is very reliable. The bus comes about every 20 mins and there is an app called DaBus2, which shows exactly when the bus is coming. The bus is also fairly cheap, with day passes being $5.

5) Great Hiking Spots

Just around me are 4-5 hiking spots. In fact, we hiked a mountain that was right next to our apartment called Mauna Lahilahi. This mountain had more climbing and less walking than I expected, but it was so much fun. The hike was relatively short (about an hour) but definitely made me sore the next day.

6) Great Grocery Stores

They have a great Farmers Market on Saturdays called the Waianae Farmers Market. This market is super cute and a part of the Hawaiian charm. There are also 2 really great grocery stores nearby: the Waianae Store and the Tamura Super Market

Cons

1) Far from the City and Airport.

Makaha and Waianae are pretty far from the airport and the city. It's about a 1-hour drive or 2-hour bus ride from the airport and Waikiki. If you're just coming for a beach vacation, this location is perfect. If you're looking to really explore Oahu, I would think whether this is the best location.

2) Limited Choices in Restaurants

While you can get takeout pretty easily using the BiteSquad app, the food choices aren't that great. The BiteSquad app is a local Hawaiian app that is just like GrubHub, Uber Eats, or DoorDash. I really enjoyed using this app and would recommend it in Hawaii. However, there are only a couple of restaurants in this location since this isn't the city. My recommendation would be to get a lot of groceries and cook yourself. If you do order out, I highly recommend The Beach House by 604.

3) Poorer Neighborhood

Makaha and Waianae is a little bit of a rundown area of Oahu. I have never felt unsafe here, but I've seen stray dogs and chickens running around. However, I actually really enjoyed seeing this because it felt more like real Hawaii to me. It wasn't the fake tourist image that is sometimes shown.

In all, the Waianae-Makaha area is a great place to stay. Every place has positives and negatives to it. I really enjoyed my time in Makaha. However next month, I'll be staying in Waikiki because I wanted to experience more of a city feel. Here's to adventures in the best beach city there is.