Manoa Valley, a suburban community that serves the downtown Honolulu area is known for its quiet streets, nice homes, and convenient location. With many Oahu homes for sale in the area, there is a constant shift of people into and out of the valley. The silence of Manoa is broken on game days for the University of Hawaii Rainbow Wahine volleyball team, a division one NCAA squad. Under the direction of 34-year Head Coach David Shoji, the Wahine have quickly become one of the hottest sports teams in Hawaii, and have often garnered national attention as consistent Western Athletic Conference champions and NCAA Tournament participants. Over the years, the Wahine have won three NCAA tournaments and have been runners-up and final four teams in over ten more tournaments.

The Wahine have called the Stan Sheriff Center on the Manoa Campus of the University of Hawaii home since 1994. The special events arena can seat up to 10,300 people and was named after a former university athletic director who lobbied for its construction. Besides hosting several sell-out crowds for the Wahine, the center also hosts the men’s basketball and volleyball teams as well as the women’s basketball team. The center also allows high school tournaments and other special events to be held at its facility.

Having the ability to explore the forests, deserts, bays, and waters of Hawaii is the primary goal of visitors looking to tour the islands of Hawaii. Instead of finding a hotel in the midst of tourist districts, the ability to utilize Hawaii real estate rentals for short periods of time might possibly be the best solution. Staying outside of designated tourist areas might be advantageous, especially when visiting places like Hanauma Bay on Oahu, miles away from downtown Honolulu and Waikiki. A marine embayment formed as a result of a volcanic cone as part of the Koolau Range, Hanauma Bay is a sheltered cove that serves as both a scenic beach and nature preserve. As a Marine Life Conservation District, Hanauma Bay Beach Park is different from most other beaches by requiring visitors to abide by certain rules and regulations to protect the present wildlife. Visitors are not allowed to touch, walk on, or otherwise contact coral as well as various other forms of marine and ocean life – animals and plants. Green sea turtles, known in Hawaii as “honu,” also frequent Hanauma Bay. For people who wish to explore the lesser traveled areas of the Hawaiian islands, finding rentals instead of hotels may be the best way to go.

Kaneohe Bay doesn’t have the white sand beaches that Oahu’s other beaches have, but don’t let that mislead you. This is the state’s largest bay and reef-protected lagoon. With patches of reefs, the color of the water is every shade of blue. Kaneohe Bay is nothing short of extraordinary when compared to Oahu’s other beaches.
Surrounding Kaneohe Bay are five islands that provide a dramatic background to those playing along the coastline. These islands are Chinaman’s Hat, Turtleback Island, Kapapa Island, Coconut Island, and a sandbar in the middle. While this sandbar disappears during high tide, it is a popular landing spot for boaters and kayakers in low tide.
Kaneohe Bay is a beautiful sight to behold. To enjoy the views of this beach venture to the Pali Lookout, or even at the Kaneohe Beach Park if you want to enjoy this place up close. You can also launch your kayak from this site or enjoy a picnic on the shore.
The rich marine ecosystems found here make Kaneohe Beach Park a fascinating area to study. In fact, its underwater coral formations and marine life makes this the most studied marine ecosystem in the world.  Even with the bay, however, the water in the bay is silted, and its shallow water is described as tidal flats, making it unsuitable for swimming.
Even if you can’t swim in the bay, you can join many others in admiring the beauty of the nature in Kaneohe Bay.