Waimanalo

Waimanalo is routinely referred to as "sleepy little village of Waimanalo." I don't think people sleep any more here than they do elsewhere, but it sure is a quieter, slower pace over here. (You can see some pictures below)

Waimanalo is nestled between the beaches on one side, the mountains on another, a beautiful unpopulated coastal area on another, and the residential community of Kailua on the other. Kailua is a small city of about 40,000 people, with all the services and shops that any community of that size might have. 

By comparison, the beaches of Waikiki are very crowded and full of tourists and businesses. The beach in Kailua is very nice, but in recent years, it has been "found" by tourists, and can be crowded as well. Waimanalo is still a secluded and "hidden" beach. 

(these pictures were taken on the same day!!)

Waimanalo has a much smaller population, spread around a handful of neighborhoods and the foothills of the mountains. Waimanalo itself only has minimal services (one gas station, four fast food restaurants, three small stores for modest groceries, and a handful of very small businesses.

Most residents travel either to Kailua (15 minutes) or Hawaii Kai (20 minutes) for grocery shopping and other services, however, the little grocery stores tend to have a surprisingly good selection of useful things in a very small area. A 7-11 convenience store and another small sundry store is about 200 yards from the rental unit.

With a kitchen and the typical driving around that visitors always do, staying in Waimanalo is actually just as convenient as almost anywhere, and the extra peace, quiet, and relative seclusion makes for a fantastic balance on a visit to the islands.