This luxury boutique hotel is located on the tropical windward coast of Oahu.
Picking the right hotel when on vacation is essential. For my wife and I, the hotel must be able to check off certain boxes when it comes to things like a good breakfast, comfortable rooms, proximity to restaurants and the option of on-site activities beyond just the usual pool outing. If it’s a secluded gem away from large crowds and busy city streets where we can relax, take in the scenery and revel in tranquil serenity, even better.
So, for our recent honeymoon on Oahu back in February, it was important to find such a place. We found that getaway, Paradise Bay Resort, in a small residential neighborhood outside of Kaneohe on the windward side of Oahu twenty minutes Honolulu.
What makes it so special? Here are four reasons why I’ll choose to stay again.
1. on-site activities
The resort’s friendly staff can always arrange golf outings, hikes and horseback riding if you’d like. But if there’s a day that you prefer staying on-site, kayaks and paddle boards are available on a first come, first served basis. We had no problem grabbing ours when we wanted to hit the water.
If you’re up for exploring the resort grounds, two excursions are offered. One option is their Boat Excursion & Sea Turtle Adventure that takes place every Monday and Wednesday. The other is a Saturday Sandbar Boat Excursion and Reef Snorkel Adventure. If you’re in the mood to relax and enjoy that warm, sunny Hawaiian weather, the hotel also offers a wonderful pool and hot tub, and a floating sun lounge. Yoga and meditation classes are also offered complimentary.
Check out the full activity list here.
2. breakfast with a view
When we’re booking a hotel, making sure there is a tasty, hot breakfast sits high on our list of must-haves, if not the very top. Cold cereal and dated bagels are not a way to start the day, especially in Hawaii. Thankfully, Paradise Bay Resort has an incredibly delicious breakfast available every morning. We’re talking eggs, potatoes, oatmeal, fresh fruit and for me, freshly brewed coffee. Lots of it. Pairing all those flavors with an amazing look out over the water toward lush, green hillsides in the distance makes it that much better.
When it comes to dinner, they offer an “Aloha” Dinner with a hula performance on Mondays. On a Wednesday, we caught their “Waena” dinner with live Hawaiian music. If you’re there starting off the weekend, plan on the Friday “PauHana” dinner with a fire knife performance. It came highly recommended by the lady at the front desk.
3. spacious rooms and tranquil settings
Don’t hesitate to book any room available. The resort’s contemporary island-style cozy studios, one and two bedroom suites are spacious and comfortable – a perfect spot to relax, cook your own meals, and enjoy a few drinks on a spacious lanai with views of the Koolau Range or Kaneohe Bay. If you book one the standalone cottages, you’ll have expansive views of both.
Have an idea of when you’ll be visiting Oahu? Check out what’s available to book here.
4. proximity to adventure, a temple and traditional food
If you stay here you’re also close to places like Kualoa Ranch and the Polynesian Cultural Center. The ranch is only four miles away and a great place to experience four-wheel drive Jeep excursions, an ATV tour through the exquisitely beautiful 1,000-acre Kaʻaʻawa “Jurassic” Valley, and a relaxing catamaran tour of Kaneohe Bay. The Polynesian Cultural Center, roughly 15 minutes farther north along Kamehameha Highway, offers 42 acres of tropical splendor and the opportunity to enjoy traditional hands-on activities, dinner and an authentic Polynesian luau.
Two other essential stops near the resort that should make your itinerary is the Byodo-In Temple and Waiahole Poi Factory. Byodo-In Temple, surrounded by a calm, reflective pond, is a picturesque replica of a 950-year old Buddhist temple in Uji, Japan. Waiahole Poi Factory is where you go to eat. It’s a long-standing roadside eatery just a few minutes drive from the resort known for traditional Hawaiian food and tasty ice cream.
TheTravelin'Joe 
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