Our first trip to Oahu is coming up in ten days and we will be staying in a house on Kailua beach. I have researched everything on the web, this site, and read Oahu Revealed. Is there any chance of snorkeling in Feb. at this beach? We are not expert snorkelers. Just a couple of grandparents wanting to have fun with our grandkids. I would really like some first hand info about this beach area. Thanks

We just got back from Kailua three days ago. Our visit was coupled with a huge amount of rain over all of Oahu--we probably got at least 8 inches over our week there. I snorkled twice and it was "meh"--if you want to give it a try, head to Lanikai where there is much better coral than Kailua itself. It won't be fantastic but you'll see a few fish and your grandkids will at least be able to experience some snorkeling. Not much to choose from snorkelwise in Feb in Oahu other than Haunama. If the weather is sunny visibility should be much better than it was for us. What house are you staying at? I'll be doing a trip report in the next day or so...

Snorkeling is poor at Kailua Beach because the sand is powdery. The powdery sand mixes into the shore break and clouds the water (but it's still blue, clean and beautiful). There is a sand bottom and not much in the way of reefs for snorkeling. Look for reefy areas which are much better for viewing fish, etc.

Sesamee

Thanks for the input. I had heard that Lanikai might be better than Kailua. We will try that. We are going to do the Hanauma snorkel, just wanted something we could do each day at the area we are staying.

alamedadn, we are staying at Hale Ainoni in Kailua. Would appreciate any suggestions re Kailua that you think might help us (great places to eat lunch, shopping, etc). Our grandkids are 3, 7, and 9 and of course everything will be geared toward them.

Glad to help. We stayed at www.vrbo.com/35758. Thoroughly enjoyed the house. We didn't eat out much in Kailua, lunch was either picnics or on the road, so we can't give you lunch advice in town. Dinner out once at Maui Tacos which was quite good, shave ice at Island Snow near your house is highly recommended. We wanted to go to Boots and Kimo for lunch but never made it. Cinammon's for breakfast is supposed to be good as well. You should definitely hit the Thursday night farmers market from 5-7:30 in the parking garage behind Longs. A few good restaurants for dinner and some great produce and floral finds (the mini anthruiums are especially good). Hopefully the weather will be better for you than it was for us; quite a bit of rain that forced us off the beach the last couple of days. Get a copy of Oahu Revealed, a brand new guidebook that we used constantly. As far as shopping, we didn't do much in town. Food at Safeway, Times and Longs, Bookends is a very cluttered new/used bookstore downtown, Kailua Beach Walk has a good selection of Hawaiiana. Make sure to stop at the cute green grocery store near the beach for coffee and sandwiches. And have a great time!

Thanks for the info. Hale Ainoni is also a vrbo property, www.vrbo.com/43149. I had actually looked at the property you stayed in but it was not available when we needed it. Here's hoping that the rain is minimal while we are there.