There's a place not 10 minutes from downtown Honolulu, that’s steeped in legend and ghostly tales. It’s the must-visit Pali Lookout, where an epic battle united all of the islands of Hawaii in 1795 and where hushed reports are still circulated of phantom warriors or Nightmarchers haunting the surrounding Nuuanu Valley.

You could describe Kailua as a typical residential area that arose from post-war development on the Windward side of Oahu. But as anyone who calls the urban side of Oahu “home” will tell you, you’re missing the point. Hugged by Mount Olomana and the Koolau Range, Kailua (meaning “two seas” or “two currents”) is a charming oceanside community filled with close-knit residents who appreciate their laid-back, outdoorsy lifestyle amid a magnificent natural setting.