One day when the gods were playing a game of ulu maika on the beach, one of the rolling stones went astray, causing them to name the beach 'Ewa (pronounced ehvah), meaning "stray." The name still has meaning, as you have to go a bit astray to land in the area. Just southwest of the airport and Pearl City, bordering Iroquois Point, Barbers Point, and Kapolei, with a stretch of empty shoreline to the south, 'Ewa Beach lies far off the usual tourist trail—a boon for anyone wanting to relax and enjoy the quiet beauty of nature and small-town life.
Most notable as home to the 2005 winning team of the Little League World Series, 'Ewa Beach also contains the NOAA Pacific Tsunami Warning Center and the Honolulu Geomagnetic Observatory, both located at the end of Fort Weaver Road and closed to visitors. Tourist-friendly attractions in the area include three golf courses—Coral Creek Golf Course, New 'Ewa Beach Golf Course, and Hawai'i Prince Golf Course—and the Hawaiian Railway Station, where visitors can take a 90-minute, fully-narrated ride of the historical area on Sunday afternoons.
No one knows much of the pre-20th Century history of 'Ewa Beach. The now-closed Fort Barrette once called itself a first line of defense for the island, with defenses that included two 16-inch guns and an Army railway system. With fertile soil and plenty of open spaces, the 'Ewa area also accommodated several sugar plantations during the first half of the 1900s, which brought the railway to the area.
A laid-back, quiet area of Oahu, the best activity in 'Ewa Beach remains walking the peaceful shoreline and going for a relaxing swim. During the winter, the sun sets to the south of the beach, creating brilliant pinks and oranges over the water and sand. Parks in the area include 'Ewa Beach Park, 'Ewa Beach Community Park, and the newly cleaned-up One'ula "Hau Bush" Beach Park. Anyone who comes to this small community does so to get away from the hustle of city life. If you're looking for a relaxing day on the beach, out of sight from busy Waikiki or exciting North Shore, 'Ewa Beach welcomes you.
Area Resources
- • 'Ewa Beach on Wikipedia: www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/'Ewa_Beach,_Hawaii
