Summer-Fall 2026 • Hawaii Military Guide 279 With three highways transgressing the mountains – H-3, Pali and Likelike – Kaneohe is a quick commute to Honolulu or Kapolei. Marine Corps Base Hawaii is located on the Mokapu Peninsula, making the neighborhood a magnet for military families as well. CROPS TO CATTLE TO COZY COMMUNITY Kaneohe means “bamboo man” in Hawaiian, accredited to the legend of a wife who compared her cruel husband to the sharp edge of a bamboo knife. The Kaneohe ahupuaa (district) produced an abundance of agriculture for early inhabitants. Taro, bananas, breadfruit and more were farmed in the rich soils, and Hawaiians built innovative fishponds along Kaneohe Bay. After the unification of the islands and release of the lands from Hawaiian alii (royalty) control, the Castle family acquired the rich land. Harold Castle started Kaneohe Ranch in 1917, with cattle roaming the beautiful lands. Small plantations were established, growing pineapples and bananas and bringing workers from around the world. With the boom of commercial farming came houses, stores and small community centers. In 1918, the U.S. Army began to develop a base on the eastern side of Mokapu Peninsula named Fort Kuwaaohe. In 1938, the western side of the peninsula was utilized by the U.S. Navy. On December 7, 1941, seven minutes before the attack on Pearl Harbor, the Naval Air Station in Kaneohe was attacked. In 1951, the Marines assumed control of the peninsula and eventually renamed the base Marine Corps Base Hawaii in 1994. With the surge in demand for housing upon the end of WWII and the decline of the Castle family’s economic stability, the rich lands of Kaneohe began a transformation into residential properties. When the Pali Highway opened in 1962, a growing number of island residents moved to Oahu’s Windward Side, creating the cozy community of Kaneohe that still thrives today. EXPLORE PARADISE Many consider Kaneohe as the quintessential Hawaii town because it still retains that old-time feel. There is no better place to take in paradise than at the TLA-approved Paradise Bay Resort. Here, you’ll experience breathtaking panoramic views of Kaneohe Bay, Chinaman’s Hat and the Koolau Mountains. All Paradise Bay Resort accommodations feature a full kitchen or kitchenette, and
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