Off the beaten path in Oahu

The limited-access road to Kaena Point is a rugged one, and the 3 1/2-mile hike there is challenging. But the rawness of the trail and beach in Kaena Point State Park appeals to visitors who reject the beaten track.   ( Alan Solomon/Chicago Tribune )

Snorkelers at Pupukea Beach Park get a close-up look at sea life in one of several protected coves on the North Shore.   ( Alan Solomon/Chicago Tribune )

Byodo-In Temple, a startlingly beautiful replica of a 950-year-old Buddhist temple in Japan, welcomes all to share its serenity in Kaneohe, along Oahu’s Windward Coast.   ( Alan Solomon/Chicago Tribune )

A customer pays, while another cradles a fragrant order of garlic shrimp at Giovanni’s, one of many food trucks parked along rural Oahu roadways.   ( Alan Solomon/Chicago Tribune )

Carver Frank Paongo admires one of his creations — a “happy tiki” — in his shop in Laie, near the Polynesian Cultural Center.   ( Alan Solomon/Chicago Tribune )

Tourists do their best to feign terror (and pretend to offer a sacrificial baby) alongside a tree used in the filming of the first “Jurassic Park” dinosaur movie at Kualoa Ranch. The sprawling ranch offers tours of multiple film sites, plus horse trails, zip lining and other amusements.   ( Alan Solomon/Chicago Tribune )

Loco moco — a Hawaiian specialty featuring (in this version) eggs, a beef patty, mushrooms, onions and brown gravy over rice — is done right at the Hukilau Cafe in Laie.   ( Alan Solomon/Chicago Tribune )

Punaluu Beach, on the Windward Coast, is especially popular with local anglers.   ( Alan Solomon/Chicago Tribune )

Waiahole Beach Park, on Oahu’s Windward Coast north of Kaneohe, offers views of the Koolau Mountains. Scenes from the TV series “Lost” were filmed on the grassy shore.   ( Alan Solomon/Chicago Tribune )

Waimea Falls, a 45-foot-high cascade into a 30-foot-deep pool within the 300-acre Waimea Valley botanical garden, is an essential stop along Oahu’s North Shore.   ( Alan Solomon/Chicago Tribune )

Tonganese performer/host Sione Milford is dazzled, as a guest from Japan really gets into the dance at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie.   ( Alan Solomon/Chicago Tribune )

Locals have their favorite spots, but most everyone craves a refreshing shave ice, finely crushed ice topped with one (or more) flavored toppings.   ( Alan Solomon/Chicago Tribune )