Best Motorcycle Trips

Tropical Paradise And The Best Motorcycle I Ever Owned

She was a candy winebarry red 700cc Honda Shadow cruiser who looked as if she belonged on the roads of Hawaii. Her sleek look, deep red color and glittering chrome under the tropical blue skies and dark green foliage said look at me I belong here.

Moving To Hawaii

From 1988 -1993 I was assigned to the 3rd Marine Regiment stationed at Kaneohe Bay Hawaii and I took the Honda Shadow with me. I was excited about being in Hawaii. I liked being outdoors and I loved anything to do with the water. And here we were on an Island surrounded by tropical seas.

Exploring Hawaii

Within minutes of unpacking the Shadow she was gassed and oiled up and ready to go. We explored the closest beaches around the air station. We putted out to the end of the airstrip and watched surfers and boogie boarders riding the most perfect waves I had ever seen. Over the next few weeks I slowly expanded our trips to include the beaches around the air station. The bike was a dream to ride. Traffic was heavy but not brutal and we moved steadily wherever we wanted to go.

Waimea Bay, North Shore and Around

The Shadow was perfect for road trips. Being a cruiser and a low rider she was very comfortable. I always felt as if I were sitting in a recliner that purred very deeply. Leaving Kaneohe and heading towards Waimea Bay the roads open up and speeds are a little higher. What a feast for the senses. Riding on the back of the Shadow leaning into the curving costal roads as the tropical panorama goes by. The sights, sounds and smells are wondrous. 40 foot waves crashing on the north shore. Down through the pineapple fields and by Schofield Barracks to the Likelike and finally to the Pali Lookout and a magnificent view of home. What a ride.

Bellows, Sandys and Mokapu Point Beaches

As time passed I took up Boogie boarding. The Shadows rear sit and back rest were perfect for strapping a small cooler, backpack and boogie board to. We had the process down to an art form. After work and on weekends we spent 1000's of hours at the beaches. Each beach had its own special flavor from wild and woolly to laid back. They all had excellent waves in common and the Shadow got me there and back in style.

Waikiki and The Shadow