Oahu Activities
Home to State Capital Honolulu, Oahu is the most popular of all the Hawaiian
Islands. With famed Waikiki Beach and the surfing paradise North Shore, Oahu
features many sites and activities for travelers.
Honolulu Activities
Honolulu is the largest city and the capital of the State of Hawaii. Situated
on the south shore of the island of Oahu, the city features everything one might
expect from any other major US city set against the backdrop of paradise.
As the site of a major US Naval Base during World War II, Honolulu’s
famed Pearl Harbor was attacked by Japanese forces in the early morning hours
of December 7, 1941. Many Hawaiian Natives and Military Personnel were killed
in the bombing raid. As such, this site contains several of the country’s
important military memorials.
The USS Missouri Battleship is best known for as the site of the official surrender
of the Japanese forces to the United States at the end of World War II. The
ship was decommissioned in 1992 and has made its home in Honolulu’s Pearl
Harbor since 1998.
The USS Arizona Memorial was erected over the sunken hull of the battleship
USS Arizona in 1961 to honor the victims of the Japanese attack. The remains
of the ship are still visible through the fairly shallow water from the site
of the memorial. One can even see oil still present on the ship leaking to the
surface of the water. On the USS Arizona, 1,177 crew members perished during
the attack. The remembrance center to honor the victims of the USS Arizona was
dedicated within the memorial in 1991.
Honolulu is also home to several of the State’s important museums. The
Bishop Museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop, husband of last direct
descendent of Kamehameha I, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. The Bishop Museum
contains several archaeological artifacts from early Hawaiian and Pacific cultures,
a planetarium, and one of the largest natural history specimen collections in
the world. Other museums found in Honolulu include the Contemporary Art Museum,
the Hawaii State Art Museum, and the Honolulu Academy of Arts which features
one of the largest collections of Asian art in the United States, not to mention
works by Western artists like Van Gogh, Picasso, Monet and others. The Honolulu
Academy also is a partner of the Doris Duke Foundation of Islamic Art and conducts
tours through her estate, Shangri La, location of the largest private collection
of Islamic art in the United States.
Hawaii features a rich and diverse Asian population. Many of these cultures
diverge within Honolulu’s Chinatown, a 15-block historical district within
the downtown area. Fans of Asian food, wares, and delicacies flock to this area.
Waikiki Activities
Situated as a neighborhood of Honolulu, Waikiki is considered the center of
tourism in Hawaii. With both high-rise and historic hotels, Waikiki Beach is
among the best known in the world. The beach features spectacular views of the
Diamond Head volcano. By day, the beach is pristine and filled with fun water
activities. Take a surfing or kayaking lesson, relax on the sand or swim in
the clear blue water. By night the shore features a beautifully lit hotel skyline.
Travelers to Waikiki can visit Diamond Head State Monument and hike up the
inside of the famous crater for a breathtaking view of Waikiki and the Pacific
Ocean.
North Shore Activities
A 20 mile stretch of coast on the northern end of Oahu, the North Shore is a
surfer’s dream with waves in the winter reaching as high as 30 feet into
Waimea Bay. In the summer months, the surf calms enough to allow visitors excellent
swimming and snorkeling. The North Shore also features some of the worlds most
famous and beautiful beaches – Sunset Beach, Banzai Pipeline, Waimea Bay,
Laniakea "Turtle" Beach, and Haleiwa Beach Park.
While most visitors to the North Shore are drawn for the surf, these pristine
beaches offer other fun and relaxation. Vacation homes can be rented in Turtle
Bay, the North Shore’s most luxurious resort. The region is also home
to excellent golf courses, shopping, and dining.
Hawaii Vacations
Oahu Activities
