Discover Oahu
WE'RE YOUR EXPERTS TO OAHU!
Oahu, called "The Gathering Place," is the most populated island, alive with activity. Over 800,000 people reside on the land, five times that number visit yearly. Hawaii's capital, Honolulu, is on this vibrant island, which is also the home of some of the world's finest hotels, boutiques, museums, and restaurants. Night life here offers everything from exciting Polynesian revues to hot dance spots to symphony concerts.
Oahu, at the crossroads of the Pacific, is a bustling island of many personalities. It has the finest swimming beach and an array of water activities at Waikiki, with its renowned resorts. Enjoy shopping for everything from Hawaiian quilts to Gucci clothes, from shell leis to shark-tooth necklaces, from t-shirts to fine silk garments and carvings of ancient Hawaiian gods. When you're hungry, Oahu offers an incredible menu to suit any taste. There are magnificent luaus, ocean front dinner houses, romantic sunset cruises on huge catamarans, Polynesian and Oriental delicacies, and fast food of all description.
At night, Oahu means high energy with dazzling Polynesian shows, electrifying Las Vegas-style productions, smooth jazz bands, exciting dance lounges, world-class opera and symphonies, brassy big band concerts, and cabarets that pump up the volume until 4a.m. But let's not forget there are also quiet cafes and moonlight strolls along perfect beaches.
Oahu has it all. If you want activity, this is the place. Yet, you never feel rushed and you can take in the beach or the many sights at your own pace.
Summer temperatures range from 85 to 87°F, with night time lows of 70 to 74°F. Winter temperatures range from 70 to 74°F, with night time lows from 65 to 69°F.
Oahu Quick Facts:
- Oahu has more hotels, more restaurants, and more major attractions than all of the other islands put together.
- The major city, Honolulu, is here. So is the "World's Best Beach" at Waikiki.
- Honolulu is sophisticated, lively, and breathtaking. It has more in the way of arts, culture, and entertainment. It has an abundance of galleries, nightclubs, and museums, a major zoo, aquarium, Iolani Palace (the only royal palace on U.S. soil), Pearl Harbor, the Arizona Memorial... the list goes on and on.
- No other American city could offer you the opportunity to surf the world's biggest waves, snorkel a lagoon, hike into a dormant volcano, golf at a dozen championship courses, and catch the sunset from a five-star restaurant.
Accommodations on Oahu:
Waikiki is the primary resort area on the island of Oahu. This is where you will find a wide selection of hotels and condominiums. From luxury beachfront resorts to comfortable condominiums only a few blocks away, Oahu offers something for every taste and budget. Those in search of a different side of Oahu may want to consider the North Shore where a select few properties await the adventuresome. Click here to browse accommodations available on Oahu.
Activities and Attractions:
ALOHA TOWER
Honolulu's familiar landmark is open to visitors and offers an excellent view of the harbor area.
AQUARIUM
On Kalakaua Avenue across from Kapiolani Park at Waikiki, the Aquarium contains a world-famous collection of brilliantly colored tropical fish.
BEACHES
Beautiful beaches, wherever you go, for swimming, surfing, fishing or a picnic.
BISHOP MUSEUM AND PLANETARIUM
At 1525 Bernice Street, the Museum houses the world's foremost collection of Hawaiiana and Polynesian antiquities.
BLOW HOLE
Near Koko Head, playful Mother Nature forces the mighty sea through a tiny hole in a lava ledge and blows miniature geysers high into the air.
BYODO-IN TEMPLE
Japan's 900-year-old architectural treasure is duplicated in exact detail at the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park, beneath the majestic cliffs of the Koolau mountains. The beautiful Oriental garden setting also has a carp pool, massive nine-foot Buddha statue, and tea house.
CHINATOWN
Unlike the Chinatowns in other American cities this section of downtown Honolulu is an exciting blend of shops, restaurants and markets displaying not only Chinese goods but wares and foods typical of the countries of origin of Hawaii's early-day immigrants.
DIAMOND HEAD
This world renowned landmark bounds Waikiki Beach on the south. An extinct volcano, it is said to have once been the home of Pele, the Fire Goddess.
EAST-WEST CENTER
A center for cultural and academic interchange between the peoples of Asia, the Pacific and United States. Established by the U.S Congress in 1960, the center has since become a public, nonprofit educational corporation with offices and facilities adjacent to the University of Hawaii campus.
FOSTER BOTANICAL GARDEN
Remarkable botanic displays including photogenic orchid section, in a 20 acre setting in downtown Honolulu.
HANAUMA BAY
A delightful sea cove in Koko Head Park, its rugged grandeur was created by volcanic action 10,000 years ago when Pele made her last attempt to find home on Oahu, as legend tells. A favorite spot for swimming, picnicking, and snorkeling.
HAWAII MARITIME CENTER
Includes a museum. Aloha Tower plus the square-rigged Falls of Clyde and the Hokule'a Polynesian sailing canoe.
HONOLULU ACADEMY OF ARTS
A registered national and state historic place, renowned for an extensive collection of Asian and Western art and the beauty of its grounds and buildings.
HONOLULU INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Nine miles west of Waikiki, the Honolulu Airport is the hub of the Pacific for transpacific airlines as well as several interisland airlines.
IOLANI PALACE
Only throne room under the American flag, where Hawaii's last two monarchs lived and ruled. Completed in 1882, the building has been entirely renovated, displaying a magnificent interior.
KAMEHAMEHA SCHOOLS
Established by a member of Hawaii's royal family for boys and girls of Hawaiian ancestry.
KANEANA CAVE
Near Mauka just before the end of Farrington Highway, Kaneana, the sharkman deity, is supposed to have made his home in this cave which is volcanic and coral information.
KAWAIAHAO CHURCH
Dedicated in 1842, the "Westminster Abbey" of Hawaii offers Sunday services in Hawaiian and English.
KEWALO BASIN
Sampans and other fishing boats moor in this small boat harbor which is also the departure point for Pearl Harbor cruises.
MISSION HOUSES
The oldest existing buildings erected by the first missionary contingent to Honolulu are in the civic center area, which is also locale of many other historic sites.
MORMON TEMPLE
Built in beautiful Laie in 1920, it was the first Mormon Temple to be constructed outside of Utah.
NATIONAL MEMORIAL CEMETERY OF THE PACIFIC
Punchbowl or Puowaina, literally translated "Hill of Sacrifice" is the final resting place of thousands of World War II, Korean and Vietnam war veterans. Open seven days a week, it overlooks the vast expanse of Pearl Harbor, Honolulu and Waikiki.
NUUANU PALI
Oahu's scenic masterpiece, at the head of Nuuanu Valley, is where Kamehameha the Great defeated the Oahuans in a bloody battle in 1795, by forcing thousands of warriors over the precipice, to meet death on the jagged rocks below, thus adding Oahu to his realm.
OLD SUGAR MILL
Near Kaaawa are the stone ruins of the first sugar mill on Oahu erected in 1864.
PEARL HARBOR
The USS Arizona Memorial, above the sunken battleship, is a tribute to American fighting men killed during the attack on December 7, 1941. The USS Bowfin, a restored World War II submarine, is on exhibit next to the Arizona Memorial ground facility.
POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER AT LAIE
Located on the north shore of Oahu, the center is made up of native villages representative of those in Fiji, Tonga, New Zealand, Tahiti, Samoa, Marquesas, and Hawaii.
QUEEN EMMA SUMMER PALACE
A charming home, located in Nuuanu Valley, the former summer palace has been restored to its original appearance and houses a fine collection of Hawaiiana.
RABBIT ISLAND
Near Waimanalo, this is one of the many interesting islets that border Oahu. It looks like the head of a rabbit and was once overrun by them.
ROYAL MAUSOLEUM
Resting place of Hawaii's former rulers, with well-informed guide-custodian.
SACRED FALLS PARK
Off the highway near Hauula is this clear stream leaping out of sheer cliffs to the cool pool below. Lower falls drop over an 87-foot cliff. (NOTE: Due to unstable geology in the area, Sacred Falls Park is temporarily closed to the public).
SEA LIFE PARK
Located at Makapuu Point. Sea Life Park features an outstanding display of Hawaii's exotic marine life in a truly beautiful ocean side setting. The 300,000 gallon Hawaiian Reef Tank is one of America's finest aquariums, housing 2,000 island specimens: sharks, rays, moray eels, turtles, and exotic reef fish. Giant whales, dolphins, sea lions, penguins and a variety of sea birds can also be enjoyed.
WAIMEA BAY
Between Haleiwa and Kahuku, the beach is fine for picnicking but the bay is dangerous for swimming when surf is six feet or more.
WAIMEA FALLS PARK
This narrow canyon extending into the Koolau mountains was once a heavily populated Hawaiian village. Today the 1,800 acre site between Haleiwa and Kahuku, is a dwelling for Nature's lovely, unspoiled environment of tropical plant life, birds, hiking trails and a truly beautiful waterfall.
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