Guide Note

Home to "vibrant" Honolulu and "eternally glamorous" beaches,¹ the island of Oahu "put Hawaii on the tourist map" thanks to its "best-known neighborhood," Waikiki.²

Fast Facts

Country: United States
State: Hawaii
Population: 905,601³ (2007)
Currency: U.S. dollar
Area Code: 808
Time Zone: HST
Average climate: 70°F - 85°F year-round⁴

Attractions

Pearl Harbor: Fodor's states that the USS Arizona and the USS Missouri "bookend" U.S. involvement in World War II.⁵ The Arizona still rests at the bottom of the harbor where it sank after the 1941 attack,⁶ while the Missouri—which hosted Japan's surrender in the war—has been transformed into a museum memorial.⁷
'Iolani Palace: Once the residence of Hawaii's last monarch, Queen Lili'uokalani, the palace is now a museum with many of its rooms and artifacts still intact.⁸
Beaches: Though Waikiki Beach is the most popular, Concierge.com also recommends the "pretty" Lanikai Beach and Sunset Beach for its "killer waves."⁹ Frommer's also praises Kailua Beach as a "great" spot for swimming, snorkeling and surfing.¹⁰
Haleiwa: Located on the North Shore, this 1920s plantation town is a "fun mix" of the old and new.¹¹ The town is also home to Matsumoto Shave Ice, a popular snow cone shop that is a "real slice of Haleiwa life."¹²
Diamond Head: Hiking up the "iconic" extinct volcano is considered an experience that "should not be missed" by both Frommer's and Fodor's.¹³ ¹⁴
Chinatown: A "mixed plate" of Chinese culture, the neighborhood is filled with restaurants and "cultural attractions."¹⁵

Mahalo Suggests

If planning a trip, please see Oahu Hotels, Oahu Restaurants and Oahu Tours.

Categories

Vacation | North American Destinations | Travel

View Note History

Oahu Vacation

The Mahalo Top 7

Official Hawaii Tourism Site: GoHawaii.com
Frommer's: Oahu
Fodor's: Honolulu & Oahu
Concierge.com: Oahu Travel Guide
Oahu Visitors Bureau: Visit-Oahu.com
TripAdvisor: Oahu Vacation
Lonely Planet: Honolulu and Waikiki Overview

Oahu Basics

Weather: Weather Underground - The Weather Channel
Current Events: The Honolulu Advertiser - Honolulu Star-Bulletin - Google News
Photos: Google Image Search - Yahoo! Image Search - Flickr
Map: Google Maps - Yahoo! Maps
History: Wikipedia - Wcities

Oahu Flights

Honolulu International Airport (HNL)
Hawaiian Airlines
TripAdvisor: Special airfare to Honolulu
Travelocity: Find flights to Hawaii

Oahu Vacation Packages

Oahu General Info

Oahu Visitor's Bureau: Visit-Oahu.com
Wikitravel: Oahu Travel Guide
HawaiiWeb.com: Oahu Travel Guide
Hawaii Travel Newsletter: Oahu

Oahu Transportation

Oahu Visitors Bureau: Getting Around Oahu
Honolulu International Airport: Ground Transportation
Oahu Bus Service: TheBus
Oahu Taxi Service: TheCab
Frommer's: Getting Around Oahu
Fodor's: Getting Around Honolulu & Oahu

Oahu Activities

Oahu Events

Frommer's: Oahu Events
Wcities: Honolulu Events
GoHawaii.com: Oahu Festivals & Events
Hawaii Travel Newsletter: Events on Oahu

Oahu Attractions

NPS.gov: USS Arizona National Memorial (Pearl Harbor)
Polynesian Cultural Center
Bishop Museum
Honolulu's Chinatown
HawaiiWeb.com: Haleiwa (North Shore)
HawaiiWeb.com: Diamond Head Trail

Oahu Beaches

Frommer's: Oahu Beaches
Fodor's: Oahu Beaches
Hanauma Bay
HawaiiWeb.com: Oahu Beaches

Oahu Hiking

HawaiiTrails.org: Oahu Trails
HawaiiWeb.com: Oahu Hiking and Camping
Frommer's: Oahu Hiking

Oahu Golf

Oahu Tours

- The Mahalo Guide to Oahu Tours
Frommer's: Guided Tours and Walking Tours
TripAdvisor: Tours in Oahu
Wcities: Honolulu Recommended Tours - Tour Providers
Viator: Honolulu Tours & Activities

Oahu Hotels

- The Mahalo Guide to Oahu Hotels
Oahu Visitors Bureau: Accommodations
Frommer's: Oahu Hotels
Fodor's: Honolulu & Oahu Hotels
Concierge.com: Oahu Hotel Recommendations
TripAdvisor: Oahu Hotels
Lonely Planet: Honolulu & Waikiki Hotels

Oahu Restaurants

- The Mahalo Guide to Oahu Restaurants
The Honolulu Advertiser: Hawaii's Best Restaurants
Frommer's: Oahu Restaurants
Fodor's: Honolulu and O'ahu Restaurants
Lonely Planet: Honolulu & Waikiki Restaurants
Concierge.com: Oahu Restaurants
TripAdvisor: Oahu Restaurants

Oahu Shopping

Frommer's: Oahu Shops
Concierge.com: Oahu Shopping
Fodor's: Shopping in Honolulu and O'ahu
Lonely Planet: Honolulu & Waikiki Shops

Oahu Shopping Centers

Oahu Nightlife

Frommer's: Oahu Nightlife
Fodor's: Oahu Nightlife & the Arts
Concierge.com: Oahu Nightlife

Oahu Blogs

Gadling: Posts tagged Honolulu
Gridskipper: Honolulu
Honolulu Bloggers: Outside.in
News, politics, gossip, food, and entertainment: Metroblogging Hawaii
Vacation news and tips: Hawaiirama

Related Searches

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