O'ahu

The island of O'ahu, entry point into Hawai'I for about 80 per cent of visitors, is a destination with a huge variety of holiday options - from total relaxation on one of the island's (almost) 130 beaches, through to designer and discount shopping, and a surprising number of artistic and cultural pursuits, including exhibitions, opera and ethnic festivals.

It's the quality and variety of arts and culture on O'ahu that are guaranteed to astonish most visitors.

The annual Hawai'i arts season (February through to May) draws from Hawai'i's diverse multicultural heritage, celebrating music, fine art, theatre and more - featuring both international and local performers and artists.

Year-round, however, there are a multitude of enticements to appear to most interests. In fact, from surfing to beautiful gardens, from period houses to historic railways, O'ahu pays homage to all these and more in the form of specialist museums, botanical gardens, and well-preserved historic open houses.

Things to Do

• A visit to Pearl Harbor is both a moving and interesting experience. Learn about what happened on Sunday 7 December, 1941, when the USA was drawn into World War II. Admission to the USS Arizonia Memorial is free, although a more extensive tour can be pre-booked. At Pearl Harbour visitors can also get a closer look at the USS Missouri, where the peace treaty for the Second World War was signed.
• The dormant volcano, Diamond Head, is O'ahu's most famous landmark. Visitors can take the three hour hike to the top for spectacular views for the Pacific and Waikiki. Early sailors named the crater Diamond Head, thinking that the calcite they found in the craters was diamonds.
• Hawai'i is the birthplace of surfing and O'ahu's North Shore is where the professionals head in the winter months for some big surf - Banzai Pipeline, Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach. During the summer months the waters along this coast are flat but the area is still well worth a visit.
• The best place for snorkeling on O'ahu is at Hanauma Bay. This marine park sanctuary is teeming with fish and the beach is stunning. It's a perfect spot for children or beginners to snorkel as the waters are very calm. It is only 30 minutes from Waikiki and easily accessible by local transport.
• Although Waikiki beach is very impressive and indeed very famous, O'ahu has many other beaches. One of the prettiest is Lanikai Beach on the East Coast. Here you can hire kayaks and paddle to the nearby Mokulua Islands.