About Oahu, Hawaii

Oahu suits beachcombers, honeymooners and adventurers of all ages.

With its perfect weather, tropical f lowers, pristine valleys, rainbows and waterfalls, quiet beaches and fiery sunsets, it’s truly a jewel. Honolulu, the capital, is surrounded by beautiful white sandy beaches and attracts some seven million visitors each year. It offers plazas, five-star restaurants, nightclubs, world-class shopping, great art and architecture, exquisite hotels and friendly people with old fashioned Aloha spirit. Enjoy all the convenience of city living with the ambience of the tropics.

A great way to get an overview of Honolulu is to take the Historic Waikiki Trolley Tour, a two-hour narrated tour on a turn-of-the-century designed trolley which stops every 15 minutes at 20 locations allowing you to spend time at as many stops as you like before rejoining the route. Stops include Honolulu Zoo, Chinatown, Aloha Tower Marketplace and the Hawaii Maritime Centre, King Kamehameha Statue, Restaurant Row and several shopping locations.

There are more than a dozen specialised walking tours in Honolulu and many focus on historical sites such as the Kawaiaha`o Church, Hawaii’s oldest. Chinatown has many buildings with architecture reminiscent of a bygone era. Stroll through the arcades past the exotic herb shops and see the famous open market. More than one million visitors a year experience a taste of old Polynesia and the charm and beauty of the seven South Pacific villages at the Polynesian Cultural Centre. While there, visit the Imax theatre, experience a luau and see the spectacular Polynesian show.

Take a nostalgic trip to Pearl Harbour where you can visit the USS Arizona Memorial or step aboard the USS Bowfin, a real WWII submarine. You can learn more about this compelling wartime attack by visiting the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Centre displaying WWII naval history and see a film about the attack.

Outdoor attractions include Sea Life Park on Oahu’s South East Shore which has the world’s only ‘wholpin’, offspring of a false killer whale and an Atlantic Bottlenose dolphin. Waikiki Aquarium houses several endangered and rare species, interactive exhibits and a world famous collection of tropical fish.

At Waimea Valley Audubon Centre on the North Shore experience Hawaiian cultural and ecological treasures in a natural park. Numerous cruises offer

the opportunity to see the spectacular Waikiki/Honolulu coastline and whale watching cruises are a highlight in season. Another way to sightsee is in a glass-bottom catamaran in Kaneohe Bay on Oahu’s East Coast, where you can enjoy the sail and make viewing stops along the coral reefs. A safe and interesting way to see the natural wonders of the reef is to take a trip in a high tech Atlantis Sub to a depth of 30 metres and see a visual feast of reef fish and mysterious ocean predators.

Other Oahu ‘musts’ include a visit to Diamond Head crater which has a one mile hiking trail leading to the 231 metres summit where there are spectacular views of Waikiki and Honolulu. No visit to Hawaii would be complete without a swim or at least a walk along the promenade at famous Waikiki beach. Surfboards and boogie boards are available for rent with the option of lessons for the novice ‘guaranteed to get you up’. Other activities on Oahu include wind-surfing, sailing on catamarans, kayaking, waterskiing and jetskiing.

Parasailing under the direction of an experienced captain is a great way to view Honolulu and Waikiki from a new perspective, nine to 91 metres above the ocean flying tandem or by yourself. The Hanauma Bay Marine Preserve, Hawaii’s most famous snorkelling spot, aims to preserve nature and educate visitors about the fragile ecosystem.

As well as having unlimited activities, Honolulu is a gourmet’s paradise with cuisine that is a blend of the spices of Asia and the Pacific with European styles and sauces.

It is also a shopper’s paradise with everything from the International Marketplace ‘souvenir heaven’ (built around a 100-year-old banyan tree) to famous Ala Moana, one of the largest open-air shopping centres in the USA. With nearly 50 new retailers, the Waikiki Beach Walk is the largest development in Waikiki’s history. Nearly three hectares along well traversed Lewers Street is a colourful show-case and gathering place. This outdoor entertainment plaza includes several dining establishments and hotels, and benefits from the island’s cooling trade winds and year-round excellent weather.

Where else in the world can you snorkel a crystal lagoon, climb a dormant volcano, surf huge waves, kayak along a pristine coastline, picnic on a sandbar, soar in a glider over tide pools, scuba dive over sunken aeroplanes, play golf at a championship course and sail into the sunset?

Activities in Oahu

Oahu’s Cuisine

Exploring Oahu

Where to Stay

Trump International Hotel Waikiki
The only Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Hotel for five consecutive years since 2015, Trump Waikiki has maintained its place as the only hotel in Oahu to have ever received this prestigious honour. The hotel is onl... View More »
Moana Surfrider Oahu
Known as the “First Lady of Waikiki,” the oceanfront Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa, Waikiki Beach combines Victorian elegance with modern resort amenities. This elegant oceanfront hotel is a lege... View More »
Sheraton Waikiki
In the centre of Waikiki, the heartbeat of excitement and entertainment, Sheraton Waikiki is perfectly located for fun-loving family vacations. Just three miles from the famed Diamond Head crater, the hotel is me... View More »
Embassy Suites by Hilton® – Waikiki Beach Walk
Golden sands and turquoise seas are right at your fingertips with a stay at Embassy Suites by Hilton® – Waikiki Beach Walk. Waikiki’s only all-suite resort is known for its spacious accommodations, convenien... View More »
hawaii oahu waikiki beach marriott resort and spa aeriel view
Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa
Spanning 5.2 acres, the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa blends Marriott tradition with the aloha spirit, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere with genuine Hawaiian hospitality and service. Tropical pl... View More »
Prince Waikiki
Discover spectacular oceanfront accommodation and world-class service at one of the most desirable and convenient locations in Waikiki. Absorb breathtaking panoramas of the Pacific Ocean from all of the spacious,... View More »
Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach
Discover an oasis of luxury and tranquility in the heart of Waikiki Beach. The brand-new, vibrant ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach seamlessly blends indoor and outdoor luxury to elevate your holiday experience i... View More »
The Royal Hawaiian Oahu
Built in 1927, the iconic Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort, ushers in a new era of luxurious resort travel to Hawaii. The most coveted spot on Waikiki Beach is at The Royal Hawaiian. Within the billowin... View More »
Waikiki Resort Hotel
Waikiki Resort Hotel is located in the heart of Waikiki, just half a block away from the world famous white sands of Waikiki Beach and across from Kuhio Beach. The hotel is so centrally located it is only an elev... View More »
The Kahala Hotel and Resort
At the very end of one of Oahu’s most scenic drives around the iconic Diamond Head Crater landmark rests an oasis of luxury and elegance, The Kahala Hotel and Resort. Just 10 minutes from the world-class shoppi... View More »
Turtle Bay Resort
There’s one North Shore on Oahu, and there’s one resort on it. With almost five miles of beachfront, Turtle Bay is the perfect place to take in the azure beauty and natural tranquility of Oahu’s fabled North S... View More »
Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach
Experience island bliss at Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach. Housed in a structure once known as the Waikiki Trade Center, a bustling office building, its modern features have been converted into a luxury hotel, with ... View More »
‘Ilima Hotel
Discover exceptional value, and experience the true spirit of aloha and ‘ohana at the superb ‘Ilima Hotel. From the moment you enter the lobby, with its gleaming koa wood and paintings by the famous Hawaiian ... View More »
Vive Hotel Waikiki
Vive Hotel Waikiki is Oahu’s most stylish lifestyle boutique hotel, an inviting and relaxing place to call home when visiting Hawaii. Sophisticated design Warm and friendly service combined with a chic and w... View More »

Sponsors