| O'ahu is the island most often visited by travelers | | | | watching from December to May. |
| to Hawaii. It's known as "The Gathering Place." | | | | 6. Honor America at Pearl Harbor and the Arizona |
| There are so many things to do that you'll never | | | | Memorial |
| be able to do them all in just one visit. We've | | | | Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial |
| chosen our top ten things to do on the island of | | | | remain top tourist destinations in Hawaii with over |
| O'ahu, Hawaii. | | | | 1,500,000 visitors annually. The addition of the |
| 1. Attend a Luau | | | | Battleship Missouri and the 1999 opening of the |
| O'ahu offers a number of excellent luaus. | | | | USS Missouri Memorial have further enhanced the |
| Germaine's Luau is held on a private beach on | | | | importance of this historic area. A visit to the |
| Barber's Point east of Honolulu. The Polynesian | | | | Arizona Memorial is a solemn and sobering |
| Cultural Center's Ali'i Luau is held in La'ie on O'ahu's | | | | experience, even for those who were not alive |
| North Shore. My favorite luau on O'ahu is the | | | | when the attack occurred. You are literally |
| Paradise Cove Luau which is held on a 12-acre | | | | standing over a gravesite where 1177 men lost |
| beach at the Ko Olina Resort and features great | | | | their lives. |
| food, Polynesian entertainment, traditional Hawaiian | | | | 7. See Waikiki and O'ahu from the Top of |
| games, and lessons in lei making. | | | | Diamond Head |
| More: Paradise Cove Luau at the Ko Olina Resort | | | | Diamond Head looms large over the Waikiki. |
| Hawaii Car Rental | | | | Actually named Le'ahi by Hawaiians, it received its |
| 2. Discover Historic Honolulu | | | | more well known name in the late 1700's when |
| Located in the heart of Honolulu you'll find many | | | | British seamen saw calcite crystals sparkling in the |
| of Hawaii's most historic buildings including the | | | | sunshine and thought they had found diamonds. A |
| 'Iolani Palace home to Hawaii's last monarchs and | | | | hike to the top of Diamond Head takes about an |
| the only palace on U.S. soil. You'll also want to visit | | | | hour over a well-worn path. The summit offers a |
| the Hawaii State Capitol, the Kamehameha I | | | | spectacular 365-degree view of O'ahu and is a |
| Statue, Kawaiaha'o Church - the first Christian | | | | must trip for photography enthusiasts. |
| church in Hawaii, the Mission Houses Museum and | | | | 8. Shop in Waikiki and in the Greater Honolulu |
| the Old Federal Building. All of historic Honolulu is | | | | Area |
| within easy walking distance of downtown parking | | | | Waikiki is a great place to shop and offers |
| at the equally famous Aloha Tower. | | | | prestigious retailers such as Tiffany & Co., |
| 3. Drive to O'ahu's North Shore | | | | Chanel, Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent as well as |
| O'ahu's North Shore is home to the top | | | | more modest stores such as the ever-present |
| world-class surfers in the world when the winter | | | | ABC Stores and the world-famous International |
| waves reach their majestic heights. It is an easy | | | | Market Place. The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center |
| hour's drive from Waikiki to lovely Haleiwa town | | | | is undergoing a major renovation and contains 150 |
| where the North Shore begins for most visitors | | | | stores and restaurants on four levels. The DFS |
| as they travel in an eastward direction around | | | | Galleria the only place for foreign guests in Hawaii |
| O'ahu. Be sure to stop at the Bonzai Pipeline | | | | to enjoy duty-free savings on the world's leading |
| where you can see surfers make their way | | | | luxury brands. |
| through the middle of a wave. | | | | 9. Tour the Polynesian Cultural Center |
| 4. Explore the Bishop Museum | | | | The Polynesian Cultural Center is Hawaii's top-paid |
| The Bishop Museum is recognized as the State | | | | visitor attraction. The PCC features seven |
| Museum of Natural and Cultural History. While the | | | | Polynesian "islands" in a beautifully landscaped |
| name of the museum is officially the Bernice | | | | 42-acre setting. The Ali'i Luau takes guests on a |
| Pauahi Bishop Museum, the museum was actually | | | | nostalgic rip back in time to learn about the |
| established by her husband Charles Bishop to | | | | royalty of Hawaii while enjoying traditional |
| whom Bernice had left her personal property | | | | Hawaiian luau food and entertainment. The |
| upon her death in 1885 fulfilling their dream of | | | | Center's Rainbows of Paradise Canoe Pageant |
| preserving Hawaii's cultural heritage. Throughout its | | | | show is performed daily on the main lagoon. The |
| history, the museum's commitment has been the | | | | PCC is also home to Hawaii's first and only |
| gathering and the dissemination of information on | | | | IMAX™ Theater. |
| Hawaii and the Pacific. | | | | 10. Visit the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium |
| 5. Hike to Makapu'u Point | | | | Located in Kapi'olani Park on the east end of |
| One of O'ahu's most rewarding hikes is the | | | | Waikiki, the Honolulu Zoo is the largest zoo within |
| 2.5-mile round trip hike to Makapu'u Point, the | | | | a radius of 2,300 miles and unique in that it is the |
| most eastern point of O'ahu. The hike to the point | | | | only zoo in the United States originating from a |
| is mostly uphill and takes about an hour each way. | | | | King's grant of royal lands to the people. It is too |
| If you take the hike, do it early in the day when | | | | often overlooked by visitors. Located nearby at |
| the sun will be behind the cliff face as you climb. | | | | the shoreline, the Waikiki Aquarium is the third |
| The views of Waimanalo Bay to the north and | | | | oldest public aquarium in the United States. |
| Sandy Beach and Koko Head to the southwest | | | | Exhibits, programs, and research focus on the |
| are spectacular. Is a a great spot for whale | | | | aquatic life of Hawaii and the tropical Pacific. |