Oahu

Oahu is the third largest Island in the Hawaiian chain and Honolulu is the State Capital. The topography of the Island consists of mountains, rainforests, volcanic craters and more. The Island is divided by two separate Mountain Ranges which both run northwest to southeast. The Waianae Range is on the western side of the island, and the Koolau Range to the east. The Koolau separates the city of Honolulu and Waikiki from the windward side of the Island and the Towns of Kailua and Kaneohe.

There are over thirty beaches on Oahu, of which the man made Waikiki beach in Honolulu is the most famous, with two miles of glorious white sand and is a haven for water sports and swimming. Hotels, restaurants, shops and entertainment venues are in abundance here.

Honolulu, meaning sheltered Bay or place of shelter, is the Capital of Hawaii and is located on the south shore of Oahu. Honolulu is a tropical delight, packed with palm trees, many white sandy beaches, fascinating suburbs and crystal clear waters that are ideal for swimming, snorkelling and surfing. Waikiki is located along one edge of Honolulu and is more of a tourist hotspot.

There is an excellent selection of hotels and accommodation in Honolulu, often with fabulous ocean and City views and from budget upwards accommodation is available in Waikiki. There are many museums and Art galleries in the City centre that offer fascinating information on the history of Honolulu. If you like to shop, then Honolulu has plenty of large stores.

The nightlife in Honolulu is mostly concentrated around Waikiki, offering a diverse combination of Hawaiian, country & western, jazz and more. Restaurant Row (at the corner of Ala Moana Boulevard and Punchbowl Street), near downtown Honolulu is the place to go for hot nightclubs. For a more relaxed atmosphere, Hotels often have a more subdued entertainment in open air lounges.

Oahu offers Hawaiian cuisine in a mix of Asian, Polynesian, U.S. and European influences. Fresh local ingredients are used to make a variety of mouth watering dishes, as well as International cuisine such as: Chinese, Japanese and others. Excellent restaurants can be found on Restaurant Row and also many good ones in Waikiki. Outdoor snack stalls are popular with the locals and offer some interesting inexpensive options to restaurants.

Underwater in Hawaii is exceptional due to Centuries of lava that has flowed into the Ocean creating caverns, caves and all manner of exciting places to explore, not to mention sunken vessels. Diving courses are available for those wanting to learn how to dive. For certified divers, there are dive shops which hire out equipment. Chartered excursions with local experts are also available.

If you prefer to see the underwater from the safety of a boat, then take a glass bottomed boat tour, and get fascinating views of the coral reefs and marine life.

Surfing has always featured strongly in Hawaii’s past and present; there are some fabulous places to surf. Waikiki has dependable waves most of the year and is ideal for the beginner. Some of the long-ride breaks are located at Diamond Head, Tongg's, Publics, Castle, Blowhole, Queens and Canoes.