Oahu is a wonderful Hawaiian island with dramatic mountain views and delightful warm waters to swim. It is an island paradise with unrivalled town and country experiences. There’s great surfing, followed by great dancing to be had all around Honolulu. Oahu is one of the best spots in Hawaii, where surf instructors have learned their skills from their ancestors. Waikiki is probably one of the best spots in Hawaii to catch your first wave. The water sport skills are second to none in Oahu.
The temperature is the same throughout the year which is between 70-85 degrees, the summer months are the driest and the winter months the wettest. The geographic design of Oahu makes it such that the weather can vary greatly in different parts of the island, so it is possible to avoid the rain!
Oahu is where 80% of Hawaii’s visitors visit as a first stop. Surely that must be saying something?
Things to do
Waikiki is the best location to ride the waves on surfboards and canoes. If you’re more of a wildlife lover than a water lover, from December to May, you may catch a glimpse of a majestic kohola, or humpback whale in Oahu’s southern seas. The whales come to the warm Hawaiian waters every year to breed and give birth to new calves. There are chartered boat trips to show you the best wildlife sights.
Within Oahu, you’ll find some of Hawaii’s largest and most extensive museums and collections featuring art, artefacts and heirlooms from Hawaii and the Pacific. Examples of great museums to check out include Bishop Museum where you’ll see Hawaii’s natural and cultural history; the Contemporary Museum of Art where Mount Tantalus serves as a scenic backdrop for the Museum’s artist gardens; and Hawaii State Art Museum which is located in downtown Honolulu which is dedicated to exhibiting and interpreting the art and culture of Hawaii.
In Central Oahu, you’ll find the Hawaii Plantation Village which explores Oahu’s plantation heritage and culture. You’ll learn how more than 400,000 immigrants who arrived between 1852 and 1947 to work on Oahu’s plantations actually shaped Hawaii in to the vibrant multi-ethnic community it is today.
Finally of course, you can’t visit Oahu without checking out Pearl Harbour, named after the pearl oysters once harvested there. Oahu has so much to offer whatever your interests.
Shopping
On the streets of Waikiki, you can find everything from authentic Hawaiian crafts and local surf shops to stylish fashion and designer flagship stores. Waikiki Shopping centres like the DFS Galleria and the Royal Hawaiian Centre offer a variety of items you can only find in Hawaii, from ukulele and Hawaiian arts and crafts to designer fashion and high end jewellery. Browse shops like Mana Hawaii and Aloha Army in the Waikiki Beach Walk for even more unique gifts. All along the main strips of Kalakaua and Kuhio Avenues, you can explore a multitude of shops and boutiques as you treasure hunt for the perfect memento to remember your trip.
When you have had enough on the Alah Moana Beach, just cross the road to the main Shopping haven of Oahu which is the Alah Moana Shopping Centre. It is the largest Shopping centre in Hawaii and it houses over 290 merchants including luxury brands, local speciality shops, fine dining restaurants and an international food court.
Nightlife
Oahu is the largest Hawaiian island offering a brilliant choice of bars, restaurants and clubs to choose from. It really has the best entertainment of all the islands.
Expect the unexpected as it does not only offer traditional Hawaiian culture to the visitor but it also offers a diverse range of entertainment such as Hawaiian opera, performing arts, Cirque Hawaii, The Society of Seven, a unique show which is a mix of Broadway and Las Vegas! For another cultural experience, head down to Chinatown which bustles with vitality and activity.
Eating out
On this fabulous island, no stone is unturned, particularly when it comes to providing the best quality food. They are so proud of their cuisine; there is a tasting tour of Hawaiian food! They take you around different restaurants sampling a variety of Hawaiian food. Remember to take this tour with an empty stomach as you will sample many dishes, and given many tips about where and what to eat in Oahu.
There are traditional Hawaiian Luau on the shores of Oahu where you can dine on kalua pig cooked in an imu (earth oven), haupia (coconut pudding) and poi (Hawaiian taro starch). There you can settle down under the stars while you listen to live music and watch skilled performances of the hula!