"Oahu" a Hawaii (State of) Travel Page by smschley

For most people visiting Hawaii, the island of Oahu is their first choice. The island offers such a variety of sites and activities that anyone could find something to enjoy. Oahu is where visitors come when they want it all. For most visitors, Waikiki, with it’s world-famous beach and stunning Diamond Head Crater, is the center of the action. Within its 1.5-square-mile boundaries is where more than three-fourths of Hawaii’s seven million annual visitors come.

But Oahu is much more. For those with a taste for history is the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial. A memorial dedicate to those who died during the bombing of Pearl Harbor in a Japanese sneak attack on December 7th 1941. in a day that president Roosevelt said would live in infamy.

To view Oahu at its rugged best, head to the North Shore, a 20-mile stretch of coastline from Ka‘ena Point to Turtle Bay. Heading east, Hanauma Bay remains one of the state’s most popular and widely photographed attractions. And just minutes away are other perennial favorites such as Sandy Beach, the Blow Hole and Sea Life Park.

For a taste of Hawaii’s past there is the Hawaii's Polynesian Cultural Center, located about one hour's drive from Waikiki. It contains seven native villages the give visitors the chance to participate in the daily adventures of Hawaiian and other South Pacific cultures. In addition it has an authentic luau and a Polynesian night show that is a must see.
These are just some of the few highlights that Oahu offer, but there are many more.