Oahu Activities & Vacations

Hawaii has some of the world's most beautiful beaches. Those that are closest to Waikiki, however, are also the most crowded during peak seasons. You may have better luck spreading a towel at Lanikai (off Kailua Rd.) or Hanauma Bay (off Route 72), where you can do lots of snorkeling. Surfers should head to Oahu's North Shore, where major surfing competitions are held every November and December. Take a splash with dolphins at Sea Life Park at Makapuu Point.

Hawaii is the only state that was ever governed by a monarchy. At Honolulu's Iolani Palace (364 S. King St.), you can see how the royals lived and where its last queen, Liliuokalani, gave up her throne under military pressure. Hawaii's first Christian church, Kawaiaha'o (957 Punchbowl St.), is open for tours, as are the original Mission Houses (553 S. King St.) and the Bishop Museum (4858 Bernice St.), which houses one of the most extensive collections of historical and cultural artifacts of Pacific islanders. At the Polynesian Cultural Center (55-370 Kamehameha Highway in Laie), you'll be treated to island food, demonstrations, music, canoe pageants and more hulas than you can shake a stick at.

If you want to feel like you're on top of the world, hop a bus that will drop you off at Diamond Head Road (between 18th Ave. and Makapuu), put on your hiking shoes and sunhat, and ascend Oahu's most photographed natural wonder: Diamond Head. It's a strenuous, toasty climb, but the 360-degree view is worth it. Another good hike is Makapuu Point, on the eastern side of Oahu; between December and late April you may even see whales. Don't skip Nuuanu Pali Lookout (off Route 61) which is where King Kamehameha and his warriors gave his enemies the choice of joining him or jumping to their deaths 985 feet below.

If you have kids in tow, take them for a day to Kapi'olani Park and the Honolulu Zoo. Just a short distance away as you head toward the water is the Waikiki Aquarium (2777 Kalakaua) which is world renowned for its research and environmental programs. You'll also find no shortage of entrepreneurs walking down Kalakaua (Waikiki's main street) with giant parrots perched on their shoulders. For a fee, the owners will let you have your picture taken with them.

On any given day on Waikiki beach you'll find scores of colorful catamarans lined up to take tourists out for a wet and wild adventure. These tours last one to two hours and provide a view of Oahu that you can't see by car. There are also a number of large catamaran dinner cruises available, many of which also feature music and entertainment. For a loftier view of the island, there are several helicopter companies that will take you over Diamond Head, Honolulu Harbor, downtown Honolulu, Sacred Falls and the Dole Pineapple Maze. Flights last from 20 minutes to an hour.

You could devote an entire day to shopping in Waikiki and still not have hit every store by sundown. Shopping venues range from the Tahitian village-style International Marketplace (2330 Kalakaua) to the stunning Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center (2201 Kalakaua) with posh tenants such as Chanel, Yves Saint Laurent, and Bulgari. The DFS Galleria (Waikiki Luxury Walk) is a fave of foreign tourists seeking duty-free goods. The Ala Moana Center (1450 Ala Moana Blvd.) rivals any mainland mega mall. The farther you stray from Waikiki, the more likely the merchandise will revolve around T-shirts, Hawaiian crafts and art.

At the USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center (1 Arizona Memorial Place), you can view a 25-minute film about Pearl Harbor, then board a Navy skiff that will take you out to the Arizona Memorial, where more than 1,000 men lost their lives on Dec.7, 1941. You'll also want to take a tour of the nearby "USS Missouri" (aka "Mighty Mo") which is where the formal surrender of Japan to Allied Forces took place in 1945. Another destination for honoring the nation's war dead is Punchbowl, the National Cemetery of the Pacific in Puowaina Crater (2177 Puowaina Drive). The 116 acres of tranquil grounds are the final resting place of more than 33,000 soldiers, sailors and airmen.