A vacation on Oahu conjures images of hula dancing, surfing and sipping on drinks with little umbrellas. Those stereotypes stem from real-life activities that are certainly worth experiencing on a Hawaii vacation, but Oahu offers so much more than that.
Home of the state's capitol city, Honolulu, "Oahu" literally means "the gathering place." It is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands — behind the Big Island of Hawaii and Maui – but the most populous.
There is no shortage of tourist activities, from island tours to dinner cruises, swimming and surfing to deep-sea fishing, hiking and golfing to just sitting back and relaxing.
Oahu holds far too many opportunities to list them all, but here are some can't-miss activities:
Oahu Beaches, Surfing and Snorkeling
Waikiki Beach is a popular location, and although it can get crowded, it's worth checking out. The clear, shallow waters are perfect for swimming, and there's plenty to do — charter a booze cruise, rent a surf board or sign up for a quick surfing lesson. Or head a few steps off the sand and grab a drink at one of the nearby open-air restaurants and lounges.
Between November and February, head to the north shore to catch some big-wave surfing. Popular spots including Waimea Bay, Bonzai Pipeline at Ehukai Beach and Sunset Beach.
Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay is a must, with its wide variety of fish and the occasional green sea turtle. Snorkeling gear is available for rent at Hanauma Bay, and many hotels provide free shuttles.
Hiking Trails on Oahu
Walk through Waimea Arboretum and Botanical Garden back to Waimea Falls Park. The falls are just a mile from the entrance to the arboretum.
For a rainforest experience, head to Manoa Valley and hike the 1.5-mile trail back to Manoa Falls.
For a more strenuous workout, hike to the top of Diamond Head Crater on the edge of Waikiki. The 1.75-mile trail is mostly gradual but has a couple of steep inclines. The hike is definitely worth the sweeping views at the top.
Shopping on Oahu
Stroll through Waikiki for a plethora of shops and galleries, plus the open-air International Market Place.
The Aloha Stadium Swap Meet, held every Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday, has great deals from a variety of vendors.
Check out Haleiwa on the north shore for a number of fun specialty shops, including glass blowing and surf shops.
Sea Life Park and More
Get up close and personal with dolphins, sea lions, penguins, sea turtles and many other animals at Sea Life Park Hawaii.
Head to Waikiki and visit the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium.
Cruise to Kualoa Ranch, which offers horseback rides and a petting zoo with a variety of exotic animals. The ranch also offers horseback and ATV tours into Ka'a'awa Valley, a filming location for movies such as "Jurassic Park," "Windtalkers," "50 First Dates" and the TV show "L O S T." On the way to Kualoa Ranch, stop by one of the macadamia nut farms on the windward coast.
Visit the USS Arizona Memorial
The USS Arizona Memorial honors those who died during the attack on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. The memorial is maintained by the National Park Service, which conducts daily tours that include a short video and a trip out to the memorial.
Experience a Luau on Oahu
No trip to Hawaii would be complete without taking in a luau. A bit of a tourist cliché, perhaps, but absolutely worth experiencing at least once. The traditional luau food — including kalua pig — a mai tai and some Polynesian dancing will complete any paradise vacation. There are many luaus to choose from on Oahu — Germaine's, Paradise Cove and the Polynesian Cultural Center put on great ones.
Adam Sparks - Adam Sparks has been a reporter, copy editor and designer during a 14-year newspaper career that has taken him from Oregon to Hawaii and ...
