Oahu isn't the largest island in the Hawaiian chain but it is overflowing with activities for everyone. Beginning with glorious beaches and 40 golf courses, Oahu has more to offer than you can might imagine. Trade winds keep the island comfortable all year permitting participation in outdoor and indoor activities all year. Visit the Honolulu capitol building, completed in 1969, 10 years after Hawaii came our 50th state. Walk in awe through the Iolani Palace, a premier example of Hawaiian Renaissance Architecture. Byodo-In-Temple, a 900-year-old Buddhist temple, is the scene of many weddings with picturesque Japanese gardens and koi ponds. The Bishop Museum safeguards millions of Hawaiian and Polynesian cultural artifacts and heirlooms. Planetarium programs illustrate how the Polynesian skies were used by the early explorers for navigation. Motoring around in a rental car, you'll notice shrimp trucks selling huge plates of garlicky shrimp scampi. Food of any cuisine can be tasted at Diamond Head. Luaus and night shows with Samoan fire knife dancers are entertaining. Living villages and exhibits showcase the eight cultures of the region. The Dole Pineapple Plantation tours include a journey through a 1.7 mile maze and a ride on the Pineapple Express. View native species of fruits and vegetables and engage in hands-on native arts and crafts. Ocean aquariums like Dolphin Park feature diverse marine life and offer some interaction with dolphins and rays. Oahu is most noted for Pearl Harbor which is home to the memorial for the USS Arizona which sank when the Japanese attacked and catapulted the US into WWII. Leis thrown in the water pay tribute to the fallen. There is also a National Memorial for 33,259 soldiers in an extinct crater with scenic Honolulu nearby. Documenting your trip to Oahu will fill at least one scrapbook. |
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