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Experience Waikiki's striking contrasts: global chic and local crafts, haute cuisine and plate lunches, surf lessons and lomi lomi, hip clubs and hula lessons. Explore Honolulu's history from a princess's legacy to an heiress's Hawaiian escape. Feel exhilarated yet relaxed on legendary North Shore. Oahu: Hawaii all on one island.
Hike to a waterfall, learn about our nation’s history at Pearl Harbor, kayak to islands on the horizon, experience the vibrant and exciting nightlife in Honolulu’s arts and culture district, go shopping, go underwater in a submarine or sail above it all on a glider plane. Outdoor, arts and culture, cuisine and countless activities and attractions as unique and beautiful as the island paradise await. Oahu has such incredibly striking contrasts that you’ll feel like you’ve been everywhere when you visit our island.
Oahu, an island occupying 597 square miles, is the second oldest island in the Hawaiian chain of visitable islands, and lies between Kauai and Maui. Geographically, Oahu is made up of two major mountain ranges that were once two shield volcanoes that have long since become extinct. As a result, there are valleys, bays and amazing scenery. Several smaller post-shield volcanic outcroppings are scattered throughout the island. The most famous of these former craters includes Diamond Head and Punchbowl, both popular visitor attractions.
The Koolau mountain range separates Oahu's Windward coast from the central plains. On the windward (east) side, many hundred thousand years of constant gales have carved beautiful rippling rock faces, near-vertical ridges and precipitous cliffs. Today, the windward coast tends to be Oahu’s wetter and greener side of the island.
The Waianae mountain range lies on the west side of the island, separating Central Oahu from the leeward coast. For the most part, it remains considerably warmer and drier. What the Waianae valleys and gulches lack in lush, bounding verdure, it makes up for with gorgeous red and earthen carvings and peaks.
Average air temperature ranges from 74 to 88 degrees F, with moderate daytime humidity of 53 percent. Even the warmest months are comfortable with blowing trade winds.
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