Ten Things Everyone Should See On Oahu
Here are ten great things to do on Oahu, all of them giving you a different perspective on this wonderful paradise in the Pacific. Now is a great time to visit as there are fantastic deals for luxurious yet very affordable condos, hotels, and vacation rentals. So once you are settled in, then begin your adventure and enjoy these island favorites.
Chinatown – You can enjoy just wandering the isles of various markets to see all the fish and chicken as well as pig heads, salted duck eggs, and a multitude of fruits and vegetables. Various other ethnicities are also represented in Chinatown including Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, and Filipino. Check out the Kekaulike Market on Kekaulike Street between Hotel and King Streets, and the delectable Asian fare at the Maunakea Market.
SeaLife Park – Located just north of Makapu‘u Point, SeaLife Park features a dolphin show as well as an 18-foot deep, 300,000 gallon aquarium with many reef fish, sharks, eels, and even sea turtles. The park has separate pools housing harbor seals and California sea lions. You can even snorkel with stingrays.
U.S.S. Arizona Memorial – One of the Hawaiian Islands’ most visited attractions, the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor honors those who died in the Dec. 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, an event that entered the United States into World War II.
1,177 men perished in the fiery sinking of the U.S.S. Arizona, which was at its moorings on Battleship Row. The U.S.S. Arizona Memorial is an open structure that is 184 feet long, and positioned directly over the wreck of the U.S.S. Arizona. Nine hundred of the U.S.S. Arizona’s crew remain entombed in the sunken vessel.
About 1.5 million visitors a year tour the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, which was designated as a National Historical Landmark in 1989.
Waikiki – Hotels, parks, restaurants, dance clubs, and endless shopping makes Waikiki a place for everyone. Most come for the white sandy beaches and great surfing, and you can rent surfboards at various locations.
The whole length of sand fronting Waikīkī is generally known as Waikīkī Beach, but there are various individual beaches along this coastline including Kahanamoku Beach which is named after the renowned Duke Kahanamoku. Many famous old hotels still grace the beach, including the Moana Hotel (1901) and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel (1927), along with luxurious new hotels.
Polynesian Cultural Center – Celebrating the island villages of Polynesia including Marquesas, Sāmoa, Fiji, New Zealand, Tahiti, Tonga, and the Hawaiian Islands, and each theme village has its own unique music, dances, and crafts.
You will see everything from spear throwing to coconut cracking, tree climbing, and fire starting as well as participatory activities such as rope making and lei making, and your entrance fees help supports Brigham Young college students.
An IMAX theater at the Polynesian Cultural Center provides quality viewing, and an event called the “Pageant of the Long Canoes” takes place aboard canoe stages on the lagoons.
Hawaiian Waters Adventures Park – Hawaii’s warm weather makes this a perfect place to cool off and frolic, and while it is primarily a playground for kids, many adults also enjoy the fun. There are waterslides into pools and also a wavepool as well as a flowrider standing wave.
Waikiki Aquarium – At the eastern (Diamond Head) end of Kapi‘olani Park is the oldest aquarium west of the Mississippi River, and the United States’ third oldest public aquarium. More than 2,500 organisms are on display including colorful reef fish, black-tip reef sharks, jellyfish, giant clams, and moray eels. There is also a monk seal and sea turtles. Waikiki Aquarium also provides many interactive, educational opportunities for children, including the “touch-me tide pool.”
Honolulu Zoo – Also in Kapi‘olani Park is the Honolulu Zoo, which houses about 300 species including zebras, giraffes, hippos, white rhinos, monkeys, lions, and cheetahs. There is also a petting zoo.
Iolani Palace – This was the royal palace of the Hawaiian monarchy for King Kalākaua and Queen Kapi‘olani from 1882 to 1891, and then was the royal palace for Queen Lili‘uokalani for the next two years, until the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893.
After the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy ‘Iolani Palace was used as the capitol building of the Republic of Hawai‘i and then as the capitol building for the Territory of Hawai‘i and eventually for the State of Hawai‘i until 1969 when the State Capitol Building was completed.
After extensive renovations, beginning in 1969, ‘Iolani Palace was opened as a museum in 1978. The non-profit organization Friends of ‘Iolani Palace now runs the museum, offering guided tours of the United States’ only royal palace.
Punchbowl Cemetery – The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific was dedicated at Pūowaina (Punchbowl) on Septermber 2, 1949, the fourth anniversary of V-J Day, in a ceremony attended by about 10,000 people.
Today the Cemetery is the final resting place of more than 45,000 men and women, including 776 victims of the 1941 Pearl Harbor attack. There are also 28,000 names carved into the walls to commemorate those who gave their lives for our country.
Diamond Head State Monument – Rising up prominently on the east side of Waikīkī, Diamond Head is accessible by a short hike to the summit. The trail climbs 560 feet over 1½ miles, and a tunnel along the trail leads to a 99-step stairway. The top is 760 feet above sea level, the summit’s panoramic views include Koko Head and Koko Crater on the southeast coast as well as Barbers Point and the Wai‘anae Mountains on the leeward coast.
Enjoy your stay on Oahu, and don’t forget to take advantage of the great deals that are happening right now on condos, hotels, and vacation rentals. Aloha!