Oahu Travel Guide
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The namesake for the Hawaiian island of Oahu literally translates into “the gathering place.” This is an apt descriptor for the state’s center of government and culture, where you’ll find one of the world’s best amalgamations of urban living, rugged natural beauty and a vibrant rural community. The island is brimming with the kind of diversity that you’d have to drive to another state for back on the mainland. Honolulu gives the feel of a city more attuned to Asia than it does Europe, although there’s no ethnic majority on this island – those claiming any kind of homogenous racial identity are certainly in the minority. It’s this intermingling of cultures and sun-soaked paradise that has a way of opening people up – to both the experiences of those around them, but to an entirely different way of life.
Airfare and lodging tend to be more expensive during the peak season of mid-December to mid-April in Oahu. However, winter is the time to witness the gigantic waves on Oahu’s famous north shore, so the extreme surfers out there will just have to bear the cost. For everyone else, the best time to visit is generally after Labor Day through mid-December. Weather is typically a factor in planning vacations, although not so much with an Oahu vacation. The winter does tend to be somewhat rainier than other times of the year, but overall the climate is still amazing, and your chances of securing discount airfare to Oahu by way of Honolulu are much greater during this off season time of the year.
Outside of the Honolulu area, there aren’t all that many hotels on the island, however, there are at least 1500 condos, vacation homes, Ohanas (a unit attached to a home) and Bed and Breakfasts. Hawaiian Beach Rentals is an excellent resource for finding and reserving one of these many alternate types of accommodations for your Oahu vacation. Still, the island could hardly make any substantial claims to paradise if it weren’t for luxury hotels like the Hawaii Prince Hotel. Located in stunning Waikiki, the Prince features all oceanfront guest rooms and suites, as well as a championship golf course, day spa, tennis courts, and extensive dining and entertainment facilities.
Honolulu and Waikiki are the cornerstone tourist destinations on the island of Oahu. In Honolulu you’ll find an impressive offering of museums and cultural centers, including the only royal palace in the USA. The number of cheap noodle joints and fancy Pacific Rim cuisine may just send you straight to foodie heaven. Nonetheless, when city life starts to become too much for you, saunter on over to gorgeous Waikiki for some much-deserved lounging on the sand, fun water sports, or the chance to listen to splendid Hawaiian music in traditional Luau custom. With close to 40 great public beaches on the island, many of which stretch out for over a mile, rest assured you’ll always have something entertaining to fall back on here.
Car rentals are readily available at the airport in Honolulu and at various locations throughout downtown. A car is especially worth having for visits to the north shore or if you are staying outside of Honolulu/Waikiki. A map or in car GPS system will do you a great deal of good, because unlike other cities in the USA, Honolulu’s street system sticks in large part to the shorelines, valleys, and ridges, with many twists and turns. This is inherently confusing for people used to straight grid systems. However, it doesn’t have to be that difficult to navigate as long as you are in possession of a map or system that displays the major arterials. Should you decide to just stay to the city and the more popular tourist destinations, the Oahu bus system, officially called TheBus, should be more than adequate for your needs.