My husband and I went to Oahu on our honeymoon and it was so breathtaking. There is so much to see. I truly believe that visiting Oahu is a must do. If I had the chance I would go back there every year. Here are some of the must see attractions and places on the island of Oahu.
Diamond Head
Diamond Head is an extinct volcano that measures 760 feet tall at the peak. It was once used as a military fortification, but is know open to the public to climb. It is located right next to Waikiki Beach and from the top of the peak you can watch surfers and boats in the ocean. You can see forever on top of Diamond Head as it has a 360 degree view. Bring a flashlight with you so you can see while climbing through a narrow tunnel up to the top pf the peak.
U.S. Army Museum
The museum is located at Fort DeRussy. It’s in the Battery Randolph building which is a bunker built in 1911 as key to the defense of Pearl Harbor and Honolulu. It has a vast array of war memorabilia with the focus on World War II. A guided group tour can be arranged.
Arizona Memorial
The memorial is a white structure that sits over top the ruins of the U.S.S. Arizona which sank on December 7,1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. You are able to take a boat out the to the memorial and see all of the names of the men who died and also the remains of the ship below are seen through the bottom. This is a very touching memorial. You want to get there early in the morning, as the memorial is free but they only let in a certain number of people a day and it fills up very fast. A wait time of 1-3 hours is very common.
Polynesian Cultural Center
A re-created village showcases the lifestyles of the original inhabitants of the island. It is a 45 acre complex that also houses restaurants, luaus, and also performs ceremonies such as fire dancing and tribal tattooing.
Battleship Missouri Memorial
The U.S.S. Missouri was an battleship that is now retired from service. It saw action in World War II up until the Persian Gulf War. This is where the Japanese signed the surrender agreement to end World War II. THz ship serves as a museum and an interactive educational tour.
Waikiki Beach
Even though Waikiki Beach is a big tourist beach, it is still worth it to check it out. The beach is the best representation of the Hawaiian beach culture. It has restaurants and shopping all along the strip. It has plenty of area to lay down a towel and soak up the sun’s rays. You can also go surfing, canoeing and wind surfing.
North Shore Beach
If you want somewhere a little more quiet, head to the North Shore, It is more secluded and not as many people as Waikiki Beach. This is also where the best surfing is. It has bigger waves to ride.
International Market Place
If you like shopping, you will definitely want to visit the marketplace. It is located in Waikiki and is an open air marketplace full of many different vendors. They have jewelry, Hawaiian clothing, baskets, and wood carvings. You can find plenty of souvenirs here.
Waikiki Aquarium
This aquarium house over 300 species of Hawaiian and South Pacific marine life. They also have plenty of sharks, as go see the sharks in an aquarium instead of seeing them in the ocean.
