10 Best

Oahu offers a number of excellent luaus. Germaine's Luau is held on a private beach on Barber's Point east of Honolulu. The Polynesian Cultural Center's Alii Luau is held in Laie on Oahu's North Shore. My favorite luau on Oahu is the Paradise Cove Luau which is held on a 12-acre beach at the Ko Olina Resort and features great food, Polynesian entertainment, traditional Hawaiian games, and lessons in lei making.

Located in the heart of Honolulu you'll find many of Hawaii's most historic buildings including the Iolani Palace home to Hawaii's last monarchs and the only palace on U.S. soil. You'll also want to visit the Hawaii State Capitol, the Kāmehameha I Statue, Kawaiahao Church - the first Christian church in Hawaii, the Mission Houses Museum and the Old Federal Building. All of historic Honolulu is within easy walking distance of downtown parking at the equally famous Aloha Tower.

Oahu's North Shore is home to the top world-class surfers in the world when the winter waves reach their majestic heights. It is an easy hour's drive from Waikiki to lovely Haleiwa town where the North Shore begins for most visitors as they travel in an eastward direction around Oahu. Be sure to stop at the Bonzai Pipeline where you can see surfers make their way through the middle of a wave.

The Bishop Museum is recognized as the State Museum of Natural and Cultural History. While the name of the museum is officially the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, the museum was actually established by her husband Charles Bishop to whom Bernice had left her personal property upon her death in 1885 fulfilling their dream of preserving Hawaii's cultural heritage. Throughout its history, the museum's commitment has been the gathering and the dissemination of information on Hawaii and the Pacific.

One of Oahu's most rewarding hikes is the 2.5-mile round trip hike to Makapuu Point, the most eastern point of Oahu. The hike to the point is mostly uphill and takes about an hour each way. If you take the hike, do it early in the day when the sun will be behind the cliff face as you climb. The views of Waimanalo Bay to the north and Sandy Beach and Koko Head to the southwest are spectacular. Is a a great spot for whale watching from December to May.

Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial remain top tourist destinations in Hawaii with over 1,500,000 visitors annually. The addition of the Battleship Missouri and the 1999 opening of the USS Missouri Memorial have further enhanced the importance of this historic area. A visit to the Arizona Memorial is a solemn and sobering experience, even for those who were not alive when the attack occurred. You are literally standing over a gravesite where 1177 men lost their lives.

Diamond Head looms large over the Waikiki. Actually named Leahi by Hawaiians, it received its more well known name in the late 1700's when British seamen saw calcite crystals sparkling in the sunshine and thought they had found diamonds. A hike to the top of Diamond Head takes about an hour over a well-worn path. The summit offers a spectacular 365-degree view of Oʻahu and is a must trip for photography enthusiasts.

Waikiki is a great place to shop and offers prestigious retailers such as Tiffany & Co., Chanel, Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent as well as more modest stores such as the ever-present ABC Stores and the world-famous International Market Place. The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center is undergoing a major renovation and contains 150 stores and restaurants on four levels. The DFS Galleria the only place for foreign guests in Hawaii to enjoy duty-free savings on the world's leading luxury brands.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is Hawaii's top-paid visitor attraction. The PCC features seven Polynesian "islands" in a beautifully landscaped 42-acre setting. The Alii Luau takes guests on a nostalgic rip back in time to learn about the royalty of Hawaii while enjoying traditional Hawaiian luau food and entertainment. The Center's Rainbows of Paradise Canoe Pageant show is performed daily on the main lagoon. The PCC is also home to Hawaii's first and only IMAX™ Theater.