O'ahu, Hawaii

O'ahu  (oh-ah-hoo)

Land of Contrasts

From ancient stone heiau (temples) to 21st-Century high-rises, O'ahu, Hawaii is an island of endless contrasts. Geographically only the third largest of the inhabited Hawaiian Islands, it is nonetheless home to nearly three-quarters of the state's 1.2 million residents,  370,000 of whom are concentrated in urban Honolulu, the ultra-modern, south-coast cityscape kama'aina (residents) refer to simply as "Town". Only 45-minute drive away is "Country" the famed surfing Mecca on the island's north shore where you'll find sleepy Hale'iwa town (pop. 2,225) existing much as it has since it was established by missionaries in 1832.
 

Geography

Like the other islands, islets and shoals that make up the 1,600-mile Hawaiian Island chain, O'ahu is believed to be the product of a single "hot spot" in the earth's mantle. Over the course of millions of years, the earth's crust drifted to the northwest across this hot spot, giving rise to each island. The bulk of O'ahu, Hawaii was created nearly four million years ago, by two now-extinct shield volcanoes, the remains of which are today visible as the Ko'olau and Wai'anae mountain ranges, running parallel to each other along the length of the island's eastern and western coasts, respectively. As with the rest of the Hawaiian Islands, these mountain ranges separate the wetter windward shore from the drier leeward side, forcing rain clouds blown in off the ocean to leave their water on the east side of the island before gaining passage to the west.

Points of Interest

More recent volcanic activity also created several of O'ahu's most visible landmarks: 761 foot tall Diamond Head, located on Waikiki's eastern border, is a "tuff cone", formed some 100,000 years ago when an eruption of volcanic ash eventually hardened into solid rock. Southeast O'ahu's Koko Head and downtown Honolulu's Punchbowl (the latter of which houses the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in its crater) are also tuff cones.

O'ahu's political history is as varied as its geological past. It was on this islands' southern shore, near present-day Waikiki, that Kamehameha the Great began a decisive battle in his campaign to unite the Hawaiian Islands for the first time, defeating the forces of Kalanikupule, then the high chief of Maui and O'ahu, in the spring of 1795. It was in Honolulu, also, that a coalition of sugar planters and missionary descendants would overthrow the Hawaiian Monarchy in 1893. After Statehood was declared in 1959, Honolulu became the state capital of Hawaii.

Attractions

Here are a few of the islands attractions:

Dole Plantation

Get lost in the world's largest maze as listed in the 2001 Guinness Book of World Records. Ride on the Pineapple Express train and learn about the history of pineapples and agriculture in Hawaii. Enjoy pineapple treats and find unique gifts at the country store. www.dole-plantation.com

Polynesian Cultural Centre

Hawaii's favourite visitor attraction. Featuring 7 Pacific Island villages on 42 acres. Hawaii's most authentic luau and "Horizons", Hawaii's largest evening show. Hawaii's only canoe pageant. Two heralded IMAX films.
www.polynesia.com

The Waikiki Aquarium

The Waikiki Aquarium, founded in 1904, is the third oldest public aquarium in the United States. A part of the University of Hawaii since 1919, the Aquarium is located next to a living reef on the Waikiki shoreline. It runs programs helping people of all ages to understand and care for the life of the ocean.
http://waquarium.mic.hawaii.edu/index.html

Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki

Over 750,000 people visit the Honolulu Zoo annually. It is the largest zoo within a radius of 2,300 miles. The Zoo provides habitats for a wide variety of animals from around the globe.
http://www.honoluluzoo.org/

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