Oahu is home to famous Waikiki Beach , world class restaurants, resorts and “Heart of Hawaii.” Honolulu is the capital city and has the distinction of being the 11 th largest city in the United States .

There is diversity on Oahu that presents a unique blend of city and country for visitors, from the hustle-bustle of downtown Honolulu and people-watching at Waikiki to the quiet corners of the North Shore .

Oahu, the third largest of Hawaii ’s islands, is the most visited island for its cultural and recreational attractions. It is rich with history as home of Hawaiian royalty who ruled the islands through the 1800s from the Lolani Palace in what is now part of Honolulu .

On downtown King Street , tribute is paid in the form of a gilded statue to Queen LiliUkalani’s ancestors, King Kamihameha, the warrior chief who united the islands in 1810. Royal and cultural treasures are housed in the Bishop Museum , founded in 1889 to commemorate another royal, the wife of settler Charles Bishop. World War II history also draws visitors to Oahu, with sobering reminders at Pearl Harbor of the sacrifices made and lives lost.

WAIKIKI
World-famous Waikiki ’s beach has two-and-a-half miles of “perfect” sand. The “playground of the Pacific” welcomes all types of water sports enthusiasts, and you can watch a movie on the beach year-round for free. www.waikikiimprovement.org

Located in the shadow of Diamond Head, the 500-acre Kapiolani State Park was founded in the late 1800s by King Kalalau and named for his queen. Diamond Head State Monument is perhaps Hawaii ’s most famous landmark and offers panoramic views of Honolulu from its 760-foot-high summit accessible via a hike over a rocky trail.

NORTH SHORE
Roughly 38 miles from Waikiki is one of Oahu’s top sites and Hawaii ’s most visited paid attraction, the Polynesian Cultural Center , where you will find seven distinct Polynesian Island cultures represented.

At Tonga , don’t miss the popular drum presentation and catch the nose flute demonstration, then try your hand at spear-tossing on the village green.

The Fijian Temple , with sky-high roof is the Center’s landmark. The Fiji tribal meetinghouse includes unusual displays including an array of authentic war clubs.

Tahiti offers you a chance to learn all the hip-shaking moves from native Tahitian dancers, and also a coconut bread-making demonstration that allows you to create and taste this island delicacy.

Watch fire come alive as native Samoans rub sticks together to make fire and learn the art of opening a coconut with just your bare hands and a small stone. They even climb coconut trees in bare feet!

On the islands of Aotearoa, natives do the famous “haka” war dance and visitors can also try whirling poi balls.

The mock pig hunt and romantic song and dance highlight the village of Marquesas . In the native craft hunt, there are weaving, carving and other native craft demonstrations.

Looking to learn the hula? Hawaii is your place to learn all the moves, meaning, history and lore of this famous dance. Why not try playing the century-old island version of checkers and bowling as well as tasting the poi?

A must see attraction is “Rainbows of Paradise ” Canoe Pageant, where native Polynesians in colorful traditional costumes dance to their cultural music while atop twin-hulled canoes. The Pageant meanders through the Center’s 42 tropical acres on a peaceful lagoon.

Enjoy a restful canoe ride in-between your other activities. The palm trees lining each shore of the Center’s lagoon stand as shady sentinels to each of the Polynesian villages you’ll pass on a leisurely cruise.

The Island’s largest and most authentic Luau and evening show are the highlights of a visit to the Polynesian Center . For a small fee, you can take a guided tour, which I found most helpful in the timing of events and navigating this large attraction. www.polynesia.com

SOUTH SHORE
Pearl Harbor is located in Oahu’s South Shore , a 45-minute drive west of Waikiki . It is a poignant memorial to the U.S. entry and involvement into WWII. There is always a long line up and no handbags are permitted. Wear clothes with pockets for extra film and money for souvenirs and let cameras hang from the neck.

The U.S.S. Arizona Memorial itself is off-shore and accessible by shuttle boat. Some 1,102 men died aboard the Arizona when it sunk on December 7, 1941. An exhibit includes displays of WWII artifacts and a 23-minute video. The documentary offers a moving account of the events that led to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor . This military maneuver was intended to immobilize the Pacific Fleet so the U.S could not interfere with Japan 's plans. The documentary was a reenactment of the Japanese attack.

The USS Arizona was one of seven battleships tied up along “Battleship Row.” Because the memorial in effect is a massive graveyard, appropriate dress is required (no swim suits or bare feet.) Allow three hours for the free tour. www.nps.gov.usar

The U.S.S. Battleship Missouri, or “ Mighty Mo ,” was the venue for the official Japanese surrender and saw service through the first Gulf War in 1990. Its seven decks and 16-inch guns are an example of naval might www.missouri.com

WINDWARD COAST
At the Windward Coast of Oahu is a very interesting attraction called Bydoo-In Temple - a replica of a 900-year-old Buddhist temple in Kyoto , Japan . It was constructed in 1968 in the Valley of the Temple Memorial Park . This tranquil and visually stunning temple was built in honor of Oahu ’s Japanese immigrants. 808-847-3511

OTHER ATTRACTIONS ON OAHU
A cruise on the Star of Honolulu (from Aloha Tower to Diamond Head ) was one of the highlights of this trip. Activities included lei making, palm frond weaving, learning to strum a ukulele and learning the hula moves. A Hawaiian-style buffet lunch featured Kiawe-smoked paniolo roast beef, huli huli chicken, island fish, lomi lomi salmon, loco moco, poi and macadamia nut breads, fresh fruits and more. www.starofhonolulu.com

Polls consistently show that shopping is the number one activity of leisure travelers. On Oahu you have the entire shopping spectrum from high-end Ala Moana Shopping Center to local art and native crafts at flea markets and international marketplaces. Popular souvenirs are leis, hand-carved Koa wood bowls, boxes and jewelry, macadamia nuts and pineapples.