O'ahu

With natural beauty, a sophisticated city, and world famous Waikiki beach O'ahu, Hawai'i's crown jewel, is the most vibrant island in the archipelago. Its continental offing (2,300 miles southwest of San Francisco just inside the Tropic of Cancer) lets it live a laid-back island style unique in Oceania. The pursuit of pleasure brings millions of free-spending visitors who arrive by jet year-round daily to bask in tropic sun at the pinnacle of Polynesia. The town and country island is barefoot and dressy. Within minutes of Honolulu's Bishop Street, the financial center of the Pacific, you can be alone in Nu'uanu rainforest or sipping ...

With natural beauty, a sophisticated city, and world famous Waikiki beach O'ahu, Hawai'i's crown jewel, is the most vibrant island in the archipelago. Its continental offing (2,300 miles southwest of San Francisco just inside the Tropic of Cancer) lets it live a laid-back island style unique in Oceania. The pursuit of pleasure brings millions of free-spending visitors who arrive by jet year-round daily to bask in tropic sun at the pinnacle of Polynesia. The town and country island is barefoot and dressy. Within minutes of Honolulu's Bishop Street, the financial center of the Pacific, you can be alone in Nu'uanu rainforest or sipping Prosecco at a trendy wine bar in Chinatown. Go to Bishop Museum to learn the incredible story of how everyone from Polynesian navigators to the last person off the plane came to discover this remote island. Visit I'olani Palace, where Queen Liliuokalani was imprisoned, and the Hawaiian kingdom overthrown. Feel the mana at the Royal Mausoleum where bones of old kings and queens repose in crypts. Pray for peace at Puowaina (Hill of Sacrifice), a crater full of 40,0000 American war dead from WW2, Korea and Vietnam. And remember Pearl Harbor, where oil from the sunken battleship Arizona slicks blue waves, the same waves that lap ashore with tossed leis of all who hope to return.

About the Expert

Rick Carroll has written dozens of articles on Hawaii and the Pacific. His books include Great Outdoor Adventures of Hawaii, Madame Pele: True Encounters with Hawaii's Fire Goddess, and Travelers' Tales Hawaii.