Oahu- the Land of Contrast. A helicopter tour of Oahu would reveal a land of many contrasts. Though only the third largest island in land area, Oahu is nevertheless the home of almost seventy-five percent of Hawaii’s 1.2 million residents (Hawaii’s capital city of Honolulu alone boasts a population of nearly 400,000). The ultra-modern city fades as you soar beyond to the high-rises and out over the mountainous countryside to see stone temples of antiquity and green pastures. Up and over the Ko’olau Range you will spot the famed North Shore where surfers abound and beaches are beautiful. Flying back toward Honolulu, you will spot the memorials at Pearl Harbor and onward to the world famous Waikiki Beach.
Oahu is believed to have formed some four million years ago by two volcanoes. The remains of these can now be seen as the Ko’olau and Wai’anae mountain ranges which run parallel along the west and east shores. These ranges separate the wetter windward shore and the drier leeward side of the island. The effect causes ocean rain clouds to release their rain on the east side before passing westward.
Volcanic activity has created landmarks such as the popular 761 foot high Diamond Head on the eastern border of Waikiki. This “tuff cone” was formed when erupting volcanic ash hardened to solid rock about 100,000 years ago. Other “tuff cones” can be seen to the southeast as Koko Head and in downtown Honolulu in what is referred to as the Punchbowl. The National Cemetery of the Pacific is housed in the Punchbowl’s crater.
Honolulu, other than being the state capital, is also the major business center for the islands. Honolulu Harbor serves as a lifeline for all of the islands. The majority of Hawaii’s food and consumer products are imported and distributed through this active port. The city also hosts two world-class art museums (The Honolulu Academy of Arts and The Contemporary Museum) and several small galleries where you can enjoy the works of local talents. While in the city, take an excursion to historic Chinatown or take in a concert by the Honolulu Symphony. Be sure that you don’t miss the 1400-acre Moli’i fishpond located downtown. Unbelievably, this marvel of ancient engineering was built as a 4,000-foot stone enclosure without the use of mortar!
Of historical note: in the spring of 1795, it was on Oahu’s south shore near Waikiki that Kamehameha the Great launched a battle campaign to defeat the forces of Kalanikupule and unite the Hawaiian Islands for the first time. In 1893, a coalition of American sugar plantation owners (with the help of the U.S. minister and troops) united to overthrow the Hawaiian Monarchy. In 1894, the Republic of Hawaii was established with Sanford Dole as president. Statehood was achieved in 1959 with Honolulu as the state capital.
December 7, 1941 was a day that changed the world. On that sunny morning, 183 Japanese warplanes attacked the U.S. Pacific Fleet at Pearl Harbor and so began the U.S. active involvement in the war of all wars. A visit to the memorials at Pearl Harbor is an extremely emotional experience regardless of age or interest in World War II history. The bombers are gone, but the bodies of over 1,000 American sailors are still entombed in the hull of the USS Arizona. The ship suffered four direct hits and sank to the bottom of the harbor. To this day, droplets of oil still emerge to the surface like a message from those sailors- reminding us that they are still there.
See also the USS Bowfin Submarine Memorial. The Bowfin was launched exactly one year after the attack and was nicknamed “The Pearl Harbor Revenge”. In her nine voyages, she sank an astonishing 44 Japanese ships! The USS Missouri Battleship Memorial showcases the famous “ Mighty Mo” where General Douglas Macarthur accepted Japan’s surrender. The mighty ship was the last battleship and also the largest at 900 feet. She has become one of the most popular attractions in all Hawaii.
Other tours include the Polynesian Cultural and Circle Island Tour where you will “experience the Polynesian Cultural Center's recreation of the grandeur of the South Pacific -- its initial colonization by the Polynesians, their unique and varied culture, their triumphs and tragedies, and the eventual coming of the Europeans.” You will get a distinctive look at pineapple fields, seaside villages, and world renowned North Shore surfing spots. Or the Oahu Circle Island Tour with Dole Plantation where you will “Experience the grandeur of Old Hawaii on this full-day, 120-mile tour that circumnavigates Oahu! You'll get a chance to visit everything from Diamond Head, the most famous landmark in the state, to the famous Halona Blowhole, Chinaman's Hat Island, Kahana Bay, sugarcane and pineapple fields, and surfing beaches at North Shore.” There are a multitude of tours available to match your interests.
A visit to Oahu will be an experience you will never forget. Year-round temperatures of 68-85 degrees make it a destination for any time. Come see for yourself!
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