Oahu

An island of central Hawaii between Molokai and Kauai. It is the chief island of the state, with major tourist areas, including Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head, and a U.S. naval base at Pearl Harbor. Known as "The Gathering Place".

Oahu, island in central Hawaii, between Kauai and Molokai islands, in Honolulu County; it is the third largest island in the state, after Hawaii and Maui. The most heavily populated of the Hawaiian islands (approximately 80% of the states total population live here), Oahu is known as the Gathering Place. It is about 64 km (about 40 mi) long and 42 km (26 mi) wide. Oahu is the commercial center of Hawaii and is important to United States defense in the Pacific. Pearl Harbor naval base is situated here. Two parallel mountain ranges, the Koolau Range and the Waianae Range, cross Oahu from northwest to southeast. A wide fertile plateau separates the two ranges. The chief agricultural industries in Oahu are the growing and processing of pineapples and sugarcane; tourism also is very important to the economy. Among the many popular beaches is the renowned Waikiki, backed by the famous Diamond Head, an extinct volcano. The largest community, Honolulu, is also the state capital.

Area: 1555 sq km (600 sq mi)                    Population (1990): 836,207.

Honolulu - The capital and largest city of Hawaii, on the southeast coast of Oahu. Honolulu's harbor was first entered in 1794 by a British navigator. Settlement of the area began in 1816, and the city soon gained prominence as a whaling and sandalwood port. Today it is a major tourist center.

Pearl Harbor - Arizona Memorial - USS Missouri - Polynesian Cultural Center - Kualoa Ranch - Waikiki - Diamond Head
Makapuu - Sea Life Park - Waimea Falls - Waimea Bay - Sunset Beach - Banzai Pipeline