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Attractions

 

 

"Aloha" and "mahalo" are vital Hawaiian words that will help a newcomer get by for a few weeks, but equally important to know is "kama'aina." Mention the word - which translates as "native-born" - and receive local discount rates that almost make Hawai'i's high prices bearable. Almost.

Know, however, that a Hawai'i driver's license or other proof of residence is required for kama'aina rates.

Armed with this information, you are now ready to explore your new home and find out why it's such a hit with millions of tourists every year.

Beaches - Nothing is more invigorating than warm sun, white sands and blue, soothing water.

World-famous Waikiki, with its gentle surf and long stretches of sand, is a good place to start, but remember that Oahu offers more than 120 beaches and parks that will satisfy everyone - from the inert sun worshipper to the aquatic adventurer.

Sharing the south shore with Waikiki is Ala Moana Beach Park to the west and Kapiolani Park to the east. Both are local favorites for swimming, jogging, family outings and tennis.

A few tourists venture out to the East Shore, but it caters mostly to locals. The collapsed sides of an extinct volcano form the crescent shape of Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, whose coral bottom and tropical fish and other wildlife are a must-see for snorkelers.

The rough breakers of Sandy Beach and Makapuu Beach make them hot spots for body boarders and bodysurfers. Sandy's windy conditions also draw kite enthusiasts.

Windward beaches, which include Waimanalo, Kailua and Lanikai, are often ranked as some of the best in the world. Stretching over 4 miles, Waimanalo is the Island's longest beach and is perfect for long strolls or viewing picturesque sunrises. Versatile Kailua Beach is popular for family picnics, sailing, kayaking and wind surfing. Up the road is Lanikai Beach, which is harder to access but usually less crowded than Kailua.

Surfers from all over the world descend on the North Shore to ride the waves of Ehukai Beach Park, Pipeline, Banzai, Sunset and Waimea Bay. The Leeward side provides great opportunities for family fun. Among its beaches are Nanakuli, Makaha, Yokohama, Pokai Bay and Ko Olina - man-made lagoons that provide the calmest waters in the Island.

Waikiki - Yes, it caters to tourists, but friends and relatives who come to visit - and they will visit - will insist you take them there, so get familiar with it now.

Waikiki has it all in one place - beaches, fine dining and hotels.

And let's not forget shopping, from high-end boutiques to the ABC stores and the International Marketplace, the bargain hunter's paradise.

Aloha Stadium swap meet - Actually, this is the bargain hunter's paradise, which is held every weekend and Wednesdays (6 a.m.-3 p.m.). Everything from Hawaiian print dresses to eight-for-$20 T-shirts, handmade jewelry to koa woodcrafts, sunglasses to slippers, can be had at the right price. Bargain with the vendors; they expect it.

Bring protection from the sun or come early to beat the heat, and wear comfy footwear since a round-trip around the stadium could take hours. But no worries should you forget any of these items. The vendors will have them - for cheap.

North Shore drive - The journey is just as important as the destination. The trip over mostly a two-lane road on the Windward side provides some of the Island's most spectacular ocean and mountain views.

Stop at a number of gorgeous beaches, the shrimp trucks of Kahuku and roadside fruit stands. The North Shore itself boasts some of the best surfing locations in the world. No North Shore trip would be complete without a visit to historic Haleiwa town's quaint restaurants and stores, and the world-famous shave ice of competitors Matsumoto's and Aoki's.

Luaus - Polynesian song and dance, mai tais, fire dances and a dinner feast featuring Hawaiian staples kalua pig, lomi lomi salmon, haupia and poi combine to make up the luau experience.

Two of the most popular on Oahu, Germaine's and Paradise Cove, can be found on the Leeward side, where it rarely rains and where masterful sunsets are a daily occurrence. Those who prefer to stay within the comforts of Waikiki can choose between the luaus of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel.

Sea Life Park, located on the southeastern edge of the Island, offers a luau in addition to its marine life attractions. Further up the coast is the Polynesian Cultural Center, which offers the feast as one of its attractions.

Polynesian Cultural Center - This popular North Shore attraction offers a full day of activities. Learn about the cultures, traditions and lifestyles of the seven Polynesian island nations of Fiji, Tahiti, Samoa, New Zealand, Tonga, Marquesas and Hawai'i through dance performances, arts and crafts and demonstrations.

The center features river canoe rides, an IMAX theater and a tram tour of nearby Laie town, home to the first Mormon temple built outside the continental United States. Watch the Pageant of Long Canoes, which features traditional costumes and performances on platforms floating in the park's lagoon. Cap the day with a luau and a Polynesian revue featuring more than 100 performers, one of the largest shows in Hawai'i.

Diamond Head - The world's most famous volcanic crater was named in the 1800s by British sailors who mistook the glimmering calcite crystal in the lava rock for diamonds.

Once a U.S. defense fort, the crater now serves one of the most recognizable landmarks in the Islands, equally famous for its paved hiking trail as it is for simply standing majestically beside Waikiki's skyline.

Dormant for more than 150,000 years, the crater measures 3,520 feet in diameter and has a 760-foot summit. Its trail is 1.75 miles to the rim and includes two sets of stairs, an unlit 225-foot tunnel and unparalleled views of Oahu.

Pearl Harbor - The surprise attack by Japanese Imperial Forces on the naval base led the United States into World War II. A number of somber tours pay tribute to the more than 1,100 U.S. servicemen who died on Dec. 7, 1941, the "date which will live in infamy." The visitor center offers an on-site museum, historic film footage of the attack and a shuttle ferry to the Arizona Memorial, which spans over the sunken USS Arizona battleship.

The USS Missouri, or the "Mighty Mo," is the battleship on which the Japanese signed surrender papers that ended World War II. It now serves as a museum.

Kualoa Ranch - The 4,000-acre working cattle ranch has gone Hollywood. Thanks to its lovely backdrop, several big-budget productions have filmed at the location over the years, including movies "Jurassic Park," "Godzilla," "Tears of the Sun," and "50 First Dates," and TV series "Lost" and "Magnum P.I."

The ranch's many adventures include pony and horseback tours, all-terrain vehicle rides, jungle expeditions and a movie sites and ranch tour.

Byodo-In Temple - This replica of a 900-year-old Buddhist Temple in Japan sits at the base of the Ko'olau Mountains, one of the most peaceful locations in the Island.

Built in 1960, the temple features a 9-foot Lotus Buddha, a 2-acre koi pond, traditional Japanese landscaping and a three-ton, brass Peace Bell.

Dole Plantation - The pineapple, one of the staple foods responsible for Hawai'i's growth in the 19th and 20th centuries, is the running theme for this favorite attraction.

Ride the Pineapple Express train, take the Plantation Garden tour and get lost in the Pineapple Garden Maze, whose 1.7 miles of paths make it the largest maze in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Atlantis Submarine - Submerge to a depth of 100 feet and get acquainted with Hawai'i's tropical fish, turtles and coral reefs, as well as sunken ships and airplanes.

The submarines are state-of-the-art and offer comfortable seating and large view ports.

Pacific Aviation Museum - The Pacific Aviation Museum, one of Oahu's newest attractions, is the only museum dedicated to telling the history of military aviation in the Pacific.

The first phase of the museum opened at Pearl Harbor's Ford Island last year on the 65th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Visitors begin their tour in Hangar 37, a former seaplane hangar that survived the Dec. 7, 1941, attack, and then are taken by trolley to Ford Island.

The first phase focuses on World War II, and future phases will delve into the Korean War, Vietnam War and Cold War.

Among the museum's current exhibits are actual aircraft from World War II, including an authentic Japanese Zero, a U.S. Army Corps B-25 Mitchell bomber, a Grumman Wildcat and the actual 1942 Stearman Biplane in which President George H.W. Bush learned to fly and took his first solo flight.

The planes help tell the stories of Pearl Harbor, the Doolittle Raid on Japan, the battles of Midway and Guadalcanal and more. The museum focuses not only on the achievements of those who flew, but tells a complete picture of aviation in the Pacific by relating little-known stories of behind-the-scenes heroes.

The museum is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, and is located at 319 Lexington Blvd. For more information, call 441-1000 or visit www.pacificaviationmuseum.org.