Since ancient times when Hawaii's Island kings used this island as a meeting ground, to this day, Oahu remains a place where people meet and converge. Third largest in the Island chain, Oahu is known as the "Gathering Place". It is home to the majority of Hawaii's diverse population, a fusion of East and West cultures rooted in the values and traditions of the native Hawaiian People.

All of Oahu kindles interest. The city of Honolulu, the center of state government, is a modern metropolis with soaring structures, broad thoroughfares and bright lights. The Koolau Mountains rising behind it form a scenic backdrop for this community of varied textures, intriguing complexities, and uncommon events.

Waikiki is an area of hyperactivity. Its two golden miles are fronted by a world famous white sand beach and the area is filled with hotels, nightclubs, restaurants, souvenir shops, art galleries, designer boutiques and more.

During winter months, you'll find the finest surfing waves in the world breaking on the North Shore. Here, professional surfers from all over the world would test their skills against the graceful and yet very powerful waves at Waimea Bay, the Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and other popular surfing spots.

Windward Oahu faces the trades, enjoying a heavy rainfall that produces magnificent forests and jungles an ocean of variegated greenery. The lightly populated coast is speckled with small bays and picturesque ancient fishponds that provided Hawaiians of earlier days with a ready food supply.

Despite the overall number of residents, population is limited to a series of specific areas that are densely inhabited, leaving a lot more agricultural and underdeveloped countryside than you might expect. Life on this island is both relaxed and exciting.

From the bright lights and pulsating rhythms of Waikiki at night to the serene and tranquil offerings of the countryside, Oahu is a place to be experienced and enjoyed.