O'ahu, Hawai'i

Often referred to as being the heart of Hawai'i this island contains Pearl Harbor, Honolulu and the famous Waikiki Beach. Yet everything is clean from pristine beaches to the rich luminous blue of the Pacific Ocean.

With temperatures ranging from high 70s to mid 80s throughout the year this is indeed a tropical paradise.

Pearl Harbor

Named for the pearl oysters once harvested there this large natural harbor was home to the US Navy during the Second World War. The visitors' center provides information about the events of December 7, 1941 which drew America into the war. The USS Arizona Memorial was constructed astride the sunken battleship in which 1,177 men lost their lives in the attack.

Surfing

O'ahu is widely recognised as being the birthplace of modern surfing. Duke Kahanamoku, born in 1890, also sheiff of Honolulu put modern surfing on the map. A statue honors him on Waikiki Beach.

Winter surf of 30 to 50 foot waves crash onto the North Shore whilst the South Shore receives the summer surf. Leeward O'ahu also has large, well-formed waves ideal for surfing.