Oahu Travelers Recommend

For many visitors, Oahu is Hawaii. Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, Honolulu – all those names we instantly associate with Hawaii are on Oahu. World War Two history is tangibly linked to Oahu and the events that took place at Pearl Harbor. Pay your respects to the crew who died aboard USS Arizona in December 1941 and step aboard USS Missouri to get an idea of shipboard life. Visit the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center to see film footage from 1941, as well as moving artifacts recovered after the attack. The focus is on the aerial battlefield at the Pacific Aviation Museum, with its collection of rare vintage US and Japanese aircraft. Feeling inspired by watching wannabe Kelly Slaters tame Oahu’s monstrous waves? Then why not grab the chance to learn to surf in Oahu? You can have a one-on-one lesson with your instructor, or join a small group of four students. The best beaches to practice your surfing moves are Waikiki, North Shore spots like Puena Point and Cockroach Bay.

Amid Oahu’s legendary beaches, surf breaks and volcano craters lies one of the United States’ most famous pieces of history – Pearl Harbor. While you may be going to Hawaii to soak up the sun and experience the Polynesian culture, you certainly won’t leave without a visit to Pearl Harbor and its surrounding World War II attractions: the USS Arizona, the USS Missouri, the Pacific Aviation Museum and Punchbowl National Cemetery. The tour combinations range in activities and length, so pick your fancy and have a beautiful, history-filled day in Oahu! USS Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor and Punchbowl Sightseeing Tour This five-hour tour gives you skip-the-line access to Pearl Harbor, where you’ll first visit the Visitor Center to explore artifacts from the Japanese attack before boarding a Navy launch boat to the USS Arizona Memorial. The final resting place of the 1,177 crew members who lost their lives on December 7, 1941, the USS Arizona is a sobering place of commemoration.

Every year, over 1.5 million visitors visit the USS Arizona memorial - that’s no small tribute to the memory of the battle of Pearl Harbor. After all, it’s the attack which launched the US into the Second World War, and with so many people visiting the memorial, it pays to do a little research on getting insider tips for visiting. Well look no further, we’ve done the hard work for you. Side Notes: Pearl Harbor is located only a few short miles west of the major metropolis Honolulu and acts as resident home to the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Fleet. When the Japanese attacked that fateful December morning, they caught the base completely off guard, killing 3,500 Americans—1,177 of them onboard the USS Arizona when it exploded and sank. Visiting Pearl Harbor: The most popular destination when visiting Pearl Harbor is to tour the USS Arizona Memorial.