Tourist Destinations World Travel Guides
Oahu is one of the islands in Hawaii and the third largest one after Maui and Big Island. Being the most populous island in Hawaii, Oahu serves as the financial and cultural center of the Hawaiian Islands. It is the main attraction here and home to Hawaii’s capital, Honolulu. Locals and other travelers fondly refer to Oahu as ‘The Gathering Place’ and everything in Hawaii revolves around Oahu. Honolulu city and Waikiki district in general is very busy and has impacted on people’s lives in various ways. Being a large city, the locals and visitors enjoy all the conveniences and amenities associated with a large city. It is also a very lively place and people spend most of their time in exciting cultural events, burying themselves in the bustling nightlife and having fun.
Tourism wise, Oahu has some of the best attractions and tourist facilities. There is a huge variety of lodging and shopping options, good transportation network, tourist establishments like restaurants and numerous attractions ranging from extensive beaches, mountains, parks and recreation areas. The Polynesian Cultural Center is the first stopover for any tourist which is the most famous paid attraction site in Hawaii. 
The center offers an incredible opportunity of experiencing Hawaii’s Culture at its best and definitely the best. Beaching in Oahu is perhaps the most common thing for tourists to do and there is a plethora of beaches. Some of the most visited beaches are such as Kailua Beach Park, Kualoa Regional Park, Kahana Bay Beach Park, Lanikai Beach and Ala Moana Beach Park among others. You can do almost everything in the clear waters of these beaches ranging from swimming to water surfing and so much more. 
Major attractions in Oahu that you must visit include USS Arizona National Memorial, Honolulu Academy of Arts, The Bishop Museum, Lolani Place, Queen Emma’s Summer Palace, and Banzai Pipeline. Garden parks and views are also a great part of attractions here and some of them include the Diamond Head State Park, Round Top Forest Reserve, Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden, Lyon Arboretum, Byodo-in, Waimea Valley Audubon Center and Done Plantation among others. Besides visiting these attractions, there is also so much to do in Oahu as well. At Waikiki, you can try windsurfing, bodyboarding, and surfing.
Most hotels organize diving and snorkeling trips and Oahu is particularly known for wreck diving due to the large number of airplanes and ships that sunk at the island during World War II. Horseback riding is yet another very enjoyable activity and adventurous tourists can also go for hiking expeditions on the island. 
Shopping at Oahu is also a great activity to enjoy and there are shopping malls located all over Oahu and can be accessed easily by bus or car. Some of the best-known shopping malls in Oahu include Ala Moana Center, Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, Waikiki Shopping Plaza, and Kahala Mall among others. Some areas in Oahu especially Nanakuli, downtown, Kalihi, and Pearl City are not very safe as such especially after dark.
