- State: Hawaii, pacific island
- Square: 222 km2
- Population: 905,000 people
- Timezone: GMT - 10 hours, from Moscow - 14 hours
- Telephone code: 808
- Average temperature: summer 31°С, winter 27°С
- The airport:
- international Airport Honolulu
Address: 300 Rodgers Boulevard No 4, Honolulu, Hawaii (HI), 96819-1897, USA
general information
Oahu is fantastic beautiful island- golden beaches and turquoise lagoons, green hills and flowering gardens, pineapple plantations and fertile meadows, stunning coral reefs and a great variety of exotic plants, colorful tropical birds and fish. There are about 50 beaches on the island, many of them suitable for water sports, especially surfing.Spacious, fairly wide beaches, picturesque landscapes, memorable sunsets, colorful sunrises - all this you can see in the northern coast and the central part of Oahu. In the summer months, a calm and measured pace of life prevails here. The North Coast comes alive in winter when windsurfers flock to Sunset Beach & Banzai Pineline and get bustling with windsurfing and bikini competitions.
South Oahu is an industrial paradise for divers. Scarcity coral world is replaced by the impressions of excellent expeditions on scuttled ships - the visibility here is excellent. In addition, all dive points are very easy to get to.
Oahu is the most populous island in Hawaii. Here is the capital of the state and the largest city of the archipelago - the city of Honolulu.
The main part of the island's territory is the slopes of two extinct volcanoes Waianae and Koolau. To the south is Pearl Harbor, the famous US Navy base.
Honolulu stretches along the coast of the ocean. Here, next to the skyscrapers, is located white sand beach Waikiki is one of the most prestigious in the world. Nearby are world-famous hotels and the crater of the Diamond Head volcano, from the top of which a magnificent panorama of the city opens.
The symbol of the city and, until recently, the tallest building in Hawaii is the "Wishing Tower" or "Aloha Tower". The word "Aloha" is also a kind of symbol of the islands. In Hawaiian, it has many meanings: "hello", "goodbye", "welcome", "I love you". It has a word and a philosophical meaning - life in harmony, the exchange of positive emotions.
In the central part of the city is the former residence of the king - magnificent palace Iolani with luxuriously decorated interiors. The design of the Hawaii State Capitol reflects the features of the nature of the archipelago: the dome is in the form of a volcano crater, the columns are in the form of palm trees. In this building during the ceremony on August 12, 1898. Hawaii officially became a US state. In modern times, the Capitol is often used as a set for filming..
The Windward Coast area is teeming with peddlers and roadside restaurants catering to customers in cars.
In the north of the island is Wainea Beach Park, where locals jumping off a high cliff into the sea.
Climate
The climate is tropical, maritime. It's warm and sunny here all year round. The difference between winter and summer average air temperatures on the island does not exceed four to eight degrees. The air temperature fluctuates between +29 - +32°C in summer and +18 - +21°C in winter. Most of the precipitation occurs during the winter months.The hurricane season in the Hawaiian Islands lasts approximately from June to November, when hurricanes and tropical storms are most likely in the northern part Pacific Ocean. Hawaii is protected by the vastness of the Pacific Ocean from the direct impact of hurricanes, as the hurricane loses its destructive power if it moves north, encountering colder waters.
Average annual air temperature:
Geography
The island of Oahu, together with the adjacent small islands, covers an area of 1545 km2. The longest river of the archipelago, the Kaukonahua, flows through the island.How to get there
Honolulu International Airport is located 15 km from Waikiki.Attractions
Iolani Palace - the former residence of the Hawaiian kings and the only Royal Palace within the US. This is a fabulously beautiful palace, which presents a rich collection of inlaid furniture.The Polynesian Cultural Center is one of the most interesting places on the island. Here you can get acquainted not only with the culture and traditions of the Hawaiian Islands, but also with many other parts of Polynesia - the islands of Tahiti, Samoa, the kingdom of Tonga in New Zealand. Each region has its own pavilion. Captivating shows in national color are held here almost every hour - national costumes, musical instruments, incendiary dances. And most importantly, tourists are also involved in what is happening: weaving wreaths, learning to dance local dances, open a coconut, climb trees.
Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial. Pearl Harbor is a naval base where on October 7, 1941, most of the US Pacific Fleet was destroyed in one day by Japanese aircraft. Thus began the Second World War. On this day, the ship Arizona was lost, on board of which there were more than 3,000 people. He is still at the bottom. Now, the Arizona Memorial rises above the sunken hull. The memorial is a concrete structure with a transparent bottom. Its visitors can see the remains of the ship through the water column.
Valley of the Temples - Valley of the Temples. This is one of the most picturesque places on the island. The Valley of the Temples, spread out against the backdrop of high cliffs, is decorated with traditional Japanese gardens with a tea house and ponds with goldfish. On the territory of the ancient burial place, surrounded by tropical gardens, with a three-ton copper bell, the beautiful Buddhist temple Byodo-In Temple stands serenely. Inside the temple is a 3-meter Buddha statue, and outside you can see a 3-ton copper Peace Bell. The temple is open to the public from sunrise to sunset.
Waikiki Aquarium. The aquarium, located on the ocean, owns a world famous collection of tropical fish. Exhibitions, programs and research focus on the fauna and flora of the tropical Pacific. There are more than 2500 inhabitants of the deep sea. The aquarium is especially interesting for visitors because it gives the opportunity to see all the beauty aquatic life very close - a real coral reef with live corals, brightly colored fish, jellyfish and even reef sharks.
Bishop Museum. The museum was originally opened as an exhibition of an impressive collection of Hawaiian art and relics of the royal family, which belonged to the princess, the last member of the Kamehameha royal family, in whose memory the museum was founded. Since then, the collection has grown exponentially: it features exhibits from various Pacific islands. The Bishop Museum has the largest collection of Hawaiian and Polynesian antiquities in the world.
Aloha Tower - Aloha Tower - this tower was once the most tall building on the islands, its height is 56 meters plus a 12-meter spire. Now it is surrounded by one of the best shopping areas of the city - Aloha Tower Market.
Hanauma Bay is the main attraction of the Windward Coast. The bay is bisected by a beautiful coral reef and is a real paradise for diving enthusiasts. Numerous species of fish live here, painted in all sorts of tropical bright colors. The bay is part of regional park Coco Head.
For kids
The park« sea world» with more than 2,000 species of fish in a giant aquarium and dolphinarium.
Sport
Swimming -Kailua Beach Park, Ala Moana, and Kualoa Point, Waimanalo Bay.
Surfing - Sunset Beach, Banzai Pipeline, Makaha Beach, Kualoa Point, Diamond Head Beach, Laie Bay, Mokuleia Beach Park, DeRussy Beach, Backyards, Fort.
Tennis - Ala Moana Beach Park, Diamond Head Beach, Turtle Bay Resort, Kapiolani Park.
5 municipal golf courses - Ala Wai Golf Course, Pali Golf Course, Ted Makalena Golf Course, West Loch Golf Course, Ewa Villages Golf Course.
Kayaking along the river, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking are also common.
Oahu (area 1538 sq. km) is the most populous, most developed and best known of the Hawaiian Islands. Almost 80% of the state's population lives here, with more than half of them in the city of Honolulu. The island itself is a combination of two diagonal mountain ranges(Waianae and Coolau) with many old volcanic cones and two fairly wide coastal plains. The lee coast, with its new residential areas, sports fields and amusement park, is a fairly young resort area, while the windward coast in the east is considered the most populous place in the archipelago, and the northern coast has long been known as a real mecca of surfing.
The capital, largest city and most populous place - the city lies on the southeast coast of the island of Oahu, between mountains, a small bay and a cone of ancient extinct volcano.
Attractions Oahu
Near Waimea Bay(Waimea) on the north coast can be found ruin ancient temple Puomahuka Heiau(Pu "u o Mahuka Heiau), and very close to the center of Honolulu is a 1400-acre ancient building Molia(it is believed that this is a kind of artificial fish tank). West of Pearl Harbor is a historic village Hawaii Plantation Village, founded in the 19th century, during the "sugar boom", and today inhabited by representatives of a wide variety of cultures. To the south-west of the village stretches a short (10.5 km) branch of the restored railway the first half of the 20th century, along which a diesel locomotive still carries tourists between Eva and Nanakuli. And above, dozens of picturesque waterfalls beat from the slopes of the mountains, the most majestic of which is considered Manoa.
In the southeastern part of Oahu lies a stunningly beautiful gulf of hanauma(Hanauma), part of the Coco Head Regional Park. The bay is bisected by a beautiful coral reef and is teeming with marine life, making it a popular diving and snorkeling destination. Less than 2 km north of the bay begins a strip of one of the best surfing beaches of the island - sandy beach known for both its waves and strong currents. November to February huge waves(some up to 15 meters high) fall on everything north coast Oahu that turns the area from Sandy Beach to Sunset Beach, Banzai Pipeline, Ehukai Beach and Waimea to the real places of pilgrimage for "wave catchers". And in the Waimea region, among other things, there is also a broken nature Park protecting the waterfalls of the same name.
The arid western part of Oahu is called Waianae Coast(Waianae). One of most popular places here is a wide crescent white sand beach Makaha Beach, famous for its seclusion, excellent conditions for surfing in winter and diving in summer (the famous caves of the same name are located in the underwater part of the beach). To the east, in the Makaha valley, you can find a Polynesian kaneaki temple, built in honor of the god of fertility Lono in the middle of the XVI century. Unlike many stone temples like it, which were dismantled with the collapse of the Hawaiian kingdom, Kaneaki, built of basalt slabs, survived in almost its original form, and underwent a thorough reconstruction in the mid-1960s.
Also noteworthy is the old coffee plantation. Vaialua(Waialua) with a small museum, Oahu's third largest city - Kailua(Kailua) with his old stone Ulupo-Kheiau temple("sacrificial temple"), the beautiful shores of Kailua Beach, nearby Popoia island bird sanctuary, lying just north of the town Kaneohe with his luxurious botanical garden Hoomaluhia Park and Valley of the Temples(there are several shrines and cemeteries of Asian religions).
On the north windward coast lies the city Laie(Laie) - the center of the Mormon community of Hawaii with its majestic temple (1919, an almost exact, albeit reduced, copy of the main temple in Salt Lake City) and a branch of Brigham Young University.
Oahu beaches
Outside of Honolulu stretches a whole series of first-class beaches, whose appearance is replicated in thousands of posters and postcards. The ocean surf at Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach and Makaha has long been legendary, but Makapuu Beach, Waimea Bay, Kailua Bay, Hanauma Bay and Tri-Table and Sharks Cove, popular with divers, are no less good.
Waikiki – main resort island of Oahu, with the beach of the same name. This is one of the best places to surf in Hawaii; schools are located here aquatic species sports and equipment rentals. Also at the service of tourists are numerous bars, restaurants, playgrounds for children, as well as areas for beach volleyball and football. The length of the beach is one and a half miles; The coast is divided into several sections by pedestrian zones. Waikiki is surrounded by a dense wall of hotels and high rises. hotel complexes; some reach 40 floors.
Beach Sunset, stretching for two miles, is located in the north of Oahu. Sunset is one of the island's most popular beaches; especially crowded here during the summer months. On the beach you can rent snorkeling equipment.
Located in southeast Oahu picturesque beach Lanikai with fine white sand - one of the best on the island. The beach is perfect for families with small children; the waters are calm and there are practically no waves. There are rental points for beach equipment, boats and catamarans. Local guides organize excursions to two small islands where you can watch birds. There is a residential area off the coast where tourists can rent an apartment or a house.
Beach Waimanalo stretched for 4 miles. There are quite large waves and strong undercurrents, so the beach is suitable for experienced swimmers and lovers of boogie boarding. There is no infrastructure on the coast, but lifeguards are working.
Beach Malaekahana located in the north of Oahu; length is 1 mile. The beach is especially popular on weekdays. Due to the gentle entrance and calm waters, it is suitable for bathing small children.
Welcome to the island of Oahu, which can be described with a single word - abundance. On no other island of the Hawaiian archipelago is it possible to find such a variety of animals and plants as here. And so it is no accident that Oahu is called the “meeting place”: a place without equal, where completely different cultural traditions intermingle. Oahu has many faces as this island is the most populated island in Hawaii. Here urban and provincial life coexist side by side and can offer visitors and residents only the best.
Visit Oahu's world-famous beaches for a wide variety of activities, then head out to secluded, pristine clean beaches with waterfalls, magnificent vegetation and mountain trails. Go snorkeling at the famous Hanauma Bay, swim with the dolphins or go deep sea fishing. Take a few golf lessons, surf on Waikiki Beach, where the "sport of kings" originated, or climb Diamond Head Mountain to enjoy the island's stunning, world-famous scenery.
On pleasantly cool evenings, you can cruise along south coast to sample local cocktails; or dine at any of Honolulu's finest five-star restaurants; or take part in a luau - a traditional Hawaiian feast accompanied by music, dancing and singing; or simply enjoy one of the many events on offer - from local chamber musical performances to Broadway entertainment shows. Whatever you want, Oahu can offer it to you. Oahu is the political and economic center of the state with its capital Honolulu and a population of approximately 900,000 inhabitants.
Geography and climate
The area of the island of Oahu is 1,545.3 km2, and the length coastline- 180 km. The island of Oahu, located just below the Tropic of Cancer, is located almost 4,000 km west of San Francisco (USA, California) and is the most remote place on the ground. This island is the third largest of the eight main islands of the Hawaiian archipelago, but the first in terms of population - 75% of the total population of the state lives here.
The average annual temperature on the island ranges between 20-29.4 C. The winter months (November to April) are slightly colder with more rain. The trade winds maintain a pleasantly comfortable temperature on the island. Tourists cannot but enjoy the warm coastal waters with average temperature 24.4-24.5 C.
Oahu has two major mountain range- Mount Coolau, stretching along the northeastern side of the island and Mount Waianae, located in the west.
Beaches
Among the things that attract vacationers to the island, one can name, first of all, the beaches, of which there are a myriad of in Hawaii. You can choose from 139 Oahu beaches, each with its own unique flavor. Whether you're into surfing, windsurfing, boogie boarding or snorkelling, you'll find something to love on Ohau. The world-famous North Shore of Oahu has beaches that attract people from all over the world. The Banzai Pipeline and Sunset Beach attract surfers from all over the world during the winter months. Stunning Waimea Bay reflects Oahu's two-faced nature - the beach's coastal waters can be as calm as a paddling pool in the summer, but waves 6-12m high can hit in the winter.
Waikiki
At about 2.5 km long, Waikiki Beach is undoubtedly the most famous beach in the Hawaiian Islands. You can stroll through the bustling streets of Waikiki, which has everything from fresh sushi and surf lessons to first-class dining, glamorous nightlife and world-class shopping spots. Enjoy a performance by an Elvis Presley lookalike or learn how to dance the traditional Hawaiian hula dance. Art lovers can find a lot to see, from hand-carved koa woodware and Hawaiian family decorations at the International Market, to giant bronze statues and historic architecture in suburban Honolulu.
Diamond Head
most famous mountain that can be seen from anywhere on Waikiki Beach is Diamond Head - an extinct 231-meter volcano that attracts hundreds of tourists daily. You can climb the already paved path or make your own way to the top. The reward for such a climb is an indescribable and unforgettable 360-degree view of the island.
Purchases
Oahu has more shops and restaurants than all the other islands combined. From the upscale malls of Ala Moana and Royal Hawaii to the less pretentious International Market, where you can find arts and crafts from all over the Pacific Rim, their variety is astonishing, making Oahu a shopper's paradise. From affordable souvenirs to unique pieces of island art, visitors have no problem finding gifts for friends and unique Hawaiian souvenirs. Visit the town of Haleiwa on the northern coast of the island and enjoy shopping in fashion boutiques and local shops.
Surfing
What better place on Earth to practice surfing than where this "sport of kings" originated - in Hawaii? The ancient inhabitants of the Hawaiian Islands used long, heavy boards made from a single piece of wood for surfing, but after the arrival of Europeans, this sport almost disappeared. The famed "father of surfing" Olympic medalist Duke Kahanamoku of Hawaii became a symbol of the islanders' love of surfing and contributed to its worldwide spread in the 1920s. The culture of surfing, started by Duke and other prominent surfers from the Beach Boys, proved to be all-conquering and remains so to this day.
The North Shore is a mecca for experienced surfers looking to test their limits. It's all about the winter waves, unrealistically long, which attract thousands of thrill-seekers every year. Come to the North Shore in November or December for the famous Triple Crown of Surfing competition held on Banzai Pipeline Beach. And for those who prefer less intimidating waves, the best choice will be the beaches of Waikiki, Ala Moana and Diamond Head.
Bodyboarders love a place called Sandys, but this place is not for beginners. Wind and kitesurfers prefer Kailua Beach on the less windy side of the island for its breezes.
Pearl Harbor
The whole world remembers that tragic day in 1941, when a Japanese fighter plane dropped bombs on the Pearl Harbor military base, which led to the tragic death of many American soldiers. Pearl Harbor, being the most haunted place on Oahu, pays tribute to all those who lost their lives that day. Take a tour on the USS Arizona Memorial to honor the memory of the more than 1,100 American soldiers who fought and were killed. Visit the USS Missouri, the ship on which Japan signed the Instrument of Surrender, or the Bowfin, one of 15 surviving WWII submarines.
Why Oahu is unique place?
Oahu is an island that everyone can enjoy. Honolulu, the eleventh largest city in the United States and the only Big City state, can provide the widest range of possibilities - from the simplest to the most sophisticated. Whichever location you choose on Oahu, you can be sure that it will come with spectacular beauty, tropical vistas, and a mix of cultures. Here you can find a large number of attractive historical and cultural centers that are unmatched.
Visit Oahu for a unique combination of holidays on sandy beaches, surfing, art and culture. Whether you're exploring Iolani Palace, the country's only royal palace, enjoying dim sum in Chinatown, taking a catamaran trip from Diamond Head, or taking a romantic beach trip under the stars, Oahu will be your source of unique and unforgettable experiences. Choosing Oahu as your holiday destination will not only meet your wildest expectations, but it will also cost you less than the rest of the islands.
Information
In 2015 Honolulu had 240.00 passengers. There are 2 cruise ship moorings in the capital of Hawaii:
- cruise terminal Pier 11, known as Aloha Tower is located almost in the center of Honolulu. The most popular Waikiki Beach is 5 km away.
- Pier 2 located even closer to Waikiki.
On the most visited island of Hawaii, Oahu, there are many different attractions for every taste. During the parking of the liner, it is difficult to have time to inspect everything. Therefore, we recommend that you familiarize yourself with and interesting places islands and decide what interests you the most.
Main attractions:
The city of Honolulu itself. It is considered to be one of the best cities in the world. Quite compact.
Lots of bass tourists drive around Honolulu different companies. For example, Waikiki Trolley. The ticket price in the center is $18, to the Diamond Head caldera - $30. To be honest, we don't recommend it. The city center is only 5 km long from the pier. It is better to walk to Waikiki Beach on foot. There are many interesting buildings along the way. Many coastal hotels have a green and picturesque area. Free admission.
Video of Waikiki from above
Bus number 23 runs to Diamond Head. The fare is $2.5. Please note that you will have to walk up to the observation deck for about 30 minutes. In the heat, this walk is not for everyone.
There is a zoo at the end of Waikiki Beach. The ticket costs $14. Nearby on the shore is a small aquarium. Entrance - 12$
Memorial complex Pearl Harbor (Pearl Harbor). The most important place of worship for Americans in memory of World War II. On the territory of the complex there are separate museums:
- Memorial to the sunken battleship Arizona.
- battleship Missouri. Was built in 1944.
- submarine "Bowfin" 1942 the buildings.
- aviation museum. A total of 43 aircraft, including the Soviet MIG-15 and MIG-21.
Entrance to the complex itself is free, but a ticket to all museums costs $63. You can choose to visit.
Video review of Pearl Harbor
From the cruise pier to Pearl Harbor can be reached by bus number 20,42,62 in 45 minutes. The ticket costs $2.5. The memorial is more interesting for lovers of history and technology.
- ethnographic center Polynesian Cultural Center, where 6 cultures of the peoples of Polynesia are represented. Very interesting place. It is located 50 km from the cruise pier in the northeast of the island. In an hour and a half you can take bus number 55 ($ 2.5) along the picturesque coast. If parking time permits, we recommend getting a ticket with the evening show and the Admission and Show w/ Free Dinner for $70. It runs from 7 to 9 pm.
- marine animal park Sea Life Park. The ticket costs $30. You can get there by buses number 22,23 from Waikiki Beach in 45 minutes.
- Buddhist temple Byodo-In Temple.
- Dole pineapple plantation. Feel free to skip, nothing interesting.
Excursions cruise lines on Oahu, as usual, dear ones. Cost on the example of the company Princesses.
There are over 100 beaches on the island. The most beautiful are on the east coast. The beaches are divided into 2 categories - for swimming and for surfing. More about them.
All beaches are free except Hanauma Bay. Entrance $7.5. According to many cruisers, the beach in the photos looks better than it actually is. Snorkeling is quite mediocre, a lot of people, not everywhere a good entrance to the sea.
The most famous beach of course is Waikiki Beach in the center of Honolulu. Protective piers do not allow waves to fall on the shore. There are changing rooms and toilets on the beach. Umbrellas and deck chairs are expensive. All vacationers are located on towels or mats.
When traveling to the north of the island east coast beach order, noteworthy, starting from Hanauma Bay, the following:
- Sandy Beach. Beach for surfers with big waves.
- Makapu Beach. With big and treacherous waves - be careful.
- Waimanalo Beach is 9 km long.
- Lanikai Beach - 1st place among US beaches in 2014. according to Tripadvisor.
- Kailua Beach. Continuation of Lanikai Beach.
- beach at Kahana Bay. Secluded, small, with beautiful mountains around.
In the north of Oahu, the beaches are not so picturesque, but there is a romantic atmosphere of surfing. We recommend to visit there. On the way, you can have a bite to eat in roadside cafe-vans, where shrimp are a specialty. The cost of lunch is from 8 to 14$.
In the northwest, Waimea Bay beach is interesting.
On the island good roads and developed bus service. Using Google maps, you can calculate the route to anywhere on the island by public transport.
Amateur companies organized excursions can order private tour around the island from local Russian-speaking travel agencies Marina Hawaii Travel, Russia Hawaii Tours or HIKCI.
We go, we look ... We have been to many megacities. To be honest, Honolulu is the most tropical city, it is just immersed in greenery! After some time, we ended up in the Waikiki area, where we had to take another bus from the same company to get to Diamond Head.
And the beach is lit up! Well, how good is it! It's so great that there is an opportunity to quickly get to the beach while waiting for the next bus. Warm water!!! I didn’t want any negativity on this magical island at all, and therefore they decided to refuse to visit Pearl Harbor. Although perhaps it is also worth attention, after all, the story. We decided to spend the saved time after the tour here, on this wonderful beach.
Our bus came up and we go further, admire the most beautiful view to the island. On the way to the crater we passed beautiful park Queen Kapi "olani Park, where many people like to relax. Opposite this park is one of the oldest aquariums in the United States, founded back in 1904. The guide stopped the bus at another beautiful view point overlooking the ocean.
Finally we arrived at the foot of the crater of the extinct Diamond Head volcano. The bus dropped us off by the road and then we had to walk to the park itself, where the ascent to the observation deck begins. I had to walk for 15 minutes in the heat... Then through the tunnel through the walls of the crater, where it is very pleasant in the shade after such heat. Entrance to the park is paid - they take $ 5 for a car to the parking lot, $ 1 per person. Only in cash (CASH ONLY).
This is where good physical shape is required. The path is designed for 2 hours up the mountain to the top and back. We "took off" in half an hour (specially noted the time), and under the bright tropical sun. People are walking at different paces, some are faster, and some are resting and relaxing. All around you can only hear: "After that I want only beach!"
Well, here we are at the top. Wow, how long have we walked! As a reward for such a journey, a panorama of the fabulous coast opens up. This climb is definitely worth the climb. The spirit is captivating! But only if you're in good shape!
Many people know that Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing. The biggest waves on Oahu are on the north shore in November or December. There, on Banzai Pipeline Beach, they hold the world-famous Triple Crown of Surfing surfing competition, which is attended by the best surfers in the world. Imagine, the waves in winter reach 6, and sometimes even 12 meters! An impressive sight. You can see. In general, the coolest waves called "Jaws" 18m high (!!!) are on the island of Maui.
After climbing Diamond Head, we boarded the bus again to return back. On the way we passed another interesting place on the island - the zoo. Due to lack of time, we didn’t go, and later I fully admired the animals at the Sydney Zoo.
After lunch on the ship, we decided to return to the enchanting Waikiki beach. In fact, there are as many as 139 beaches on Oahu, and they are all luxurious. We went to Waikiki, because there are still many different shops around, small and large shopping centers, where we also wanted to walk around. And besides, you don’t need to pay anything extra for the fare, because the same bus goes there, for which we already had tickets for the whole day.
This is such a nice beach that made us happy. There are many hotels around with tourists from all over the world. A lot of Japanese. The sun is gentle, the water is warm, warm, artificial breakwaters "calm" them and even children can swim. And on the horizon are dozens of surfers, which are very interesting to watch. It's mesmerizing.
Marik and I had a great time! We were there almost until sunset, did not want to go anywhere. And life on Waikiki can be filmed endlessly!
After the beach, we walked around the nearest shops. WITH shopping center overlooking one of the most beautiful hotels Royal Hawaiian 5 *, opened as early as February 1, 1927.
In the meantime, it got dark and gas torches began to light around. Very Hawaiian
Well, now it's time to return home to our ship. Had a great time! And this hand gesture, the famous sign “shaka, brah!”, means “relax” and says that Hawaii is not the place where you need to worry and strain, it says that everything is fine! As I already wrote, “aloha” here means love, greeting, farewell, affection, wishes, tenderness, and the “shaka” gesture also expresses all this. We can see that everything is just fine in Hawaii!
Hawaii is the most remote inhabited place on Earth after Easter Island. The archipelago is located in the Central Pacific Ocean, 3850 km from California and 6195 km from Japan. Oahu is the third largest and most populated island in the Hawaiian archipelago. On the southeast coast of the island is the capital of the state of Hawaii, the city of Honolulu.
For Europeans, the islands were discovered by the English captain James Cook in 1778, who named them the Sandwich Islands. In the same place in Hawaii in Kealakekua Bay in 1779, Cook died at the hands (or spears) of the natives.
1. Pearl Harbor is the name of the harbor, most of which is occupied by the central base Pacific Fleet US naval forces.
In 1875, the United States and the Kingdom of Hawaii entered into a cooperation agreement, under which the US Navy received access to the harbor of Pearl Harbor in exchange for special conditions for the import of Hawaiian sugar into the United States. Later, following the results of the Spanish-American War of 1898, the United States finally captured Hawaii. After the annexation, the harbor was expanded, which made it possible to receive more ships.
2. Deck of the battleship Missouri.
The attack on Pearl Harbor triggered the US entry into World War II. That's what they say in textbooks. On the morning of December 7, aircraft from Japanese aircraft carriers attacked airfields on the island of Oahu and ships anchored in the harbor.
On September 2, 1945, the Japanese Surrender Act was signed aboard the battleship Missouri, ending World War II.
During the Japanese strikes, 4 battleships, 2 destroyers and a mine layer were sunk. Another 4 battleships, 3 light cruisers and 1 destroyer were seriously damaged. American aviation losses amounted to 188 aircraft destroyed, another 159 were heavily damaged. The Americans lost 2403 people killed (of which more than 1000 died aboard the exploded battleship Arizona, which is in the photo) and 1178 wounded. The Japanese lost 29 aircraft - 15 dive bombers, 5 torpedo bombers and 9 fighters. 5 midget submarines were sunk. Losses in people amounted to 55 people.
3. Self-propelled sea-based X-band surface radar installation designed for operations in the open ocean to identify enemy warheads and high-precision tracking of them.
4. On August 21, 1959, Hawaii received the status of a US state, the 50th in a row. In the same year, the official nickname "Aloha State" (the state of hospitality) was assigned to Hawaii.
The iconic Waikiki Beach in downtown Honolulu is visited daily by more than 70,000 people, accounting for 44% of the state's total visitors.
5. About a million people live on Oahu, which is approximately 75% of the population of the entire state of Hawaii.
7. Eh, I would go there at night with a camera and flashlights...
8. Training military base on the territory of the former airfield in Waimanalo. You can enlarge the photo and search for people.
Enlarge Image
9. Honolulu International Airport is the most important transportation hub of the North Pacific Ocean, through which there are routes connecting the United States and Canada with East Asia, Philippines, Australia and New Zealand.
10. Runway 4R/22L.
11. Wheeler Air Force Base.
12. Kaneohe Bay Marine Corps Base.
13. Container terminal on Sand Island.
14. Tourists admire the panorama of Honolulu from observation deck on the crater of Coco volcano.
15. And these are the famous pineapple plantations of the island. In the 1960s, 80% of the world's sold pineapples were grown in Hawaii. Today, however, only 2% of all world pineapples are produced here, which is about 320,000 tons of pineapples per year.
16. The process of harvesting.
17. Labyrinth at the Dole Pineapple Plantation. In 2001, it was listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the largest in the world.
18. Bizarre forms of coral reefs.
24. Brave surfer.
28. Lanai Observation Deck. It is said that there are excellent views of the ocean from there.
29. Ganauma Bay Nature Reserve with a great beach, huge turtles, paid admission and a mandatory viewing of a 20-minute movie.
33. All Hawaiian Islands arose thanks to volcanic activity. This means that the islands are actually the tops of huge seamounts, formed during the process of the strongest volcanic eruptions. The largest of them - Big Island(Big Island) is more than a kilometer higher than Everest. But the main part of the mountain is under water.
34. Kahana Valley State Park.
35. Tunnels on the H-3 Tetsuo Harano highway.
37. The island was the location of the filming of the famous television series Lost and the movie Jurassic Park.
43. And finally, some fun facts:
The Hawaiian alphabet has only 12 letters.
Hawaii is the only state whose territory is constantly growing (due to volcanic eruptions).
Hawaii is the only US state where white people are in the minority.
Average life expectancy in Hawaii is the longest in the United States: for men it is 75 years, for women - 80 years.
Hawaii has the fewest overweight populations of any US state.
Hawaii is the only state where coffee is grown.
Thank you for your attention!
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