Oʻahu: The Gathering Place

Pearl Harbor National Memorial

This is more than a tourist attraction. It is a place of pilgrimage and reflection. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial is a collection of sites that honor the attack on December 7, 1941, and the lives lost. The experience begins at the Visitor Center. Powerful exhibits and galleries set the stage for the events of that fateful day.

The centerpiece of any visit is the boat shuttle across the harbor to the USS Arizona Memorial. This stark white monument straddles the sunken hull of the battleship. It's the final resting place for 1,177 of its crewmen. It is profoundly moving to stand above the wreckage and see the shimmering sheen of oil—often called "the black tears of the Arizona"—still rising to the surface after more than 80 years.

Diamond Head (Lēʻahi) State Monument

The profile of Diamond Head against the Waikiki skyline is one of Hawaii's most enduring images. This 300,000-year-old volcanic crater, known in Hawaiian as Lēʻahi, offers one of the most rewarding hikes on the island. The trail is a 1.6-mile round trip that climbs to the summit via a series of switchbacks and a final, steep staircase through a military tunnel.

From the top, you are rewarded with an unmatched 360-degree view. It sweeps from the high-rises of Waikiki and the turquoise reef below to the Koʻolau Mountains and the vast Pacific Ocean.

Oahu's spectacular mountain trails offer breathtaking views and unforgettable hiking experiences

The Legendary North Shore

The North Shore of Oahu is a place of legend, but its character is defined by the season. This duality is essential for any visitor to understand.