In some parts of Oahu you'd hardly bat an eyelid if you spotted the long neck of a brontosaurus arching through the tree canopy. This island does timeless landscapes like nowhere else and it's no surprise that both Jurassic Park and the hit TV series Lost were filmed here. Yet Oahu also does fantastic beaches and modern-day glamour, with Honolulu and Waikiki serving up top-class restaurants, shopping and night-life. Having the best of both worlds is what holidays to Oahu, Hawaii are all about.
Just how you like your beach on Oahu is up to you. Impossibly beautiful sandy stretches ring the island, and you can either seek out some solitude or join the party at Waikiki. Swimming in calm cobalt waters with the fantastic spectacle of the island rising up behind the beach is very much the order of the day, and the sun shines all year round. But hit the North Shore in winter, when this particular part of the coast  is transformed, and the ocean will be awash with surfers battling monster waves.
Oahu's size means it's very easy to get around - which is just as well, since there's so much to fit in. The snorkelling is sublime, with Hanauma Bay being one of the best spots to strap on a mask and see dazzling Technicolour marine life. Hawaiian history is on show at the fascinating Polynesian Cultural Centre, the Pearl Harbour memorial, and the ruined temple hidden away in Waimea Valley. Plus there's sublime views to be had everywhere - especially if you hike some trails.
The food and night-life aren't half bad either on holidays to Oahu, and whether you're hitting the club scene in Honolulu, or savouring succulent seafood at a beachside restaurant on the North Shore, you'll be living the Hawaiian dream.
Just how you like your beach on Oahu is up to you. Impossibly beautiful sandy stretches ring the island, and you can either seek out some solitude or join the party at Waikiki. Swimming in calm cobalt waters with the fantastic spectacle of the island rising up behind the beach is very much the order of the day, and the sun shines all year round. But hit the North Shore in winter, when this particular part of the coast  is transformed, and the ocean will be awash with surfers battling monster waves.
Oahu's size means it's very easy to get around - which is just as well, since there's so much to fit in. The snorkelling is sublime, with Hanauma Bay being one of the best spots to strap on a mask and see dazzling Technicolour marine life. Hawaiian history is on show at the fascinating Polynesian Cultural Centre, the Pearl Harbour memorial, and the ruined temple hidden away in Waimea Valley. Plus there's sublime views to be had everywhere - especially if you hike some trails.
The food and night-life aren't half bad either on holidays to Oahu, and whether you're hitting the club scene in Honolulu, or savouring succulent seafood at a beachside restaurant on the North Shore, you'll be living the Hawaiian dream.
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