Oahu is where old meets new. Known as “the gathering place,” this island joins natural wonders with modern luxuries, a storied past with a bright, productive future. This juxtaposition between the indigenous and the urban might be surprising. Hike down a lush mountainside in the Honolulu Mauka Trail System , just minutes away from the cityscape of Hawaii’s major metropolis, Honolulu . Sunbathe all day on the quiet beaches of the Windward Coast then dance all night in Waikiki .
When it comes to outdoor activities on Oahu, surfing reigns supreme. Every year, countless people catch their first waves at Baby Queen’s in Waikiki, while many others perfect their technique on other beaches. The winter months bring mammoth waves to the North Shore and the Leeward Coast’s Makaha Beach , so naturally they also bring surf junkies, roaming the globe in search of the perfect wave. The rest of the island is also not without appeal. Kailua Beach , with its constant breeze, is a windsurfer’s paradise, and on the eastern coast, Sandy Beach and Makapuu are to bodyboarding what the North Shore is to surfing. Oahu is also the site of the only Royal Palace on US soil, Iolani Palace , built by King Kalakuala, and the Aliiolai Hale , which housed the legislature and Supreme Court of the Hawaiian Kingdom. The Polynesian Cultural Center performers dance Tahitian hula and demonstrate Samoan fire-making skills. This centerpiece of the Hawaiian island is also its major tourist destination, but you can hardly blame the hordes who visit.
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For 52 years, we have published the world’s favorite budget travel guides, written entirely by students and updated every year. With pen and notebook in hand and a few changes of underwear stuffed in our backpacks, we spend months roaming the globe in search of travel bargains.
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