Honolulu, Hawaii
For those who love the sophistication of the city but yearn for the pleasures of nature's most abundant beauty, O'ahu is an island to return to again and again. Part of its dramatic appearance lies in its majestic highlands: the western Wai'anae Mountains rise 4,000 ft above sea level, and the verdant Ko'olau Mountains cross the island's midsection at elevations of more than 3,000 ft. Eons of wind and weather erosion have carved these ranges' sculptured, jagged peaks, deep valleys, sheer green cliffs, and dynamic vistas. At the base of these mountains more than 50 beach parks lie draped like a beautiful lei, each known for a different activity, be it snorkeling, surfing, swimming, or sunbathing.
Third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands and covering 608 square mi, O'ahu was formed by two volcanoes that erupted 4 to 6 million years ago. Honolulu, the nation's 11th-largest city, is here, and 75% of Hawai'i's 1.1 million residents call the island home. Somehow, amid all this urban development, you are never more than a glimpse away from a breathtaking ocean or mountain view.
Hawai'i's last kings and queens ruled from 'Iolani Palace in downtown Honolulu. Today, 'Iolani stands as an elegant tribute to Hawai'i's rich history as a kingdom, republic, territory, and state. Even in the days of royalty, the virtues of Waikiki as a vacation destination were recognized. Long processions of ali'i (nobility) made their way across streams and swamps, past the duck ponds, to the coconut groves and the beach.
By the 1880s guest houses were scattered along the south shore like so many seashells. The first hotel, the Moana (now the Sheraton Moana Surfrider), was built at the turn of the 20th century and christened "The First Lady of Waikiki." The Moana's inaugural room rates of $1.50 per night were the talk of the town. In 1927 the "Pink Palace of the Pacific," the Royal Hawaiian Hotel, was built by the Matson Navigation Company to accommodate travelers arriving on luxury liners.
Today, hundreds of thousands of visitors sleep in the more than 33,000 rooms of Waikiki's nearly 160 hotels and condominiums. Waikiki continues to serve as home base for endless possibilities for day trips full of cultural and scenic eco-adventures. Visitors can stroll along a new and improved Kuhio Beach and find wider beach expanses and extensive services, and meander along the historic Waikiki walking trail. With Waikiki leading the way, O'ahu maintains its status as an exciting destination, with more things to see, more places to eat, and more things to do than on all the other Hawaiian Islands combined.