Oahu, Hawaii, Family Vacation

Situated in the Hawaiian Island chain in the Pacific Ocean, Oahu features big-city convenience with beach-front action. No matter their age, kids will be drawn to Waikiki Beach where palm trees sway and waves roll on shore. Older kids will also enjoy the cultural significance of many of the historical sites, and will quickly come to appreciate the balmy weather.

Oahu is a tropical paradise fabulous to visit any time of year. The winter months bring high surf to the islands, perfect for watching surfers. Spring is an ideal time to visit -- the weather's lovely, the water's calmer, and the throngs of people that usually come for summer break haven't yet arrived. Outdoor activities can be enjoyed year-round, and there is plenty of shopping.

Average high and low temperatures are between 70 and 85 degrees year-round. August and September are the hottest months, when temperatures can reach into the low 90s. In December and January, Hawaii's coolest months, the mercury in Honolulu can dip to 70. People who live in Hawaii joke about the weather. It's either sunny/partly cloudy or cloudy/partly sunny. Shorts and T-shirts are sufficient for most days, though a lightweight jacket is a good idea for some activities and cool nights. Most rainfall occurs on the north and northeast-facing shores, leaving Honolulu and the Waikiki area relatively dry. Get more weather info.

The Honolulu Inernational Airport (HNL) is your only choice for flying to Oahu. Airport Waikiki Express offers transportation from the airport to any hotel in Waikiki. Public transportation, aptly called The Bus, offers service from the airport into Honolulu and Waikiki. Taxis and limousines are widely available.

Honolulu and Waikiki have an extensive public transportation system. In addition to The Bus, the Waikiki Trolley offers transportation to many popular attractions. Driving in Honolulu is not recommended -- parking is difficult and expensive, and the multitude of taxis and public transportation options make renting a car an unnecessary headache. However, if you are planning to take any day trips outside of the Honolulu area, you might consider renting a car for a single day.

Visitors to Hawaii will quickly find that the commonly used English language is liberally peppered with Hawaiian language words. Here are a few words that you'll need to know.

• Aina (EYE-na) Land, earth
• Aloha (ah-LOW-ha) Hello, good-bye, or love/affection
• Haole (HOW-leh) A white person; Caucasian
• Heiau (hay-EE-ow) Place of worship
• Hula (WHO-lah) The dance of Hawaii
• Kane (KAH-knee) A man or boy (watch for this on restroom doors)
• Kapu (KAH-poo) Sacred, taboo, forbidden, no trespassing
• Keiki (KAY-key) Child, offspring, or children
• Lanai (lah-NIGH) A porch, patio, or balcony
• Lei (lay) A necklace of flowers, leaves, shells, feathers, etc.
• Mahalo (mah-HAH-low) Thank you
• Makai (mah-kigh) Ocean, used to mean "toward the ocean"
• Malihini (mah-lee-HEE-knee) A stranger, foreigner, tourist, etc.
• Mauka (MOW-ka [rhymes with cow-ka]) Toward the mountains
• Ohana (oh-HAH-nah) Family
• Ono (OH-no) Delicious; also a type of fish
• Pali (PAH-lee) Cliff, a steep hill or slope
• Pau (pow) Finished
• Poi (poy) A paste made from pounded taro root
• Pupu (poo-poo) Appetizers
• Wahine (wah-HEE-neh) Woman (watch for this on restroom doors)

The Honolulu calendar is jam-packed with celebrations, some of which draw visitors from around the globe. Dates vary each year, so check official event websites or call the Chamber of Commerce for exact dates.

• Chinese New Year Celebration (Feb.)
• NFL Pro Bowl (Feb.)
• Hawaii Dragon Boat Festival (Mar.)
• Lei Day Celebration (May)
• Maori Song & Dance Festival (May)
• Na Hoku Hanohano Awards (May)
• Annual Pan-Pacific Hula Festival (June)
• King Kamehameha Day Floral Parade (June)
• Ukulele Festival Hawaii (July)
• Aloha Festivals (Sept.-Oct.)
• Annual World Invitational Hula Festival (Nov.)
• Vans Triple Crown Of Surfing (Nov.-Dec.)

Check out VisitOahu.com, the official Oahu visitor's bureau site, or Hawaii's official tourism site, GoHawaii.com.

Free publications abound on the streets of Waikiki, filled with discount coupons for many of the area's most popular attractions as well as meal deals.

• The island of Oahu has 112 miles of shoreline.
• Waikiki beaches are made of all-white sand.
• Oahu is known as the "Gathering Place."
• Oahu has a land area of 596.7 square miles.
• Approximately 4.7 millions visitors make their way to Oahu each year.
• Sugarcane production on Oahu ended in 1996.
• The island of Oahu is home to 38 ABC Stores.
• Israel "Iz" Kamakawiwo'ole, famous for his medley of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" and "It's a Wonderful World," was born in Honolulu.
• Iolani Palace in Honolulu is the only royal palace in the United States.