Fun and Facts for Oahu, Hawaii
Know Before You Go
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At a Glance
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.
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When to Go
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.
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Weather
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.
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Getting There
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.
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Getting Around
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.
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Brief History
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)
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Festivals & Events
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.)
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Helpful Info
Check out VisitOahu.com, the official Oahu visitor's bureau site, or Hawaii's official tourism site, GoHawaii.com.
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Deals & Discounts
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.
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Fun Facts
- 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.
Pre-Trip Fun
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Watch
"Lilo and Stitch" -- A crazy-cute creature takes a lonely girl on wild adventures in this cartoon comedy, set in Hawaii to a hang-ten soundtrack. (School Age and Up)
"Gidget Goes Hawaiian" -- Hailing from the more innocent '50s, the plucky surfer girl is squeaky-clean fun in the sun. Features the famous pink Royal Hawaiian Hotel. (School Age and Up)
"Mighty Joe Young" -- Scenes from this "King Kong"-alike were filmed at Kualoa Ranch deep in a tropical valley. (School Age and Up)
"Jurassic Park" -- The movie's lush Hawaiian forests, waterfalls, and awe-inspiring views may have kids wondering if dinosaurs once walked where their hotel now stands. (Teens)
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Eat
Tropical Fruit Salad -- Test-drive a few of the island treats your kids may encounter on the trip.
Ahi Poke -- Similar to sushi, poke is a traditional Hawaiian dish made of raw tuna. Not quite tuna from a can, but seafood-lovers and adventurous eaters will be in for a treat.
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Read
"Hawaiian Mother Goose Rhymes" by Debra Ryll -- Classic stories adapted for local vernacular turn Little Miss Muffet who sat on a tuffet into Little Miss Aku who sat on a pohaku. (Ages 2 to 8)
"A Is for Aloha: A Hawaii Alphabet" by Uilani Goldsberry -- Pretty pictures provide a guided tour of Hawaiian sites for each letter of the alphabet. (Ages 4 to 8)
"Hide and Seek in Hawaii: A Picture Game for Keiki" by Jane Hopkins and Ian Gillespie -- Take the book on vacation and put the games into action together. (Ages 4 to 8)
"High Tide in Hawaii" by Mary Pope Osborne -- A magic treehouse takes kids on an adventure that will get your little travelers intrigued by Hawaii's incredible waters, from tidal waves to surfing. (Ages 9 to 12)
"Story of Hawaii Coloring Book" by Y. S. Green -- Set the tone with pre-trip fun that creative types can get their hands on. (Ages 9 to 12)
"In the Shadow of the Pali: A Story of the Hawaiian Leper Colony" by Lisa Cindrich -- The subject may sound rough, but anyone who's been bullied can relate to the heroine's story. (Ages 9 to 12)
"Early Sunday Morning: The Pearl Harbor Diary of Amber Billows, Hawaii 1941" by Barry Denenberg -- The 12-year-old's own words help make the tragic events more relatable for kids visiting the site. (Ages 9 to 12)
"Under the Blood Red Sun" by Graham Salisbury -- Oahu comes alive in this tale of a boy's struggle to understand his place in America during WWII. (Ages 12 and Up)
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Make
Pasta Lei -- Use cupboard ingredients -- no flowers required -- to get into the aloha spirit.
Beach Bag --- Homemade bags let kids get excited (and pack their own stuff) for snorkeling and fun in the sun.
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Listen
"Facing Future" by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoole -- Features his famous Hawaiian-style version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World"
"Step 2: Ukuleles in Paradise 2" -- Create an instant luau with this instrumental soundtrack from Herb Ohta, Jr. and Daniel Ho.

