Oahu is the most visited island, and is notably called "The Gathering Place". It has 139 beaches, and is home to famous places like Pearl Harbor, Waikiki, the Polynesian Cultural Center and Honolulu. Oahu gets about 5 million visitors a year, but with a little planning, you can avoid them for the most part if you want to.

The Leeward Side
This is the West Side of the island, and is normally hot and dry. There are many good surfing beaches along this side and the community of Ewa Beach will offer you good values on vacation rentals, along a long, sandy beach. The area used to be industrial and military, but now is swiftly growing with large residential complexes. Incidentally, a few of the military bases along this side have recently closed. If you are in the area and see a military post with no guard at the gate (open gate) it is probably a closed post with open access to an empty beach.

Central Oahu
This is the area of Schofield Barracks (army post), Mililani, and Wahiawa. Most of it is in the mountains, and will be a little cooler than the rest of the island. Not many people choose to rent lodging here, because it is not near the water. You may pass through the area if you visit the Dole Plantation or go over the KoleKole Pass.

The North Shore
The surfing capital of the world is truly astounding to look at. The towns are small and sleepy, the waves are big, and the scenery is gorgeous. If you are not a surfer, you should still visit the area, just to see it. If you are on Oahu in the winter (December to about May) you MUST go, just to see the 40-foot waves pound the sand - it is truly an amazing site. I once sat on a log on a beach and watched the waves, and felt them pound on the beach beneath me for two hours. Good lodging prices found here - check areas like Haleiwa and Waialua. If you see a shrimp truck, a shave ice (snow cone) van, or a fruit and vegetable stand on the side of the road, stop. Support the local economy (at great prices) and enjoy a treat unique to the area.

Windward Oahu The bustling little towns of Kailua, Lanikai, and Kaneohe are here. These are residential areas with *excellent* beaches and plenty of ocean front visitor lodging. Since it is relatively close to the Honolulu area, without the crowds, many people choose to stay here. If you can afford a vacation house in Lanikai, go for it. The Lanikai Beach is one of the best in the world. This is also the area where those small islands you can wade or kayak to are just offshore. You may get a little more rain on this side, but you will also get nice ocean breezes to keep you comfortable.

The South Shore
This is where Honolulu, Waikiki, Diamond Head, and Pearl City are. This is also where the people are. Waikiki has something like 30,000 hotel rooms for rent. Waikiki Beach is big, but it quickly fills up every day. If you want a nightlife and easy access to lots of sights and attractions - this is the place to be. It doesn't rain much, and you may even find some waves to learn how to surf.