HAWAII
Oahu

Island Hopping

Oahu has Honolulu, the nation's 11th largest metropolitan area, and more than 100 world-renowned beaches.

The island is divided into four areas: Honolulu, the Leeward Side, the Windward Side, and the North Shore.

Protected from heavy winds by the Koolau mountain range, Honolulu has water sports, restaurants, museums, arboretums, and Iolani Palace, the only royal palace in the United States. Just a few minutes from downtown Honolulu is Waikiki, home of the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium, and Diamond Head, the extinct crater, where you can see the most famous view in the entire Pacific.

Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial are on the Leeward Coast. One-third of the state's best surfing is at the North Shore. Here visitors can watch the world's top surfers take on powerful waves at Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline.

The Windward Side of Oahu is slower and more serene. A Buddhist temple and its Japanese gardens are among the highlights.

New on Oahu

• Continental Airlines has nonstop flights between Newark and Honolulu.
• Scenic 14-mile, H-3 Freeway now links Pearl Harbor with Kaneohe Bay.
• Dole Pineapple's Pineapple Garden Maze is new in Oahu, and has a path nearly two miles long.
• Sea Life Park Hawaii is introducing new Pirate's Lagoon play area for children.
• A new butterfly aviary is in Waimea Valley.