In Depth

Oahu's main city, the fast-paced urban Honolulu, is not only the state capital but offers Hawaii's hottest nightlife, its best shopping, and diverse restaurants. Next door is the world famous vacation playground, Waikiki, complete with every imaginable visitor amenity. But the island's North Shore and the windward side present a different face: miles of white-sand beaches and a slower, country way of life.

Centuries of the indigenous Hawaiian culture have given the people of the islands the "spirit of aloha," a warm, welcoming attitude that invites visitors to come and share this exotic paradise. Mother Nature has carved out verdant valleys, hung brilliant rainbows in the sky, and trimmed the islands with sandy beaches in a spectrum of colors, from white to black to even green and red.

Visitors are drawn to this island not only for its incredible beauty, but also for its opportunities for adventure: swimming in a sea of rainbow-colored fish, hiking into a rainforest, or watching whales leap out of the ocean as you tee off on one of the country's top golf courses. Others come to rest and relax in a land where the pace of life moves at a slower rate and the sun's rays soothe and allow both body and mind to regenerate and recharge.

Venturing to the island of Oahu is not your run-of-the-mill vacation; rather it's an experience in the senses that will remain with you, locked into your memory, long after your tan fades. Years later, a sweet smell, the warmth of the sun on your body, or the sound of the wind through the trees will take you back to the time you spent in the Hawaiian Islands.