Oahu Island

Oahu Island

The third largest of the Hawaiian Islands, Oahu and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands make up the City and County of Honolulu. Honolulu, the state capital, is located on the southeastern coast of Oʻahu. Oʻahu Island in Hawaii is often nicknamed "The Gathering Place". The island consists of two separate shield volcanoes, Waiʻanae and Koʻolau, between which lies a wide valley or saddle, the central Oʻahu Plain. The Kaʻala in the Waiʻanae Range is the highest point, rising to 1,220 meters above sea level. Since at least the 3rd century AD, the island has been inhabited. Around 500 AD, the Tahitians established permanent settlements on Oahu, and in 1795 Kamehameha I, the King of Hawaii, conquered the island of Oahu and unified the Hawaiian Islands. The royal capital was moved in 1845 from Lahaina on the island of Maui to Honolulu on the island of Oahu, which is today the state capital. At the end of the 19th century, the monarchy was more and more dominated by foreign interests. Queen Liliuokalani was dethroned in 1893, and in 1898 the island chain was annexed by the United States. During the 20th century, Oahu became the headquarters of the US Pacific Fleet. On Oahu you'll find Pearl Harbor, where Japanese forces carried out the first attack on the United States in World War II, Waikiki with its world-famous beaches, and the North Shore, known for its surfing. Other famous sites on Oahu include Hanauma Bay, part of Koko Head Regional Park, which is famous for diving, and Diamond Head, which is an extinct volcano and characteristic landmark.