Rich in Polynesian culture, Oahu has also played an important role in modern American and world history. The USS Arizona Memorial is part of the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Dedicated to the battleship that was sunk during the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, it sits astride the remains of the ship itself. It's a somber reminder of the battle that brought the US into the Second World War.
Explore Oahu and Hawaii's history, culture and unique environment with a visit to the Bishop Museum on Honolulu's Bernice Street. The museum boasts a fine collection of Hawaiian artifacts and hosts permanent and temporary exhibitions. With a hands-on scientific lab and an observatory onsite, it's a wonderful place for the family to visit.
You can't come to Oahu without appreciating the surfing culture that's a way of life here. The ultimate surfing competition, the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, takes place in November on some of Honolulu's finest beaches. This competition attracts only the best pro surfers who make surfing into an art form on the rolling, churning waves offshore.