by Mia Taylor
Last updated: 8:00 PM ET, Thu October 4, 2018

Home to iconic Waikiki beach, Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial, the island of Oahu offers memorable activities for visitors of all interests.

The third largest of the Hawaiian Islands, (and sometimes referred to as "The Gathering Place") Oahu includes five main regions, among them Honolulu, Central Oahu, the Leeward Coast, the North Shore and the Windward Coast.

While each region is rich in its own unique charms and attractions, here are some of the top activities for those contemplating a visit to Oahu.

Beaches

Hawaii is practically synonymous for the beach and on Oahu, there are plenty of choices for those who arrive in search of sun and sand. Among the two most well-known choices are world-famous Waikiki Beach and the beaches of the North Shore, where surfing fans will find high-octane winter waves.

On the Windward Coast, Kualoa Regional Park offers stunning views down the east coast of Oahu. While on the Leeward Coast, Keawaula Beach (also known as Yokohama Beach) offers turquoise waters and an ideal spot to sunbathe, watch surfers and spot dolphins.

Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial

While Pearl Harbor was originally known for the oysters once harvest there, today it's the only naval base in the United States that's designated a National Historic Landmark.

Visitors could easily spend days here exploring the USS Arizona Memorial, the Battleship Missouri Memorial, the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park and the USS Oklahoma Memorial.

Diamond Head

Hiking on Oahu is one of the best ways for travelers to immerse themselves in the island's lush natural beauty. One of the most famous landmarks and most accessible hikes is up the slopes of Diamond Head.

Located just a few minutes outside of Waikiki, this challenging trail includes two steep sets of stairs as well as tunnels and old military bunkers that reward a traveler's effort by opening out onto stunning panoramic vistas of the Pacific Ocean and Honolulu

Iolani Palace

Travelers do not need to go all the way to England or Europe to visit a real royal palace. Iolani Palace, in downtown Honolulu, is one of Hawaii's most historic places and the only official state residence of royalty on U.S. soil.

The two-story American Florentine style palace allows visitors to experience the life and times of King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani.

Queen Emma's Summer Palace is yet another royal address that travelers can visit. Located along the drive to the Nuuanu Pali Lookout, the secluded summer retreat was used by Queen Emma, King Kamehameha IV and their son, Prince Albert. After the tragic death of the four-year-old prince in 1862 and the king in 1863, Hawaii's Queen lived a life of mourning at the palace.

The home still includes royal antiques and furnishings standing in their original places.

Visit the North Shore

While there are many regions worth visiting on Oahu, the charming and slower paced North Shore offers a classic slice of Hawaiian small-town culture and surfing life.

This laid-back corner of the island (one hour from Waikiki by car) is made up of mom-and-pop shops and rural countryside and is known for attracting surfers from around the globe.

North Shore visitors won't want to miss visiting Historic Haleiwa Town, sampling a Hawaiian shaved ice and perusing the Hawaiian art galleries and shops. The region is also filled with old surf shops showcasing retired longboards and for truly surf obsessed there's a surf museum in Haleiwa Town.

Blue Sky Tours can help arrange itineraries for travelers interested in these and many more of Oahu's highlights.

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