Oahu Editor Picks

This oasis of calm in the center of Waikiki began life as a modest residential hotel in 1907. It was expanded into a graceful plantation resort in the '30s, with white marble piazzas sweeping past gardens planted with fragrant flowers. The mansion-styled estate offers 453 indulgently large rooms, most with ocean views. The Diamond Head suites have postcard views of their namesake volcanic crater. As a bonus, the room rate includes admission to cultural attractions such as Doris Duke's Shangri La estate and the Iolani Palace.

Fresh takes on luau staples like smoked hamachi and suckling pig - plus...more

Nab a porchside seat at this oceanfront restaurant for some of the best sightlines of Waikiki...more

It’s Waikiki Beach that made Oahu famous, and while you’ll never find an empty patch of sand along the 2.5-mile golden crescent, the lively mishmash of surfers, families and assorted characters who come here make the people-watching superb.

Some 2335 military personnel died during the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and each year over one million people visit the marble memorial to honor the USS Arizona. Because of the crowds, visiting can take the most of the day.

Families flock to this resort on the western coast of Oahu for its string of man-made lagoons that offer the safest of swimming conditions; resort shops, a marina, restaurants, and a golf course are also nearby.

Thanks to its calm, shallow waters and protected bay, this sandy off-the-path beach, named after the Hawaiian chief who reportedly brought the first cocoanut palm tree to Hawaii, is perfect for snorkelers and families.

Of the dozens of shrimp shacks on the North Shore, this is the only one that raises its own shrimp. Place your order and enjoy them like the locals do – drenched in garlic butter.

Although there are a few courses close to Waikiki and Honolulu, you’ll have more of an exotic golf experience if you head to one of the courses located out of town, like the beautiful, expansive, Turtle Bay Resort.

This 42-acre living museum presents recreations of villages representing eight distinct Pacific island cultures. Experience an authentic luau, lavish night shows, and hands-on craft demonstrations as you wander the lush grounds.