Home to the only real metropolitan area in the Hawaiian Islands, Oahu is truly at the heart of Hawaii. For some, this has been both a blessing and a curse for the island.

On the plus side, visitors to Oahu share in all the amenities and conveniences of Honolulu...bustling nightlife, exciting cultural events, and a wide variety of lodging, dining, and shopping options.

On the minus side, Honolulu does not embody the vision that most visitors have of Hawaii...peace, serenity, and relaxation. Honolulu is a big city, and has all the problems that go with it, including crime, traffic, high cost of living, and a lack of affordable housing. Oh, and did we mention traffic?

However, a calming oasis can be found on Oahu; you just need to know where to look. There are many resorts located outside of Waikiki that offer less crowded surroundings.

Natural beauty can be found in the two mountain ranges (the Koolau and Waianae ranges) that make up Oahu...some great hikes are located just a 15-minute drive into the mountains from Waikiki.

Secluded white sand beaches, funky beach towns, pounding winter surf on the North Shore...all of this can be found on the other parts of Oahu.

So, enjoy Honolulu and all it has to offer. But if you don't see the North Shore during the winter when monster waves pound the shore, if you don't take a drive through miles of pineapple fields, and if you don't take time to visit some of the white sand beaches outside of Waikiki, then you really haven't seen Oahu.