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A neat little winter respite can be had by spending Christmas in Hawaii.
Oahu is the third largest of the Hawaiian islands and is home to one-third of that state's population, so for travel purposes, thinking of it as being a lot like visiting a city isn't too far off. After all, crossing parts of Los Angeles takes longer! If you rent a car, the highway that circles Oahu will take about two hours for you to drive all the way around. If you're using local bus service, a trip around the entire island is about four hours. If you've got a place to leave your luggage and gear, the bus is a great low-cost sight-seeing option! The island is made up of two volcanic mountain ranges that flowed together, forming a connecting valley between them. The "windward" side gets the bulk of the moisture and is a lush tropical climate and landscape. The "leeward" side is blocked by the mountains and is the drier side. December temperatures range from the high 60s overnight to the mid 80s during the day, with more wind and rain than other times of the year. Honolulu is the capital, and it's also where the airport on Oahu is located. Buses, taxis and shuttles all depart the airport to nearby resorts and locations. If surfing is your focus, you'll want to head to the North Shore, home to some of the best surf breaks in the world. The island's best snorkeling is found at Hanauma Bay, now a state park and protected marine life conservation area. Inter-island hops are often arranged on a spur-of-the-moment, with prices ranging from $100 down to $30 when a fare war gets going.
The copyright of the article Aloha, Oahu! in Hawaii Travel is owned by Rae Schwarz. Permission to republish Aloha, Oahu! in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
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