Oahu: Difference between revisions

Coordinates: 21°30′N 158°00′W / 21.5°N 158.0°W / 21.5; -158.0
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[[File:Oahu, Hawai'i.ogv|thumb|260px|Fly-around tour of the island]]
[[File:Oahu, Hawai'i.ogv|thumb|260px|Fly-around tour of the island]]


'''Oahu''' ({{IPAc-en|oʊ|ˈ|ɑː|h|uː}}) ([[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]]: ''Oʻahu'' ({{IPA-haw|oˈʔɐhu|pron}})), also known as '''The Gathering Place''', is the third-largest of the [[Hawaiian Islands]]. It is home to roughly one million people—over two-thirds of the population of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Hawaii]]. The island of O’ahu and the [[Northwestern Hawaiian Islands]] constitute the [[City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii|City and County of Honolulu]]. The state capital, [[Honolulu]], is on Oʻahu's southeast coast. Oʻahu had a population of 995,638<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/honolulucountyhawaii |access-date=December 9, 2021 |archive-date=October 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024150454/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/honolulucountyhawaii |url-status=live }}</ref> according to 2022 U.S. census estimates, up from 953,207 in 2010 (approximately 70% of the total 1,455,271 population of the state of Hawaii,<ref><nowiki>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau|url=</nowiki>https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/HI/} {{bare URL inline|date=June 2023}}</ref> with approximately 81% of those living in or near the Honolulu urban area).
'''Oahu''' ({{IPAc-en|oʊ|ˈ|ɑː|h|uː}}) ([[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]]: ''Oʻahu'' ({{IPA-haw|oˈʔɐhu|pron}})) is the third-largest of the [[Hawaiian Islands]].<ref>{{Cite report |title=Professional Paper |date=1996 |doi=10.3133/pp1412a |language=en}}</ref> The island of O’ahu and the [[Northwestern Hawaiian Islands]] constitute the [[City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii|City and County of Honolulu]]. The state capital, [[Honolulu]], is on Oʻahu's southeast coast. Oʻahu has a population of 995,638<ref>{{Cite web |title=US Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/honolulucountyhawaii |access-date=December 9, 2021 |archive-date=October 24, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211024150454/https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/honolulucountyhawaii |url-status=live }}</ref>, up from 953,207 in 2010 (approximately 70% of the total 1,455,271 population of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Hawaii]],<ref><nowiki>{{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau|url=</nowiki>https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/HI/} {{bare URL inline|date=June 2023}}</ref> with approximately 81% of those living in or near the Honolulu urban area).


==Name==
==Name==


The Island of O{{okina}}ahu in [[Hawaii]] is often nicknamed (or translated as) "The Gathering Place"''.'' It appears that O{{okina}}ahu grew into this nickname; it is now the most populous [[Hawaiian islands|Hawaiian Island]], but in ancient times was not populous and was outranked by the status of other islands. The translation of ''"gathering place"'' was suggested as recently as 1922 by Hawaiian Almanac author [[Thomas Thrum]]. It has been speculated{{By whom|date=November 2019}} that Thrum ignored or misplaced the [[ʻOkina|{{okina}}okina]] because the [[Hawaiian Language|Hawaiian]] phrase "''{{okina}}o ahu''" could be translated as ''"gathering of objects"'' (''{{okina}}o'' is a subject marker and ''ahu'' means ''"to gather"''). The term {{lang|haw|Oʻahu}} has no confirmed meaning in [[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]], other than that of the place itself.<ref>Pukui, et al., 1976</ref><ref>{{Cite book |author=Pukui, Mary Kawena |title=Place Names of Hawaii |date=December 1976 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |isbn=0-8248-0524-0}}</ref>
The Island of O{{okina}}ahu in [[Hawaii]] is often nicknamed (or translated as) "The Gathering Place"''.'' The translation of ''"gathering place"'' was suggested as recently as 1922 by Hawaiian Almanac author [[Thomas Thrum]]. It has been speculated{{By whom|date=November 2019}} that Thrum ignored or misplaced the [[ʻOkina|{{okina}}okina]] because the [[Hawaiian Language|Hawaiian]] phrase "''{{okina}}o ahu''" could be translated as ''"gathering of objects"'' (''{{okina}}o'' is a subject marker and ''ahu'' means ''"to gather"''). The term {{lang|haw|Oʻahu}} has no confirmed meaning in [[Hawaiian language|Hawaiian]], other than that of the place itself.<ref>Pukui, et al., 1976</ref><ref>{{Cite book |author=Pukui, Mary Kawena |title=Place Names of Hawaii |date=December 1976 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |isbn=0-8248-0524-0}}</ref>

⚫
The city of [[Honolulu]]—the state's largest city, capital, and main deepwater marine [[port]]—is here. As a jurisdictional unit, all of Oʻahu is in [[Honolulu County, Hawaii|Honolulu County]], although Honolulu occupies only part of its southeastern end.

⚫
Well-known features of Oʻahu include [[Waikiki]], [[Pearl Harbor]], [[Diamond Head, Hawaii|Diamond Head]], [[Hanauma Bay|{{lang|haw|Hanauma|italic=no|nocat=yes}}]], [[Kāneʻohe Bay]], [[Kailua, Honolulu County, Hawaii|Kailua Bay]], [[North Shore (Oahu)|North Shore]], and the resort destination [[Ko Olina]].

While the island is designated the [[Honolulu County, Hawaii|City and County of Honolulu]], excluding the minor [[Northwestern Hawaiian Islands]], residents identify settlements using town names (generally those of the [[census-designated place]]s), and consider the island divided into various areas that may overlap. The most commonly accepted areas are the "City", "Town" or "Town side", which is the urbanized area from {{lang|haw|Halawa|italic=no}} to the area below Diamond Head (residents of the island north of the [[Koʻolau Range|{{lang|haw|Koʻolau|italic=no|nocat=yes}} Mountains]] consider the Town Side to be the entire southern half), "West Oʻahu", which goes from Pearl Harbor to [[Kapolei, Hawaii|Kapolei]], {{lang|haw|[[Ewa Villages, Hawaii|ʻEwa]]|italic=no}} and may include the {{lang|haw|[[Waianae, Hawaii|Waiʻanae]]|italic=no}} and {{lang|haw|[[Mākaha, Hawaii|Mākaha]]|italic=no}} areas; the "[[North Shore (Oahu)|North Shore]]" (northwestern coast); the "[[windward and leeward|Windward Side]]" (northeastern coast from {{lang|haw|Kahuku|italic=no}} to {{lang|haw|Kāneʻohe|italic=no}}); the "East Side" or "East Coast" (the eastern portion of the island, from {{lang|haw|Kāneʻohe|italic=no}} on the northeast, around the tip of the island to include much of the area east of Diamond Head); and "The Valley" or "Central Oʻahu", which runs northwest from Pearl Harbor toward {{lang|haw|Haleʻiwa|italic=no}}.{{cn|date=May 2023}} These terms are somewhat flexible, depending on the area in which the user lives, and are used in a general way, but residents of each area identify strongly with their part of the island, especially those outside of widely known towns. For instance, if asked where they live, a local would usually reply "Windward Side" rather than "[[Kailua, Hawaii|Kailua]]".{{cn|date=May 2023}}


== History ==
== History ==
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== Geography ==
== Geography ==
Oʻahu is {{convert|44|mi|km|0|}} long and {{convert|30|mi|km|0}} across. Its shoreline is {{convert|227|mi|km|0|}} long. Including small associated islands such as [[Ford Island]] plus those in [[Kāneʻohe Bay]] and off the eastern ([[windward and leeward|windward]]) coast, its area is {{convert|596.7|sqmi|km2|1}}, making it the [[List of islands of the United States by area|20th-largest island in the United States]].<ref name="SizeRef">{{cite web |year=2004 |title=Table 5.08 – Land Area of Islands: 2000 |url=http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/economic/databook/db2004/section05.pdf |access-date=July 23, 2007 |publisher=State of Hawaii |archive-date=March 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309031745/http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/economic/databook/db2004/section05.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref> The windward side is known for some of the world's most beautiful beaches. [[Lanikai Beach|{{lang|haw|Lanikai|italic=no|nocat=yes}} Beach]] on the windward coast has been consistently ranked among the world's best beaches.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Conners |first1=Valerie |title=Top 10 Beaches of Hawaii |url=http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/beaches/articles/top-10-hawaiian-beaches |access-date=December 12, 2016 |publisher=[[Travel Channel]] |archive-date=December 15, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161215163507/http://www.travelchannel.com/interests/beaches/articles/top-10-hawaiian-beaches |url-status=live }}</ref> The island is composed of two separate [[shield volcano]]es: the [[Waianae Range|Waiʻanae]] and [[Koʻolau Range]]s, with a broad valley or saddle (the central Oʻahu Plain) between them. The highest point is [[Kaʻala]] in the Waiʻanae Range, rising to {{convert|4003|ft|m|0|}} above sea level.<ref name="ElevationRef">{{cite web |year=2004 |title=Table 5.11 – Elevations of Major Summits |url=http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/economic/databook/db2004/section05.pdf |access-date=July 23, 2007 |publisher=State of Hawaii |archive-date=March 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309031745/http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/economic/databook/db2004/section05.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
Oʻahu is {{convert|44|mi|km|0|}} long and {{convert|30|mi|km|0}} across. Its shoreline is {{convert|227|mi|km|0|}} long. Including small associated islands such as [[Ford Island]] plus those in [[Kāneʻohe Bay]] and off the eastern ([[windward and leeward|windward]]) coast, its area is {{convert|596.7|sqmi|km2|1}}, making it the [[List of islands of the United States by area|20th-largest island in the United States]].<ref name="SizeRef">{{cite web |year=2004 |title=Table 5.08 – Land Area of Islands: 2000 |url=http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/economic/databook/db2004/section05.pdf |access-date=July 23, 2007 |publisher=State of Hawaii |archive-date=March 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309031745/http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/economic/databook/db2004/section05.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>


⚫
The city of [[Honolulu]]—the state's capital and largest city is located on the island. As a jurisdictional unit, all of Oʻahu is in [[Honolulu County, Hawaii|Honolulu County]], although Honolulu occupies only part of its southeastern end.
Being roughly diamond-shaped, surrounded by ocean, and divided by mountain ranges, directions on Oʻahu are not generally described with compass directions. Locals instead use directions with Honolulu as the central point. To go {{lang|haw|ʻewa}} means toward the western tip of the island, ''"Diamond Head"'' is toward the eastern tip, {{lang|haw|mauka}} is inland (toward the central {{lang|haw|Koʻolau|italic=no}} Mountain range, north of Honolulu) and {{lang|haw|makai}} toward the sea. When these directions became common, Diamond Head was the eastern edge of the primary populated area. Today, with a much larger populace and extensive development, the mountain is often not actually to the east when directions are given, and is not to be used as a literal point of reference—to go "Diamond Head" is to go to the east from anywhere on the island.


⚫
Well-known features of Oʻahu include [[Waikiki]], [[Pearl Harbor]], [[Diamond Head, Hawaii|Diamond Head]], [[Hanauma Bay|{{lang|haw|Hanauma|italic=no|nocat=yes}}]], [[Kāneʻohe Bay]], [[Kailua, Honolulu County, Hawaii|Kailua Bay]], [[North Shore (Oahu)|North Shore]], and the resort destination [[Ko Olina]].
== Tourist attractions ==

The island is composed of two separate [[shield volcano]]es: the [[Waianae Range|Waiʻanae]] and [[Koʻolau Range]]s, with a broad valley or saddle (the central Oʻahu Plain) between them. The highest point is [[Kaʻala]] in the Waiʻanae Range, rising to {{convert|4003|ft|m|0|}} above sea level.<ref name="ElevationRef">{{cite web |year=2004 |title=Table 5.11 – Elevations of Major Summits |url=http://www.hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/economic/databook/db2004/section05.pdf |access-date=July 23, 2007 |publisher=State of Hawaii |archive-date=March 9, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130309031745/http://hawaii.gov/dbedt/info/economic/databook/db2004/section05.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Tourism ==
[[File:Lanikai beach culture.JPG|thumb|[[Lanikai Beach]]]]
[[File:Lanikai beach culture.JPG|thumb|[[Lanikai Beach]]]]
[[File:Honolulu01.JPG|thumb|[[Downtown Honolulu]]]]
[[File:Honolulu01.JPG|thumb|[[Downtown Honolulu]]]]
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[[File:Jellyfish at Waikiki Aquarium.jpg|thumb|Jellyfish swim in a tank at [[Waikiki Aquarium|Waikīkī Aquarium]]]]
[[File:Jellyfish at Waikiki Aquarium.jpg|thumb|Jellyfish swim in a tank at [[Waikiki Aquarium|Waikīkī Aquarium]]]]
[[File:Chinaman's Hat - Oahu Hawaii.JPG|thumb|[[Mokoliʻi]] island, also known as Chinaman's Hat, offshore of [[Kualoa Ranch|Kualoa Valley]]]]
[[File:Chinaman's Hat - Oahu Hawaii.JPG|thumb|[[Mokoliʻi]] island, also known as Chinaman's Hat, offshore of [[Kualoa Ranch|Kualoa Valley]]]]
[[File:Oahu Landscape.jpg|thumb|[[Nuʻuanu Pali]] of the [[Koʻolau]] mountain]]Oahu, along with the rest of the State of Hawaii, relies on tourism as a driving force of the local economy.<ref>Hawaii Tourism Authority. (2019, December). [https://www.hawaiitourismauthority.org/media/4167/hta-tourism-econ-impact-fact-sheet-december-2019.pdf Fact Sheet: Benefits of Hawai‘i’s Tourism Economy]. Honolulu.</ref> Popular tourists attractions include various beaches around the island such as [[Ala Moana Beach Park|Ala Moana Beach]], [[Hanauma Bay]], [[Kāneohe Bay|Kāneʻohe Bay]], [[Ko Olina Beach Park]], [[Waikiki|Waikīkī Beach]], among others. Other tourist attractions include [[Ala Moana Center]], [[Bishop Museum]], the [[Honolulu Museum of Art]], [[ʻIolani Palace]], and [[Kualoa Ranch]].[[File:Part of Oahu as seen from a helicopter.jpg|thumb|Helicopter view of Oʻahu]]
[[File:Oahu Landscape.jpg|thumb|[[Nuʻuanu Pali]] of the [[Koʻolau]] mountain]]

=== Top beaches ===
* [[Ala Moana Beach Park|Ala Moana Beach]]
* [[Hanauma Bay]]
* [[Kāneohe Bay|Kāneʻohe Bay]]
* [[Ko Olina Beach Park]]
* [[Kailua, Honolulu County, Hawaii|Kailua]]
* [[Lanikai Beach]]
* [[Papailoa Beach]]
* [[Sandy Beach, Hawaii|Sandy Beach]]
* [[Sunset Beach (Oahu)|Sunset Beach]]
* [[Waikiki|Waikīkī Beach]]
* [[Waimanalo Beach, Hawaii|Waimānalo Beach]]
* [[Waimea Bay, Hawaii|Waimea Bay]]

=== Attractions ===
{{colbegin}}
* [[Ala Moana]]
* [[Aloha Tower]]
* [[Aulani|Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa]]
* [[Banzai Pipeline]]
* [[Bishop Museum]]
* [[Diamond Head, Hawaii|Diamond Head]]
* [[Dole Plantation]]
* [[Foster Botanical Garden]]
* [[Kaena Point|Kaʻena Point]]
* [[Honolulu]]
* [[Honolulu Museum of Art]]
* [[Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden|Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden]]
* [[Iolani Palace|ʻIolani Palace]]
* [[Kualoa Ranch]]
* [[Laie Hawaii Temple|Lāʻie Hawaii Temple]]
* [[Pali Lookout|Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout]]
* [[Royal Mausoleum of Hawaii|Mauna ʻAla]]
* [[Makapuu Point Light|Makapuu Lighthouse]]
* [[National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific]] or "Punchbowl"
* [[North Shore (Oahu)|North Shore]]
* [[Nuuani Pali|Pali Lookout]]
* [[Pearl Harbor]]
* [[Polynesian Cultural Center]]
* [[Triple Crown of Surfing]]
* [[USS Arizona Memorial|USS ''Arizona'' Memorial]]
* [[USS Missouri (BB-63)|USS ''Missouri'']]
* [[Valley of the Temples Memorial Park]]
* [[Waikiki|Waikīkī]]
* [[Waikiki Aquarium|Waikīkī Aquarium]]
* [[Waimea Valley Audubon Center]]
* [[Waimea Valley]]
{{colend}}
[[File:Part of Oahu as seen from a helicopter.jpg|thumb|Helicopter view of Oʻahu]]


{{Panorama
{{Panorama
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* ''The Reimanns'', a popular German reality TV series, has been filmed on the [[North Shore (Oahu)|North Shore]] at the family's estate in [[Pupukea|Pūpūkea]] since December 2015.<ref>[https://www.fernsehserien.de/die-reimanns-ein-aussergewoehnliches-leben/episodenguide The Reimanns] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923145130/https://www.fernsehserien.de/die-reimanns-ein-aussergewoehnliches-leben/episodenguide |date=September 23, 2017 }} ''TV episode guide''. Retrieved 14 June 2017.</ref>
* ''The Reimanns'', a popular German reality TV series, has been filmed on the [[North Shore (Oahu)|North Shore]] at the family's estate in [[Pupukea|Pūpūkea]] since December 2015.<ref>[https://www.fernsehserien.de/die-reimanns-ein-aussergewoehnliches-leben/episodenguide The Reimanns] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923145130/https://www.fernsehserien.de/die-reimanns-ein-aussergewoehnliches-leben/episodenguide |date=September 23, 2017 }} ''TV episode guide''. Retrieved 14 June 2017.</ref>
* The ninth part of [[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure]], [[The JoJoLands]], takes place mainly on O'ahu.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Evan |date=February 15, 2023 |title=comicbook.com |url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/jojo-bizarre-adventure-the-jojolands-location-revealed/ |website=ComicBook |access-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405085349/https://comicbook.com/anime/news/jojo-bizarre-adventure-the-jojolands-location-revealed/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
* The ninth part of [[JoJo's Bizarre Adventure]], [[The JoJoLands]], takes place mainly on O'ahu.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Valentine |first=Evan |date=February 15, 2023 |title=comicbook.com |url=https://comicbook.com/anime/news/jojo-bizarre-adventure-the-jojolands-location-revealed/ |website=ComicBook |access-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-date=April 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405085349/https://comicbook.com/anime/news/jojo-bizarre-adventure-the-jojolands-location-revealed/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Beginning with a contract with the US Navy in 2001, [[Ocean Power Technologies]] began ocean-testing [[Azura (wave power device)|Azura]], its [[wave power]] generation system at the [[Marine Corps Base Hawaii]] (MCBH) at [[Kāneohe Bay|Kāneʻohe Bay]]. The Oʻahu system was launched under the company's program with the US Navy for ocean testing and demonstration of such systems, including connection to the Oʻahu grid.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ocean Power Technologies: Capturing Wave Energy for the U.S. Navy and the Grid |url=http://www.acore.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Ocean-Power-Technologies-Case-Study.pdf |website=Acore.org |publisher=American Council on Renewable Energy |access-date=18 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150908221104/http://www.acore.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/Ocean-Power-Technologies-Case-Study.pdf |archive-date=September 8, 2015 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref> The prototype can produce 20&nbsp;kW, a system with 500&nbsp;kW to 1 MW is planned to be installed at end of 2017.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://renews.biz/89902/azura-connects-in-hawaii/ |title=Azura connects in Hawaii |work=reNEWS – Renewable Energy News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515044134/http://renews.biz/89902/azura-connects-in-hawaii/ |archive-date=2018-05-15}}</ref>

Oʻahu has 343 MW of [[rooftop solar]] power,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/clean-energy-hawaii/clean-energy-facts/renewable-energy-sources/solar |title=Solar Energy |publisher=Hawaiian Electric |access-date=9 January 2017 |archive-date=January 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110015130/https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/clean-energy-hawaii/clean-energy-facts/renewable-energy-sources/solar |url-status=live }}</ref> and potential for 92 MW of [[wind power]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/clean-energy-hawaii/clean-energy-facts/renewable-energy-sources/wind/wind-maps |title=High Resolution Wind Resource Maps |publisher=Hawaiian Electric |access-date=9 January 2017 |archive-date=January 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110020016/https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/clean-energy-hawaii/clean-energy-facts/renewable-energy-sources/wind/wind-maps |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.hawaiianelectric.com/clean-energy-hawaii/our-clean-energy-portfolio/renewable-energy-sources |title=Renewable Energy Sources |website=www.hawaiianelectric.com |access-date=June 27, 2023 |archive-date=June 27, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627021112/https://www.hawaiianelectric.com/clean-energy-hawaii/our-clean-energy-portfolio/renewable-energy-sources |url-status=live }}</ref>


==Notable people==
==Notable people==

Revision as of 23:43, 3 August 2023

Oahu
Oblique satellite photo of Oʻahu
Geography
Location21°30′N 158°00′W / 21.5°N 158.0°W / 21.5; -158.0
Area596.7 sq mi (1,545 km2)
Area rank3rd largest Hawaiian Island
Highest elevation4,025 ft (1226.8 m)
Highest pointKaʻala
Administration
United States
Symbols
Flowerʻilima
ColorMelemele (yellow)
Largest settlementHonolulu
Demographics
Population1,016,508 (2020)
Pop. density1,704/sq mi (657.9/km2)
Aerial view of Oʻahu with freeways and highways; 3D computer-generated image
Fly-around tour of the island

Oahu (/oʊˈɑːhuː/) (Hawaiian: Oʻahu (pronounced [oˈʔɐhu])) is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands.[1] The island of O’ahu and the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands constitute the City and County of Honolulu. The state capital, Honolulu, is on Oʻahu's southeast coast. Oʻahu has a population of 995,638[2], up from 953,207 in 2010 (approximately 70% of the total 1,455,271 population of the U.S. state of Hawaii,[3] with approximately 81% of those living in or near the Honolulu urban area).

Name

The Island of Oʻahu in Hawaii is often nicknamed (or translated as) "The Gathering Place". The translation of "gathering place" was suggested as recently as 1922 by Hawaiian Almanac author Thomas Thrum. It has been speculated[by whom?] that Thrum ignored or misplaced the ʻokina because the Hawaiian phrase "ʻo ahu" could be translated as "gathering of objects" (ʻo is a subject marker and ahu means "to gather"). The term Oʻahu has no confirmed meaning in Hawaiian, other than that of the place itself.[4][5]

History

Pearl Harbor is the home of the largest U.S. Navy fleet in the Pacific. The harbor was attacked on December 7, 1941, by the Japanese Empire, bringing the United States into World War II.
USS Arizona Memorial (right); USS Missouri (left) in Pearl Harbor

The island has been inhabited since at least the 3rd century A.D.[6] The 304-year-old Kingdom of Oʻahu was once ruled by the most ancient aliʻi in all of the Hawaiian Islands. The first great king of Oʻahu was Maʻilikūkahi, the lawmaker, who was followed by many generations of monarchs. Kualiʻi was the first of the warlike kings and was succeeded by his sons. In 1773, the throne fell upon Kahahana, the son of Elani of Ewa. In 1783, Kahekili II, King of Maui, conquered Oʻahu, deposed the reigning family, and made his son, Kalanikūpule, king of O'ahu, turning O'ahu into a puppet state. Kamehameha the Great conquered Kalanikūpule's forces in the Battle of Nuʻuanu. Kamehameha founded the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi with the conquest of Oʻahu in 1795. Hawaiʻi was not unified until the islands of Kauaʻi and Niʻihau surrendered under King Kaumualiʻi in 1810. Kamehameha III moved his capital from Lāhainā, Maui to Honolulu, Oʻahu in 1845. ʻIolani Palace, built later by other members of the royal family, still stands, and is the only royal palace on American soil.

Oʻahu was apparently the first of the Hawaiian Islands sighted by the crew of HMS Resolution on January 19, 1778, during Captain James Cook's third Pacific expedition. Escorted by HMS Discovery, the expedition was surprised to find high islands this far north in the central Pacific. Oʻahu was not actually visited by Europeans until February 28, 1779, when Captain Charles Clerke aboard HMS Resolution stepped ashore at Waimea Bay. Clerke took command of the ship after James Cook was killed at Kealakekua Bay (island of Hawaiʻi) on February 14, and was leaving the islands for the North Pacific. With the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands came the introduction of disease, mosquitoes, and aggressive foreign animals. Although indirect, simple exposure to these foreign species caused permanent damage to the Native Hawaiian people and environment.

The Imperial Japanese Navy's attack on Pearl Harbor, Oʻahu on the morning of December 7, 1941, brought the United States into World War II. The surprise attack was aimed at destroying the American will to fight and making them sue for peace immediately by attacking the Pacific Fleet of the United States Navy and its defending Army Air Forces and Marine Air Forces. The attack damaged or destroyed 12 American warships, destroyed 188 aircraft, and resulted in the deaths of 2,335 American servicemen and 68 civilians (of those, 1,177 were the result of the destruction of the USS Arizona alone).

Today, Oʻahu has become a tourism and shopping haven. Over five million visitors (mainly from the contiguous United States and Japan) flock there every year.

Climate

Enlargeable, detailed map of Oʻahu
O‘ahu
Climate chart (explanation)
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A
S
O
N
D
 
 
14
 
 
27
18
 
 
27
 
 
27
19
 
 
105
 
 
27
17
 
 
2
 
 
30
19
 
 
6
 
 
29
18
 
 
2
 
 
31
21
 
 
8
 
 
30
22
 
 
10
 
 
28
18
 
 
2
 
 
28
23
 
 
95
 
 
28
21
 
 
21
 
 
28
21
 
 
25
 
 
25
20
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °C
█ Precipitation totals in mm
Source: [7]
Imperial conversion
JFMAMJJASOND
 
 
0.6
 
 
81
64
 
 
1.1
 
 
81
66
 
 
4.1
 
 
81
63
 
 
0.1
 
 
86
66
 
 
0.2
 
 
84
64
 
 
0.1
 
 
88
70
 
 
0.3
 
 
86
72
 
 
0.4
 
 
82
64
 
 
0.1
 
 
82
73
 
 
3.7
 
 
82
70
 
 
0.8
 
 
82
70
 
 
1
 
 
77
68
█ Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
█ Precipitation totals in inches

Oʻahu is also known for having the longest rain shower in history, which lasted 200 consecutive days. Kāneʻohe Ranch reported 247 straight days of rain from August 27, 1993, to April 30, 1994. The average temperature in Oʻahu is around 70–85 °F (21–29 °C). The island is the warmest from June through October. The winter is cooler, but still warm, with an average temperature of 68–78 °F (20–26 °C).

Geography

Oʻahu is 44 miles (71 km) long and 30 miles (48 km) across. Its shoreline is 227 miles (365 km) long. Including small associated islands such as Ford Island plus those in Kāneʻohe Bay and off the eastern (windward) coast, its area is 596.7 square miles (1,545.4 km2), making it the 20th-largest island in the United States.[8]

The city of Honolulu—the state's capital and largest city is located on the island. As a jurisdictional unit, all of Oʻahu is in Honolulu County, although Honolulu occupies only part of its southeastern end.

Well-known features of Oʻahu include Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Hanauma, Kāneʻohe Bay, Kailua Bay, North Shore, and the resort destination Ko Olina.

The island is composed of two separate shield volcanoes: the Waiʻanae and Koʻolau Ranges, with a broad valley or saddle (the central Oʻahu Plain) between them. The highest point is Kaʻala in the Waiʻanae Range, rising to 4,003 feet (1,220 m) above sea level.[9]

Tourism

Lanikai Beach
Downtown Honolulu
Waikīkī Beach is one of the most well-known beaches in the world
Valley of the Temples Memorial Park near the island's eastern shore
Jellyfish swim in a tank at Waikīkī Aquarium
Mokoliʻi island, also known as Chinaman's Hat, offshore of Kualoa Valley
Nuʻuanu Pali of the Koʻolau mountain

Oahu, along with the rest of the State of Hawaii, relies on tourism as a driving force of the local economy.[10] Popular tourists attractions include various beaches around the island such as Ala Moana Beach, Hanauma Bay, Kāneʻohe Bay, Ko Olina Beach Park, Waikīkī Beach, among others. Other tourist attractions include Ala Moana Center, Bishop Museum, the Honolulu Museum of Art, ʻIolani Palace, and Kualoa Ranch.

Helicopter view of Oʻahu
Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay
Ko'Olina white sand lagoon

In popular culture

  • In the video games Test Drive Unlimited and Test Drive Unlimited 2 players can drive around O'ahu island's 1,000 miles (1,600 km) of road.[11] The island will also feature in The Crew Motorfest.[12][13]
  • Microsoft Flight, released in 2012 as the successor to the Microsoft Flight Simulator series, was set on island of Hawaiʻi. The game had a piece of downloadable content (DLC) called Hawaiian Adventure Pack. Once purchased, it brought detail to all of the Hawaiian islands to the game, including Oʻahu. The DLC also brought new airports to land and take off from and new missions to complete, among other things.
  • Lost was filmed almost entirely on Oʻahu, with many locations on the island (predominantly Honolulu) serving as a stand-in for other locations (including the US, Australia, UK, and South Korea). Many of the show's stars still call the island home. The island's thick rainforests and picturesque beaches are prominently featured.
  • 50 First Dates, a movie that takes place on the island.
  • MythBusters shot their 2012 Season's "Duct Tape Island" episode on this island[14]
  • The South Korean reality TV series Father and Me was filmed on Oʻahu in 2016[15]
  • The Reimanns, a popular German reality TV series, has been filmed on the North Shore at the family's estate in Pūpūkea since December 2015.[16]
  • The ninth part of JoJo's Bizarre Adventure, The JoJoLands, takes place mainly on O'ahu.[17]

Notable people

See also: Category:People from Oahu

See also

References

Citations

  1. ^ Professional Paper (Report). 1996. doi:10.3133/pp1412a.
  2. ^ "US Census Bureau". Archived from the original on October 24, 2021. Retrieved December 9, 2021.
  3. ^ {{Cite web|title=US Census Bureau|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/HI/} [bare URL]
  4. ^ Pukui, et al., 1976
  5. ^ Pukui, Mary Kawena (December 1976). Place Names of Hawaii. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0-8248-0524-0.
  6. ^ Van, James (2010). Ancient Sites of Oahu: A Guide to Archaeological Places of Interest. Bishop Museum Pr. Page 5. ISBN 978-1581780956.
  7. ^ "NASA Earth Observations Data Set Index". NASA. Archived from the original on August 6, 2013. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  8. ^ "Table 5.08 – Land Area of Islands: 2000" (PDF). State of Hawaii. 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 9, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
  9. ^ "Table 5.11 – Elevations of Major Summits" (PDF). State of Hawaii. 2004. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 9, 2013. Retrieved July 23, 2007.
  10. ^ Hawaii Tourism Authority. (2019, December). Fact Sheet: Benefits of Hawai‘i’s Tourism Economy. Honolulu.
  11. ^ "Test Drive Unlimited 2 trailer shows pretty sights of Ibiza, Oahu". Neoseeker. Archived from the original on March 19, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2011.
  12. ^ Good, Owen S. (January 31, 2023). "Ubisoft racer The Crew gets another sequel: The Crew Motorfest". Polygon. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  13. ^ Reilly, Luke (January 31, 2023). "Ubisoft Reveals The Crew Motorfest, Heads to Hawaii". IGN. Archived from the original on February 2, 2023. Retrieved January 31, 2023.
  14. ^ "MythBusters: Duct Tape Island Aftershow : Video : Discovery Channel". Dsc.discovery.com. March 25, 2012. Archived from the original on July 10, 2012. Retrieved August 6, 2013.
  15. ^ Father and Me Hawaii Tourism Authority 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  16. ^ The Reimanns Archived September 23, 2017, at the Wayback Machine TV episode guide. Retrieved 14 June 2017.
  17. ^ Valentine, Evan (February 15, 2023). "comicbook.com". ComicBook. Archived from the original on April 5, 2023. Retrieved April 5, 2023.

Sources

  • Doyle, David W., 2001. Rescue in Paradise: Oahu's Beaches and their Guardians. Island Heritage.
  • Macdonald, Gordon A., Agatin T. Abbott, and Frank L. Peterson, 1983. Volcanoes in the Sea. University of Hawaiʻi Press, Honolulu. 517 pp.
  • Pukui, M. K., S. H. Elbert, and E. T. Mookini, 1976. Place names of Hawaiʻi. University of Hawaiʻi Press. 289 pp.

External links

  • Media related to Oahu at Wikimedia Commons
  • Oahu travel guide from Wikivoyage
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