Oahu is the third largest island (1,574 sq km) in the Hawaiian archipelago and the central island of the state of Hawaii. Since the capital, Honolulu, is located here and about 85% of all Hawaii's population lives here, residents call it the “meeting place.” But first of all, it is a meeting place of nature preserved in its pristine form (more than 90% of local flora and fauna are unique) and modern civilization. It is this amazing combination of all attributes of comfortable life and idyllic landscapes of a long-lost paradise that has turned the island into a desirable vacation spot not only for Americans, but also for Japanese and even Europeans.
The most popular tourist route is a circular route around the entire island (buses No. 55 Kaneohe Circle Isle and No. 52 Wahiawa Circle Isle). The first Circle Isle bus leaves from Ala Moana Shopping Center (a central stop in Honolulu) at 6:30 a.m., the last one at 8:15 p.m. For a sightseeing trip, it is better to choose morning or daytime hours; you should sit by the window facing the ocean.
Having left Honolulu, bus No. 52 immediately enters the Pearl Harbor area, where on December 7, 1941, the Japanese attacked the US Pacific Fleet from the air. On the shore, in the information center, there is a museum and a small cinema, where a documentary about Pearl Harbor is shown every half hour.
After Pearl City, the bus goes to the central part of the island and moves towards the North Shore. Here begins the kingdom of pineapple fields and sugar cane plantations.
When approaching Haleiwa, the picture outside the window changes - now the bus is accompanied by a strip of ocean and a long line of North Shore beaches. Haleiwa has a picturesque harbor, surrounded on both sides by park areas. One of them, Haleiwa Beach Park, is protected from the restless ocean by a sandbar and is therefore an ideal place for safe swimming. The other, Haleiwa Alii Beach Park, on the contrary, is open to all waves and is therefore very popular with surfers. On weekend mornings, free surfing lessons are given here.
After Turtle Bay Resort, the Windward Coast begins - the habitat of the northeast trade winds. Most tourists get off in Laie, as the Polynesian Cultural Center is located not far from the city. In the park at the center, seven themed villages are presented: Samoa, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga, Marquesas, and Hawaiian Islands. Representatives of various Polynesian peoples perform skits from the life of their village. In the evenings, a dinner with a festive show is held here. Visiting the cultural center costs about $30, with dinner - $50.
Approaching Hauula, the roadside on the mountain side becomes overgrown with a dense pine forest. Right outside the city, three hiking trails begin for hiking enthusiasts - all of them lead upward, from where a magical view of the ocean opens.
Near Kaaawa, the road, gradually squeezed by the mountains, actually hugs the coast. All local beaches are unsuitable for swimming due to the inconvenient descent into the water and the reef bottom, and therefore are occupied exclusively by fishermen. People mainly come to Kaaawa because of the park in Kahana Valley: these are real tropical jungles descending from the mountains right into Kahana Bay.
The bus makes its next stop in Kaneohe - this is a cherished place for those who are fond of sailing sports. Here, in the largest bay on Oahu, a steady wind always blows, and the ocean, like a giant flower, is strewn with colorful butterfly sails from morning to evening. After Kaneohe, the bus returns back to Honolulu.
An adult ticket on The Bus company bus costs $2 (ride with one free transfer). An unlimited pass for four days is $20.
Private bus companies also offer their services on Oahu, such as Roberts Hawaii and Access Aloha Travel, but this option is less attractive, as it provides a minimum of freedom of action (you have to travel strictly on schedule and in the company of other tourists) and costs an order of magnitude more. The only plus is the presence of a guide. Most island buses run at short intervals, the maximum being 30 minutes.
Natalya YAKUBOVA, Elizaveta KOTAEVA,
Inna ROZHDESTVENSKAYA.