Introduction to Oahu Island
Hawaii is a beautiful place to travel to for a wide variety of reasons and because of this many people flock there each year. Mostly these people are tourists but there are also people that move to the Hawaiian Islands to settle down and live. Regardless of the reason for a person visiting one of the islands the fact remains that many people can and do travel to Hawaii every year.
Hawaii of course is a term given to cover all of the different islands that make up the region but it is important to realize that there are many different islands and each one has its own name. The rest of this article is devoted to giving some specifics about the Hawaiian Island of Oahu.
Demographics of Oahu Island
Oahu Island (or O'ahu Island as it is sometimes written) is known by its nickname of The Gathering Island and is actually the 3rd largest island in the chain of Hawaiian Islands. It has a total surface area of around 1,550 square kilometers and because of that there are many tourists that are able to spend their whole vacation on Oahu alone. Its highest point is the well known Mt. Ka'ala which stands at around 1,225 meters tall.
The population of Oahu as of the 2007 census was 781,345 and because of that as a vacationer you can expect to find all the amenities and services you need. A majority of the island's revenue comes from tourism and many of that six figure population is employed in the tourism industry in some capacity.
History of Oahu Island
There are three major historical events that occurred that have some relation to Oahu and this is in addition to the rich cultural heritage that has seen rulers like the Kamehamehas grace the island with their presence. Oahu appears to have been the first of the Hawaiian chain spotted by the Europeans in 1778 although it was not visited until February of 1779 by the crew of the HMS Resolution commanded by Captain Clerke.
These are both interesting pieces of history but the most noticeable and easily the most famous piece of history concerning Oahu took place on December 7, 1941. A Japanese attack on Peal Harbor in Oahu killed almost 2,500 Americans and resulted in the United States entering the war on the side of the allies.
Interesting Tidbits About Oahu Island
- Oahu is by far the most popular Hawaiian setting in regards to appearances in television shows and movies. Not only has Oahu featured prominently in several scenes of many different television shows (most famously the show Magnum P.I. as well as the current show Lost) but has also appeared in big blockbuster movies such as Jurassic Park.
- The largest Hawaiian city and the Hawaiian capital of Honolulu is located on the island of Oahu .
- The only heavy metal band to ever tour communist China (8mm overdose) is based on the island of Oahu.
Oahu Island Summary
There are many other different things that are great about the island of Oahu and with over ten different frequently visited tourist attractions it is definitely a great prospect for anyone looking to get away to Hawaii. One of the important things to keep in mind as far as potential visits go is that if you are interested in experiencing Hawaii as you see it in the movies and in commercials then the place you want to be is Oahu. This is the island that makes Hawaii famous as well as the island where most of the big and pampering resorts are located.
