Bask in the sun and surf the warm waters of Wakiki Beach, the most famous beach in the world! Then shop in the exclusive boutiques of Waikiki, which offer such prestigious retailers as Chanel, Tiffany & Co., Gucci, and Yves Saint Laurent as well as more modest shops such as world-famous International Market Place. Don't miss the 150 stores and restaurants in The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center! And for duty-free shopping, the DFS Galleria is the only place foreign visitors to Hawaii can buy the world's leading luxury brands at duty-free savings. Above Wakiki climbs fabled Diamond Head, which offers a stunning 360 degree view of Oahu. Diamond Head got its name from British sailors in the late eighteenth century who saw crystals of calcite sparkling in the sunlight and thought they were diamonds. Oahu vacation rentals are the way to go to make your once-in-a-lifetime Oahu vacation perfect in every way. And check out some of the other great places that abound on Oahu, such as the 'Iolani Palace in Honolulu, which was home to Hawaii's last royal family, and is the only palace in the United States. Another attraction is the Bishop Museum of Natural and Cultural History, with its enormous collection of Hawaiian art and cultural artifacts. When you rent house Oahu you are near one of the most famous shrines in U.S. history, Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial. These sites where the tragic events of December 7, 1941 propelled the U.S. into a Pacific war are a sobering and solemn experience. The USS Arizona sank in a few minutes taking over 1100 sailors down with it; the deck of the battleship can be seen a few feet down beneath the surface of the water. Another popular area attraction is the Battleship USS Missouri Memorial, with its animated museum of Pacific war history.
But the Honolulu area is just the beginning! Hawaii vacation rentals on Oahu's North Shore offer the best surfing waters in the world, with high rolling seas and myriads of board surfers challenging the waves. See the Bonzai Pipeline where surfers coast through the crashing waves. The Eastern Shore of Oahu is also worth a visit. Be sure to hike to the top of Makapuu Point in the morning to catch the spectacular views of Waimanalo Bay (to the north), and Sandy Beach and Koko Head (to the southwest). Between the months of December and May Makapuu Point is a terrific place to watch the whales. And top your Oahu dream vacation off with one of Oahu's famous traditional Hawaiian luaus! Held on a private beach east of Honolulu, Germaine's Luau features the traditional Polynesian music and dance, traditional Hawaiian games, and even lessons in how to make leis. The Polynesian Cultural Center's Ali'i Luau is held on Oahu's North Shore. The Royal Luau takes place at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and is the only luau on Waikiki Beach.
