Written by locals, Fodor's travel guides have been offering expert advice for all tastes and budgets for more than 80 years. Oahu is the most popular Hawaiian island for travelers, with excellent resorts, beautiful scenery, and extensive opportunities for activities both on the water and on land. This guide covers all the popular areas of the island, including Honolulu, Waikiki, and the North Shore. This travel guide includes: · Dozens of full-color maps plus a handy pullout map with essential information · Hundreds of hotel and restaurant recommendations, with Fodor's Choice designating our top picks · Multiple itineraries to explore the top attractions and what’s off the beaten path · Major sights such as Kailua Beach, Shangri La and Kaena Point · Coverage of Honolulu, Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Ko Olina, Hanauma Bay, Haleiwa, the Waimea Valley, the North Shore, and more. Planning to visit more of Hawaii or other islands? Check out Fodor's travel guides to Hawaii, Maui, Kauai, and Big Island of Hawaii.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the military importance of the Hawaiian Islands became clear. Oahu in particular was a key bastion in projecting America's military power in the Pacific. The island was turned into a military fortress and yet it also became the site of one of America's greatest defensive failures, the Japanese attack of December 7, 1941. By the end of World War II, the harbor itself was the most heavily defended in the world, and the island had earned the sobriquet "Fortress Oahu". This title documents the development of the coastal, air and land defense systems that served to protect Pearl Harbor and Honolulu from 1907 to 1950, and seeks to understand why these failed at a critical point.

Written by locals, Fodor's travel guides have been offering expert advice for all tastes and budgets for 80 years. Hawaii overflows with natural beauty, from its soft sand beaches to its dramatic volcanic cliffs. The islands' offerings, from urban Honolulu in Oahu to the luxe resorts of Maui to the natural wonders of Kauai and the Big Island, appeal to all tastes. There's also much to appreciate about the state's unique culture and the tradition of aloha that has welcomed millions of visitors over the years. This travel guide includes: · Dozens of full-color maps · Hundreds of hotel and restaurant recommendations, with Fodor's Choice designating our top picks · Multiple itineraries to explore the top attractions and what’s off the beaten path · Coverage of Oahu, Maui, The Big Island, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai Planning to focus on one Hawaiian Island? Check out Fodor's travel guides to Maui, Kauai, Oahu, and Big Island of Hawaii.

"The U. S. Army Corps of Engineers build the first Army railroad on Oahu in 1907 to use for construction of Fort Kamehameha. Seven batteries were built between 1907 and 1920, and the 'temporary' railroad not only remained but was expanded to become a permanent one in 1920 with the establishment of the 41st Coast Artillery (Railway). The Oahu Railway & Land Company (OR&L) provide most rail service to the Army, beginning with Fort Shafter in 1905 and Schofield Barracks in 1909. Government tracks were built at Schofield Barracks by the Army between 1922 and 1933, including an independent 60-centimeter 'trench' railroad system. Two highly specialized railroads were built at Forts Weaver and Barrette to serve the 16-inch gun batteries. With the advent of World War II, the Army short on equipment, continued to depend heavily on the OR&L. The OR&L abandoned its main line in December 1947, and the Army's railroads were also soon removed." -- From cover

US Navy rail operations on Oahu began in 1908 with construction railroads used to help build the shipyard. Expansion of Pearl Harbor to include the submarine base and the naval magazine on Kuahua Island required a permanent railroad, which was begun in 1911. This construction provided industrial employment to hundreds of local men in the existing agricultural economy, and the influx of additional manpower from the mainland contributed to an increasingly skilled and diverse population. World War II brought about a dramatic increase in Navy railroad operations in support of the war effort. Success in the Pacific theater of operations depended on the Navy's railroads, equipment, and the Oahu Railway & Land Company (OR&L), which connected all the bases. The OR&L abandoned its main line in December 1947. By the mid-1950s, railroad operations at Pearl Harbor also ceased. Rail operations continued at and between Naval Magazine Lualualei and Ammunition Depot West Loch through the Korean Conflict and Vietnam era, ending in 1972.

Experienced and novice hikers alike will benefit from the information in this updated and expanded edition of the best-selling The Hikers Guide to O‘ahu. The author describes in detail 52 trails that will take you to O‘ahu’s lush valleys, cascading waterfalls, windswept ridges, and remote seacoasts. Although 8 trails from the previous edition are no longer open to the public, 10 new hikes have been added. Included for each hike are directions for reaching the trailhead, a detailed route description, and information on the length of the hike, degree of difficulty, and trail conditions. For GPS users, UTM coordinates have been added for the midpoint or endpoint of each route. An expanded notes section will help readers identify geological features, historical points of interest, and commonly encountered plants and birds along the trail. The full-color insert of 22 photos will inspire hikers to explore different trails.

Did you know that many of Oahu's best beaches are easily reached by public rights of way? Do you want to explore Oahu's vistas and water playgrounds beyond Waikiki, but aren't sure where to go and whether they are accessible? Oahu Beach Access unlocks access to the island's priceless panoramas and beach parks by detailing the location of its 89 Public Rights of way. Here are the beaches that cover every interest--sunbathing, swimming, snorkeling, picnicking, fishing, surfing, and more. Organized by twelve coastline sections of the island, details on directions, parking, marine life, and restroom availability are presented in a reader-friendly format. A convenient activities table is provided for easy reference, along with simple maps and color photos for each beach access. Each chapter includes some local history and colorful anecdotes about the locale. Enrich and enhance your Oahu beach experience. Take the Public Rights of Way and exercise your right to an adventure. Venture off the beaten path and explore the beach wonders that make Oahu special.

Few regions of the United States can equal the high concentration of endangered ancient cultural sites found in Hawaii. Built by the indigenous people of the Islands, the sites range in age from two thousand to two hundred years old and in size and extent from large temple complexes serving the highest order of chiefs to modest family shrines. Today, many of these structures are threatened by their proximity to urban development. Sites are frequently vandalized or, worse, bulldozed to make way for hotels, golf courses, marinas, and other projects. The sixty heiau photographed and described in this volume are all located on Oahu, the island that has experienced by far the most development over the last two hundred years. These captivating images provide a compelling argument for the preservation of Hawaiian sacred places. The modest sites of the maka‘ainana (commoners) - small fishing, agricultural, craft, and family shrines - are given particular attention because they are often difficult to recognize and prone to vandalism and neglect. Also included are the portraits of twenty-eight Hawaiians who shared their knowledge with archaeologist J. Gilbert McAllister during his survey of Oahu in the 1930s. Without their contribution, the names and histories of many of the heiau would have been lost. The introductory text provides important contextual information about the definition and function of heiau, the history of the abolition of traditional Hawaiian religion, preservation issues, and guidelines for visiting heiau. With contributions by Kehaunani Cachola-Abad, J. Mikilani Ho, and Kawika Makanani.