Oahu isn’t the Big Island, but it is home to the majority of the entire population of the Hawaiian islands. And with more people comes more...everything. Nicknamed “The Gathering Place,” it’s a lively, energetic island, with huge hotels and resorts, spas, and shopping thoroughfares, not to mention the more natural side of things with snorkeling, hiking the Diamond Head trail or to Manoa Falls, and, of course, surfing. This is, after all, home to more than 100 surf spots, including huge waves on the world-famous North Shore. Honolulu, the state capital, and Waikiki Beach are wildly popular with tourists and brimming with locals’ hangouts. Restaurants run the gamut, from celeb spots like chef Lee Anne Wong’s Koko Head Cafe, to totally ono grinds, like the famous Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck and Fumi’s Shrimp Truck. These two are only found in Oahu — try both and decide who’s best.
