O'ahu
O'ahu is the third-largest of the Hawaiian Islands. It is home to roughly one million people—about two-thirds of the population of the U.S. state of Hawai'i. The state capital, Honolulu, is on O'ahu's southeast coast.
The island is composed of two separate shield volcanoes: the Waiʻanae and Koʻolau Ranges, with a broad valley (the central O'ahu Plain) between them. The highest point is Kaʻala in the Waiʻanae Range, rising to 4,003 feet above sea level.
The term Oʻahu has no confirmed meaning in Hawaiian, other than that of the place itself. Ancient Hawaiian tradition attributes the name's origin in the legend of Hawaiʻiloa, the Polynesian navigator credited with discovery of the Hawaiian Islands. The story relates that he named the island after his daughter.
Well-known features found on O'ahu include Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Hanauma, Kāneʻohe Bay, and Kailua Bay. The windward side is known for some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.
Alternative Name(s)
American: Oahu | Informal: The Gathering Place
Type
Island
Location under
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