Oahu Geographical Information for Visitors (1)

As part of the 1,600-mile Hawaiian Island chain, Oahu is thought to be the product of a single hot spot in the earth’s mantle. Over the course of millions of geological years, the earth’s crustal drift over the hot spot gave rise to the countless other islands, islets, and shoals that comprise the Hawaiian Island chain.

The Pali - Remnants of Oahu’s remote history, the four-million-year-old extinct shield volcanoes of Ko`olau and Wai`anae are mute evidence of the island’s fiery past. They are now visible as the parallel mountain ranges running along the length of Oahu and are affectinatley called called "the Pali." These geological features play an important role in weather patterns, particularly the winds that carry moisture-laden air that causes precipitation on the windward side and a marked drop in rainfall on the drier leeward side.

Diamond Hea, Koko Head & Punchbowl - One of Oahu’s most distinct features is the 761-foot-tall Diamond Head, located on Waikiki’s eastern border. A mere 100,000 years old, this landmark was formed when an eruption of volcanic ash slowly hardened into solid rock. Koko Head in southeast Oahu and Honolulu’s Punchbowl were formed by similar means.

Surfing Oahu - Surfer or not, all visitors to Oahu are usually attracted to the ocean in one way or another. The great Pacific, with its predictable tides, often overwhelming storms and seasonal weather shifts has played a huge part in romantic imaginations of the island. When visitors arrive on Oahu, usually the first thing they want to see is the power of the waves in their inexorable clash with land - in a word, SURF!