10 Surprising Facts about Oahu
Most people know Oahu as the home of Duke Kahanamoku, President Obama, Michelle Wie, Jack Johnson, and more. Honolulu, Waikiki, and the North Shore are famous for their vibrant culture and beautiful sites, and Oahu is of course well-known as the home of Pearl Harbor.
However, the island has a densely rich history, and continues to grow into one of the most dynamic and interesting places to live and visit. We wanted to share some of our favorite, lesser-known facts about the island that might surprise some readers:
1. Largest City In The World
Honolulu is not only the capital of Hawaii, but also the largest city in the world. A part of the state’s constitution dictates that any island, islet, or atoll that has not been designated to another county automatically falls under Honolulu’s umbrella.
2. A Pretty High Record Low
The record low temperature ever recorded in Honolulu was a whopping 52 degrees. That temperature was taken in January of 1969.
3. A Royal Flush
The only Royal Palace in the United States, Iolani Palace, is located on Oahu. It had electricity before the White House did, and was the first palace in the world to have flushing toilets.
4. Beauty Takes Time
What is now beautiful Waikiki was once a swampy area full of rice paddies, taro fields, and mosquitoes. Once the Ala Wai Canal was constructed in 1928, the marshland was drained.
5. The Busiest Middle Of Nowhere
Despite being full of life and tourism, Oahu is actually one of the most remote locations in the world. The Hawaiian Islands as a whole are considered the most remote chain of inhabited islands in the world, with the nearest population center (California) located over 2,000 miles away.
6. Imports Are Important
While Oahu has many farms full of delicious tropical fruit and lush greenery, the island relies very heavily on imports, even when it comes to produce. Some experts estimate that the islands would be out of luck within a week or two, if for some reason (such as an extreme natural disaster) imports ceased.
7. Time is a Construct
Daylight savings is not used in Hawaii, so for part of the year Hawaii Standard Time is two hours behind Pacific Standard Time, and the rest of the year, it is three hours behind.
8. That’s Quite a Home
One of the most expensive homes for sale in Hawaii is located on Oahu in Kailua, priced at $22.8 million.
9. Don’t Mess With Birds
It is illegal in Honolulu to annoy a bird. On a more normal note, billboards are also outlawed, keeping the scenery natural and the views unobstructed.
10. Come One Come All
Oahu hosts more visitors every year than all of the other Hawaiian islands combined, and now you know a few of the fun reasons why. It is no coincidence that “Oahu” means “the gathering place.”
For any questions about Waikiki vacation rentals, please contact Marina Hawaii Vacations and an agent would be happy to assist you. We can be reached at 808-946-0716 or info@marinahawaiivacations.com
Susie Bowman
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JOHN SMITH
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REPLYJOHN SMITH
4/12/2018Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Adipiscing elit pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus. Nullam vehicula ipsum a arcu cursus vitae congue mauris rhoncus. Sed sed risus pretium quam vulputate. Fames ac turpis egestas maecenas pharetra convallis posuere. At tempor commodo ullamcorper a lacus vestibulum sed arcu non. Fringilla est ullamcorper eget nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam. Molestie at elementum eu facilisis sed odio. Elit at imperdiet dui accumsan sit amet. Aliquam nulla facilisi cras fermentum odio eu. Cras ornare arcu dui vivamus arcu felis bibendum ut. Scelerisque varius morbi enim nunc faucibus a pellentesque. Ipsum a arcu cursus vitae congue. Velit egestas dui id ornare. Vitae tempus quam pellentesque nec. Lectus sit amet est placerat in egestas erat imperdiet sed. Et leo duis ut diam quam nulla. Gravida arcu ac tortor dignissim convallis aenean et tortor. Nam aliquam sem et tortor consequat id porta nibh venenatis.
REPLYJOHN SMITH
4/12/2018Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Adipiscing elit pellentesque habitant morbi tristique senectus et netus. Nullam vehicula ipsum a arcu cursus vitae congue mauris rhoncus. Sed sed risus pretium quam vulputate. Fames ac turpis egestas maecenas pharetra convallis posuere. At tempor commodo ullamcorper a lacus vestibulum sed arcu non. Fringilla est ullamcorper eget nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam. Molestie at elementum eu facilisis sed odio. Elit at imperdiet dui accumsan sit amet. Aliquam nulla facilisi cras fermentum odio eu. Cras ornare arcu dui vivamus arcu felis bibendum ut. Scelerisque varius morbi enim nunc faucibus a pellentesque. Ipsum a arcu cursus vitae congue. Velit egestas dui id ornare. Vitae tempus quam pellentesque nec. Lectus sit amet est placerat in egestas erat imperdiet sed. Et leo duis ut diam quam nulla. Gravida arcu ac tortor dignissim convallis aenean et tortor. Nam aliquam sem et tortor consequat id porta nibh venenatis.
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