Oahu] What is Hawaii's only World Heritage Site, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park? What to see and recommended tours

Oahu, Hawaii's most popular resort island

The island of Oahu in Hawaii is a popular resort destination loved by people from all over the world.

Oahu is truly a tropical paradise with palm trees, wide blue skies, endless emerald green beaches and coastlines, and a vast expanse of nature.
You can enjoy visiting fashionable tourist spots and cafes, and spend a relaxing and blissful time on this island.

There are also a great variety of marine activities, such as snorkeling in the clear waters where sea turtles can be seen, and surfing on the beach where big waves come crashing in.
Outside of the ocean, you can also experience the great outdoors firsthand by hiking in the vast mountains and jungles.

 

What is Oahu like?

The Hawaiian Islands consist of Oahu, Hawaii, Maui, and Kauai, with Oahu being the most visited island throughout the year.

The islands offer scenic views of Hawaii's iconic "Diamond Head," Waikiki Beach, and luxury resort hotels along the beach. The comfortable year-round climate is also an attractive feature of the island.

 

How to get to Oahu

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (Honolulu Airport) on Oahu Island is the gateway to Hawaii, accessible by direct flights from Japan. Direct flights from Narita and Haneda Airports are available daily on JAL, ANA, Hawaiian Airlines, Delta Airlines, and other airlines, and take from 7 to 9 hours.

In addition, direct flights are available from major cities in Japan such as Kansai, Nagoya, Fukuoka, and Sapporo by JAL and ANA airlines.

 

Attractions of Oahu

On Oahu, you can enjoy both the beautiful ocean and the great outdoors, as well as gourmet food and shopping to your heart's content.

You want to dress up and enjoy your meal at a stylish café or restaurant. One of the attractions of Hawaii is that you can enjoy a variety of gourmet foods, such as Hawaiian sweets that look great on Instagram, stylish American diners, upscale restaurants, and Hawaiian local cuisine served in a local atmosphere.

 

Beautiful beaches and vast wilderness

When most people think of Hawaii, they think of the famous Waikiki Beach. 3 kilometers of beautiful white sand long beach, Waikiki, is the most representative scenery of Oahu.

Kailua Beach, voted the best beach in the U.S., is a protected area for sea turtles, and if you are lucky, you can snorkel with them. There are many beautiful beaches on the island of Oahu, each with its own unique scenery and marine life.

Also, only in Hawaii can you experience nature firsthand by trekking, jungle trails, horseback riding, golfing, and other activities, including Diamond Head.

Enjoy a moment of healing in the midst of untouched nature, bathed in negative ions.

 

One of the world's leading resorts

The Waikiki area is lined with luxury resort hotels, luxury villas, condominiums, and other famous hotels from around the world. Wouldn't you like to stay at a famous hotel and enjoy pools, spas, relaxation, and elegant hospitality?

At the resort hotels on Oahu, you can see Waikiki Beach from your room, and the sunset view will take your breath away.

It is a popular destination for family vacations, graduation trips, and honeymoons, and resort hotels offer golf and swimming pools with large sliders.

 

Shopping and restaurants are also recommended

Many people may visit Hawaii for shopping.

On Oahu Island, there is "Ala Moana Center," one of the world's largest open-air shopping malls, including "Whole Foods Market," which is frequented by celebrities, where you can enjoy shopping to your heart's content at luxury brand stores.

Enjoy shopping for luxury brand goods, American brands, Hawaiian goods, Hawaiian jewelry, cosmetics, foodstuffs, and more.

 

Hawaii's only World Heritage Site
About Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the only World Heritage Site in Hawaii, offers dynamic scenery. It is a popular tourist area where you can view the sacred and powerful volcanoes, which have become a power spot.

Let us introduce Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in detail.

 

Kilauea Volcano

Kilauea Volcano, located in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, is the most active volcano in the world and is considered sacred by the native Hawaiians. It is said to be sacred to the indigenous people of Hawaii. It is a moving experience to see the powerful volcanic activity up close, such as the "fire hose" of magma flowing out of the volcano into the ocean in large quantities.

It is also possible to drive around the caldera of Kilauea Volcano and view the volcanic activity, which is also known as a "drive-in volcano.

 

Puu Oo Crater

Located on Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the active crater is the Puu Oo Crater. For many years, red lava has been flowing out of Puu Oo Crater, but Hawaiian scientists say that eruptive activity is coming to a halt due to topographic changes in 2018.

Although volcanic activity cannot be seen nowadays, one can still get close and view the Puu Oo crater.

 

Halemaumau Crater

Halemaumau Crater, a power spot located in the center of Kilauea Volcano, is powerful and full of attractions. Located in the Kilauea Caldera, the huge crater is still active today.

Pele, the volcano goddess of Hawaiian mythology, is said to live there, and legend has it that when Pele gets angry, the volcano erupts. Because of this legend, Halemaumau Crater is called "Amau Sida (Pele's house)" in Hawaiian.

 

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Highlights

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is a vast area that includes Kilauea Volcano and Mauna Loa Mountain and is full of attractions. Make a first stop at the Kilauea Visitor Center to get eruption information and a free map of the area.

The Kilauea Visitor Center also has a gift store where you can find souvenirs and purchase gifts for yourself.

Drive or trek around "Kilauea Volcano," the biggest attraction of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, to view the volcanic activity and enjoy the powerful scenery. In addition to Kilauea Volcano, visitors can experience the Puu Pu'ai Lookout, Kilauea Trail, Chain of Craters Road, Steam Vents, and many more to experience nature and volcanoes firsthand.

 

Seeing a volcano in the flesh is a powerful experience

Kilauea Volcano is a powerful volcano that you can see up close and personal, and it is a memory you will never forget. You can drive around the volcano, walk the trails, and experience the active volcano at your leisure.

Enjoy Kilauea Volcano, said to be the most active volcano in the world.

 

You can feel the power of nature.

At Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you can also see endemic Hawaiian species and tropical plants, and feel the power of the ancient indigenous people.

The Kilauea volcano, which continues to be active, offers a wonderful opportunity to see the power of nature and the heartbeat of the earth up close.

 

Feel the strong power!

Visitors can experience firsthand the powerful Kilauea Volcano and the beating heart of the earth and its powerful power, as well as the Halemaumau Crater, which appears in Hawaiian mythology. This is a World Heritage Site where you can learn about Hawaii's deep-rooted traditional culture and other aspects of the island.

Come and enjoy the feeling of being purified at a power spot.

 

Things to do when sightseeing

When touring Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, comfortable athletic shoes or trekking shoes are recommended.

It is also recommended to wear long sleeves and long pants to avoid the risk of injury. Since the sun is strong in Hawaii, be sure to bring sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. If you plan to visit Kilauea Volcano at night, remember to bring a flashlight.

And be sure to bring mineral water, as food and drink are hard to come by in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Please observe the manners and rules at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a World Heritage Site.

 

Directions from Oahu

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is located on the Big Island of Hawaii, but is accessible on a day trip. There are daily direct flights from Honolulu Airport on Oahu to Hilo Airport on Hawaii Island.

Hawaiian Airlines or Southwest Airlines, an LCC, operates the flight, which takes about one hour. It takes about 45 minutes from Hilo Airport to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park by rental car.

From the airport, drive south on the "Hilo Belt Road" and you will see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The number of local buses is limited daily, so renting a car or taking a tour is recommended.

 

Recommended Tours from Oahu

Let's take a look at some recommended Hawaii Volcanoes National Park tours that can be taken as day trips from Oahu.

You can enjoy Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to the fullest and tour the sights of the Big Island.

 

Hawaii Island World Heritage Kilauea Volcano Day Tour
Visit Kilauea Caldera and Steam Vents + Lava Plateau Walk

The "Hawaii Island World Heritage Kilauea Volcano Day Tour" is a popular one-day tour from Oahu. This one-day tour is recommended for those who are short on time, and it efficiently visits major sightseeing points.

The tour includes a visit to Kilauea Volcano from a safe location, the popular lava plateau walk, the statue of King Kamehameha the Great, and a stroll through downtown Hilo. Loco moco, Hawaii's soul food, will be served for lunch, and a lava lunch box will be served on the lava for dinner.

 

Hawaii Island World Heritage Kilauea Volcano Day Tour
Lava Walk and Hawaii Island Sightseeing

This tour is a day trip from Oahu to the World Heritage Site of Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii.

You can take the popular lava hike, visit the crater of Kilauea Volcano and the caldera, and have a very satisfying World Heritage tour. After visiting Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you can see Rainbow Falls, stroll through downtown Hilo on the Big Island, and go shopping at Big Island Candy.

 

Hawaii Island World Heritage Kilauea Volcano Day Tour
Halemaumau Crater + Black Sand Beach at noon

This popular tour is a day trip from Oahu to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. At Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, you can visit Halemaumau Crater and view the steam vents where steam erupts from the ground.

In addition, visitors can enjoy the scenery of the black sand beach formed over a long period of time, and if they are lucky, they will be able to see sea turtles that visit the black sand beach.

After visiting Hawaii Island's popular Rainbow Falls, visitors can shop and purchase souvenirs at local farmers' stores or at the famous Big Island Candies.

 

summary

We have introduced you to the Hawaiian island of Oahu and Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, a World Heritage Site on the Big Island of Hawaii.

Enjoy marine activities such as swimming and snorkeling in the beautiful waters of Oahu, and get a close-up view of Kilauea Volcano at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii Island for a powerful and moving experience.