Number 5: Oahu
Oahu’s golf scene was boosted in 2003 with the opening of Royal Kunia, located
35 minutes from Honolulu and blessed with views of iconic Diamond Head, an
extinct volcano. Farther along the leeward coast is Ko Olina, a pleasant spread
accented by waterfalls. The course is attached to the JW Marriott Ihilani
Resort, a big-box hotel with good views of Kaena Point.
Feeling macho? Head
to the island’s windward side and cross swords with Koolau, a 7,310-yard monster
rated as the toughest in the U.S. Set within the crater of an ancient
volcano and walled in by a 2,000-foot ridge, the course snakes around
ball-swal-lowing, jungle-choked ravines. Bring two balls for every stroke in
your handicap. Spectacular views take the sting out of high scores.On Oahu’s
north tip is Turtle Bay Resort, a revitalized 36-hole complex. The George Fazio
course, the recent beneficiary of a new nine, offers a pleasant test, while the
Arnold Palmer course, host to Champions and LPGA Tour events, is an
eco-sensitive gem that forms a horseshoe around a wetlands preserve and bird
sanctuary.
The undisputed center of the surf universe, Oahu is known for its
North Shore sites like Sunset Beach, Pipeline and Waimea, where the winter surf
is mountainous. Beginners should stick to Waikiki Beach, where the waves are
manageable.
When in Oahu, go local: shave ice, mahi mahi burgers, outrigger
canoes, kiteboard-ing. Honolulu’s Chinatown, popular with GIs in the 1940s, is a
nightlife hotspot with dozens of new bars and clubs along Hotel Street. Other
diversions: the somber memorial at Pearl Harbor, ethnographic displays at the
Bishop Museum, people watching on tourist-thronged Waikiki.
