Hawaiian Islands beckon as winter weather arrives

The Hawaiian Islands continue to be a popular destination with our clients, and many return year after year. Each island has its own personality, topography and unique sightseeing "musts." We will feature Oahu this month, with personal observations from our agents who have visited recently.

Oahu, the third largest of the islands, totals 604 square miles. It amounts to less than one-tenth of the state's land area, but has more than 80 percent of its more than 1 million residents.

Honolulu is the state's capital, population more than 800,000. Most residents live in the southern urban part of the is-land, between the mountains and the sea.

Honolulu's high-rise downtown business center is just four miles from high-rise Waikiki. Pearl Harbor, 14 miles west of downtown, is home to the Pacific Fleet. Rural Oahu has scenic coastal highways and the central valley is home to sugar cane and pineapple fields.

Oahu has more attractions, more relics from the missionary and monarchical era, museums, shopping, day cruises, tours and sports available than any of the neighbor islands.

Honolulu has been the capital of the Hawaiian Islands since 1845 when King Kamehameha III moved his capital there from Lahaina on Maui. Both Honolulu and Lahaina were important whaling centers, but Honolulu's deep-water harbor had the advantage in its development as a port.

Kamehameha I, from the Big Island, conquered Oahu in 1790 and later united all the islands. He founded a dynasty that lasted until 1872. A republic was de-clared in 1893, and in 1898 came annexation by the United States

In 1887 the United States secured rights to Pearl Harbor, but it wasn't until the Spanish-American War in 1898 that Hawaii's strategic importance was recognized.

Today in Oahu, the U.S. command center for the Pacific, military spending is second only to tourism in importance to the economy.

Tourism tips:

Oahu has an incredible variety of attractions. There are historic monuments like Punchbowl National Cem-etery, the final resting place of thousands of World War II, Korean and Vietnam war veterans.

The Arizona Memorial is one of the most popular attractions and well worth the visit. A shuttle is offered to the museum and memorial. Call to arrange for a time and place to be picked up.

It is about a 30-minute ride to Pearl Harbor, where you will be shown a 20-minute movie, taken to the memorial by a Navy boat, and given time to wander around the memorial as long as you like. The USS Bowlin, a restored World War II submarine, also is on exhibit.

Historic Hawaiian sites such as the Iolani Palace should not be missed. It is America's only Royal Palace and is where Hawaii's last two monarchs lived. Oahu also has Hawaii's largest collection of museums and exhibits, which allow seeing how ancient Polynesians lived.

Many attractions are simply fun vacation experiences, such as luaus, Poly-nesian shows, sunset cruises, a zoo and aquarium and water parks.

A great way to get around Oahu is the public bus system. It is inexpensive, and most attractions can be reached by bus.

There are attractive rates being offered right now, so check with your travel agent. You could escape from winter to a beach this year.

(Linda Strait is president of House of Travel Inc., a full-service travel agency in Springfield.)