ALOHA!
Now if it’s your first time to Hawaii, this may seem a little confusing.
You’re planning a trip to Hawaii to one island and you keep reading about Oahu and Honolulu and Waikiki.
I’ve been to Oahu and Honolulu and Waikiki several times, and here’s what you need to know!
Are Oahu and Honolulu and Waikiki all the same?!
Generally speaking, no, Oahu and Honolulu and Waikiki and Hawaii are not all the same.
You cannot necessarily use Oahu and Honolulu and Waikiki interchangeably.
Depending on what you’re talking about, you may be able to use more than one of these place names, but that doesn’t mean they are the same thing.
If it’s your first trip to Oahu, then you will be going to Honolulu, and you will more than likely also be going to Waikiki… probably for 99% of people!
Unless you are different. 😉
And if you are different, then maybe you will be spending all your time on the North Shore or West Oahu.
Then it may not be true that you will be going to Oahu, Honolulu, and Waikiki.
Do people really go to Oahu for the first time and not go to Waikiki?
Since Oahu and Waikiki are not the same thing, it is possible.
Although I would think it’s unlikely for a first time Oahu tourist.
Waikiki is Hawaii’s most famous beach, and there are a lot of things to do in Waikiki!
The island of Oahu
Oahu is the name of an island in the state of Hawaii.
The major Hawaiian islands for tourists are Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, and Kauai.
These are all separate islands.
👆 Map of where Oahu is located in Hawaii. The major Hawaiian islands from north to south (west to east) are Kauai (Lihue), Oahu (Honolulu), Maui (Lahaina), and the Big Island (Kona). Explore the Oahu tourist map! Explore things to do in Waikiki on the Hawaiian island of Oahu!
👆 Flying from Honolulu Airport on the island of Oahu with views of the Diamond Head crater, a famous icon of Oahu. If you will be flying Southwest Airlines to Hawaii, then be sure to check in early to increase your chances of getting a window seat! It’s open seating on Southwest Airlines!
And so…
Is Oahu the Big Island?
No, Oahu and the Big Island are not the same.
Oahu and the Big Island are 2 completely separate islands in the state of Hawaii.
The Big Island is where you want to go if you want to see Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and tons of lava fields in Hawaii!
👆 Map of where the Big Island is located in Hawaii. Once again, the major Hawaiian islands from north to south (west to east) are Kauai, Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island. Explore the Big Island tourist map! Explore things to do on the Big Island!
If you haven’t yet decided on which Hawaiian island to visit, the Big Island is another worthy island for a first trip to Hawaii. (Okay, so they all are worthy in their own way! 😂)
See more about Oahu and the Big Island:
The county of Honolulu
Honolulu is the name of the county that makes up the island of Oahu. (It’s also the name of a city, explained next!)
The County of Honolulu is the entire island of Oahu.
Basically each major island in the State of Hawaii is its own county, although this simplifies it and is not entirely true.
In the case of Maui County, it includes the island of Maui along with other smaller islands as well.
But in talking about the major tourist islands, the counties in the state of Hawaii are Honolulu County (island of Oahu), Maui County (island of Maui), Hawaii County (island called the Big Island), and Kauai County (island of Kauai).
The police officers you will see on the island of Oahu will be police officers of the Honolulu Police Department.
👆 “Honolulu Police” car in Waikiki.
👆 Honolulu Police Department officers in the neighborhood of Waikiki on the island of Oahu in the state of Hawaii. Say ALOHA to the friendly police officers of Oahu! 😄
And so…
Is Honolulu the Big Island?
No, Honolulu and the Big Island are completely different. Honolulu is the island of Oahu, and the Big Island is its own island in Hawaii.
The city of Honolulu
Honolulu is also the name of a city on Oahu.
When people talk about Honolulu, they are usually referring to the city of Honolulu.
Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii.
The Hawaii state government is in Honolulu, which means that the Governor of Hawaii is on the island of Oahu.
So this is usually what is thought of when talking about Honolulu.
But still for reference it is good to know that Honolulu is the name of the county too.
The city of Honolulu as most people would think of would probably be downtown Honolulu… and Honolulu Airport which you will be flying into.
Unless you are different.
If you are different, then maybe you won’t fly into Honolulu, and maybe you are taking a transpacific cruise to Oahu!
Then you will be sailing into the Honolulu Harbor.
And maybe you don’t want to spend your one day in Honolulu by going to Waikiki!
And so…
Is Honolulu on Oahu?
Yes, Honolulu is on the island of Oahu.
Is Oahu the same as Honolulu?
If we think about Honolulu as the city of Honolulu, then no, Oahu and Honolulu are not referring to the same thing.
Honolulu is a city that is on the island of Oahu.
But, you could say that you are flying to Honolulu, and you could say that you are flying to Oahu, and it would be the same.
🌴
The neighborhood of Waikiki
Waikiki is a neighborhood (or district) on the island of Oahu.
Waikiki is basically the tourist hotspot on the island of Oahu.
That’s why it’s likely that most first time tourists to Oahu will end up in Waikiki at some point. Curiosity may get the best of you!
👆 To the right: Trolley in Waikiki on the island of Oahu.
👆 Bike sharing station in Waikiki on the island of Oahu.
And the vast majority of Oahu hotels and Oahu resorts are located in Waikiki, which is another reason most tourists will end up in Waikiki.
Waikiki is also famous for Waikiki Beach. This is the beach that stretches for around 2 miles along the shoreline of Waikiki.
With Waikiki being the tourist hotspot on Oahu, Waikiki Beach is one of the most popular beaches on Oahu.
See more about Waikiki and Oahu:
And that’s a bit about Oahu vs Waikiki vs Honolulu vs Hawaii!
More for your trip to Oahu, Honolulu, Waikiki, and Hawaii:
- What to pack for a Hawaii adventure vacation
- Best things to do on Oahu
- Best Oahu beaches
- Where to go on Oahu by bus from Waikiki
- Swimming shirt
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case
- Swim buoy for swimming in Hawaii
HAPPY TRIP TO WAIKIKI IN THE COUNTY OF HONOLULU ON THE ISLAND OF OAHU IN THE STATE OF HAWAII!
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