Book excerpt: Hundreds of photos and maps throughout the guide. Our author lives in Oahu. She has hiked the trails, taken the boats, scuba’d the reefs, dined in the restaurants, visited all the resorts, snorkeled the coastline, explored the hidden waterfalls and she shares all of her knowledge. 4.6 million tourists visit Oahu each year, of whom 3.2 million stay exclusively on Oahu. 780,000 tourists visit the Big Island; 800,000 visit Maui; 530,000 go to Kauai. All tourists come through Oahu because the major airport and deepwater port are there. This is the most thorough guide to the island available, with candid hotel reviews based on personal inspections. Lavish beachfront resorts, rainforest B&Bs, condos, and much more are covered. Restaurant reviews range from the most luxurious dining to the best take-out places. Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Waikiki beach, the state capital and largest city (Honolulu) are major attractions here. The top beaches; secret spots for snorkeling; the best outfitters for everything from diving to deep-sea fishing; the galleries and shops. Accommodations and activities for those traveling with children; how to get married in the islands; the best honeymoon resorts; finding the lowest airfares and package deals. Where to fish, hike, play golf, tennis, scuba, ocean kayak, along with camping, horseback riding, biking, whalewatching – it’s all here.