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Hanauma Bay
Oahu (orOʻahu) is the third largest of theHawaiian Islands, in theUnited States. It means "the gathering place" (a place where people meet) in theHawaiian language. Most of the people of Hawaii live there (1.0 million of the state's 1.4 million in 2020). The total land area is 608 square miles (1,570 km2).Honolulu, the capital city of Hawaii, is on this island. Other well-known places on Oahu areWaikiki,Pearl Harbor,Diamond Head,Hanauma Bay,Kaneohe Bay, and both the North Shore and Makaha (which are famous for very big ocean waves).
Kamehameha I made Oahu his capital when he became the first king of Hawaii.Iolani Palace was built later on by others of the royal family. It is the only royal palace on American soil.
Oahu was perhaps the first of the Hawaiian Islands which the crew ofHMS Resolution saw on 18 January 1778. This was during CaptainJames Cook's thirdPacific Ocean trip. Europeans did not land on Oahu until 28 February 1779 when Captain Clerke of theHMS Resolution stepped ashore atWaimea Bay. Clerke took command of the ship after Captain Cook was killed at Kealakekua Bay on February 14.
Today, Oahu has become a tourism and shopping center. Almost 7 million visitors (mainly from theAmerican mainland andJapan) go there every year to enjoy the special island holiday found only in Hawaii.
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