by PETER GREENBERG

Appropriately translated as “the gathering place,” Oahu is the most visited of Hawaii’s islands. Here are a few reasons.

Most visitors start their Oahu journey on the island’s southeast coast in the city of Honolulu, home to hotels, high-end shopping and world-famous Waikiki Beach.

One of my favourite food destinations is Honolulu’s Chinatown, one of the most diverse Chinatowns in the world. At Kekaulike Market, look for Maguro Brothers, a no-frills place known for its tuna poke and sashimi. A short walk from the market is another favourite: The Pig and the Lady, a contemporary Vietnamese fusion restaurant where you’ll find the Pho French Dip sandwich, or baked scallops bathed in chili satay butter and drizzled with Meyer lemon juice. Another option is the Royal Kitchen, which has been around nearly 50 years and is known for its chicken curry and its Portuguese sausage manapua (buns).

To walk off that food, if it’s the first Friday of the month, stick around and check out the arts walk from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., when streets are closed and there’s entertainment.

Or, you can hike the trail up Diamond Head volcano and its crater, formed by an eruption some 3,000 years ago—a must for stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and Honolulu. If you don’t feel like hiking, take a guided Segway tour of iconic Honolulu sites that includes a glide up Diamond Head Road to the Diamond Head Lighthouse and the Amelia Earhart lookout point.

Don’t miss the open-air Aloha Stadium Swap Meet & Marketplace, which recently reopened on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. It’s full of 400 vendors that sell art, vintage items, souvenirs and collectible “junk,” as well as food. Admission is US$1 for age 12 and older, and free for those 11 and under. Go by car or taxi—this is one big, eclectic market, and chances are you’re going to buy something.