The Oahu island is the economic and cultural centre of the Hawaiian archipelago, as well as being a paradise for surfers, active holidaymakers and freedom lovers. The island is home to more than half of all natives and almost eight million foreign guests annually. Anyone searching for peace and seclusion won’t find either in Honolulu or Waikiki. Traffic congestion and a backdrop of skyscrapers belong to the town panorama. Hip cafes, galleries and young fashion firms have settled here, adding a new and modern flair to the capital. Cindy’s Lei Shoppe, the Chinatown florists, has been here for more than 30 years. This is also because the so-called Leis, the tradition of floral decoration, usually offered as a flower necklace or as a headdress, is still an important part of Hawaiian culture. Keone Nunes is well-known for his traditional tattooing skills, whereby the so-called Kakau Tattoos are virtually hammered into the skin with a hippo tooth. But Oahu is also an island of overwhelming natural beauty and a fascinating diversity on the smallest of places ...
