The third largest of the Hawaiian islands, Oahu has activities for everyone. Ranging from full relaxation at the beach, to hikes that will leave you exhausted for days, and everything in-between. So here’s 8 things to do on Oahu Hawai’i!
PEARL HARBOR
Visiting Oahu and not going to Pearl Harbor would be a shame. The history of not only Pearl Harbor itself and the role it played in WWII, but also the history of WWII are things we should all know and be aware of. Especially when visiting this island.
Pearl Harbor is a mere minutes drive from the airport. And not only is it free to park, and enter, but also free to visit the USS Arizona and all other exhibits on-site. This makes it an absolute must-visit activity if you plan to visit Oahu. One thing to note though. In order to visit the USS Arizona which is the sunken ship in the harbor, you must take a short ferry from the main area to the over-water exhibit. And depending the wind conditions each day, the National Park Service may suspend the ferries for safety reasons. So make sure you check the current conditions for up to date info on the ferry schedules. However, even in the event that were to happen, there is plenty to see and do here at Pearl Harbor to learn about all of the events of WWII.
KUALOA RANCH
Used as a filming location for a TON of movies and TV shows, Kualoa Ranch is easily one of the best places to visit on the island. And for good reason. The valleys, hills, mountains and views are absolutely incredible. After visiting ourselves, it was VERY obvious to us why this place was used for so many things.
Kualoa Ranch offers a number of different activities from ATV tours, electric bike tours, horseback tours, zip lining, movie set tours as well as a beach excursion. After much deliberation, we opted for the 2-hour ATV tour along with another couple of very close friends of ours. IT. DID. NOT. DISAPPOINT.
First, you get to drive your own ATV Raptor. How cool and fun is that?! The tour takes you throughout the entire ranch and makes periodic stops where the tour guide will fill you in on the specific location and historical information about the ranch. And of course you’ll have plenty of time to take as many photos as your hearts desire. There was a 1-hour tour available, but we felt like 1 hour just wouldn’t be enough to truly soak it all in. And we were right. The first 10-20 minutes, and the last 20-30 minutes are spent driving to and from the main center. This leaves you just over an hour for the tour itself. Let us tell you, the tour goes quickly. But it is WELL worth it.
Prices range between $50-$150 per person depending on the activity and the length of time you wish you do.
HO’OMALUHIA BOTANICAL GARDENS
Roughly 20 minutes south of Kualoa Ranch, is the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens. The entrance to these gardens is a famous Instagram spot where many people and influences have gotten photos on the main road entrance which is lined with palm trees and has incredible views of the hills in the background. But due to not having any areas to pull over and park for photos, the gardens now have a guard at the entrance who monitors all those entering and existing, and cones on the side of the road that prohibit you from pulling over or taking any photos in the road. So if you were hoping to get that epic IG photo from this spot, sadly you won’t be able to without breaking the law and running the risk of being kicked out and fined.
However, the gardens are absolutely beautiful and there are tons are pullouts with plenty of parking lots and spaces to take in the gardens and all they have to offer. You’ll also find a number of campsites, hiking trails, streams and a fresh water reservoir/pond that offer plenty of views of all the tropical plants. The gardens are small enough and big enough that you could easily make a short trip of it or spend half a day there walking and exploring.
There is no cost to enter or park.
HIKES
SO. MANY. HIKES. This island is riddled with amazing hiking trails and views. So many that there is no way we could cover them all. And even friends of ours who have lived previously and currently on Oahu have not covered them all. So we’ll cover the few we HAVE done and help point you in the direction of determining which other ones you may be interested in.
DIAMOND HEAD CRATER
Easily one of the most famous spots on the island the hike is Diamond Head. It’s also one of the more easier hikes as well which is one of the reasons it’s so popular. The monument and trailhead are actually inside the Diamond Head Crater which is located just south of Waikiki. To get there, you can walk, drive or take a bus. From Waikiki, it’s a roughly a 10 minute drive, but if you’re walking like we did, it’s a little over 2mi/3.2km which takes about an hour to walk depending on your pace.
From there, the hike itself is less than 2mi/3.2km round trip. Portions of the hike at the beginning are mostly flat paved sidewalks, but much of the rest of the hike consists of uneven ground, switchbacks and stairs as you climb to the summit. Once you arrive at the summit though, it all makes it well worth it. The incredible 360º views of Waikiki, the beautiful coastline and ridges inland will make you forget everything about the hike up.
- Difficulty – Easy to moderate
- Length – 1.8mi/2.9km round trip from trailhead
- Footwear – Comfy walking or tennis shoes
MAKAPU’U POINT LIGHTHOUSE
A 30 minute drive east from Waikiki, is Makapu’u Point. This hike is moderately easy as well and offers amazing coastal views. There’s designated parking near the trailhead, however depending on when you visit, it is possible that you may have to find parking on the street. The entire trail is completely paved, with moderate inclines, and can get quite windy at times, so despite being a mostly easy trek, it can still be a workout. The trail does lead all the way up to where the lighthouse is, although the lighthouse itself is gated and off limits. Personally, we preferred the view of the lighthouse from further back on the trail.
- Difficulty – Easy to moderate
- Length – 2mi/3.2km round trip from trailhead
- Footwear – Comfy walking or tennis shoes
KULI’OU’OU RIDGE TRAIL
Ok, the last two hikes have been relatively easy, and are popular for that reason (and the views of course). But if you want a hike that will push and test your abilities a bit, but reward you with some of the most epic views at the end, then this hike is for you.
Kuli’ou’ou Ridge Trail is located halfway in between Diamond Head and Makapu’u, and is one of the better ridge trails on the island. To get to the trailhead, you’ll need to drive 20 minutes east of Waikiki through some neighborhoods before arriving to a small little roundabout court that has official state signage for the trailhead. You can park here or anywhere on this street. From here, you begin the trek.
The trail is just under 3mi/4.8km ONE WAY. The trail starts out walking through some decently wooded areas providing good cover. But eventually, you begin to reach some steeper inclines and switchbacks, which require moderate climbing. By the time you reach mile 2, you’ll almost exclusively be climbing steep steps and inclines. But the second you reach the peak… And catch your breathe, you can soak in all the incredible views, and it makes it all worth it. Make sure you spend some quality time up here enjoying the views. Make the trek worth it. Because remember, you still have to hike the 2.8mi/4.5km back down. But please be careful, there are some very steep cliffs up there, and it can get quite windy.
- Difficulty – Moderate to strenuous
- Length – 2.8mi/4.5km round trip from trailhead
- Footwear – Comfy hiking or trail shoes with good traction
Note – Make sure you bring lots of water and snacks to keep you hydrated and energized
AND SO MANY MORE…
Check out AllTrails.com or GoHawaii.com to see what other types of hikes there are that may interest you. Stairway to Heaven is easily one of the most sought after hikes given that it goes some of the best views on the island. But keep in mind, that as of the time this is being written, it is an illegal hike which requires that you trespass on private property and can result in upwards of fines around $1,000. We’ve been told by locals that the state is looking to rectify this and renovate the hike to make it legal again, but no word on when this will officially happen. There is a legal way to get to this summit, but it’s 2-3 times longer than the illegal way. If you’re interested in doing this hike, reach out to @mike.karas on Instagram as he does guided hikes.
Disclaimer: We will NEVER recommend anything that is illegal or requires that you break any form of law, city or government ordinance. These are in place to protect you, the locals and the environment. So please be respectful.
EXPLORING THE COASTS
And after an excruciating trek (we are clearly out of shape and need to work out more), we were treated to an incredible cliffside view at Spitting Cave for some lunch and relaxation.
Just a short drive from the trailhead of Kuli’ou’ou, and just a few steps down a narrow walkway, are some incredible views of the Pacific coastline. Down below, is an underwater cave where turtles apparently like to congregate, so if you’re lucky you may catch a view of some! If the day we were there was any indicator of how it usually is, it was quite windy. So be careful, and make sure you hold on tightly to all of your belongings, because they just might fly away and end up in the ocean. And we DO NOT WANT THAT.
BEACH DAYS
Much like the hiking trails, there are a ton of beaches on this island to enjoy. From Waikiki, Ala Moana, or Kaimana Beaches near the south. To Waimea and Turtle Beaches in the north. Or Kailua and Lanakai beaches in the east, there are SO many to choose from. Many of these beaches offer all sorts of gear like snorkel gear, kayaks or stand up paddle boards that you can use to enjoy your day at the beach. Our recommendation, try out a few of them while exploring around the island. However, if we were to give one recommendation, it would be Lanakai Beach.
LANAKAI BEACH
Lanakai Beach just south of Kailua is incredible long and spacious with plenty of room for everyone. The sand and water are beautiful and you are in prime location to view the Mokes. The Mokes refer to two islands Moku Nui (“Big Island”) and Moku Iki (“Little Island”). One of the things we love most about this beach, is the access to the beach. You’ll drive along Mokulua Drive and park on one of the neighborhood streets, where you’ll find a number of little alleyways leading you to the beach. If you’re one for photo opportunities, these are a perfect spot for a photo op. And when you’re done, enjoy a glorious day at the beach.
Ala Moana, Waikiki and Kailua Beaches can get quite crowded due to their location and popularity. Which is not exactly our style. We like being more secluded and having our space. But if you want to be able to lay at the beach and be in close proximity to restaurants and other major local amenities, then these would probably be the best.
There are SO many other beaches we’ve yet to explore that would be great recommendations. So if you know of any others, definitely let us know below in the comments and we just may have to check them out next time we go!
KAYAKING, PADDLE BOARDING, SNORKELING AND MORE
This one is a bit of an extension of the previous activity, but we felt like it deserved a section of its own. As we mentioned above, you can find gear rentals at pretty much every corner of the island, including most of the major hotels. So whether you’re in to kayaking, paddle boarding, or snorkeling, you’ll find all of these available at most beaches. There are a couple of specific options to call out though.
KUALOA RANCH
We mentioned under the Kualoa Ranch section that they have a ton of tour and activities available. One of them, is a half or full day excursion to Secret Island Beach just south of Kualoa Ranch. The excursion includes things like kayaks, canoes, paddle boards and more. And if you do the full-day option it includes a small bento lunch. This is a great way to enjoy a somewhat secluded beach with great views of Mokoli’i (Chinamans Hat). Prices range between $50-$115 per person depending on if you want the half-day or full-day excursions.
MOKU NUI (THE BIG ISLAND MOKE)
The bigger of the two Mokes, is actually a bird sanctuary, Mokulua Islands State Bird Sanctuary. And from Kailua Beach, you can actually kayak or canoe over to the bird sanctuary and explore the island a bit. There is a rental shop right across the street from Kailua Beach where you can rent all sorts of gear. This is a great way to enjoy the beach, water, and an island full of beautiful birds! Prices for the gear range from $50-$100 depending on the gear and the length of time you plan to rent it for.
HELICOPTER TOUR
Last but not least, if after covering a lot of ground, from well, the ground, you still feel like you need to see more epic views, then a helicopter tour is your best bet. Helicopter tours provide you with some of the most incredible views that you can only get from up above. From smaller tours like viewing the weekly Honolulu fireworks, to longer full-island tours, or tours that take you to Hawai’i Island or Moloka’i. Prices vary from around $200 per person to the thousands for some larger group tours. It’s a pricey experience, but it’s one that gives you an incredibly unique experience and it’s one you’ll never forget. We know we won’t.
ENJOY OAHU HAWAI’I
No matter what you do, or how much time you spend doing it, soak it up. Have fun and enjoy it. Hawai’i and Hawaiian life are beautiful. And if you’re like us and come from a place that is very fast paced, then the island life can feel odd at first. But if you can learn to embrace it, you’ll likely find yourself not wanting to go home.
There are so many other things we didn’t touch on here. Scuba and free diving, sunset cruises, and so much more. But we hope these 8 awesome things to do on Oahu give you an idea of some of the things you CAN do, and where to look. And as always, if you’ve been here and have other recommendations, let us know in the comments below! We’ll likely give them ago ourselves the next time we’re back here.
If you enjoyed this read, check out our articles about Maui and Hawai’i Island! And keep an eye out for our upcoming articles on where to eat and how to plan your visit to Oahu.
- (NEARLY) 7 FREE THINGS TO DO ON MAUI HAWAI’I
- (NEARLY) 7 FREE THINGS TO DO ON HAWAI’I ISLAND HAWAI’I
- (NEARLY) 7 FREE THINGS TO DO ON KAUA’I HAWAI’I
- HOW TO PICK WHICH HAWAIIAN ISLAND TO VISIT
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Thanks for stopping by!
Ryan & Katy
