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They call O‘ahu “The Gathering Place,” and it certainly earns that name. Here, everyone is welcome, and it has the most social vibe of all the Hawaiian Islands. It’s where surfboards and hula skirts share the same beaches, and where you can feel the buzz of city life and the serenity of the jungle within a 15-minute drive of each other.
There are so many things to do in O’ahu, every corner shows you something new and exciting to discover — from the pulsing streets of Waikīkī to the misty ridges of the Ko‘olau Range, from sunrise yoga on a beach to chasing waterfalls and hiking mountains.
History also runs deep in O’ahu — from the solemn echoes of Pearl Harbor to the sacred stones of heiau that predate the written word, there is so much O’ahu can teach you – and no, not by any museum, but by its murals, its food trucks, and its welcoming locals.
If you’re ready to explore O’ahu, then grab your flip-flops and your sense of wonder, because The Gathering Place is ready to gather you, too.
The Go City O’ahu card offers up to 50% off admission to over 40 O’ahu attractions. It’s a great way to save money on your vacation. See more details here.
1. Hike the Diamond Head Walk
One of the most famous activities you can do in Oahu is hike the Diamond Head walk. It was right at the top of our list of things to do in Waikiki and we really enjoyed the views over Waikiki Beach and the Pacific Ocean.
Go early though, we arrived at the entrance at about 8 am and it felt like the whole of Waikiki was there, so I suggest getting there for the park opening at 6:30 am.
Whilst the walk looks hard and steep, our kids managed it no problem as there are a lot of switchbacks making it a relatively easy ascent, and I’d allow at least 90-minutes to complete the walk.
Just be sure to take the 900 steps and follow the crowd in an anticlockwise direction to ease the flow of traffic.
2. Road trip around Oahu
You can’t spend every day laying on the beach in Waikiki, well you could, but driving around the Island of Oahu is a great way to spend a day on your trip to the Hawaiian Islands.
We rented a car in Waikiki and spent a full day driving around Oahu, well half of it – we got to Haleiwa on North Shore Oahu then cut back through the middle of the island to downtown Honolulu.
It was such a pretty drive, especially on the South East Coast. It was also how we discovered Hanauma Bay, Lanikai Beach, the North Shore beaches and the historic town of Haleiwa.
3. Go snorkeling at Hanauma Bay
One of our favorite things to do was snorkeling in Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, which is one of the best places to go snorkeling due to the diversity of marine life there.
Located 30-minutes east of Waikiki, this stunning cove was once a volcanic crater and now plays home to clear blue waters and lively reefs full of colorful fish.
Hot tip: Go early, arrive around breakfast time as this place gets CRAZY busy and there are only 300 parking spots. And if you wait till mid-morning or lunch the water gets churned up which affects visibility for snorkeling.
Bring your own snorkeling gear if you have it, though you can rent gear there. We rented masks, snorkels, and fins from a kiosk at the beach.
Hanauma Bay is open every day except Tuesdays. There is an entrance fee for adults but kids 12 and under are FREE.
4. Take a tour of Pearl Harbor
One of the most important and historical points of interest is Pearl Harbor. We questioned whether it would be appropriate for our kids to do a tour of Pearl Harbor and would it be worth the expense?
They’d never been exposed to anything to do with war before, and another day relaxing on Waikiki Beach is hard to give up.
But I’m glad we did; it was a fantastic educational experience for our kids.
It was a beautiful memorial, and you can visit the grounds and museum before catching a boat over to the USS Arizona Memorial, the ship that sunk and is now the resting place of 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors and Marines killed.
You can also wander the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, The Battleship Missouri Memorial, and USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park.
This is the place to go to learn more about WWII history and Hawaii’s involvement in the war. As we were short on time, and without a car, we joined a tour.
Depending on your available time and budget, consider the half day tour or full day tour through Get Your Guide, both come highly recommended and have skip-the-line tickets!
5. Spend a few hours (or a whole day) on Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach is the most famous beach on Oahu and is a must-see. Whilst the main section in front of The Royal Hawaiian Hotel (the Flamingo Pink) gets crowded, and it can be hard to find a spot to put your towel, as a city tourist beach we were impressed.
The water is perfectly temperate, generally safe for kids to swim with calm waves, and the views over Diamond Head are like a picture from a postcard!
It’s here where most of the outrigger boats operate and learn to surf schools. Once you get sick of the beach, you are right near the main shopping area of Waikiki along Kalakaua Ave.
Families who love to shop will want to visit the Royal Hawaiian Center, an outdoor shopping center in the shopping district of Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki.
6. Swim at Lanikai Beach
Probably our favorite spot on our drive around Oahu was Lanikai Beach. Consistently rated the best beach in Oahu, this strip of beach is just gorgeous and a perfect place to stop and have a swim with your kids.
It was so much quieter than Waikiki Beach or Hanauma Bay when we visited, and would be a great spot for kayaking or stand up paddle boarding – if we had more time we would have kayaked to the nearby islands or enjoyed supping.
7. Indulge in an acai bowl
We’ve had acai bowls before in Australia and abroad, but they seem to be on offer everywhere in Hawaii. And if you’re looking for a healthy breakfast option, it’s hard to go wrong with this superfood from Brazil.
If you haven’t tried one before, an acai bowl is like a really thick smoothie topped with oatmeal and fruit.
For a great acai bowl, we recommend the Heavenly Island Lifestyle Cafe, or Bogarts Café & Espresso Bar – eat at Bogarts after you have done the Diamond Head walk (25-minute walk from the Monument, so if your kids are tired catch an Uber).
8. Take a surfing lesson
Our eldest daughter Kalyra learned how to surf back in Australia, so she just wanted to hire her own board and play in the waves with me.
But if you are interested in learning to surf, Waikiki Beach is one of the best places to learn. With clear waist deep water and gentle waves, you’ll be standing up in no time.
There are several operators spanning the beach, offering group or private lessons, and a 90-minute surfing lesson could set you back over $100.
Or you can simply do what we did and hire a board – we paid a quarter of the price for two hours of board hire and took it in turns!
9. Enjoy a Waikiki Sunset
Just press play every evening and nature will provide a stunning sunset over Waikiki Beach. After a day of exploring Oahu or shopping in Waikiki, why not grab a spot on the sand or sit in one of the restaurants on the beach to enjoy a spectacular Waikiki sunset?
Sunset is also a good time for a walk along the beach, especially down the western end of Waikiki near the Hilton Hawaiian Village – some cool bars along that stretch too!
10. Visit Manoa Falls
Manoa falls is a huge 150-foot waterfall, which is a wonderful sight to behold. Its magnitude is impressive, and the surrounding green landscape with trees almost as tall as the falls and moss-lined cliff faces, makes it feel even more powerful.
The waterfall lands in a pool, though it’s not really for swimming. You’ll find plenty of hiking trails, picnic areas and scenic views in the surrounding park.
11. Witness Big Wave Surfing
We were hoping to witness the world-famous surf that North Shore Oahu is famous for, but considering we visited in March, we were a little too late.
It’s wintertime when the huge waves roll in (between November and February is best), so if you find yourself in Hawaii during winter, be sure to watch some big wave surfers in swell that can reach up to thirty feet high!
We still stopped in at the famous North Shore beaches including Sunset Beach, Pipeline, and Waimea Bay for a look on our drive around Oahu, with some decent waves still rolling in at Pipeline.
12. Play at Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon
Even if you don’t stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki, I highly recommend you take your kids to this lagoon.
We enjoyed a fun afternoon playing on the paddle boats, stand-up paddle boarding, swimming, and kicking back on the sand.
Kalyra loved perfecting a cartwheel on the stand-up paddle-board (SUP) how does she do that? And Caz had fun taking Savannah for a ride on the SUP board.
It’s a safe place for families to hang out and a popular spot to take in the sunset.
13. Eat Poke
For a traditional Hawaiian dish, order some poke. This healthy food is trending around the world and people are embracing it. In case you didn’t know, Poke is a japanese/Hawaiian infused dish made with fresh raw fish, cold rice, and salad.
One place we ate Poke at was the Barefoot Beach Cafe, which is like a beachside kiosk with amazing ocean views – it’s a locals fave!
We ordered the spicy and Hawaiian poke and enjoyed the fresh, light, tasty and healthy dish.
14. Relax on Kahanamoku Beach
Looking for a bit more space to lay your towel for sunbathing and calmer waters for a swim? Kahanamoku Beach is a curved section of beach at the western end of Waikiki, right in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort.
The sand is golden and the water crystal clear. It’s protected by the breakwater and pier, and if you fancy a snorkel there’s coral running between them.
It would be easy to spend a day under one of those beach umbrellas.
15. Drink a Lanikai Juice
After our swim at beautiful Lanikai Beach, we stopped in Lanikai Town and grabbed a smoothie from the Lanikai Juice Bar before continuing on our North Shore road trip.
This bar is awesome, with a great range of drinks and food from smoothies to juices to healthy salads – definitely make a pit stop here on your drive around Oahu.
16. Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
Who loves shrimp? In the North Shore of Oahu, the town of Haleiwa, a lovely historic town with a congregation of food trucks on the side of the highway – one being Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck.
The shrimp truck industry is thriving on the North Shore, and Giovanni’s was the first truck to begin serving shrimp back in 1993.
We ordered their shrimp scampi, a dish that has made Giovanni’s famous – a dozen shrimp marinated in olive oil, fresh chopped garlic, and rice drizzled with a garlic lemon butter. Delish!
17. Relax on Kuhio Beach
If the main section of Waikiki Beach or Kahanamoku Beach is not to your liking, you have another option in Kuhio Beach.
Further east toward Diamond Head, this family-friendly section of beach is protected from the ocean waves by a sea wall and is away from the hustle and bustle
It’s pretty here with the palm trees and uninterrupted views of Diamond Head.
Kapiolani Beach Park is another family-friendly beach in Waikiki. Across from here is Kapiolani Park named after Queen Kapiolani. This 300 acre park also has the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Shell, and basketball courts.
18. Cool down with shave ice
In need of a cool treat? Shave ice is a popular dessert in Hawaii made by shaving a block of ice with flavored syrups added and absorbed by the ice.
The most famous shave ice in Oahu is at Matsumoto in Haleiwa, but we took one look at the LONG line and kept driving. We ended up buying our kids shave ice from a food truck called Snow Factory at the same location as Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck.
There was no line and our kids had nothing to compare it to and loved their treat!
19. See a Polynesian Luau
Can you come to Hawaii and not see a Luau? Probably not! A favorite memory from our trip was when Savannah got a tattoo from one of the male performers at the Starlight Luau who happened to look just like Maui from Moana.
We had her convinced it was him and the look on her face was priceless.
You might think a Luau would be a bit kitsch and over-touristy, but we thoroughly enjoyed the dancing and music from the show which highlights the stories and culture of the different Polynesian islands.
The spirit of the Hawaiian people really shines through, and a buffet dinner and a couple of free drinks never go astray – mai tai time anyone – put it on your list of things to do on Oahu with kids. It’s important they learn the cultural significance of the places they visit.
20. Eat WONUTS
We’d never had a wonut before, and the minute we arrived at the Hilton Garden Inn the friendly bellboy enthusiastically suggested we must try the wonuts downstairs at the TR Fire Grill.
What’s a wonut? I hear you ask. It’s a hybrid between a waffle and a donut. After the kids begged us for long enough, we gave in and they got to try them for dessert one evening. I have to say, the combination was worth the hype.
21. Learn about Pineapple Farming at the Dole Plantation
The Dole Pineapple Plantation is half a museum and half amusement park. It’s where you can learn all about the history and cultivation of pineapples in Hawaii, and also ride the Pineapple Express land train. There’s also a maze and garden.
If you’re looking for fun things to do with kids, this is definitely up there as one of the more unique activities.
22. Snorkel in the Turtle Canyon
Have you ever wanted to snorkel with green sea turtles? Then a cruise out to Turtle Canyon is where you want to go.
Oahu’s Turtle Canyon is about a 2-3-hour journey out from Waikiki by boat and is the best place to find sea turtles in their natural habitat. In fact, some snorkel tours are so confident you will see a turtle, that if you don’t, you get your tour for free!
Sometimes you might also see dolphins and whales as you make your way to Turtle Canyon. And of course, you’ll see plenty of tropical fish.
23. Swim with sharks
If you want to take on a more adrenaline-fueled activity in Oahu, then how about swimming with sharks? Sharks often get a bad rep because of horror movies like Jaws and Sharknado, but they are actually very misunderstood creatures.
They are still dangerous though, which is why it’s best to swim with sharks via a shark cage, to separate you from these wild predators.
The sharks are usually found off the coast of Oahu’s North Shore in the deep blue Pacific Ocean. Here you can find wild Galapagos, Hammerhead, and Sandbar sharks. The sharks can be anywhere from 5-15 feet long, so this is definitely not an activity for the faint-hearted.
If you time your visit right, you might also see whales and dolphins on your way out to the shark spot.
24. Go whale watching
Of course, no trip to Hawaii would be complete without going whale watching. The best time to see whales is from December to May when these majestic creatures come to Oahu to give birth to their calves.
You can see whales from the shore in certain spots, if you look closely and have a pair of binoculars. Otherwise, you can take boat tours out on the West Coast.
This is the best way to see them in their natural habitat but from a safe distance so as not to disturb them.
25. Hike the Stairway to Heaven
The Haiku Stairs, or the Stairway to Heaven, is a challenging hike up 3,000 steps to the ridges of the Oahu’s Ko’olau mountain range. The ladder is a steep, steel staircase that was used by the former U.S. Navy to get to their communication facility.
Today, it’s a popular hiking trail that leads to the breathtaking scenery of the rugged mountains. Reaching the summit is definitely a rewarding experience, though may be too challenging for those visiting Oahu with kids.
26. Hike up to Koko Head for sunrise
Another challenging hike in Oahu is the Koko Head Crater Tramway hike. This hike takes you up a vertical 2.6-km former tramway, which takes you to a viewpoint from the top of Koko Head.
It’s best completed for sunrise, as the views are just incredible when washed in the orange glow of morning.
It takes roughly an hour and a half to hike this trail, but it’s steep, so not suitable for those with small kids or dogs. Be sure to visit Koko Crater Botanical Garden while you’re there.
27. Spend a day at Kailua Beach
Without a doubt, you must make sure to spend a day at Kailua Beach. Kailua Beach is a soft white sand beach that’s great for kite surfing and snorkeling.
It’s well maintained and has all the facilities you might need including changing rooms and showers. This is the beach you go to if you enjoy swimming and sunbathing.
28. See the turtles sunning on Laniakea Beach
Laniakea Beach is also known as Turtle Beach, and is famous for being the place where many Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles come to bask in the sun. It’s a protected beach and not really for swimming, aside from being home to turtles the waves are really big, but you can see plenty of turtles enjoying some rays here.
29. Explore the natural beauty of Waimea Valley
Oahu is really a true paradise on Earth, and if you need proof of this, you only need to visit Waimea Valley. It’s a lush, green landscape known for its hiking trails and waterfalls.
The hike through the valley is around 3.5-miles and is mostly flat, paved ground, which is perfect for families. The path passes through gorgeous gardens and historical sites, as well as passing the iconic Waimea Falls.
30. Learn about Hawaiian Culture at the Polynesian Cultural Center
Visit the Polynesian Cultural Center and see Hawaiian culture come to life. The Polynesian Cultural Center is a large living-museum and cultural theme attraction located in La‘ie, on the northern shore of O‘ahu.
The Center opened in 1963, and showcases multiple villages representing different Polynesian cultures (Hawaiʻi, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji, Aotearoa/New Zealand etc.). In each village, you can see arts, crafts, performances, traditional architecture, food, games, dance, and music.
There are daily shows and Lu’aus, with the main show in the evening, HĀ: Breath of Life, a theatrical performance with dance, music, and fire, which tells the stories of Polynesia.
31. Learn at Honolulu’s Bishop Museum
Honolulu’s Bishop Museum is Hawaii’s largest museum where you can learn the cultural history of Hawaii and the Pacific. Kids will love the planetarium and Science Adventure Center here as well.
The original purpose was to house the heirlooms and artifacts inherited by Princess Pauahi — royal items, traditional Hawaiian objects, etc. Over time the museum has expanded to include the natural history, anthropology, and broader Pacific culture.
32. Learn about royalty at Iolani Palace
For more cultural history, visit the Iolani Palace, the home of Hawaii’s last reigning monarchs and served as the official royal residence and the residence of the Kingdom’s political and social life until the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893.
33. Go on a Jurassic Park film set tour
Kualoa Ranch is where you’ll find your Jurassic Park scenery and movie setting tour. It’s a large private nature reserve, working cattle ranch, cultural site, and Hollywood film set on the windward (east) coast of Oʻahu.
A popular way to explore the film set is via ATV or “Raptor” tours, and you can also go ziplining (multiple lines and suspension bridges), horseback riding, hiking, or on jungle/valley treks.
If you want to get up close and personal with the Jurassic Park scenery, then consider hiking the Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail, which is a 7.6 km hike along the jagged ridge-line that looks like the one you see in the movies. It’s a hard hike and we were visiting with kids, so didn’t do this, but you can see the trail map here.
34. Visit Byodo-In Temple
Byodo-In Temple is located in the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park, in Kāneʻohe on the windward side of Oʻahu, at the foothills of the Koʻolau Mountains.
The temple is a scaled-replica of the historic Byōdō-in Temple in Uji, Japan, which is over 900 years old (with roots from the 11th century), and was dedicated in August 1968, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaiʻi.
35. Boat out to Kaneohe Sandbar
The Kāneʻohe Sandbar (also called Ahu o Laka) is a natural sand formation in the middle of Kāneʻohe Bay, which emerges during low tide as a stretch of white sand surrounded by shallow, calm waters.
Because it’s within the bay, the waters around it are relatively protected by reefs, which helps keep the water calm and more suitable for swimming, snorkeling, and stand up paddle boarding.
This is a “tide‐dependent” attraction, making it one of the best hidden gems on O’ahu. At low tide, more sand is exposed (you can walk on the sandbar itself), whereas at higher tide it may be submerged.
Getting around Oahu
Oahu is a reasonably simple island to get around. It’s a small island and has a bus network that connects most parts of the island. The bus is inexpensive, but it’s slow. You do need some patience when waiting for the bus.
The best way to get around the island is by car. You can rent a car pretty easily and drive from A to B. DiscoverCars.com is the best way to find a rental car. It’s the world’s biggest car rental booking service that compares all the major brands like Hertz, Avis, and Alamo.
If you want to step your trip up a notch, consider embarking on a road trip and camping in an RV. Outdoorsy is the largest RV rental marketplace on the planet. They offer ease, flexibility, and some unique and cool campervans for your Oahu road trip.
If you’re planning on seeing other islands in Hawaii on your trip, you’ll need to take internal flights from island to island as ferries no longer operate. Skyscanner is the best way to find cheap flights.
Where to stay in Oahu
O‘ahu is wonderfully diverse and each town offers something unique. Whether you want surf towns, beach resorts, or lush mountain hideaways, you can find it here. If you want to be in the center of it all, Waikīkī is the ideal tropical urban playground. High-rise resorts, family-friendly hotels, and boutique stays line the iconic crescent beach, with Diamond Head watching over it all.
Just west of Waikīkī, Honolulu’s downtown offers a more local vibe and is where we would recommend for first-time visitors. Kaka‘ako has transformed from warehouses to one of O‘ahu’s coolest creative hubs — think street art, quirky cafés, microbreweries, and modern condos.
O’ahu’s North Shore trades skyscrapers for surfboards. In winter, massive waves draw pros to legendary breaks like Pipeline and Waimea Bay; in summer, the ocean calms into a family-friendly lagoon. For a resort experience without the crowds, Ko Olina on the island’s sunny west side is a man-made lagoon with calm and kid-friendly waters, framed by luxury hotels like the Four Seasons and Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa.
Here are some top recommended hotels in Oahu:
- We stayed at the Hilton Waikiki Beach which was family-friendly and within an easy walk to restaurants and attractions in Waikiki Beach.
- Hilton Hawaiian Village is another family-friendly hotel we stayed at in Oahu.
You can find more accommodation options in Oahu in the following interactive map:
Final thoughts
We spent six days on Oahu and it wasn’t nearly enough. The island may be small, but it has a lot to do! There scenery and landscape is jaw-dropping and the attractions were fascinating; where else in the world would you see a volcanic crater turned into a cemetery?
With top attractions in Oahu such as Pearl Harbor and the stunning beaches of Waikiki, you will never run out of things to do. In fact, the capital of Honolulu has enough attractions to fill a week.
If you’re not sure what to do in Oahu, then we hope you do now. As you can see, I wasn’t wrong when I said the island has a lot to offer. It’s why it made our list of best places to visit in the USA with teens.
Whether you’re staying for a week or a weekend, you now have the resource to plan a really unforgettable trip.
Free Oahu Bucket List PDF
Don’t miss these amazing Oahu experiences and attractions. Your free printable PDF bucket list will help your planning.
More Hawaii Travel Tips
Are you planning to visit other islands in Hawaii? Then you should check out these other resources:
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What are you most excited to do on Oahu? Let us know in the comments!
