10 Best Things to do on Oahu
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Are you planning a trip to Hawaii and spending some time on Oahu? Lucky for you, I have a list of my top things to do on Oahu for your next trip. I did most of these on my most recent trip with my husband, but I think these would be great ideas for families too! There is something for everyone’s interests here.
Kualoa Ranch
Kualoa Ranch is absolutely beautiful and is a popular filming spot for movies! They have a ton of different adventurous activities to explore the area and see filming locations from movies such as Jurassic Park. They offer a wide variety of tours including tours, including one where you get to drive a UTV. We had such a fun time on the UTV tour. Be sure to book in advance on their website!
Pack clothes you don’t mind getting dirty for this one and bring a rain jacket in case of wet weather.
Hike Diamond Head
Diamond Head sits near the edge of Waikiki Beach and has a cone/crater-shaped structure formed by volcanic activity a long time ago. The hiking trail to the top is incredibly popular and for good reason! The views at the top are absolutely stunning. We hiked up to the top right around sunrise and it was truly an incredibly special start to our trip. If you struggle waking up early enough and are coming from another U.S. state, I recommend doing this the first morning of your trip to make good use of that time difference.
You’ll most likely need a rental car or other transportation to get here. Tours like this one can make things easier because they include pickup and dropoff from your hotel and the park entrance fees.
Waikiki Beach
Every beach I’ve visited in Hawaii has been absolutely stunning. While Waikiki Beach wasn’t my favorite of all of the beaches I visited, this incredibly famous location is worth visiting at least once on your trip. Most of the more famous hotels are nearby and the area is a hub for tourist activity. There are plenty of good restaurants nearby so you can spend a day at the beach and grab lunch, dinner, or some shave ice when you’re ready for a meal or a snack.
Honolulu Zoo
While I have been to more impressive zoos, I still had a great time at the Honolulu Zoo. It’s a smaller zoo located near Waikiki Beach. You could squeeze it in to your itinerary for just a couple of hours. It’s definitely worth the visit if you love animals or are visiting with kids.
Pearl Harbor
This one is an obvious one for those who like history. They have museums but also the opportunity to tour a WWII submarine and step on board the USS Missouri or the USS Arizona Memorial. This one is great for history buffs.
Explore the North Shore
You’ll probably be staying in Honolulu when you visit but it is so worth it to rent a car and drive over to the North Shore for half a day or a full day. They have a variety of food trucks, surfers to watch, and cute little shops to explore. If you’re ending your day here, stop by Sunset Beach to watch the beautiful sunset.
We love doing this as part of our drive around the island day. We rent a car and drive a full circle around the island, stopping at interesting places along the way. There are also tours that will take you around the island if you want to do something similar without renting a car.
Whale Watching Tour
If you’re visiting in the winter months, be sure to book a whale-watching tour! We actually did ours in Maui but there are plenty around Oahu as well. The whales swim down to this area when it gets too cold up north and these tours are so worth the experience!
Dole Plantation
This would be a great place to stop by as you’re heading towards or back from the North Shore to your hotel in Honolulu. It’s cool to see how the pineapples grow and they have plenty of activities for kids. While you’re here, make sure to try a dole whip with fresh pineapple! Or try your hand at the pineapple maze and look for souvenirs in the cute gift shop.
Waimea Falls
This is the activity I wanted to do but couldn’t quite squeeze in to our last trip but it is top of my list for our next visit! If you love scenic hikes, this hike that ends at a waterfall looks so beautiful. The hike is pretty short – a little under 2 miles round trip. If you love the scenic outdoors kinds of activities, I would add this to your list! You will have to drive a bit from Honolulu to get here or take a guided tour.
Snorkeling in Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay is a popular place for people looking to snorkel! They also have shuttles that will take you to and from your Waikiki area hotel for an extra fee. If you’re wanting to snorkel on your trip to Hawaii, this is the place to go.
There are tons of amazing things to do on the island of Oahu. This list covers just a small sampling of activities but I think are some of the best. Have you been to Oahu? Comment with your favorite activity from your trip!
