Top 15 Things to do in Honolulu - Oahu, Hawaii
Planning a visit to Oahu? Here are some helpful tips about the best things to do in beautiful Hawaii.
First off, you should know to bring coral-safe sunscreen to protect Hawaii’s fragile reefs. We recommend Blue lizard coral safe sunscreen. Check it out here: amzn.to/3TCYNRx (Amazon)
And make sure to bring a pair of Hawaii’s favorite sandals, Havaiana’s. Check them out here amzn.to/40UKIAO (Amazon)
00:00 Intro
00:40 Swim or surf at Waikiki Beach. Waikiki is THE hotspot for Hawaiian tourism and can serve as a homebase for your vacation or a daytrip destination. The sand is pristine & the turquoise water filled with swimmers & surfers. You can join the fun by taking surf lessons, renting a stand up paddleboard, taking a dip in the warm pacific waters, or simply laying out under the tropical sun. Waikiki is also where many boats embark for scuba diving, fishing & whale watching adventures.
01:29 Try Hawaiian food: Food trucks, poke, loco moco, shaved ice, Kalua pork bbq lunch plate, malasadas, spam musubi, huli huli chicken, and poi.
03:04 Sunbathe or paddle board at Kailua Beach
03:30 Other amazing beaches include Lanikai Beach, Ala Moana Beach, Waimanalo Beach, Makapuu Beach, & Kahana Beach
03:42 Hike Oahu’s stunning volcanic peaks like Diamond head crater aka Le’ahi in western Waikiki.
04:34 Other great mountain hikes include Koko Crater Railway, Makapu’u lighthouse, Kuli'ou'ou Ridge, Lanikai Pillbox, Olomana Peak Trail (aka 3 peaks), and the Pali Notches.
05:36 Go Snorkel or scuba dive in amazing places like Sharks Cove, Hanuama Bay Nature Preserve, Kuilima Cove (aka turtle beach), and Kahe Point Beach Park aka Electric Beach.
06:33 Watch the surfers on Oahu's north shore at Banzai Beach, aka Ehukai Beach & the Banzai Pipeline. We've also seen the spelling "Bonzai" used. The nearby Sunset beach is also perfect for watching sunset (believe it or not!). There's also some great food trucks nearby.
07:00 Lounge at the Ko Olina Lagoons, a set of 4 manmade lagoons. These are a great place for young children to safely explore the sand & water, plus it's near some of Oahu's biggest hotels. But FYI this is a highly curated location & wont be an "authentic" experience of Hawaii, if that matters to you.
07:42 Visit the Waterfalls including Manoa Falls, Waimea Falls, Waimano Falls, & Lulumahu Falls.
08:53 Visit the Kualoa Ranch. Kualoa Ranch is a 4,000-acre working cattle ranch and nature preserve on Oahu's Windward Coast. You can rent an ATV or go horseback riding through the stunning valley to get views of the magnificent Koolau mountains.
You can Zipline over the stunning Hawaiian landscape.
d) You can learn about the traditional & sustainable farming practices of the ranch. Take the Jurassic Tour to see some of the locations from Hollywood blockbusters like Godzilla, Jurassic Park, Kong: Skull Island.The Kualoa Ranch also offers a variety of dining options, including a luau with traditional Hawaiian food and entertainment.
9:35 Visit the Polynesian Cultural Center. The PCC is a living museum and theme park dedicated to preserving and sharing the cultures of the Pacific Islands. With its six authentic villages - representing Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Tahiti, as well as hands-on activities, and nightly luau, the PCC offers a unique and immersive experience into the rich traditions of Polynesia.
10:08 Take the tour at the Dole Pineapple Plantation. Take the Pineapple Express Train Tour through the plantation fields and walk through 8 mini gardens, each showing different plants native to Hawaii, including banana, Papaya & tropical flowers. You can even enjoy some pineapple ice cream while navigating the world’s largest pineapple maze.
10:58 Visit Pearl Harbor. The centerpiece is the USS Arizona Memorial commemorating the sunken battleship and the 1,177 sailors and Marines who perished during the Japanese attack. Pearl Harbor also has an Aviation Museum where you can aircraft from the conflict, including Zero fighters and Dauntless dive bombers.
The USS Missouri Memorial is the mighty battleship where the Japanese surrender ceremony took place, ending World War II. Here you can take tours and see exhibits showcasing the ship's history and significance.
You can also explore the USS Bowfin, a World War II submarine, and learn about the history submarine warfare and the experiences of submariners.
12:13 Visit the Kaneohe Sandbar. A unique experience with views of Koʻolau Mountains and the turquoise waters of Kaneohe Bay. The sandbar is accessible by boat or kayak, and should be visited during low tide when it’s fully exposed.
12:47 Charter a boat: catamarans, sail boats, yachts, whale watching tours, glass bottom boats & deep sea fishing charters are all available on Oahu.
13:50 Take a helicopter tour. If you can swing the price, a helicopter tour might be the best way to see the breathtaking & diverse landscape of Oahu.