HAWAII: 20 Incredible Things to Do on Oahu

Oahu is the most highly populated of the Hawaiian Islands and is home to the capital city of Hawaii, Honolulu. It is also the most touristy of the islands with lots of big hotels and resorts, particularly in the Waikiki area. Like all of the islands, Oahu has its own unique feel, and loads of things to see and do both in and outside of the city. The capital city, Honolulu, is the biggest city in the state, and makes a great starting point before heading out to discover the rest of the island. Oahu was the first stop on our four week backpacking trip around Hawaii, and I’ve put together this Oahu travel guide to help you plan your own exciting trip. The guide includes where to stay on the island, the best ways to get around, as well as 20 exciting things not to miss from your itinerary!

Where to Stay:

For our time on Oahu we stayed in an Airbnb in Honolulu, located about a 30 minute walk from Waikiki Beach. This was a great option for us since we were travelling in a group of three. However, if an Airbnb isn’t within your budget there are numerous hostels in Honolulu which are really affordable. I’d recommend staying in Honolulu, particularly in or near the Waikiki area, as it’s the perfect location to get the best of both – easy access to the city, and a base from which to explore the rest of Oahu.

Getting Around:

Walking/Public Transport

Honolulu is a great location to stay, as a lot of the best things to do on Oahu are either within walking distance, or easily accessible by bus. We used the Oahu buses (called TheBus) to go to Diamond Head Crater, Hanauma Bay and Pearl Harbour. Our experience using the buses was really positive, and saved us a fair bit of money as we didn’t need to hire a car for the first two days on Oahu. We used Google Maps on our phones to find out the bus routes and times. One adult day ticket costs $5.50.

Car Hire

In order to properly experience what rest of Oahu has to offer outside of Honolulu, you’ll need to hire a car. I recommend downloading the app ‘Turo’, which allows you to hire cars from locals. This option was more flexible and a lot cheaper than traditional rental cars, particularly because we were all under 25. You still have to pay the young driver surcharge, but it is much lower than with big car rental companies. We had a great experience with car owners on this app. Some will even deliver the car straight to you, and take you to the airport when you leave.

Things to Do:

1. Hike the Diamond Head Crater Trail

This extinct volcano sits at the eastern end of Waikiki, and is one of the most popular things to do on Oahu. At the top there are great views of the ocean, the city of Honolulu below, and beyond. This is one of the best viewpoints on the island and definitely should not be missed from any Oahu itinerary. The hike up to the edge of the crater is short, only 0.8 miles each way, but it’s pretty steep. The path is rocky, but nothing too serious. There are several sections of steep staircases, as well as a narrow tunnel. I recommend doing this hike early in the day, as the midday heat and sun are very strong and there isn’t much shade available. Entrance to the park costs $1 per person on foot, or $5 per car.

2. Try Dole Whip

Dole Whip is a delicious dairy-free pineapple based dessert, similar to soft-serve ice cream. The Dole Plantation is located on Oahu, so it is the perfect place to taste Dole Whip for yourself. Of course you can get it from the plantation, but there are also lots of other places on Oahu that sell it. We first tried it from a Dole van located at the bottom of the Diamond Head Crater Trail. It’s the perfect sweet treat to cool you down after a hike! They also offer other flavours if you’re not a fan of pineapple.

3. Polynesian Cultural Centre

The Polynesian Cultural Centre is a live museum experience and an incredibly popular attraction on Oahu. It allows guests to immerse themselves in the island cultures of Hawaii, Fiji, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Samoa, Tahiti, and Tonga. Here you can also experience an authentic Luau, which includes traditional Polynesian food and entertainment.

4. Hanauma Bay

Hanauma Bay is a stunning beach and nature reserve on the Southeastern coast of Oahu. These protections were put in place to try and reverse the damage being done to the reef and ecosystem by receiving so many visitors. Now the number of visitors is capped at 3,000 per day and there is an entrance fee to the bay. Visitors must also watch a 9 minute educational video on how to preserve the reef and marine life before being able to access the beach. The bay is extremely beautiful and the perfect place for snorkelling. It’s also really admirable how they are making efforts to protect it from human harm. I’d personally love to see this being done elsewhere too. Entrance to Hanauma Bay costs $7.50 per person.

5. Hike Up Koko Head

The Koko Head Trail was one of my personal favourite things to do on Oahu! Koko Head is a steep hill located on the Southeastern coast of Oahu, just a 15 minute walk from Hanauma Bay. The trail follows an abandoned railway track, originally used during WWII to take supplies to the military bunkers at the top of the crater.

In total the hike is a mere 1.4 miles, but with insane elevation gain in this short distance. There are around 1,050 steps, but they are far higher and wider than regular steps – higher than your knees most of the time. The hike starts off relatively steep, and just keeps getting steeper the higher you get. You’re guaranteed to be gasping for breath by the time you reach the top, but don’t be put off! The feeling of accomplishment, not to mention the panoramic views, will make it all worthwhile.

The summit of Koko Head is a great spot to watch the sunrise or sunset from. I recommend these times more than the middle of the day, as I imagine the heat would make it near impossible. There is also no shelter from the sun anywhere on the hike. Additionally, you will need to bring a head torch to hike this trail at sunrise or sunset. We came unprepared for our sunset hike and on the way back down from the summit I had to use my phone torch. This is quite dangerous, as you may need your hands free to steady yourself. You will really notice how steep the steps are on the way back down!

6. Pearl Harbour

Pearl Harbour historic sites are made up of several interesting museums, and have lots to see and learn about. Entrance to the Visitor Centre, “Road to War” museum, and USS Arizona Memorial are free. The USS Arizona Memorial is a beautiful structure built above the sunken USS Arizona ship. The memorial can be accessed by a short free boat ride from the Visitor Centre. Pearl Harbour can be easily accessed by bus from Honolulu. The Pearl Harbour historic sites are an important part of the island’s history, and and a fascinating thing to do on Oahu.

7. Visit the Byodo-In Temple

The beautiful Japanese Byodo-In Temple is located in the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. This entire park is gorgeous and surrounded by mountains, but the temple at the centre is definitely worth visiting whilst on Oahu. The park is on the Eastern side of Oahu, and entry to the temple costs $5.

8. Complete a Pillbox Hike

Pillbox is the name given to the abandoned military bunkers located all over Oahu. As they are disused, many are now painted in bright colours or graffiti. There are numerous hikes up to these pillboxes on the island, such as the Lanikai Pillbox Hike and the Maili Pillbox Hike (also known as the Pink Pillbox Hike).

We chose to do the ‘Ehikai Pillbox Hike, or Peace Hike, nicknamed after the large peace symbol graffitied on it. The Peace Hike is located on the north shore, overlooking Banzai Pipeline beach. This beach is famous for the enormous waves and surfing contests held there. This is a great hike to do on Oahu, which isn’t too long or difficult. The trail has two pillbox lookout points and has incredible views of the shoreline.

9. Kualoa Ranch

The Kualoa Ranch is an enormous private nature reserve, as well as a working cattle ranch on Oahu. They offer a wide range of exciting activities such as zip lining, electric mountain biking, kayaking, and jungle jeep tours. They also offer a Hollywood Movie sites tour, since this ranch has been the filming location for many famous films and TV shows. Jurassic Park is just one of many examples!

10. Grab a Snack at the Sunrise Shack

The Sunrise Shack is a cute little yellow shack located on the north shore of Oahu, but they also have a second location in Honolulu. They are an independent business serving up açai bowls, smoothies, coffee, avocado toast and much more. There is also a really nice outdoor seating area behind the shack. This is a great spot not to miss when driving along the north shore of Oahu! It’s easy to spot on the side of the road for its bright yellow colour and rainbow flags around it. You can check out their website here.

11. Explore the City of Honolulu

Whether you’re just visiting Oahu or doing a tour of several islands, Honolulu is the most you’re going to see of a real city so you may as well make the most it! The Waikiki neighbourhood is the best place for shopping, dining and nightlife, if that’s your sort of thing.

12. Ala Moana Beach Park

Ala Moana is a gorgeous, and relatively quiet, beach park just a short walk away from Waikiki. At the eastern end of this beach there is a park with trees. If you follow the path through, it will lead you to a much smaller cove beach at the end. The waves here are broken up by rocks, which made Ala Moana Beach Park was one of my favourite places for swimming in the sea. The water here was so much calmer than at all of the other beaches during our stay. Spending an afternoon, or even a full day at this beach is another great thing to do on Oahu!

13. Free Fireworks Show at the Hilton

Every Friday night there is a free fireworks show put on at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. It usually starts around 7:45pm, and lasts about 10 minutes. This is a great free attraction not to miss whilst on Oahu so make sure you are in the Waikiki area on a Friday night.

14. Waikiki Beach

Of course, no Oahu itinerary is complete without including Waikiki Beach! Waikiki is widely known as the biggest tourist trap on the island, and there certainly are a lot of hotels and resorts there. However, this 2 mile stretch of white sand beach is still an iconic sight and no trip to Oahu would be complete without paying it a visit. You can enjoy views of the Honolulu skyscrapers, as well as Diamond Head, whilst you swim in the sea. The end of summer is a great time to visit, as main tourist hubs such as Waikiki are practically empty compared to the peak summer months! We almost had the beach all to ourselves when we visited.

15. Hike the Lighthouse Trail

Makapu’u Lighthouse sits on Oahu’s easternmost point on a 600ft high sea cliff. It is located in the southeast of the island, just a short distance from Hanauma Bay and Koko Head. Though the lighthouse is closed to the public, there is a beautiful scenic hiking trail up to it. The trail is around a 2 mile round trip, and follows a well-maintained, paved path. The elevation gain on this hike is pretty steep – around 500ft up to the lighthouse, and without any shelter from the sun it can be quite challenging! It’s therefore better to do this hike either early in the day, or later on in the afternoon when the sun isn’t so strong. The Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail is one of the best free things to do on Oahu and another must-do for your itinerary!

16. Drive Up the West Coast

To really experience Oahu, my best advice is to hire a car and drive as much of the island as you can. This is by far the best way to take in the beautiful landscape, beaches and crystal clear water. For a fun road trip, I recommend driving along the west coast of the island, as far as the road allows you. We were blown away by the turquoise water and virtually untouched beaches. The water at the beaches on this side of Oahu seemed way too rough for swimming in, but the views of the coastline are spectacular. It was also extremely quiet when we visited – we were practically the only ones on the beach in the middle of the day!

17. Relax at Ko Olina Lagoons

This beautiful beach park is located on southwest Oahu, next to numerous high end resorts and villas, including Disney and the Marriott. Ko Olina is the perfect place to relax for the afternoon on the way back to Honolulu after a morning exploring the West coast. There are four identical beaches in a row, which all have calm waters due to breakwaters. It’s actually the law in Hawaii that all beaches are accessible to the public. So even if you’re a backpacker on a budget, make sure you don’t miss out on the expensive resort beaches on Oahu!

18. Lunch at the Peace Cafe

The Peace Cafe is a tiny vegan restaurant located in Honolulu, which has a wide selection of tasty and healthy dishes. I had the Moroccan stew with black rice, which was delicious. It’s a shame we didn’t have more time on the island to try more of their menu! You can check out their website here.

19. Go to a Hula Show

The Hula is a traditional Polynesian dance usually accompanied by music and singing which originates from the Hawaiian Islands. There are countless spots on Oahu where you can watch a Hula show, or even go to a Luau. A Hawaiian Luau is a a feast and party with traditional music and hula as well as other entertainment. Some places to see a Luau on Oahu include; the Polynesian Cultural Centre, Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki, Paradise Cove and the Royal Hawaiian Resort. There are also a number of free hula shows on the island such as at Waikiki Beach Walk, the Ala Moana Center and Kuhio Beach. Going to a hula show or luau is a wonderful experience not to miss during your stay on Oahu.

20. Watch the Sunset

At the end of a busy day exploring paradise, there’s nothing better to do than find a spot to watch the sunset. Lucky for you, there are countless great spots to watch it from! Some of the best spots, and their locations on the island, include;

• Sunset Beach (Pupukea) – north
• Makua beach (or Makua caves on the hillside) – west
• Ko Olina Lagoons – southwest
• Ala Moana Beach Park – south
• Kaka’ako Waterfront Park – south
• Waikiki Beach – south
• Tantalus Mountain Night View Point – south
• Top of Koko Head Crater Trail – southeast

I hope this list of 20 incredible things to do on Oahu is helpful with planning your own Hawaiian adventure. Though it’s only small, this island really is full of exciting things to do. I guarantee you won’t be bored for even a second.

If you’re interested, check out my other Hawaii blog posts below:

• How to Travel 4 Islands in 4 Weeks
• 22 Exciting Things to Do on Kauai
• 7 Kauai Helicopter Tour Tips – A Guide to Booking Your Tour
• Kauai Helicopter Gallery – Incredible Doors-Off Helicopter Photos
• 13 Things to Do on the Big Island
• 15 Things You Must Do on Maui
• 2 Day Road to Hana Itinerary – Best Road Trip on Maui

Thanks for reading!

Abbey x