Intro
Oahu is the most popular of the Hawaiian islands among tourists, and after going in January 2021 I can understand why. The great thing about Oahu is that it has a little bit of everything and is easy to get around. From epic hikes, to beautiful beaches, unique cuisines, and historical sites, you can’t go wrong.
Quick Links:
Hikes
Pearl Harbor
Byodo-In Temple
Honolulu Museum of Art
Oahu Beaches
Snorkeling
Biking
Kayaking
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
Nu‘uanu Pali Lookout
Where to eat
Shave Ice
Where to Stay in Oahu
Kailua – My pick; On the southeast side of the island; Easy access to the rest of the island
North Shore – The north side of the island; Very mellow vibe; Set apart from the rest of the island
Waikiki – Southwest side of the island; Busy and more touristy
I recommend renting a car for ease of getting around. Uber is an option but can be limiting and expensive.
What to Do in Oahu
There is so much to do in Oahu whether you want to hike through a jungle, learn about the history, or relax on a beach.
Hikes on Oahu
There are tons of amazing hikes in Oahu offering great views, cliff jumping, and waterfalls. A couple of my favorite hikes are Wiliwilinui Ridge which has incredible views, and Waimano Falls which has a rope swing into a natural pool. Other cool hikes are Maunawili Falls, Koko Crater, Lanikai Pillbox, and Ka’au Crater.
The Haiku Stairs or ‘Stairway to Heaven’ is a famous hike in Oahu that also happens to be illegal from the front route. You might hear stories of people starting the hike at 4am and sneaking past a guard, but for me it wasn’t worth the risk of a $1000 fine and my own safety. It is worth noting that it is legal to hike the back route to the stairs, though it is a challenging ~11 mile hike.
Hikes in Hawaii are dangerous due to the slippery mud and steep drop offs. Some people recommend wearing micro spikes for better traction. While the hikes are challenging, they are some of my favorites hikes I’ve ever done! For more information on hikes in Oahu, see my blog post 5 Awesome Hikes in Oahu.
Museums & Cultural Sites on Oahu
Pearl Harbor
I felt I couldn’t go to Oahu and not visit Pearl Harbor which has two memorials and two museums. I recommend visiting the USS Arizona Memorial which you get to by boat and can see the remains of sunken ships. Reservations may be required ahead of time depending on how busy the season is; you can reserve tickets on recreation.gov.
Byodo-In Temple
The Byodo-In temple is located on the east side of Oahu about 20 minutes outside Kailua. The temple is a replica of a temple located in Uji, Japan and commemorates the first Japanese immigrants in Hawaii. It costs $5 per person to visit and has beautiful gardens with koi fish, birds that will eat out of your hand, and an 18 foot Buddha statue.
Honolulu Museum of Art
The Honolulu Museum of Art has a great collection including traditional Asian and Hawaiian art, pieces by Van Gogh, Monet, Warhol, an Optical Art gallery, and more. It costs $20 to visit and I recommend setting aside about 2 hours to explore.
Explore Beaches
For beach lounging I enjoyed Lanikai, Kailua, and Waimanalo beaches.
Bonzai pipeline is great for watching surfers ride the huge Northshore waves.
Waikiki is a fun beach to grab a drink, and is good for stand up paddle boarders and beginner surfers.
Makapu‘U Beach has neat tidepools to explore.
Adventurous Activities
Snorkeling
Hanauma Bay in the south is a beautiful beach and popular among snorkelers, but is closed on certain days and does have an entrance fee. Shark’s Cove in the north shore has shallow pools and is great for beginner snorkelers.
If you are an advanced swimmer and snorkeler, Kahe Point Beach or Electric Beach in the west is a great option to see tons of cool fish. An electric power plant has two huge cooling pipes that release warm water into the ocean which attracts a lot of fish and other wildlife. To get to the pipes you have to swim out pretty far and will be in about 40 feet deep water. The current from the pipes can be dangerous for weak swimmers.
Rent Bikes
I love biking and think it’s always a fun way to explore a new place. I rented a bike in Kailua from Kailua Beach Adventures and biked through the neighborhoods and along the Maunawili Stream. You can rent bikes in all major parts of the island.
Go Skydiving
I am too scared to skydive, BUT friends have said Oahu is one of the coolest places to do it if you are brave enough. The planes leave from the northwestern end of the island, and costs $170+ depending on how high you want to go.
Kayak
Kayaking to the Mokulua Islands or “Mokes” is a popular activity on the east side of Oahu. I rented a kayak from Kailua Beach Adventure (same place I rented a bike) and started in the water at Kailua Beach Park. It took about 1.5 hours to get to the island, and about 45 minutes on the way back. For a shorter, easier trip you can start in Lanikai beach.
A few notes:
- You cannot kayak to the Mokes on Sundays
- You can only set foot on Moku Nui
- You need to purchase a permit when you rent the kayak to land on Moku Nui (costs a few dollars)
Views and Gardens
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
The Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden is a huge garden located in East Oahu. It features plants from different regions such as Africa, Malaysia, and The Philippines. The gardens are free to visit, however they are very strict with their open hours. You can walk along trails for hours, so give yourself time.
Nu‘uanu Pali Lookout
The Nu‘uanu Pali Lookout is worth a quick stop for the views and a photo op. It looks out at the east side of the island including Kailua and the botanical gardens.
Where to Eat in Oahu
Poke is native to Hawaii and is typically served with just rice and fish. This is different than many places other places that tend to serve poke with multiple toppings. I prefer toppings, so Hawaii style poke is hit or miss for me. My favorite poke I had in Oahu was Off The Hook Poke which had fresh fish plus toppings. Other great poke options include Foodland poke (yes the grocery store) and The Hibachi.
Helena’s Hawaiian is the most memorable meal I had while in Oahu for two weeks. This restaurant is located in Honolulu and has authentic Hawaiian food. Go with a group and order everything! My favorite was the Lau Lau, with the ribs and macaroni salad next. Make sure to bring a jacket because the AC was cranked up when I was there!
Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck is well known for their shrimp in Oahu and has three locations, though you mostly hear about the one on the North Shore. You can choose between spicy, garlicy, buttery shrimp, or get them all.
Another notable restaurant on Oahu is Cinnamons which has great eggs benedict and guava pancakes. Tonkatsu Tamafuji is well know for their Tonkatsu (breaded pork) near Waikiki. Alicia’s Market and Rainbow Drive-In are other popular spots with many great meat options.
The Sunrise Shack in the North Shore has great Acai bowls, smoothies, and coffee. Another favorite spot was Musubi Cafe located in Waikiki; I especially enjoyed the eel spam musubi. Lastly, if you want to try something unique, tasty, and very high in calories, pick up some butter mochi at Foodland.
Shave Ice
I think Shave Ice deserves it’s own section, so here it is! Of the spots I tried, Waiola Shave Ice was the clear winner with two locations in Waikiki and Honolulu. There are tons of flavors to choose from and the the texture is so creamy.
Kokonuts was another shave ice spot that was highly recommended. Finally, Island Snow is an athletic shop with a shave ice counter and is really good.
Final Notes
Oahu is a beautiful and fun place to visit. I was there in January 2021 when COVID-19 restrictions were strong and the crowds were abnormally small. All of the Hawaiian islands are a very popular destination, so be patient with other visitors, plan early, and consider going during a less busy time of year.
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