Once you’ve got your Oahu travel dates set, flights booked, and hotel reservations made, it’s time to plan your itinerary with the best things to do in Oahu. Listed below, you’ll find the best of what the island of Oahu has to offer in terms of attractions, from the island’s famous beaches to the best spots to experience Hawaiian culture; the below list covers all of the popular things to do on the island.
Oahu offers the most diverse range of attractions among the main Hawaiian Islands. With water sports and beach activities that make Hawaii a popular destination, Oahu is set apart from the other islands because of the historic buildings and cultural sights that come with having the state’s largest city and the former seat of power of the royal family. So make sure to plan your Oahu itinerary with various attractions that suit your interests.
1. Surf, Swim and Lay Out on Waikiki Beach
There is no better place to start this list than Waikiki Beach, one of the world’s most iconic beaches. The most famous beach on Oahu, Waikiki Beach, is also the busiest, with the nearby streets being packed with hotels, making the beach’s soft sand and clear waters a convenient place for tourists and locals alike to relax.
Don’t let the crowds fool you into thinking that it is overrated. Waikiki is one of the best places for the whole family to enjoy a day at the beach. You can find surf lessons, snorkeling, great sand and easy waves for the little kids, numerous dining options, and shopping for those that don’t like a day in the sun. For those based in Waikiki, the beach is only a few minutes walk from nearly all hotels in the area.
2. Pearl Harbor National Memorial
One of Oahu’s more sobering attractions, the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, provides visitors with the history and significance of the attack on the US that drew the country into the Second World War. The memorial comprises a visitor center, theater, and USS Arizona Memorial, a sunken battleship viewable underwater from a platform above.
The attractions are all free admission. Those looking for more exhibits will find paid museums nearby at the USS Missouri, the USS Bowfin Submarine, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
Tickets for the USS Arizona Memorial are free, though it is strongly recommended that visitors make advanced reservations online at their website.
3. Diamond Head Crater
The co-star of the iconic scenes of Waikiki that often represent Hawaii in media, Diamond Head Crater, is the volcanically-formed mountain in the background of these beach photos. Estimated to have been formed around 400,000-500,000 years ago, Diamond Head is not the remnants of a volcano itself but rather a cone that is part of the enormous Koʻolau Volcano, which makes up a large part of Oahu.
Diamond Head Crater offers a well-paved trail from within the cone, providing visitors a relatively easy uphill walk to reach the crater’s peak that overlooks Waikiki and Greater Honolulu. There are entry fees for both cars and visitors, with out-of-state visitors required to pre-book their visits online at their website.
4. Learn to Surf
There is no better place to learn to surf than where it originated from, and Waikiki has no shortage of surf schools that offer private and group lessons for those looking to try it out. While there are also surf lessons available at Oahu’s North Shore and other parts of the island, the calm waters of Waikiki make for an excellent environment for learning the sport.
5. Polynesian Cultural Center
The Polynesian Cultural Center is one of the best places in Hawaii to understand the culture of the Hawaiian islands and other islands across Polynesia. The center celebrates the native local culture through shows, exhibits, demonstrations, and the incredible scenery created in the center that shows what life was like over centuries for the original inhabitants of Hawaii. Stay for a few hours or all day, with many activities to keep you busy until the evening.
Those looking for the island’s best luau will find it at the Polynesian Cultural Center, with their show of dancers and musicians being much larger and grander than those found at hotels and resorts on the island.
6. Iolani Palace
One of Hawaii’s grandest examples of heritage architecture, the Iolani Palace offers the unique experience of visiting the only royal palace in the United States. Built in 1879 in an American Florentine style that features long verandas along each side across two floors, the palace only served as the official residence through 1893, when the overthrow of the Kingdom of Hawaii removed Queen Liliuokalani from power.
Today the palace has been restored to a period style similar to how it looked in the late 19th century. Both guided and self-guided audio tours are available to provide a background of the building, the many artifacts, and the history of the Hawaiian Royal Family.
7. Dole Pineapple Plantation
One of Oahu’s most popular attractions for families and those who always think of pineapple when they think of Hawaii, the Dole Plantation offers several fun things for visitors to experience beyond sampling their signature pineapple variety. Try your luck at the pineapple garden maze, which is over 2 miles long between over 14,000 plants, making it the world’s largest maze.
Beyond the famous maze, the plantation offers tours with a train ride in miniature express trains, gardens to walk around, a restaurant, and gift shops. Don’t miss their Dole Whip frozen desserts if the lines aren’t too long.
8. Hike Up Koko Head
An incredibly popular hike on Oahu, the Koko Head trail will surely put your fitness level to the test, with the steep mile-long tramway trail ascending just over 1,000 ft in only a mile. Koko Head is the headland of Koko Crater, which sits along Oahu’s Southeastern tip. Recommended only for those in good physical condition, the hike along the tramway tracks takes about 20-45 minutes to reach the top, depending on your speed. Hikers are rewarded with the best view of Hanauma Bay and panoramic views of the ocean.
9. Lanikai Beach
Consistently ranked as one of the best beaches globally, Lanikai Beach on Oahu’s East Coast is known for having calm waters that are perfect for swimming combined with the soft white sands that line its coast. While the beach is not necessarily wide compared to other Oahu beaches, the coral reefs, in their calm waters, provide a great snorkel and swimming combination for the perfect beach day. The key challenge with Lanikai for visitors is that it does not have a parking lot that serves the beach as it is located in a residential area, so you’ll need to park along the street and be mindful of signage on the resident’s lots.
10. Bishop Museum
The Bishop Museum offers a wide range of artifacts and exhibits to educate visitors on the islands’ history for those looking to better understand Hawaiian history and the broader Polynesian history. The largest museum in Hawaii, the Bishop Museum, was built in 1889 as a gift in the memory of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop from her husband Charles Reed Bishop after her death. The museum exhibits range from historical paintings of the Hawaiian Royal Family to gardens and the islands’ natural history.
11. Nuuanu Pali Lookout
A quick but stunning stop when touring Oahu, the Nuuanu Pali Lookout is a cliffside viewing point just off the Pali Highway, going from the Western side of the island East. Only a short drive from Oahu, the lookout is a great place to quickly take in the impressiveness of mother nature, with the lush green environment of the wetter East Oahu laid out in front of you. The Nuuanu Pali Lookout is one of the most beautiful places on the island to get a panoramic view easily accessible by car.
12. Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens
Located in the shadow of jagged mountain peaks along the lush East Side of Oahu, the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens is the best place on the island to explore the exotic plant life found throughout Hawaii. Easy to reach, free to enter, and explorable by car across the 400 acres, the gardens offer several garden areas you can drive into and park. From the parking lots, you can walk down forest paths to see a variety of labeled tropical plants and trees, from palms and flowers to fruit trees. Each section is themed with different regions of Southeast Asia.
13. Turtle Spotting at Laniakea Beach
One of Oahu’s most reliable turtle spotting beaches and all of Hawaii, Laniakea Beach on the North Shore consistently offers visitors a view of a few turtles sunbathing on the beach. The turtles are usually found lounging on the beach, though it’s common to see turtles coming in and out of the water with gentle waves breaking on them as they walk ashore. Be mindful that it is against the law to come within 10 feet of a turtle in Hawaii, so skip the up-close Instagram pic next to the turtles not to disturb them.
14. Enjoy the Sunset on a Catamaran Cruise
Offered at both Waikiki and from the North Shore, a sunset cruise is a great way to see the majestic beauty of Oahu from Offshore, with the sun providing a golden glow to the mountains. Different cruise packages are available through different tour companies, with some including drink packages as part of the cruise. Be sure to book your cruise early in your planning, as these consistently book out as it gets close to your travel day.
15. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
Sitting in the top tier of Hawaii’s accessible snorkel sites, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is a protected bay full of coral reefs and sea creatures living amongst the reef. Lined by a beach and sitting just a short drive southeast of Waikiki, Hanauma Bay is known as the best place to see fish for new snorkelers. The protected bay sees little waves, making it easy to enter the water from the beach that lines the bay’s coast.
Hanauma Bay is quite popular and sees a lot of tourists, with the parking lot closing when it is full until a free spot opens up. So head there later in the afternoon to avoid the crowds, with parking spots available after 2 pm.
16. Kualoa Ranch
Famous for being the shooting location for Jurassic Park, Lost, and plenty of movies and TV Shows, Kualoa Ranch sits on the East Side of Oahu, with land that runs up a lush valley that is surrounded by steep jagged mountains. With over 4,000 acres of nature inside the ranch, visitors can take tours of movie sets, ATV tours, horseback riding, mountain biking, sailing tours, and farm tour. Plenty of packages are available based on your interests. However, the main reason to visit is to experience the natural beauty of the area and what the island offers.
17. Byodo-in Temple
Built in 1968 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the arrival of Japanese immigrants in Hawaii, the Byodo-in Temple is a smaller replica of the 950-year-old Buddhist temple by the same name in Uji, Japan. The stunning mountain backdrop and lush gardens surrounding the temple set the Byodo-in Temple apart as an attraction. With the plentiful rains dropped over the mountains on the Windward Side of Oahu, the temple’s location provides excellent growing conditions for the tropical plants that Hawaii is famous for. Worth a stop for those looking for a cultural and natural attraction, the temple offers a great place to relax and take in the unique Hawaiian scenery.
18. Sunset Beach
It is possibly the best beach to visit to avoid the crowds and enjoy the slow life of the North Shore. Sunset Beach serves up its namesake scenery each evening, with an incredible sunset view over the pacific. Amongst the North Shore’s beaches, Sunset offers a combination of accessible parking and limited crowds compared to nearby Waimea Bay Beach. With coconut palm trees along the edge of the sand, the beach provides an ideal setting for a beach day in Oahu. While the waves are not as calm for swimming as in Lanikai or Waikiki, the beach vibe is one of the best the island offers.
19. Snorkeling Around Oahu
Swimming amongst colorful tropical fish is often a highlight of any visit to Oahu. Beyond Hanauma Bay Nature Reserve’s famous snorkeling beach, Oahu offers plenty of other great spots to get into the water and witness the natural beauty of the ocean up close. In addition, you can buy or rent the gear at plenty of spots across the island and throw it into the trunk of your rental for use during your beach visits.
Check out Shark’s Cove, Lanikai, Electric Beach Park, Ka’ena Point State Park, or keep it accessible and look for fish off of Waikiki, with some coral reefs found along its beaches. In addition, there are plenty of snorkel spots across the island, and the gear rental shops are more than happy to point you in the right direction for your skill level and fitness.
20. Downtown Honolulu & Chinatown
Often overlooked by visitors to Oahu who spend most of their time in Waikiki, Downtown Honolulu and Chinatown offer stunning heritage architecture and a glimpse of local Hawaiian Chinese culture, with decades-old restaurants and shops in old buildings lining the blocks of the neighborhood. So whether you are looking to spend some time meandering the area’s streets or detour on the drive back to Waikiki, Downtown Honolulu provides a great view of the city before tourism.
21. Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail
Located at the Southeastern Point of Oahu, the Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail is a well-paved 2-mile trail that moves slowly uphill to reach the lighthouse, with panoramic ocean views making it one of the best viewing points on the island. From the lighthouse, you can get a full view of the East Coast of Oahu, with its clear waters and jagged mountains, making for great photos. Looking out to see, you can see as far as Moloka’i on a clear day, which is the closest large island in the distance. It takes about two hours total for the hike to the lighthouse and back to the parking area while stopping to enjoy the views along the way. Make sure to bring water, especially when hiking in the sun.
22. Ka’ena Point State Park
Located in the dry Northwestern Point of Oahu on the Leeward Side of the island, Ka’ena Point State Park offers a 3.5-mile trail along the coast that provides incredible natural scenery. With a dry landscape that has limited vegetation and is lined with mountains, the area plays home to plenty of animals, with the highlight being the Hawaiian monk seals that are often found sunbathing at the end of the trail near Ka’ena Point.
Ka’ena translates as ‘the heat’ in Hawaiian, accurately capturing the area’s temperature. Those taking the hike should opt for an early start time to avoid mid-day heat, and be sure to bring along plenty of water as there are no options along the way to quench your thirst.
23. Enjoy Calm Waters and Sunsets at Ko Olina
Whether staying in the Ko Olina area or just visiting, the four artificial lagoons offer an excellent stop for those looking to relax, swim in calm waters, and even incorporate a sunset in the trip. The lagoons are filled with the same clear waters surrounding the island but are protected from waves, making for a family-friendly place to swim and enjoy a beach day. Then, stay into the evening to enjoy one of the island’s best sunset viewing points from your beach chair.
24. Take in Aet at the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art
A lesser-known attraction to visitors of Oahu, the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art offers a unique viewing opportunity of over 4,500 pieces of Islamic Art from across the Middle East and Asia. The collection was purchased by Doris Duke over 60 years before her death and has been part of her former Honolulu home since it was converted into a museum in 2002.
25. Malasadas and Shave Ice
While the food of Oahu and Hawaii deserves its own list of recommendations, two things that can’t be missed on a list of what to do in Oahu are to try the sweet malasadas and shave ice. Malasadas are a Portuguese-style donut popular amongst the Hawaiian Islands, and there is no better place to try them than Leonard’s Malasadas in Honolulu. Shave ice is the local dessert of choice, which is like a snow cone, but only finer, and is topped with sweet syrups, many made with natural, local tropical fruits. Head to Lahaina Shave Ice in Waikiki or Waiola Shave Ice in Honolulu to visit a shop popular with locals.
Bottom Line
Oahu is Hawaii’s most diverse island in terms of attractions for visitors, with a range of cultural, historical, architectural, and art attractions that you can’t find on the other islands. The above list offers all the best things to do, see, or try while on vacation in Oahu.
Get the info you need for your Hawaii vacation with these other posts as part of the Wander and Experience Hawaii Guide:
The Ultimate Hawaii Vacation Packing List: 25 Essential Items to Bring on Your Trip (2022)
25 Tips to Save Money in Hawaii (2022)
What is the Best Island to Visit in Hawaii? The Ultimate Guide (2022)
