Things to do on O`ahu

Here are my thoughts about things that are worth doing on O`ahu. This list is in no particular order and is current as of July 2023. Everyday when on O`ahu, remember to apply lots of reef-safe sunscreen, bring along some bug spray as mosquitoes are active during the day, and leave nothing in your car even if just for a few minutes. Like any big city, car break-ins do happen so take appropriate actions to protect your personal property. Also remember to never turn your back to the ocean and be careful entering the water if there is no lifeguard on duty.

Items with an asterisk (*) require a reservation. See my post about Recommended Activities that Require a Reservation on O`ahu for more information about these activities.

  • Visit the Arizona Memorial*
  • Hike Diamond Head *
  • Visit the Polynesian Culture Center or go to a lu`au*
  • Go snorkeling at Hana`uma Bay*
  • Drive around the island of O`ahu in a day.
  • Go to Pali Lookout to get beautiful views of the windward side of O`ahu.
  • Hike the Makapu`u Point Lighthouse trail. It is an easy 2.4 mile round trip hike on a paved road. You’ll get beautiful views of the Makapu`u Lighthouse as well as Rabbit Island and the eastern shoreline of O`ahu.
  • Lounge or swim at the beaches at Ko `Olina. Calm and protected beaches with less tourists than Waikiki. Great for young children. Go early to get parking and avoid weekends when locals go to the beach. If you’re staying at Ko `Olina, traffic can be bad heading east (away from Ko `Olina toward downtown Honolulu) during morning rush hour and heading west (toward Ko `Olina and away from downtown Honolulu) during evening rush hour.
  • Tour the Honolulu Fish Auction*. Tours are only on Saturdays from 6AM-7:30AM. It does require a reservation. I did not include it on my previous post about recommended activities that require a reservation since I have not done the tour before. Prior to the pandemic, as long as you were over the age of 16, you could just walk in on any day at 5:30AM and watch the auction take place. I have been to the Tsukiji Fish Auction in Tokyo, Japan and this auction is smaller but also interesting to see.
  • Take a hike around Ho`omaluhia Botanical Gardens to get beautiful views of the Ko`olau Mountains. There is no admission. Bring the bug spray.
  • Visit a botanic garden to learn about the native plants of Hawai`i. Hawai`i has the highest concentration of endangered species in the world. Due to the extreme isolation of Hawai`i, many plants have evolved so they are found no where else in the world. Some of my favorites are Ho`omaluhia (listed above with no admission), Lyon Arboretum (run by the University of Hawai`i and $10 donation) , Foster Botanical Garden (admission $5), and Koko Crater Botanic Garden which is best for dryland plants (admission FREE).
  • Go for a hike in the mountains. Lots of great reviews and maps can be found on alltrails.com. Just be prepared with lots of water, sunscreen, and bug spray. Trails in the mountains can be muddy and steep. Be cautious on muddy trails with steep climbs and sudden drop offs. Know your limits! Don’t trespass on private property and DO NOT be one of those tourists that require a rescue operation.
  • Bishop Museum contains many ancient Hawaiian artifacts and a great place to learn about what life was like before contact with the western world. There is also a planetarium where you can learn about the constellations that can be found in the skies above Hawai`i. For example, Hawai`i is one of the few places in the U.S. where you can see the southern cross.
  • Take a tour of Iolani Palace which is the only royal residence in the United States. You can learn about the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893 and the lasting impacts it has had on the native Hawaiian people.
  • Take a self-guided tour of the state capitol building. The building is located across the street from Iolani Palace and contains unique architecture which is unlike other capitol buildings that you’ll find around the country. For example, did you know that the building has sloping walls to mimic a volcano and surrounded by a reflecting pool to symbolize the Pacific Ocean?
  • If you find yourself in O`ahu close to the holiday season, Honolulu Hale (Honolulu’s City Hall) has beautiful lights and Christmas trees on display on their grounds inside and out.
  • Catch a concert at Blue Note Hawai`i in Waikiki. You can get surprisingly up close to some of your favorite bands in this intimate setting.
  • You can schedule a tour at Kualoa Ranch* to see the sites of movies shot on O`ahu like Jurassic Park. There are also other activities like riding a zip line and horseback riding.
  • Watch the sunrise from Lanikai Beach in Kailua. This is one of my favorite beaches on the island and when you go at sunrise, you’ll be sure to find yourself a parking spot. The Mokolua Islands offshore are a favorite subject for me to photograph.
  • Another favorite sunrise spot is at Kualoa Regional Park. If the gate to the park is closed, you can park along the highway and walk into the park. Mokoli`i Island (aka Chinaman’s Hat) is a photogenic island located just off the coast.
  • Friday night fireworks from the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. Every Friday night at 7:45PM in the fall/winter/spring and 8PM in the summer, the Hilton has a fireworks show from the lagoon on the property. It is fun to watch the show from the lagoon, from Magic Island, or even from the upper level of Ala Moana Shopping Center near Olive Garden.

Shopping

  • Shop at Ala Moana Shopping Center. The largest shopping center in the state and with sales tax at 4.712%, things can be cheaper than they are compared to states like California where sales tax can be over 10%! Prices at national stores like the Apple store are the same in Hawai`i and other places on the mainland so the savings on sales tax is worth saving some time for shopping for Hawai`i.
  • The other major shopping malls on O`ahu are: Ka Makana Ali`i in Kapolei, Pearl Ridge Center in `Aiea, Kahala Mall in Honolulu, and Windward Mall in Kane`ohe.
  • Shop at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet (Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday only). There are great deals on souvenirs and trinkets. This is where I stock up on gifts for friends on the mainland. The Honolulu rail line, Skyline, has a station nearby if you want to catch a train to the Swap Meet.
  • Go to a Farmer’s Market to get fresh local produce or eat some excellent prepared meals. My favorites are the Kaka`ako Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings or the Windward Mall Farmer’s Market on Wednesday evening or Sunday morning.