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Things To do in Oahu, Hawaii
Photo by Max Takudo Nishio | Unsplash
When thinking about tropical islands, more than one would think about Hawaii. This jewel of the pacific is visited by millions of tourists around the world each year for its beauty, history and diversity. The archipelago contains 137 islands, and the capital of this state Honolulu, is on the island of O’ahu, making it the most inhabited and the most popular island. But what is there to do in O’ahu? Let’s give you a glance at some of the best things to do there.
Updated on 8/13/2025
Understanding O'ahu
Before getting into the fun stuff, let’s just quickly speak about O'ahu and Hawaii and what makes these special. It is always a big plus to understand the place we are going to.
O’ahu is the third-largest, and most populated island of Hawaii. It is 44 miles (71km) long and 30 miles (48km) across. This means that going around is about a 3 to 4 hours drive (nonstop).
The first non-polynesian to encounter the island was James Cook and the first non-polynesian to walk on it was Chales Clerke who landed at the Waimea Bay. For a while, the islands were divided between several chiefdoms which were unified by King Kamehameha I in 1810. Waikiki was a major settlement there until Honolulu became bigger and more popular because of its accessible harbor. Fast forward in time, Americans launched a coup d'etat against the Queen of Hawaii and years later in 1959, Hawaii became an American state.
Waikiki
Waikiki is a neighborhood of Honolulu. It was once a retreat for Hawaiian royalty, and well known today for its high rise hotels and beaches which are almost entirely man made. This is also the birthplace of modern surfing, and all of that makes it a great place to go and stay. Some popular things to do in Waikiki include but are not limited to:
Waikiki Beach
One of Hawaii’s most popular beaches, it is the birthplace of modern surfing. That heritage can be observed with the statue of Duke Kahanamoku – the guy who contributed a lot to modern surfing as well as popularizing the sport worldwide. The beach is free of access and open 24/7. Although Waikiki beach is great, we also encourage you to check out the other beaches like Kuhio Beach or Fort DeRussy. Since Waikiki Beach is located directly at the foot of hotels, it might often be crowded, that’s why we recommend you to check out the nearby beaches.
Photo by AussieActive | Unsplash
Shopping
When it comes to shopping, Waikiki has plenty of options. From small local stores to well known brand names, you should easily find something that pleases you. Waikiki has several malls with food courts, stores or even activities like Hula classes. These include the Royal Hawaiian Center, Waikiki Beach Walk or even the International Market Place.
Participate In a Tour or Activity
Hawaii is very touristic, and locals know it. People and companies there offer a lot of nice activities in the area of Waikiki beach. This includes surfing lessons, snorkeling or boat tours. These fun activities can give you unique insights into the island, so give it a try if you can! Of course, always be careful of where you go for activities. Although Hawaii is safe, watch out for scams and tourist traps.
Waikiki Friday Fireworks
Every Friday year-round a firework lasting around 10min is held by the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. The show starts between 7:45pm and 8:00pm depending on the days. It can be observed for free from the nearby beaches.
Getting Around Waikiki
For most part, Waikiki is very walkable. But there are also plenty of options available to move around there like the Waikiki Trolley. We made a more comprehensive article on the topic, check it out!
Our Experience
During our visit in O’ahu, Waikiki was our staying point. We got a hotel in the area for one week in August, and it was a great experience. Most hotels, stores and activities are located in one main area of Waikiki. This makes it very convenient as we were able to easily leave our hotel and walk around the area to visit or eat. However, that advantage can also turn into a “negative” point. We found Waikiki to be very crowded, and parking in the area can also be very expensive – although you do not need a car to move around the area. That being said, Waikiki was still a very good experience for us and we would definitely recommend it.
Honolulu Zoo
Animal lovers, this one is for you! Honolulu does have a zoo. The following was first a park created dedicated by the royalty of Honolulu. As time went, the park changed until it was eventually designated as Honolulu Zoo. But let’s focus on the zoo – even though it has an interesting history that we’ll let you check out. So, Honolulu zoo features over 1 230 animals in specially designed habitats. Some of these animals are Penguins, Rhinoceros, Elephants or Goats (no this isn’t a joke). Additionally, know that the zoo is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA)*. The zoo also offers special activities. One of those is the “Twilight Tours”, tours given at sunset just after the closure of the zoo’s gate.
*Why does the AZA accreditation matter? Unfortunately, the well being of some animals have been a problem throughout the history of zoos – these guys are not designed to live there originally. That is why the AZA tries to ensure that the animals are being well cared and protected. It is always nice to know that the animals we enjoy watching are well treated.
Admission
General:
-
Adults (13+) – $21.00
-
Children (3-12) – $13.00
-
Infants (Under 2) – Free
Kama’aina^ / U.S. Active Military and Dependents Rate (I.D. required):
-
Adults (13+) – $10.00
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Children (3-12) – $6.00
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Infants (Under 2) – Free
^refers to Hawaii locals
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Photo by Daniel Ramirez | Wikimedia Commons
Hours:
Open daily from 10am to 3pm. Visitors are asked to exit the zoo by 4pm.
Closed on Christmas Day
Address:
151 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Waikiki Aquarium
The Waikiki Aquarium is an historical piece of archipelago. It was founded in 1904 and is the second still-operating public aquarium of the United States. Although small, it features 490 species of marine plants and animals, and is visited by hundreds of thousands people each year.
Admission:
General Admission -- $12
Tickets are to be purchased at the front desk.
Hours:
Open daily from 9am to 4:30pm.
Closes at 3pm on Thanksgiving Day.
Opens at 11am and closes at 4:30pm on New Year’s Day.
Closed on Honolulu Marathon Day and Christmas Day.
Address:
2777 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815
Pu'Uloa (Pearl Harbor)
It is difficult to not speak about Pearl Harbor when mentioning Hawaii. Nowadays, the port is known for the tragic attacks that took place in 1941 and which brought the United States into World War II. But before the U.S. established their pacific naval fleet there, the bay was known as “Wai Momi” by Hawaiian. This name comes from the abundance of pearls producing oysters in the waters of the bay. For decades, the area was inaccessible for ships due to its coral reef. However, in 1840 a naval officer removed the reef, opening the bay to further development which eventually led to establishment of Pearl Harbor which became the official naval base of the american pacific fleet. History aside, today Pearl Harbor is a national memorial visited by many.
The naval complex of Pearl Harbor is divided into multiple buildings. Although the access to the national memorial is free, some historic museums need to be paid separately. Here are more details:
USS Arizona Memorial Program
The USS Arizona Memorial marks the resting place of all the sailors and marines killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. The Memorial is on the water above the sunken hull of the battleship. It can be accessed only by boat through a program offered by the National Park Service.
Admission: Free (first-come, first-served)
Hours: Open daily from 7am to 5pm.
Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum
The museum includes several outdoor exhibits, a museum devoted to the U.S. submarine force, a memorial and a visit to the WWII submarine Bowfin.
Admission (if paid online)*:
Adult (Ages 13+) -- $23.99
Child (Ages 4-12) -- $13.99
Children under 4 are not allowed on the submarine for safety reason.
Hours: Open daily 7am to 5pm (last entry 4:30).
Closed New Year's Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Battleship Missouri Memorial
This “museum” offers visitors the possibility of visiting the USS Missouri, the last battleship commissioned by the United States (finished in 1944). The ship is also famous for being the site where Japan signed the paper to surrender – the moment that marked the end of World War II. Visitors have the possibility to either visit the ship by themselves or get a tour.
Admission (if paid online)*:
Adult (Ages 13+) -- $37.99
Child (Ages 4-12) -- $18.99
Hours: Open daily from 8am to 4pm.
Closed New Years Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Explore authentic hangars that withstood the attack of Pearl Harbor. During the visit you can discover historic planes as well as ascend the Ford Island Control Tower. You either visit the museum on your own or get a guided tour.
Admission (if paid online)*:
Adult (Ages 13+) -- $27.99
Child (Ages 4-12) -- $15.99
Hours: Open daily from 9am to 5pm.
Closed New Years Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
*This museum is more expensive if you walk up and buy your tickets directly there.
Passport to Pearl Harbor
The passport to Pearl Harbor is a pass including admission for the three museums mentioned above. During the two day limit of the pass, you can visit each museum once.
Cost:
Adult (Ages 13+) -- $94.99
Child (Ages 4-12) -- $44.99
Important Things To Know For Your Visit
Your visit will begin at the visitor center where you will park your car (if you have one). Once there, you will pass a checkpoint where a guard will be standing. Since bags are not allowed on the site, you will have to leave them at the bag keeper (right next to the building) which will keep your bag for a fee ($7 for small bags and $10 for large). Although bags and purses are not allowed in, you can still have some personal items with you. When you enter the site, the box office and information booths will be in front of you. The access to USS Arizona memorial will be on your left and submarine museum right. The USS Missouri and Aviation museum are located on ford island which cannot be reached by private cars. Therefore, you will need to take one of the free shuttles driving you to the museums on the island. Since pearl harbor is still an active military area, pictures while on the bus are strictly prohibited, and the friendly bus drivers won’t forget to remind you about it. Once your visit is done, you will wait again for the bus which will take you back to the visitor center.
Le'ahi (Diamond Head)
Probably one of the most popular destinations in O’ahu, Diamond Head (Le’ahi is the Hawaiian name) is a volcano and an U.S. National Monument. The area is famous for its hiking trails and coastal views. The most popular hike is one leading you to the summit of the volcano where you can enjoy a stunning view of Honolulu and get in one of the WWII bunkers. It generally takes 2 hours to walk the 1.6 miles (round trip) of this hike.
Admission:
Hawaii Residents (with ID) – Free
Non-Residents – $5
Children 3 and under – Free
Photo by Chase O | Unsplash
View of Honolulu from the top of Diamond Head, the end of the hiking trail.
Hours:
Open daily from 6am to 6pm (last entry period is 4pm)
Closed on Christmas (December 25) and New Years Day (January 1)
Parking:
Hawaii Resident Vehicles – Free
Non-Resident Vehicles – $10.00
Special fees apply to commercial vehicles.
A reservation made in advance is required for both entry and parking for non-residents.
Our Experience
We hiked the trail to the summit of Diamond Head and there are a couple of things to mention about it. The trail is physically demanding as it constantly goes up all the way to the top with some steep parts and long stairs at some points. Additionally, the second part of the trail has no shade, so be sure to bring plenty of water as well as sunscreen. The visitor center located at the trail’s beginning is very small, but has nice outdoor tables to eat. Overall, we really enjoyed the experience.
Manoa Falls
Probably one of Hawaii’s most popular waterfalls, Manoa falls is a 150ft (~45m) falls accessible via an easy hike. The views offered by the trail combined with it being free makes it a great spot to take pictures and enjoy the place’s beauty.
The Hike:
The trail head taking you to the falls is a 1.6 miles roundtrip. On average, it takes between 1 and 2 hours to hike the trail leading you throughout the tropical jungle. The trail is not dangerous, but you should be careful when it rains. Otherwise, the trail is well signalized and you should be able to find your way easily.
Access:
To get there you can either take a bus, shuttle or your car. You will need to find a parking spot. There is a parking lot right at the trail’s starting point but is paying parking. If you are willing to walk a little, you can also look for a spot along the surrounding streets.
Hours:
Open from sunrise to sunset. Keep in mind that the parking may have their own operating hours.
Photo by Alan Rodriguez| Unsplash
Address:
Manoa Rd, Honolulu, HI 96822
Our Experience
We visited the site on an August morning and it was pretty busy. It took us around 1H out and back to complete the trail. Although the trail is described as easy, we found it slightly challenging. The trail goes up nearly all the way with large stairs at some points. And the humidity can be overwhelming if you are not used to it. The area where the fall can be seen was busy, and some people were waiting in line for pictures. This being said, we enjoyed the experience, the trail offering beautiful views.
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden
Photo by Daniel Ramirez | Wikimedia Commons
If you like a peaceful environment, Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden is a nice place to visit. It offers stunning views, and displays unique and exotic species that can be found in few if not no other places in the United States.
Admission: Free
Hours: Daily from 9am to 4pm.
Closed on Christmas (Dec 25) and New Year’s Day (Jan 1).
Address:
45680 Luluku Rd, Kaneohe, HI 96744
Kualoa Ranch
Kualoa Ranch is a private nature reserve and working cattle ranch. It is a significant place for Hawaii as well as in popular culture. The site has been the filming location of many movies including the Jurassic World franchise, Godzilla, Jumanji and a lot more. This coupled to many other activities makes it a very popular attraction. Additionally, know that the ranch includes a visitor center, a farmers market, a gift shop and a Cafe.
Admission:
Entry into the ranch is free, but all activities and tours must be purchased.
Photo by Colton Jones | Unsplash
Hours:
The Kualoa Ranch is open daily from 7:30am to 6:00pm.
It is closed on Christmas Day & New Years Day.
Note also that the shops and markets within the ranch have their own independent operating hours.
Address:
49-560 Kamehameha Highway, Kaneohe, HI 96744
Our Experience
Kualoa Ranch was one of our trips’ activities. We had a nice and fun experience with a fun tour guide who gave us interesting facts on both the local fauna, flora and Hawaiian culture. Our tour included a visit across the jungle on historical sites as well as movie sets. It was a nice experience. However, we would recommend being ready for any type of weather as it gets a little rain during the tour. Even if the trucks used to move visitors are partly covered, rain will still get you. Additionally, don’t forget to tip your tour guide (based on your satisfaction), they need it, and a lot of tourists tend to forget.
Take a ride on a zipline
Do you like sensations? If you do, you may like the ziplines of Hawaii. To be clear, we are not talking about a roller coaster, but there are plenty of great ziplines in O'ahu, each offering nice views. There are quite a bunch of them, so we cannot go over each of these, but don’t hesitate to check the link below. Sites like Viator or Tripadvisor are doing a great job at listing the best ones.
Bishop Museum
Among the best things to do in O’ahu, there is surely the Bishop Museum. This museum focuses on history and science, with exhibits on Hawaii, the Pacific, and Polynesian cultures. In fact, the Bishop museum owns the world’s largest collection of Polynesian cultural artifacts. The museum also contains temporary exhibits on various topics, special events as well as a planetarium available for an additional fee.
Interestingly, the museum was built by Charles Reed Bishop (co-founder of First Hawaiian Back) in memory of his late wife Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Pauahi was a well known philanthropist, but also a member of the Hawaiian royal family. She was offered the throne by king Kamehameha V on his deathbed, but refused.
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Photo by Daniel Ramirez | Wikimedia Commons
Admission:
Adult – $38.95
Senior (65+) – $35.95
Youth (4 – 17) – $30.95
Other discounts for locals, members and military exist.
Only credit cards are accepted (no cash). Also be aware that discounts are made available on the museum’s website for people buying their tickets online.
Hours:
Open Daily from 9am to 5pm.
Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Address:
1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, HI 96817
Iolani Palace
The royalty of Hawaii is a very important part of Hawaiian history. And one of the buildings where you can learn more about it is ‘Iolani Palace. This hallmark was the royal residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of Hawaii from the mid 1800s up until the ending of the Hawaiian monarchy. For some time, the building was used for governmental purposes, but today it acts as a museum – if we can call it that way – visited by many.
If you plan on visiting ‘Iolani, we encourage you to take a look at all the requirements before you go there. Since the site is considered sacred, visitors are kindly asked to follow some specific rules.
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Admission:
Self-guided audio tours, and other guided tours range from $6 to $125 depending on the tour. Up to 5 tours are offered in English. A reservation is required for all tours.
Hours:
Open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
Closed during most holidays.
Address:
364 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813
Pu’u ‘Ualaka’a State Wayside
This state park located in a dormant cinder cone offers hike and picnic areas. But what makes the area special is the Tantalus Lookout offering a stunning view over the skyline of Honolulu.
Admission: Free
Hours:
Summer – 7:00am to 7:45pm
Winter – 7:am to 6:45pm
Address:
3198 Round Top Dr, Honolulu, HI 96822
Additional Note:
Parking can easily be found on the site, but visitors are highly encouraged to not leave their belongings visible in the car to avoid car breaking.
Polynesian Cultural Center
Hawaiian culture is one of the many things making the island special. And that culture is one of the focuses of the Polynesian Cultural Center. This place offers several activities centered around the different cultures of Polynesia. It features attractions like traditional villages of Fidji, New Zealand, Tahiti and other cultures from that area of the pacific. You may also be able to experience a canoe ride through these villages, enjoy shows and discover traditional dishes. And that is just a glimpse of it!
Additionally, the center features the Hukilau Marketplace, a free marketplace with a variety of shops and food trucks.
Admission:
The attractions in the Polynesian Cultural Center are made available through packages all including different things. Those ranges from a bit more than $100 to $300 for adults and a bit less for children.
Hours:
The Polunesian Cultural Center is open from Monday to Saturday, opening at 12:00pm and closing at 9:00pm. The center is closed on Sunday, Wednesday, Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years.
Address:
55-370 Kamehameha Hwy Lāʻie, Hawaiʻi 96762
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