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Oahu is known as the gathering place among the Hawaiian Islands, with
nearly 6 million people visiting the island yearly! It is the most popular Hawaiian island for tourism and home to Hawaii’s capital city Honolulu. The island has something for everyone, from Pearl Harbor for history buffs, to underwater scooters for the thrill-seekers! In this post, we will be compiling 10 of our favorite things to do in Oahu & Honolulu!
Things to do on Oahu & Honolulu
Visit Pearl Harbor:
Pearl Harbor is one of Hawaii’s top three most visited tourist destinations, with as many as 4,000 people visiting daily! The Pearl Harbor Memorial site allows visitors to learn about the attack on Pearl Harbor and the United States' entrance into World War II. The National Park Service is in charge of the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, and the museums therefore there is no fee to visit.
The USS Arizona is by reservation only and has a $1 per ticket reservation fee (you can make your reservation here) standby is also available on a first come first served basis.
The only way to see the USS Oklahoma and the USS Utah Memorials on Ford Island is to take the Ford Island Bus Tour (unless you have a military ID). These sites are on an active duty military base, and tours are escorted by the National Park Service. Reservations are required to join the bus tour, and a $1 per person reservation fee is required.
Paid guided tours are available as well.
Snorkel Hanauma Bay:
Hanauma Bay is one of the most famous snorkeling spots in Hawaii. Only 1,400 guests are allowed entrance to the park to snorkel each day and there is a competitive online reservation system to try and get a time slot. The bay is now closed to the public every Monday and Tuesday. Reservations open two days out, for example, beginning Monday at 7 am Hawaii Standard Time you can begin to reserve a time slot for Wednesday. Reservations will remain open until the spaces are filled or until midnight the day before. Once you have a reservation there is a $25 fee per person.
Submarine Scooters with Island Water Sports Hawaii:
Island Water Sports Hawaii has a unique experience where you can submerge yourself in a small personal submarine and explore the ocean. It is $180 per person, and we had a blast! You are on a personal submarine scooter and can navigate through the water and get up close to sea life.
We would not recommend this activity for those who get seasick! We went on a rough day and almost everyone on our tour got sick. We are not prone to getting seasick, and even we felt a little unsettled!
It was such an amazing experience, if you do not get easily seasick you’ll surely enjoy it!
Take Surf Lessons in Waikiki:
Surfing is an iconic Hawaiian pastime and has a long and rich history. Surfing is a symbol of Hawaiian cultural heritage and identity and has helped preserve and promote Hawaiian values like respect for the ocean. Name a better place to learn!
Big Wave Dave offers group, semi-private, and private surf lessons near Waikiki Beach, and we had an incredible time surfing with them! The staff was amazing, and they were they were such great teachers! By the end, we could both stand up and ride a wave, and they all cheered us on.
A group lesson with a handful of people costs $129 per person. The area we surfed in was a little rocky and over a reef so we did get a little scrapped up when we fell, and we fell a lot! We chose to pay for the photo package for an additional fee and enjoyed dozens of images of us surfing (or at least trying to). If you want to surf in Waikiki click here!
Explore the ocean in a submarine:
One fascinating way to explore Hawaii is underwater! With Atlantis Submarines you will explore depths up to 100 feet and see an abundance of sea life up close through the sub's portholes. Tickets cost $148.00 for adults and $66 for children 12 and under. On our tour, we saw stingrays, sharks, sea turtles, and hundreds of colorful fish! The sub offers bench seating and large windows so everyone can see out. We enjoyed our tour! The staff were very knowledgeable about the vessel, and the sea life we saw.
We felt secure while in the submarine, and getting in and out was relatively simple. You take a shuttle boat out to the submarine and then board through the top of the sub. You must be able to climb down/up the vertical 11-step ladder on your own to go on the tour! If you want to explore under the sea, click here for tickets to the Atlantis submarine!
Nuuanu Pali Lookout (Free):
Nuuanu Pali Lookout is a breathtaking lush overlook facing the botanical garden and Pacific Ocean. There is great cultural and historical relevance to the area as well. This area was the site of the battle of Nu'uanu, where King Kamehameha (the first ruler of the kingdom of Hawaii) won the battle that united the island of Oahu under his rule. There are plaques around the overlook with really great historical information! There is a parking lot nearby, and you can find it on Google Maps here!
Visit Byodo-in Temple:
A beautiful Japanese-style temple at the foot of the Ko’olau Mountains in Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. You can go inside the temple and light incense and hit a gong for good luck outside the temple. There is a small admission fee of $5 for adults (no cash) and $2 for children 2-12. It does not take long to see the entire temple, and the recommended time to allot for a visit is 30-45 minutes. We enjoyed our visit, and thought it was a unique experience on the island! You can book your tickets to the Byodo-in Temple here!
Visits the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden (FREE):
The Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden is located about 15 miles (45 minutes) from Waikiki, and offers free admission and parking to guests! The park is open from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm every day. It is a huge park with abundant lush greenery, walking trails, and a lake. We enjoyed our time walking around and taking in the gorgeous views. It is a great place to take pictures, you are surrounded by green hilltops and lush plants. There are multiple parking lots near the various trails, and public bathrooms/porta-potties throughout the park. It is worth a visit, especially since it is free!!! Find it on Google Maps!
See the city skyline from Tantalus Lookout - Puu Ualakaa State Park (FREE):
Tantalus Lookout is a nice spot to have a picnic and watch the sunset over the city skyline. This vista point offers expansive views of the city, the ocean, and Diamond Head. Many people came close to sunset with food and had picnics on the grassy hill. It's a relaxing spot to kick back and watch the sun dip below the horizon! There is a small parking lot, and the drive is a little windy but not too bad. Find the Tantalus Lookout on Google Maps here!
Have a beach day:
A trip to Hawaii is not complete without spending at least one day relaxing on the beach!
Some of our favorite beaches on the island are listed below.
Summary:
Oahu has so much to offer from breathtaking viewpoints, sandy white beaches, to a rich cultural and historical background. Whether you are seeking adventure, relaxation, or wanting to learn about Hawaiian history, Oahu provides endless opportunities to explore and enjoy. We hope this list of our ten favorite things to do Oahu can help you experience a range of what the island has to offer!
Let us know below if you have seen or done any of these things on the island below! We would love to hear your experiences!
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