The Top 10 Things To Do In Oahu, HI 2024
Oahu offers many activities such as luaus, sunset cruises, paddleboarding, surfing, and parasailing. Hike at Diamondhead Park, visit the Pearl Harbor Monument, and head to Kualoa Ranch for ziplining, ATV rides, a movie tour, and more!
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#10 - Parasailing
Get ready for an adventure! So scary, but so much fun! Choose from a number of places that offer parasailing trips. Take a ride out on the water and get ready for some great views as you soar above the ocean. We took our ride with Paradise Water Sports for about $50 a person, taking advantage of a Groupon Read Moredeal. They also allow you to choose how high you want to go up. We went with the highest option (850 feet) and can confirm that it was really, really high. We went on a boat with around 8 people, but private options are also available. If we did it again, we would probably choose the private option, as we had to sit on the speeding boat for a while waiting for everyone else's turn.
#9 - Diamondhead State Monument
Looking for something active to do on your vacation? We highly recommend taking a hike at Diamondhead State Monument. Paid parking is available but fills up quickly. It was full when we visited and we ended up parking near the community college on Diamond Head Road. If you do this be careful walking up Read Moreto the start of the trail, as you’ll be walking on the narrow street where other visitors and tour groups are driving. We got screamed at by a local guide driving by for walking in the street even though we weren’t anywhere close to them and there was plenty of room. Once we got to the trail it was smooth sailing. Chances are it will be super crowded, so while you might get stuck behind someone walking slowly, it will make it easier to follow the path. Once you reach the top, you’ll have a wonderful picture opportunity of the ocean and the Waikiki skyline. It was absolutely gorgeous and we adore the photos we took at the top of the mountain.
Ashley enjoying the sun setting over the North Shore.
#8 - North Shore
Rent a car and take a cruise over to see the scenic North Shore. Stop at a beach to see the crashing waves and delight in lunch at one of the many restaurants along the way. Here, we went paddleboarding for our first time and stopped to enjoy some refreshing shaved ice at Matsumoto's. You can also go ziplining, take Read Morea quad tour, and/or a movie tour at the Kualoa Ranch. We took the Hollywood Movie Sights Tour and loved it! We also stopped along the way at the Polynesian Cultural Center just to walk around and check out the shops. There are many different beaches to see and activities to do along your drive.
Us posing in front of the sunset during our catamaran cruise.
#7 - Sunset Catamaran Cruise
We booked a Sunset Catamaran Cruise with Makani Catamaran. It departed near our hotel in Waikiki and was included with our Go Oahu Pass. It was a nice couple of hours out on the water. The Hawaiian-themed food was pretty good but the best part of the cruise was the sunset. They time it out so when you’re Read Moreheading back to shore you’re heading straight towards a glorious sunset. It was so beautiful, full of pink and orange tones, that literally everyone on the boat was taking pics of it and with it. Some of our favorite pictures from our trip were taken on the catamaran.
#6 - Luau
Having never been to a real Hawaiian Luau before, we were really looking forward to checking one out! We found one within walking distance from our hotel called Diamond Head Luau. They advertise as the only farm-to-table luau in Hawaii, so suffice it to say the food was fresh and delicious. They served a Read Morebuffet of local cuisines and drinks. On top of the food, they provide many activities themed around Polynesian culture. We made our own leis out of fresh flowers, tried our hand at a Ukulele, and attempted to do some hula (we were not good haha). After we had some food on our plates, the show began as the sun started to set. There was singing, authentic hula dancers, and fire dances. It was a fantastic evening that gives you a great feel of the Hawaiian culture.
#5 - Beaches
When you think of Hawaii you probably conjure up an image of sandy beaches and calm ocean waves. The good news is there’s plenty of that! The bad news is you might have a hard time deciding which beach to visit! If you’re staying in Waikiki, you can certainly spend some time chilling on a beach chair at Waikiki Read MoreBeach. It’s the busiest beach on the island but is the most convenient because of its proximity to the hotels, shopping, and restaurants of the South Shore. It connects with Queen’s Surf, Duke’s, and Kuhio Beaches, so you can actually enjoy the different beaches all in one day! On the North Shore, do what we did and watch a gorgeous sunset from the amply named Sunset Beach. If you want to see some turtles and are willing to try your hand at the limited parking situation, a trip to Laniakea Beach might be up your alley. Other beaches include Kailua Beach, great for the outdoor water enthusiast, Waimea Bay, a famous surfing spot, and the ever-peaceful Kahana Bay. All told, there is 125 beaches total, making one close to you wherever you may be on the island.
#4 - Matsumoto Shave Ice
Hawaii is famous for its fluffy shave ice (not to be confused with the traditional crunchy shaved ice). We looked up the highest-rated shave ice place on the island and discovered Matsumoto Shave Ice on the north shore. It was on a cute block, with lots of shops to check out. As expected, there was a long line, but it Read Morewas well worth the wait! We debated sharing one but opted to get one each so we could try a couple of different flavors. They were gigantic! We easily could’ve shared but hey, when in Rome. They have around 40 flavor choices and toppings, and since you can mix and match there are almost endless possibilities. If it’s your first shave ice experience, definitely opt for the condensed milk topping, you won’t regret it.
Ashley kayaking in Hawaii.
#3 - Paddle Board & Kayak
One option on our Go Oahu Pass was a three-hour stand-up paddle board rental at Sea Board and Sports at the North Shore. We had never paddle-boarded in our lives so we figured we would give it a try! The surrounding area was really nice, with lots of restaurants to choose from before or after your water Read Moreadventure. The people working there were super nice and let us spend half of our three hours on a kayak and the other half on the paddle boards. Their setup was great! You paddle out into the ocean and turn into an enclosed space called the Anahulu River. Here you can relax on the water, take in the beautiful green scenery, and even spot some fish and turtles! Other water adventures on the island include scuba diving, snorkeling, parasailing, surfing, boating, cruises, and windsurfing. Being an island, Oahu offers these activities wherever you are!
#2 - Hollywood Movie Sights Tour
Having lived in Los Angeles all of our lives, we’re no strangers to seeing where television shows and movies are made. Even with that, we were interested in seeing some locations where these programs were filmed in Hawaii. We booked a movie sights tour at Kualoa Ranch. Kualoa Ranch provides many different types Read Moreof tours, from horseback riding, ziplining, and kayaking to a secret island or jeep adventure. The tour was really fun! You get to see where movies like Jurassic Park and Jumanji were filmed and you get to see some incredible movie artifacts and props. Be sure to arrive early, they will start without you and refunds aren’t guaranteed. You can easily make a day of it and book a couple of tours on the same day!
#1 - Pearl Harbor National Memorial
When we booked our trip to Oahu we knew that we needed to visit the site of Pearl Harbor to pay our respects to all the Americans who lost their lives there on Dec. 7, 1941. There are many things to see and do at the site, but we opted to do the narrated tour of the USS Arizona Memorial. That tour, and a couple of Read Moreothers that they offer, are included on the Go Oahu pass. Other tours include setting foot on a battleship or a submarine. Our tour gave a great feel for the time period, describing life before and after the attack. After walking around the visitor’s center you set out on a boat shuttle to go to the exact site where the USS Arizona stood. If you look in the water, you can still see (some 76 years later!) oil leaking out from the buried undersea battleship. It was a very nice tour and well worth the 30-minute drive from Waikiki.
Check out the top 10 things to do in Oahu!
How many days in Oahu is enough? We would recommend at least 4-5 days when taking a trip to Oahu. The flight is long (at least 5 hours) so you’ll want to get your money’s worth. Plus, there’s just so much to do and see on the island and you’ll want to spend a couple of days just relaxing and enjoying the vibe.
Do you need cash in Oahu? Most places on the island accept credit cards, but it’s always a good idea to bring some cash along for tipping and special circumstances.
What is the cheapest month to go to Oahu? Due to its immaculate weather, Oahu is always busy. However, the spring months (April-June) and September are generally a little slower, which leads to better prices on airfare and accommodations.
What you need to know before going to Hawaii? Before taking off on your trip, be sure to check the weather forecast (could be rain) and educate yourself a little on Hawaiian culture. Being respectful to the local residents is a must while on the island.
Do I need sneakers in Hawaii? Yes! Sure, you’ll spend a lot of time barefoot and in sandals, but you’ll want a nice pair of sneakers in case you take part in a hike or spend a day doing adventurous activities. Some activities at Kualoa Ranch like zip lining require closed-toed shoes.