Ten best things to do in O’ahu Hawaii

Aloha, and Welcome back to The Velvet Runway and our guide to the Ten best things to do in O’ahu Hawaii.

This feature focuses on the island of O’ahu, which is also known as the heart of Hawaii and is home to the bustling town of Honolulu, as well as some of the most breathtaking views and stunning beaches.

It is the third largest Hawaiian Island, but it is home to over ⅔ of Hawaii’s population (950,000 of 1,4 million).

There is plenty to do on O’ahu from cultural experiences, such as visiting Pearl Harbour, to hiking, relaxing on the beach, not to mention the diverse water-sports on offer and of course the bustling nightlife of Honolulu and Waikiki.

The best times of year to visit Hawaii are Spring and Autumn ( which are the “low” season in Hawaii), as you will still have great weather but there will be fewer tourists.

However, there is really no bad time to visit Hawaii!

Here is my brief summary of the ten best things to do in O’ahu Hawaii and why O’ahu should be on your travel bucket list. You can read the full guide here.

Ten best things to do in O’ahu Hawaii

1. Hike the Diamond Head Trail

Diamond Head is one of Hawaii’s most recognised landmarks and can be found on the eastern edge of Waikiki’s coastline. It is well known for its hiking trail and its stunning 360 degree coastal views, but also for its military history.

The Diamond Head Crater is an extinct volcano that was named “Le’Ahi” by the Hawaiians , which translates as the brow of the Ahi-Tuna fish, because of the crater’s ressemblance to the back and fin of a tuna fish.

Reservations may be made up to 30 days in advance, and entry will not be allowed without a reservation, so make sure to book your reservations as soon as possible to avoid missing out! We only booked a couple of days in advance, but were very lucky as we got some of the last remaining tickets!

Distance : Approximately 1.8 miles round trip (roughly 3kms)
Elevation : 560 Feet (170m)
Difficulty : Easy to Moderate (some steep sections, stairs and switchbacks)
Time : 60-90 minutes

The Diamond Head Hike is suitable for most, including children, seniors and anyone with an average fitness level. However, the one thing that makes it a bit more difficult is the mid-day heat and some of the uphill sections that can be quite strenuous. You can find out more about this trail here.

Hours: open daily from 6am to 4pm (CLOSED: Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Years)
Reservations : Required
Cost : Parking Fee: $10 per car, Hiking Fee: $5 per person

2. Hike the Koko Trail for spectacular views and a great sense of achievement!

The Koko Crater trail (also known as the Koko Head Stairs) in East Honolulu is one of the most popular hikes on the island, but you should be aware that, unlike Diamond Head, this hike is steep and strenuous, and that if you suffer from vertigo, part of the ascent/descent will be challenging.

Koko Head Railway Stairs comprise 1048 steps (although it feels like twice that!), which take you up 990ft (301m) over a distance of just 0.7 miles (1.13km), but it feels like a lot more, as you are gaining almost 1 ft of elevation for every 2 feet of distance, and at the Koko Head Crater summit, you will be 1207 ft (368m) above sea level.

Distance : Approximately 1.6 miles (2.6 km) round trip
Elevation : 1,207 feet (368 m)
Difficulty : MODERATE TO HARD
Time : 60-120 minutes
BOOKING : NOT REQUIRED

The beginning is hard because you haven’t had time to warm up, but the rest of the climb is worse!

The hike can be broken into three parts: the gradual slope at the beginning that goes for a little over half of the journey, the steep ascent up the final leg, and a terrifying section with a rickety bridge (with a 40ft drop below) that connects the two, hence my warning for those who suffer from vertigo!.

Once/If you get to the top, you will be able to see the facilities left abandoned after the military activity has stopped. But, this is NOT why you have made the effort to climb the Koko trail. To the right of the bunker, the path continues along the top to reach several viewpoints where you have stunning views over Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, the southeastern tip of the island and part of Waikiki.

I will do a feature on the Koko Trail soon, but in the meantime you can find out more about it in our Hawaii Travel Guide.

3. Visit the Dole Plantation

After all that exercise, it might feel like time for a more relaxing activity, and a trip on the Pineapple Express at the Dole Plantation might just fit the bill.

This fully narrated, twenty-minute train tour is an experience for the whole family. You’ll learn the story of pineapple in Hawaii, hear how James Drummond Dole founded his world-famous agricultural empire where Dole Plantation stands today, and travel through the stunning scenery of the island’s famous North Shore.

Hours: open every day, from 9:30am – 5:30pm (closed on Christmas Day).
Reservations : Not possible
Cost : no admission fee to enter the Visitor Center. The only admission charge is for the 3 attractions (train, maze, garden).

You can also take the garden tour or explore the pineapple maze, which is actually the world’s largest maze, and a visit to the Dole Plantation would not be complete without tasting the plantation’s speciality, Dole Whip, a frozen pineapple dessert.

4. Stroll around Hale’iwa Old Town.

Hale’iwa is less than 15 minutes from the Dole Plantation on the North Shore of O’ahu, so it’s definitely worth adding a stop at Hale’Iwa when you are in the area.

Hale’iwa Town (pronounced Ha-lay-ee-vah) first became a tourist destination in 1898 when the Hale’iwa Hotel was constructed.

In Hawaiian, ‘Hale’ means house and ‘iwa’ refers to the local frigate bird, so ‘Hale’iwa’ translates to ‘house of the frigate bird’.

Haleʻiwa is filled with cool surf shops and boutiques, charming art galleries and laid-back restaurants housed in plantation-era buildings.

The Rainbow Bridge spans across the Anahulu River and is one of the most iconic structures in Halei’wa, and on hot days, you will probably see people jumping off the bridge into the river below.

However, a safer way to cool down is to rent a paddle-board or a kayak from one of the many surf shops in the Old Town, head out to the beach or cool down with a shaved ice.

5. Visit the Polynesian Cultural Center

The Polynesian Cultural Center is located in a small town called Laie on the North Shore, and comprises 6 villages : Hawaii, Tonga, Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji and Aoteroa (New Zealand). The island exhibit in the center of the villages features seven hand-carved moai or stone statues created onsite by artisans from Rapa Nui (Easter Island).

Entrance to the Hukilau Marketplace is free, and this is a great place to eat and shop (with free parking). It’s a vintage throwback to 1950’s Hawaii offering fun souvenirs, local goods and nostalgic food.

Hours: open from 12h30 – 9pm. Closed Sundays, Wednesdays, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day
Cost : Free to enter the market place, Packages from $69,95

You can also continue into the evening with a Grand Hawaiian “luau” , and end the evening with a spectacular production called “Ha Breath of Life“.

Tickets for all packages can be purchased directly on site or you can save 10% by booking online.

6 Visit the Byodo-In Temple in the Valley of The Temples Memorial Park

The Byodo-In Temple is located at the foot of the Ko’olau Mountains in the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park.

It was established on June 7, 1968, to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii, and it’s actually a replica of Japan’s iconic Byodo-in Temple in Uji, Kyoto, and the original was built around 1,000 years ago!

This Buddhist temple is now a non-practicing temple that allows visitors, and you will love the feeling of serenity and peace that you will find in the beautiful grounds, especially the Peaceful Pavillion and at the Reflection Pond.

Hours: 10am – 10:30pm (11:00pm on Friday and Saturday)
Price: General Admission $5.00 (ages 13-64), $4.00 Seniors (age 65 & up), $2.00 Children (2-12 years).
Recommended Visit: 1 – 2 hours

There is no particular dress code, but you will need to remove your shoes before you enter the temple itself, and once in the temple, you will see the Amida, a golden Buddha, which is over 9 feet tall!

7 Hike up to the Manoa Waterfall

Did I say the word “hike” again? Well, yes I did, but let me reassure you that the hike to the Manoa Waterfall is not only beautiful but also a lot less strenuous than the Koko trail.

This stunning 150-foot waterfall is reached on a short, easy trail through the jungle, which is suitable for all ages and fitness levels, although the path is occasionally rocky and it can get muddy after it rains, so make sure to wear walking or running shoes. Also, because this area of Honolulo has a rainforest type microclimate make sure to take mosquito repellent, as well as sunscreen and a waterproof jacket… just in case!

Distance : Approximately 1.7 miles round trip (roughly 2.6kms)
Elevation : 800 feet (2,4 meters)
Difficulty : Easy (Gradual climb, can be muddy and therefore slippery)
Time : 60-120 minutes
BOOKING : NOT REQUIRED

The waterfall is spectacular, but please be aware that it is forbidden to swim in the Manoa Falls, partly because of the danger of falling boulders, but also because of the risk of leptospirosis, not to mention the mosquito fish, guppies, bufo toads, and poison dart frogs who may be sharing the water with you! I prefer to head to the beach instead!

Hours: daily from SUNRISE TO SUNSET. CAR PARK from 8am – 6pm Daily
Price: Free to hike, but paid parking if you park in the Paradise Park parking lot at the trailhead (free in the nearby residential areas)

8 Snorkel in Hanauma Bay State Park

Hanauma Bay is one of the most famous snorkelling beaches on Hawaii. The beach and surrounding natural park get their name from two Hawaiian words: “hana” which means bay and “uma” which means curved.

However, you can’t just turn up and snorkel! Reservations are REQUIRED, and there is a mandatory 9 minute orientation video for visitors to learn about the marine life, preservation and safety rules for the park in order to preserve the environment and the marine life.

Hours : 6:45am to 4pm daily. Closed Mondays & Tuesdays, Christmas Day And New Years Day
Price: $25.00 entry fee per person, parking fee $3

Bring a towel, swimsuit and reef-safe sunscreen (sunscreens with oxybenzone and octinoxate- two chemicals that are harmful to the coral reef are banned througout Hawaii). You can rent snorkel equipment if required.

9 Relax on the beach

I know it’s tempting to rush around and visit all the tourist attractions, but you can easily build a little beach time into your day, as there are beaches close to all the major attractions!

Hawaii has so many amazing beaches that it’s impossible to pick just one, and why should you? Have a look at a quick recap of our favorite beaches below.

10 Visit the Pearl Harbour Memorial

And of course, no visit to Hawaii would be complete without visiting the Pearl Harbour Memorial, which is dedicated to the fateful attack on Pearl Harbour on December 7, 1941, which killed over 2,400 Americans and marked the entry of the U.S into World War II.

Almost half of the casualties at Pearl Harbour occurred on the naval battleship, USS Arizona, which was hit four times by Japanese bombers and eventually sank, and you can take a naval shuttle boat out to the USS Arizona Memorial.

Hours: 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (closed Thanksgiving Day, December 25, and January 1.)
Price: Free ($1 non-refundable reservation fee for the Arizona Memorial)
Reservation required for the USS Arizona Memorial

The 45-minute USS Arizona Memorial program, which begins at the Pearl Harbour Memorial Theater, is a truly moving and sobering experience as you are literally standing above the burial site of the 1,177 men who lost their lives, and you can see the wreckage of the sunken ship beneath you.

Where to Stay

Waikīkī, the most-famous neighborhood in Honolulu, is the hub of O’ahu and offers a wide variety of accommodation, restaurants, bars, shopping, nightclubs, and things to do.

The West Coast has remained relatively undeveloped as far as tourism is concerned and is ideal for the most scenic, calm and secluded beaches, but there is a limited choice of accommodation and restaurants.

If you’re on O’ahu to surf, then head to the North Coast, which is the surfer’s paradise! However, the downside is that it is not always safe for swimming because of the strong currents. There is also limited nightlife and entertainment, and there can be traffic congestion as there is only one main road.

The East Coast has breathtaking scenery, and some of the most stunning white sand beaches, such as Lanikae Beach but again limited entertainment and nightlife. It is a great choice for families as there are family friendly hikes, beautiful beaches and kid-friendly restaurants.

Have a look below for some places to stay.

Booking.com

Obviously, this is not an exhaustive guide to O’ahu, and you can read more details in our newest travel guide, which is published on MagCloud in print and digital.

The Hawaii Travel Guide

These are completely free to read and no email sign up is required. Just click on the button above to read the guide online.

The digital version and PDF download are also free. However, you will need to create a free MagCloud account, which then gives you access to a wide range of magazines and guides.

The print version is payable to cover the printing and binding costs.

I hope you enjoyed this post on Ten best things to do in O’ahu Hawaii and have a look here for more of our travel guides.