In Brief
What are the best things to do in Oahu?
The best things to do in Oahu are visiting the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, hiking Diamond Head at sunrise, snorkeling Hanauma Bay, driving to the North Shore for big-wave beaches and shrimp trucks, and swimming or surfing at Waikiki Beach. Most first-timers base in Waikiki and split their time between the historic sights, the beaches, and one full North Shore day.
Key takeaways
- Book two things ahead: Pearl Harbor's USS Arizona Memorial (free but timed) and Hanauma Bay (reservation-only, closed Mondays and Tuesdays).
- Hike Diamond Head at sunrise to beat the heat and the crowds - reservations are required for non-residents.
- Give the North Shore a full day: Haleiwa town, the big-wave beaches and Kualoa Ranch are all up there.
- You'll want a rental car for at least a day or two; Waikiki itself is walkable and bus-friendly.
14 best things to do in Oahu
Ranked best-first, with an insider tip and how to book each. Prices and hours change - check before you go.
History
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
Rated 4.8 out of 5 on Google Maps from 27,593 reviews, as of October 2026The USS Arizona Memorial floats above the battleship still entombed where it sank on December 7, 1941 - one of America's most moving historic sites. The visitor center's museums, the Battleship Missouri and the Pacific Aviation Museum can fill most of a day.
- Insider tip
- Insider tip: The Arizona Memorial boat program is free but timed - grab tickets the moment they release (about 8 weeks out, or a small batch the day before). Bags aren't allowed; travel light.
Hike & viewpoint
Diamond Head (Le'ahi)
Rated 4.7 out of 5 on Google Maps from 2,975 reviews, as of October 2026The extinct crater on Waikiki's skyline is Oahu's signature hike: a paved-then-stepped 1.3-km climb to a summit bunker with a 360° view over the coast and city. Under 90 minutes round trip for most people.
- Insider tip
- Insider tip: Out-of-state visitors must reserve an entry slot in advance. Go at the 6am opening for sunrise, cool air and a near-empty trail.
Snorkeling
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
A protected volcanic bay that's the best beginner snorkel on the island - calm, shallow, and thick with reef fish and the occasional honu (green sea turtle). A short conservation video is required before you enter.
- Insider tip
- Insider tip: Reservation-only and closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Slots open online 48 hours ahead and vanish in minutes - set an alarm. First entry (around 6:45am) has the clearest water.
Beach
Waikiki Beach
FreeThe famous crescent below Diamond Head is a genuinely great beach for beginners: gentle rollers perfect for a first surf lesson or an outrigger canoe ride, calm swimming, and a sunset scene with tiki torches and free hula shows.
- Insider tip
- Insider tip: It's busiest in the middle. Walk toward the Diamond Head end (Queen's Beach) for more room, or catch the Friday-night fireworks off the Hilton lagoon.
Road trip
North Shore & Haleiwa Town
Oahu's other half: the surf towns and beaches of the North Shore. In winter, Waimea Bay and Banzai Pipeline see some of the planet's biggest rideable waves; in summer they turn swimmable. Haleiwa town serves shave ice and food-truck garlic shrimp.
- Insider tip
- Insider tip: Make it a full day and go counter-clockwise. Giovanni's and the roadside shrimp trucks at Kahuku are the classic lunch stop.
Adventure & film sites
Kualoa Ranch
A 4,000-acre working ranch on the Windward Coast where Jurassic Park, Kong and Lost were filmed. ATV, horseback, zipline and movie-site tours run through jaw-dropping valleys and the 'Jurassic' jungle.
- Insider tip
- Insider tip: Tours sell out - book a specific experience ahead rather than turning up. The movie-sites bus tour is the easiest with kids.
Beach
Lanikai Beach & Kailua
FreePowder-soft sand, impossibly turquoise water and the two Mokulua islets offshore make Lanikai a regular 'world's best beach' pick. Neighboring Kailua Beach is bigger, with parking and facilities.
- Insider tip
- Insider tip: Lanikai has almost no parking and no facilities - park in Kailua and walk, or rent a kayak to paddle out to the Mokes (permit needed to land).
Culture
Polynesian Cultural Center
Six recreated Pacific-island villages on the North Shore, staffed by students performing hula, fire-knife dancing and canoe pageants. The evening luau and 'Ha: Breath of Life' show are the big draws.
- Insider tip
- Insider tip: It's a long day and it's up on the North Shore - pair it with a North Shore drive, and book the luau package if you want the full experience.
Hike
Manoa Falls Trail
Rated 4.7 out of 5 on Google Maps from 5,437 reviews, as of October 2026FreeA lush 45-minute rainforest walk to a 45-meter waterfall, ten minutes from Waikiki. Bamboo groves, banyan roots and 'Jurassic'-green canopy - it doubles as a film location.
- Insider tip
- Insider tip: It's muddy year-round; wear grippy shoes. Go early to park (the lot is small and fills) and to beat afternoon showers.
Culture
Byodo-In Temple
A serene replica of a 900-year-old Japanese temple set against the fluted Ko'olau cliffs on the Windward side. Koi ponds, a 3-ton brass bell and wild peacocks make it one of the island's most photogenic quiet spots.
- Insider tip
- Insider tip: It's inside the Valley of the Temples cemetery; there's a small entry fee. Ring the bon-sho bell before entering - it's said to bring peace and good fortune.
City & history
Honolulu: Iolani Palace & Chinatown
Rated 4.6 out of 5 on Google Maps from 6,073 reviews, as of October 2026Downtown holds the only royal palace on US soil - the restored home of Hawaii's last monarchs - plus a gritty-cool Chinatown of lei stands, galleries, craft-cocktail bars and some of the city's best food.
- Insider tip
- Insider tip: Iolani Palace is guided or self-led audio tour only, timed tickets. Chinatown is best late afternoon into the First Friday art walk.
Viewpoint
Nu'uanu Pali Lookout
FreeA five-minute stop off the Pali Highway with a sheer, wind-blasted view over the Windward Coast from a 300-meter cliff - the site of a pivotal 1795 battle that unified Oahu. The trade winds here can literally hold you up.
- Insider tip
- Insider tip: Hold onto hats and phones - the wind is no joke. It's an easy add-on when crossing to Kailua or the Windward side.
Beach & family
Ko Olina Lagoons
FreeFour calm, man-made lagoons on the sunny west side with gentle water, grassy lawns and easy parking - the island's most stress-free swim with small kids, and a good base for the Disney and resort area.
- Insider tip
- Insider tip: Parking lots are small and fill by mid-morning on weekends; arrive early. Lagoon 1 (Kohola) sits by the marina where sunset catamaran and whale-watch trips depart.
On the water
Sunset catamaran & whale watch
Sailing off Waikiki at golden hour is the classic Oahu evening; December-through-April trips double as humpback-whale watching when the whales migrate through Hawaiian waters.
- Insider tip
- Insider tip: The BYOB 'booze cruise' catamarans leaving straight off Waikiki Beach are cheapest; book a dedicated whale-watch boat in winter for the best sightings.
Where to stay in Oahu
The best areas to base yourself, and who each suits.
Waikiki
First-timers - walkable beach, dining and nightlife, the most hotels at every price.
Ko Olina
Families and couples - calm man-made lagoons and resorts on the quieter west side.
North Shore (Haleiwa)
Surfers and slow-travelers - laid-back town, big-wave beaches, few big hotels.
Kailua
Beach purists - the island's best powder-sand bays, mostly vacation rentals.
Planning your Oahu trip
Best time to visit
April-May and September-October: warm, drier, and cheaper than the mid-December-to-March and summer peaks. Big North Shore surf runs roughly November-February.
Getting around
Waikiki is walkable and served by TheBus and the Waikiki Trolley. For the North Shore, Windward Coast and circle-island drives you'll want a rental car for a day or two - the scenery is the point. Rideshare works for airport and in-town hops.
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Photo credits (13)
Photos via Wikimedia Commons, used under their respective licences.
- Pearl Harbor National Memorial: Reweaver33 - CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Diamond Head (Le'ahi): Robert Linsdell from St. Andrews, Canada - CC BY 2.0 · source
- Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve: Jason Jacobs from Honolulu, USA - CC BY 2.0 · source
- Waikiki Beach: Diego Delso - CC BY-SA 3.0 · source
- North Shore & Haleiwa Town: Tony Webster - CC BY 2.0 · source
- Kualoa Ranch: Famartin - CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Lanikai Beach & Kailua: Deb Nystrom from Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA - CC BY 2.0 · source
- Polynesian Cultural Center: Famartin - CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Manoa Falls Trail: Carol miranda of Themirandaroute - CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Byodo-In Temple: Thomas Woodtli from Zürich, Switzerland - CC BY-SA 2.0 · source
- Nu'uanu Pali Lookout: Lukas from Tokyo, Japan - CC BY 2.0 · source
- Ko Olina Lagoons: Farragutful - CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
- Sunset catamaran & whale watch: Ossewa - CC BY-SA 4.0 · source