The Best Things to Do in Oahu

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.

1. 1

   Pearl Harbor National Memorial

   History

   The 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: 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.

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2. 2

   Diamond Head (Le'ahi)

   Hike & viewpoint

   The 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: 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.

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3. 3

   Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

   Snorkeling

   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: 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.

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4. 4

   Waikiki Beach

   BeachFree

   The 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: 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.

5. 5

   North Shore & Haleiwa Town

   Road trip

   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: Make it a full day and go counter-clockwise. Giovanni's and the roadside shrimp trucks at Kahuku are the classic lunch stop.

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6. 6

   Kualoa Ranch

   Adventure & film sites

   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: Tours sell out - book a specific experience ahead rather than turning up. The movie-sites bus tour is the easiest with kids.

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7. 7

   Lanikai Beach & Kailua

   BeachFree

   Powder-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: 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).

8. 8

   Polynesian Cultural Center

   Culture

   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: 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.

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9. 9

   Manoa Falls Trail

   HikeFree

   A 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: It's muddy year-round; wear grippy shoes. Go early to park (the lot is small and fills) and to beat afternoon showers.

10. 10

    Byodo-In Temple

    Culture

    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: 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.

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11. 11

    Honolulu: Iolani Palace & Chinatown

    City & history

    Downtown 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: Iolani Palace is guided or self-led audio tour only, timed tickets. Chinatown is best late afternoon into the First Friday art walk.

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12. 12

    Nu'uanu Pali Lookout

    ViewpointFree

    A 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: Hold onto hats and phones - the wind is no joke. It's an easy add-on when crossing to Kailua or the Windward side.

13. 13

    Ko Olina Lagoons

    Beach & familyFree

    Four 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: 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.

14. 14

    Sunset catamaran & whale watch

    On the water

    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: The BYOB 'booze cruise' catamarans leaving straight off Waikiki Beach are cheapest; book a dedicated whale-watch boat in winter for the best sightings.

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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.