Waikiki hotels seen across calm water

Oahu Adventures

Things to do on Oahu

Oahu is the most visited Hawaiian island for good reason: in a single day you can tour a royal palace, snorkel a crater reef and eat garlic shrimp on the North Shore. These are our favourite experiences within reach of Waikiki, grouped by theme. Opening hours, prices and reservation rules change often, so check with each place before you go.

Culture and History

Honolulu Museum of Art

The Honolulu Museum of Art building with its tiled roof and courtyard

Founded by Anna Rice Cooke and opened in 1927 as the Honolulu Academy of Arts, the museum sits in a graceful building of courtyards and tiled roofs near downtown. Its collections span Asian, European, American and Hawaiian art, and it runs films, classes and family days. The courtyards alone are a calm escape on a hot afternoon.

  • Makiki, near downtown Honolulu
  • 2–3 hours
  • TheBus from Waikiki, about 25 minutes

Pearl Harbor National Memorial

Aerial view of the white USS Arizona Memorial over the sunken battleship

The memorial honours those who died in the attack of December 7, 1941. A short boat ride takes visitors to the USS Arizona Memorial above the sunken battleship. Programs are free but limited, so reserve ahead, and note that bags are not allowed inside the visitor center.

  • Pearl Harbor, west of Honolulu
  • Half a day
  • About 30–45 minutes by car

Read our guide

Bishop Museum

The stone exterior of the Bishop Museum in Honolulu

Founded in 1889 in memory of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the museum is the leading institution for Hawaiian and Pacific natural and cultural history. Hawaiian Hall tells the story of the islands from creation chants to the monarchy, and the grounds include a planetarium.

  • Kalihi, Honolulu
  • About 3 hours
  • About 30 minutes by car

Polynesian Cultural Center

Performers in Polynesian costume at the Polynesian Cultural Center

On the north-east shore in Laie, the center presents villages representing Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti and Aotearoa, with demonstrations, a canoe pageant and an evening show. Many visitors combine it with a North Shore day trip.

  • Laie, north-east Oahu
  • A full afternoon and evening
  • About 75 minutes by car

Outdoor Activities

Surf and Paddle Lessons

Outrigger canoes and surfers on the waves off Waikiki Beach in a vintage photograph

Duke Kahanamoku brought Hawaiian surfing to the world, and his statue still greets surfers at Kuhio Beach. Beach concessions and surf schools offer group and private lessons on the gentle breaks off Waikiki, plus stand-up paddle boards and outrigger canoe rides.

  • Kuhio Beach and the central Waikiki shoreline
  • 1–2 hours
  • Walk

Read our guide

Catamaran Sail

Catamarans pulled up on the sand at Waikiki Beach

Things look different from the ocean. Catamarans launch straight off the sand at Waikiki for daytime sails, snorkel trips and sunset cruises with views of Diamond Head. In winter, humpback whales are often spotted offshore.

  • Waikiki Beach
  • 1–2 hours
  • Walk

Diamond Head State Monument

The green inner slopes of Diamond Head crater

The 0.8-mile trail to the summit gains roughly 560 feet through switchbacks, stairs and a tunnel, ending at an old military lookout with views over Waikiki. Out-of-state visitors must reserve an entry time in advance.

  • Diamond Head Road, east of Waikiki
  • About 2 hours
  • TheBus or a two-mile walk

Read our guide

Dole Plantation

A pineapple growing on the plant at the Dole Plantation in Wahiawa

On the way to the North Shore, the plantation tells the story of pineapple in Hawaii with a garden maze, a small train ride through the fields and the famous soft-serve. It makes an easy first stop on a round-the-island drive.

  • Wahiawa, central Oahu
  • About 1 hour
  • About 40 minutes by car

Read our guide

Nature

Manoa Falls Trail

The forest path of the Manoa Falls Trail through bamboo

A short rainforest walk at the back of Manoa Valley leads to a tall, narrow waterfall. The path is often muddy and rooty, so wear shoes you do not mind getting dirty, and stay out of the pool below the falls.

  • Manoa Valley, behind the University of Hawaii
  • About 1.5 hours
  • About 20 minutes by car or TheBus

Waimea Valley

The waterfall at the end of the path in Waimea Valley

Across from Waimea Bay on the North Shore, this valley is a botanical garden and cultural site with an easy paved path to a waterfall. Swimming at the falls depends on water conditions and lifeguard approval.

  • Haleiwa area, North Shore
  • 2 hours
  • About 60 minutes by car

Read our guide

Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail

The red-roofed Makapuu Lighthouse seen from the hiking trail

A paved trail climbs gently along the island's eastern tip to lookouts over the Makapuu lighthouse, offshore islets and, from about December to April, migrating humpback whales. There is no shade, so start early.

  • South-east Oahu, past Hanauma Bay
  • About 2 hours
  • About 30 minutes by car

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

Hanauma Bay's curved reef inside a volcanic crater

A protected bay inside an old crater with a shallow reef full of fish. Reservations are required for non-residents and the preserve closes two days a week to let the reef rest.

  • South-east Oahu
  • Half a day
  • About 30 minutes by car

Read our guide

Shopping

Ala Moana Center

The central stage and open-air walkways of Ala Moana Center

Opened in 1959, Ala Moana is one of the largest open-air shopping centers in the world, with department stores, local boutiques, a big food court and free hula shows on its center stage. It sits between Waikiki and downtown.

  • Ala Moana, west of Waikiki
  • As long as your wallet lasts
  • TheBus or trolley, about 10 minutes

International Market Place

The trunk of the great banyan tree at the International Market Place

The historic market on Kalakaua Avenue reopened in 2016 as an open-air shopping centre built around its famous banyan tree, with restaurants on the top level and evening cultural programs.

  • Kalakaua Avenue, central Waikiki
  • 1–2 hours
  • Walk

Read our guide

Chinatown

Shops and street life in Honolulu's Chinatown

Lei stands, noodle shops, herb stores and markets sit beside galleries and cocktail bars in one of the oldest Chinatowns in the United States. Come hungry in the morning, or for the First Friday art walk.

  • Downtown Honolulu
  • Half a day
  • TheBus from Waikiki, about 25 minutes

Read our guide

Photos: Honolulu Museum of Art – Photo: LFL16, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Pearl Harbor National Memorial – Photo: DoD photo by: PH3(AW/SW) JAYME PASTORIC, USN, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Bishop Museum – Photo: Sdkb, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Polynesian Cultural Center – Photo: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Surf and Paddle Lessons – Photo: Charles O'Rear, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Catamaran Sail – Photo: Ossewa, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Diamond Head State Monument – Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Dole Plantation – Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Manoa Falls Trail – Photo: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Waimea Valley – Photo: shanstap, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Makapuu Point Lighthouse Trail – Photo: Kaleismith, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve – Photo: Akos Kokai, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Ala Moana Center – Photo: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; International Market Place – Photo: Daniel Ramirez from Honolulu, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons; Chinatown – Photo: Joel Bradshaw, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.