Oahu Things to Do

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Most Viewed Things to Do in Oahu

1.

Pearl Harbor   Honolulu

Pearl Harbor, Honolulu

 90 Reviews  At 7:55 a.m. Pacific Time on 7 December 1941, some 360 Japanese war planes descended on the naval base at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. This heinous, preemptive attack which took place while peace... 

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2.

Beaches   Waikiki

Beaches, Waikiki

 25 Reviews  Never has a beach been as fabled as Waikiki. Since the 1950s, this beach has been a tourist destination extraordinaire. While much of it has been eroded, trampled by millions of feet, or encroached... 

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3.

Hanauma Bay   Honolulu

Hanauma Bay, Honolulu

 39 Reviews  Hanauma Bay is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the island. The Park is open every day except Tuesday. But once the parking lot is full, which frequently happens by mid-morning, no more... 

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4.

Diamond Head   Waikiki

Diamond Head, Waikiki

 9 Reviews  The Diamond Head Lighthouse is not open to public tours but relatively unobstructed views of the lighthouse can be found. This lighthouse has a great historical significance to many on the island. In... 

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5.

Diamond Head   Honolulu

Diamond Head, Honolulu

 46 Reviews  I like to hike so I decided to do what pretty much every tourist does and walk up to the peak of Diamond Head crater. The views are pretty good and it makes for a short workout. If you are in good... 

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6.

Entertainment   Waikiki

Entertainment, Waikiki

 3 Reviews  A great and cheap way to see a hula hula show is to go to the Waikiki shopping plaza. It´s really a remarkable show with both guys and girls. Don´t miss this. The Polynesian show is on Mondays,... 

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7.

Waikiki Beach   Honolulu

Waikiki Beach, Honolulu

 46 Reviews  Never has a beach been as fabled as Waikiki. Since the 1950s, this beach has been a tourist destination extraordinaire. While much of it has been eroded, trampled by millions of feet, or encroached... 

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8.

Cruising Beyond Waikiki   Waikiki

Cruising Beyond Waikiki, Waikiki

 10 Reviews  If you plan to drive around Honolulu traffic in a rental car, then beware.. you might spend more than half your time waiting in very slow moving traffic, getting lost in the maze of illogical road... 

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9.

Sightseeing Tips (island)   Honolulu

Sightseeing Tips (island), Honolulu

 34 Reviews  I have been to Sacred Falls before it was closed to hiking. There is no way of getting back in to see it now. Oahu's Manoa Valley located within minutes of Waikiki by bus or first you have to hike a... 

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10.

Whale watching   Waikiki

Whale watching, Waikiki

 4 Reviews  Thursday February 13, 2003 Hans and I were picked up at 1:00 p.m. and brought to the Starlet for our WHALE WATCH TOUR. It was a cloudy but calm day -- good to see whales. The Starlet went close by... 

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11.

Iolani Palace   Honolulu

Iolani Palace, Honolulu

 37 Reviews  Everytime I go to Iolani Palace, I see something new. It's so nice to be able to walk in the path of Hawaiian King and Queens. The most touching place is the room where Queen Liliuokalani was... 

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12.

Cultural Activities   Waikiki

Cultural Activities, Waikiki

 8 Reviews  This place is amazing. I grew up in NZ (now living in Melbourne, Australia) and there are alot of polynesians here...however visiting this place is another experience altogether...you get to learn the... 

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13.

Luau's ~ Island wide w/ Show   Honolulu

Luau's ~ Island wide w/ Show, Honolulu

 25 Reviews  So, our first time in Hawaii, you gotta do a luau! I hear they can be pretty pricey! Fortunately for us, we happen to join a huge group in Waikiki for a conference and I think the price was pretty... 

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14.

Honolulu Zoo   Waikiki

Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki

 5 Reviews  It was a nice place to walk around. It's smaller than other zoos I've been to, but still nice. There was a huge kids area (play ground and petting zoo) but it was OVER RUN by kids...so we didn't go... 

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15.

Beyond Honolulu   Honolulu

Beyond Honolulu, Honolulu

 46 Reviews  The Nuuanu Pali Lookoutin Kaneohe is a perennial favorite stop among visitors to Oahu. The panoramic views of the Windward side of the island from this expansive cliff will blow you away. Nuʻuanu... 

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16.

Ships, boats & Subs   Waikiki

Ships, boats & Subs, Waikiki

 7 Reviews  If funds allow, and you find tickets greatly reduced to the Atlantis Sub tours, get them. Kamaaina's can get an annual pass. We were impressed with the tour and felt it was well worth the "sale priced... 

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17.

Water Activities   Honolulu

Water Activities, Honolulu

 22 Reviews  Three Friends offers SUP lessons and/or tours. Great way to learn, pretty much one to one, no big groups. Very patient instructor. Had a great time. Wish i would have taken the lesson earlier in my... 

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18.

BlowHole (Halona Blowhole)   Honolulu

BlowHole (Halona Blowhole), Honolulu

 9 Reviews  A blowhole is a lava tube under the water and at the perfect height for waves to be driven into it. The water is compressed as the lava tube becomes smaller and smaller causing the pressure to... 

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19.

Hula Dancing   Honolulu

Hula Dancing, Honolulu

 12 Reviews  This can be real fun for some and seem like a tourist trap to others. The good news for either type is that the event is free. The show is held in the park and features anything from hula dancing to... 

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20.

Shopping   Honolulu

Shopping, Honolulu

 25 Reviews  Hawaiian paintings show the invisible and they let you hear the sounds of silence. The mountains, the waterfalls cascading into the always changing moments of magical light and shadow have provided... 

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21.

Honolulu Zoo   Honolulu

Honolulu Zoo, Honolulu

 16 Reviews  The Honolulu Zoo is an inexpensive and fun outing for families. Children will enjoy seeing the elephants, crocodiles, exotic birds, Galapagos tortoises, and Komodo dragons. You can bring in a picnic... 

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22.

Aloha Tower   Honolulu

Aloha Tower, Honolulu

 14 Reviews  This 10 floor towers is located right on the oceanfront, You can enjoy a nice ocean views. Now the Aloha Tower Marketplace, is a popular shopping and dining complex fronting Honolulu Harbor. The Aloha... 

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23.

Cruises, Ships, Boats & Subs   Honolulu

Cruises, Ships, Boats & Subs, Honolulu

 13 Reviews  We went on the New Year's cruise in Dec 2007 on the top deck---$240 a person and it would have had to be the worse night we have ever had. Bad organization, terrible food and a total... 

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24.

Bishop Museum   Honolulu

Bishop Museum, Honolulu

 15 Reviews  I have visited Bishop Museum several times throughout my life -- usually on a field trip as a child. So, when my out of town guest wanted to go, I was game. I hadn't been in about a year and was... 

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25.

Punchbowl   Honolulu

Punchbowl, Honolulu

 11 Reviews  Inscribed on one of the entrance pillars is this poem From The Bivouac Of The Dead by Theodore O'Hara The muffled drums sad roll has beat The soldier's last tattoo; No more on life's parade shall... 

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Beach Parks

by kellinwood

Oahu has a lot of "beach parks" that have parking, picnic tables, grassy areas, showers, toilets, the beach, etc. My two favorites are at Ala Moana and Kailua. Ala Moana is protected by a reef and the water is always very calm near the shore -- perfect if you have toddlers or small children. Its also close to shopping and other attractions in the downtown/Waikiki areas.If you want to get away from your resort for a beach day this is the way to do it. At the larger parks you can usually find a truck or two loaded with kayaks and boards for rent.

Scavenger Hunt on your Cell Phone

by Takestde

Something we did that was pretty fun for the whole family was a scavenger hunt in the downtown area. It took a couple hours and we had fun doing the puzzles while learning a little about Hawaii history. Its called Urban Adventure Quest and you can Google the website to check it out. You get your clues on your cell phone over the internet. The cost is per team, not per person. My family enjoyed it.

Go underneath a Bunyan tree

by joiwatani

I just love these trees! They are pretty unique, I would say. I see them everywhere in the islands. I found these trees when I went to Lanai and Maui. You can't miss them because they have huge trunk and the roots are hanging on its branches. I sometimes have the urge to grab one of its roots, wrap it around my waist and swing! Wouldn't be fun to do it? But, hey, do as the Hawaiians do. They don't even touch them!

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Visit the King Kamehameha Building

by joiwatani

It is very special to visit the King Kamehameha building with the statue of King Kamehameha on the front of the building. I am not sure who put the leis around the neck of the statue of King Kamehameha, but it looks really Hawaiian!

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Tour the inside of the Iolani Palace

by joiwatani

Iolani Palace is the seat of Hawaii's old government. It was built in 1882 for King Kalakaua. This is the only restored royal palace in the United States. This palace was restored for about $7.5 milliion and the government of Hawaii tried to recover its old furnitures 4,000 pieces!Entering the magnificent hallway of the palace gives me a regal feeling - like I was a royalty!The floor swere made of koa wood and all the furnitures were hand-carved Hawaiian woods! The palace is so protected that we had to remove our shoes and put on covers for our feet! Not socks, but booties, a protection, so we will not scratch the floors! We were not allowed to touch anything in the palace! We were not allowed to bring drinks, candy or gum. They even doesn't allow any visitor to bring ballpoints, cell phones, beepers and cameras!

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Stick your head in the pineapple!

by joiwatani

That's not what I really mean. You can actually have your picture taken in a board that looks like a pineapple. They have these at the Dole Plantation for you to take pictures so you will have some remembrance at the plantation.The Dole Plantation also has the largest maze in the world. I actually didn't go to the maze because I am not fond of solving the puzzle - of how I am going to get out from that maze! I rather go to the fish pond of which I did and I fed a lot of koi fish.The plantation's pond was surrounded with papayas with their fruits riped. I was also more interested in picking the papayas...They looked so delicious! .

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Visit the Dole Pineapple Plantation

by joiwatani

My children love coming here. The Pineapple Garden Maze was a good addition to the place. According to the 2001 Guinnes Book of World Records, this maze is the largest.The Plantation garden is beautIful. It has a large pond surrounded by different variety of colorful plants! The garden has about 11,400 different tropical plants!Feeding the Koi (Japanese fish) is totally the best part of our trip to the Dole Plantation. The Koi would jump almost in expectation of feeding time! There are hundreds of them that the feeds we threw at them disappears so fast!Since it rained when we went there, we had to go inside the building for cover! There were shops and some fun stuff to do. We tried our luck opening oysters in the hopes of finding almost perfect pearls! The kids found three!

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Snap the Diamond Head

by joiwatani

Either you can ride the trolley, drive, bike to the Diamond's Head or you can walk. I saw a lot of people walking up to the crater. I did once when I was still young. With young children in tow, now way bradah! Bring lots of water when you hike up. There is a look out where you can take some pictures of the beaches.

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Honeymooning in Hawaii for two weeks

by joiwatani

Your budget of $150 for the two of you is more than enough to enjoy the scenery and activities in Hawaii. You can do island hopping and see all the things that the islands of Hawaii can offer. You can spend at least three days in Oahu so you can see the Polynesian Cultural Center (visit all the manmade islands of the Pacific: Samoa, Micronesia, Tahiti,etc.); the Diamond Head, Blow Hole, Waikiki, Sealife Park, Bishop Museum, Iolani Palace, Dole Pineapple Plantation & its maze; etc.Then from Oahu, you can fly to Maui to see the Haleakala Volcano and the Iao. Stay there for three days again. From Maui, you can ride a ferry boat to Kaui and see the whales if you get lucky!Then spend the rest of your days to the Big Island of Hawaii!

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Honeymooning in Hawaii for two weeks

by joiwatani

Your budget of $150 for the two of you is more than enough to enjoy the scenery and activities in Hawaii. You can do island hopping and see all the things that the islands of Hawaii can offer. You can spend at least three days in Oahu so you can see the Polynesian Cultural Center (visit all the manmade islands of the Pacific: Samoa, Micronesia, Tahiti,etc.); the Diamond Head, Blow Hole, Waikiki, Sealife Park, Bishop Museum, Iolani Palace, Dole Pineapple Plantation & its maze; etc.Then from Oahu, you can fly to Maui to see the Haleakala Volcano and the Iao. Stay there for three days again. From Maui, you can ride a ferry boat to Kaui and see the whales if you get lucky!Then spend the rest of your days to the Big Island of Hawaii!

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Fun things to do in Oahu

Top 3 Hotels in Oahu

Halekulani  Honolulu

 4 Reviews and 864 Opinions  Upon arrival to the Halekulani you are greeted at the desk and assigned a staff member to tour you... 

 Hotels in Honolulu

Hostelling International Waikiki  Waikiki

 61 Opinions

 Hotels in Waikiki

Santa's By The Sea  Haleiwa

 28 Opinions

 Hotels in Haleiwa

229 Hotels in Oahu
 
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Reviews and photos of Oahu attractions posted by real travelers and locals. The best tips for Oahu sightseeing.

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Things to Do: Cities in Oahu
  1. Honolulu Things to Do
  2. Waikiki Things to Do
  3. Haleiwa Things to Do
  4. Kaneohe Things to Do
  5. Kailua Things to Do
  6. Hanauma Bay Things to Do
  7. Hawaii Kai Things to Do
  8. Wahiawa Things to Do
  9. Laie Things to Do
  10. Pearl City Things to Do
  11. Kahuku Things to Do
  12. Makakilo City Things to Do
  13. Ahuimanu Things to Do
  14. Maunawili Things to Do
  15. Moiliili Things to Do
  16. Lanikai Things to Do
  17. Waipahu Things to Do

More Cities in Oahu

 

Questions and Answers

toddthornell profile photo

Q:  My wife and I are celebrating our anniversary by taking our family to Oahu! I want to plan the whole trip out but I am not exactly... 

Takestde profile photo

A: We were in Oahu for our Anniversary this year also. Of course you can't miss Waikiki beach, but it is pretty crowded during the day. It has pretty small waves for the... 

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