What to do in Oahu, Making your Adventure a Unique Experience

Kailua is a beautiful little town located in East Oahu that is filled with local charm, and off the tourist itinerary. It’s a quick thirty minute drive from Honolulu, so it is great for a half-day or day trip! Go hang out with the locals and experience the stunning, non-touristy Hawaiian beach. The water is beautiful and there is much to do around the city, but I would recommend getting up early as the beach does tend to get busy throughout the day. 

Halona Beach Cove (known to locals as Cockroach Cove) is a beautiful, rocky, picturesque beach located right off of Kalaniana’ole Highway in southeastern Oahu. This is the perfect spot for a photoshoot, or if you are looking for a more local beach to visit! Make sure to explore as there are many hidden gems including a cave. Also, be sure to jump off the rocks located on the right side of the beach.

Duke Kahanamoku Beach is a 10 minute walk from the main Waikiki beach area. There are great food options right on the beach, as well as easy access to snorkel, umbrella and chair, and kayak rentals. This is also a great place to get out and see some turtles. Enjoy and make sure to check it out for sunset!

You can’t say you’ve been to Honolulu without checking out the beautiful, renowned Waikiki Beach! Enjoy the sunshine and explore the beautiful Waikiki town. I’d highly recommend getting on the beach for sunset as it is both a beautiful spot, and there is often live music playing outside of Duke’s restaurant for you to enjoy! If you are looking to snorkel in Waikiki, access the beach right across from the zoo and you’ll likely see some turtles and other great sea life.

If you’re looking for a local surf show, head to the North Shore to see some of the best surfing in the world! Haleiwa is a local surf town with some of the biggest waves in the world located about an hour’s drive from Waikiki. If you’re wanting to go swimming, I would not recommend this beach as the tide can be dangerous, and swimming is not advised in high surf areas, better to watch the thrilling rides of the experienced professional surfers.This is my favorite spot along the north shore, and you can not get the entire Hawaiian experience without experiencing the surf culture.

If you make the trip out to Kailua, which is about a 30 minute drive from Honolulu, the Ka’iwa Ridge Trail is a must do! Located right off the beach, this trail is filled with one breathtaking view after another as you ascend to the Pillbox. The “Pillbox” was a military observation station used during WWII. This is a steep hike, but it provides a breathtaking view of Oahu and the beautiful ocean. It’s best to do this hike by mid-morning as the sun does get more intense throughout the day. Bring water and shoes with good traction as this is a rigorous hike. There is about a 1000 foot elevation gain on the hike to the top.

This trail is a great sunrise hike, or hike for anytime of the day as it has breathtaking views of Oahu and the ocean. It’s a fairly easy trail, but it does have a constant incline. It is about a 10 mile drive from Honolulu, but parking is limited so if you are looking to do the hike get there early! The hike should take about 60-75 minutes round trip with stops at the top to enjoy the view and to take photos. 

If you are looking for a more challenging hike, look no further than the Koko Head. The hike is straight up on a trail of old train tracks, so get ready to be huffing and puffing! The views are worth the effort as the peak overlooks a measurable amount of the island. If you are afraid of heights, look for side routes as there is a portion of the track that has about a 6-10 foot drop. 

If you’re looking to hit some traditional Chinese markets, head to ChinaTown! Honolulu is home to a sizable Chinese population, so ChinaTown is filled with unique Chinese foods, markets, stores, and more. I’d definitely recommend walking through the markets, and if you’re looking for a place to eat head to Lucky Belly for some delicious, and more upscale, Asian fusion and ramen. Also, if you are looking for a classic Hawaiian lei but do not want to pay an arm and a leg for one at the airport or on Waikiki beach, there are several stores in ChinaTown that offer leis at affordable prices.

This beautiful garden located in Honolulu, is a great stop for a scenic afternoon stroll. It is open to the public daily, free of charge from 9am to 4pm. If you’re looking for a place to take more landscape photos, this is the place to go! 

You can not go to Hawaii without exploring the amazing sea life. Snorkeling is an easy and fairly inexpensive way to get out and experience the sea life and it requires very little training! I’d recommend renting your gear  from Snorkel Bob’s which is located in downtown Honolulu and then heading to a nearby beach! 

Here are some good spots:  Turtle Bay Resort beach (North Shore: access should be free), Waikiki Beach (across from Zoo: free public access), Hanauma Bay (East Honolulu:  you must go early to get in here! It’s closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and entrance is $12 per person).

Biking is a great way to see Honolulu. The most convenient way to get riding is renting through BIKI which has stations with bikes on almost every block. To rent, you will need to get their app as you will have to check out the bike and pay via the app. I would recommend getting out early to avoid traffic, and remember if you are biking on Waikiki, biking on the sidewalks is against the law. I would recommend doing the $25 300 minute plan that you can use at any time. Enjoy! 

If you are looking to support some local Hawaiian businesses, head to the FarmLovers market on Saturday mornings between 8am and 12pm. This market has everything from food to clothing! There are tons of great food stands, and many local pop-up shops with beautiful Hawaiian brand clothing. This is definitely a local hub, so be sure to check it out!