Oahu is the island that often comes to mind when thinking of Hawaii. It’s the island of Pearl Harbor. The island of Honolulu. And the island that popularized surfing throughout the world. Oahu has a population many times greater than all the other Hawaiian islands combined. This is thanks in part to the only major city in the state, Honolulu. Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii and a modern city through and through. It is a major center of commerce, military and tourism to rival any place around. Skyscrapers touch the skies as luxury resorts span the coast, but there is much more to Oahu than meets the eye. Keep reading to discover 6 awesome adventures on Oahu that make this island one of the top travel destinations in the world!
Atlantis Submarine Tour
The Hawaiian islands are flush with beauty and biodiversity both above and below the surface. Particularly for the non-snorkelers out there, a submarine tour is likely the best way to experience this teaming world of wonder below the waves of Hawaii. The submarine tour company in Hawaii is known as Atlantis Submarines. The company runs tours out of Maui, the Big Island, and Oahu. The Oahu tour location is conveniently located at the north end of Waikiki at the Hilton Hawaiian Village (where we stayed!). We thought the tour was great! The tour departs on a boat from the pier and shuttles passengers out to the dive site. The approximately 10 minute boat ride provides nice views of Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head Crater, and other spots along the coast.
Once arriving at the dive site, it’s time to board the submarine. This tour is not for the highly claustrophobic among us. This is a legit submarine tour taking you down approximately 100 feet to the seafloor in a metal tube. We had one woman on our tour immediately leave the submarine before submerging and the tour after us had a similar individual who needed to leave almost immediately after submerging due to claustrophobia as well. This is said not to frighten anyone, but is just something to keep in mind. My wife and I had no such reservations, and found it highly enjoyable.
The tour takes you past one smaller reef and several other cool artificial reef sites. The artificial reef sites include a purposefully sunken airplane and ship for example. The tour guide does an excellent job of pointing out interesting wildlife and explaining why the artificial reefs benefit the local ecosystems. After completing the tour, passengers are taken back to the surface and take the boat back to the pier.
Lastly, some fast facts. You can bring your own food and drink onto the boat. There is a top open section of the boat but also a covered lower section with bathrooms and a small concession stand. There are NO bathrooms on the submarine, so use the bathroom on the boat before boarding the sub. We never felt unsafe on the tour and the guide explained the many extensive safety measures in place on the submarine. Our guide also informed us that the cabin of the submarine stays the same pressure as the surface therefore there is no risk of nitrogen poisoning (“the bends”) and you can feel free to fly the same day as the tour.
Explore Waikiki
Waikiki is the heartbeat of Oahu and the most popular neighborhood in Honolulu. It is notably located along Waikiki beach in the boujee touristy section of the city. In our research, staying in Waikiki is a no-brainer. You have access to the main shops and restaurants, ample public transport (should you choose), a myriad of lodging choices, and near immediate access to some of the finest beaches on the island. Many people visiting Waikiki do not rent a car and find all they need by walking, Ubering, or taking provided transport to different tours
Kalākaua Avenue is the main road through Waikiki. Walking this street, you will pass numerous bars and restaurants, high end shopping centers and fashion outlets, small squares with live music, and massive resorts with beach front amenities. The area is clean, safe, and impressive to say the least. We recommend Maui Brewing Company in particular for some good food and better brews.
Many people try surfing for the first time along Waikiki beach. We highly recommend the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon on the north end of Waikiki as well. Although on Hilton property, this spectacular 5 acre salt water lagoon is free and open to the public. We found the lagoon much less crowded than the neighboring beaches. The lagoon features a state of the art water filtration system and is full of fish! It was a fun and easy place to snorkel or swim, particularly if you are first starting out and do not want to contend with waves or be out in open water. Lastly, the southern end of Waikiki abuts Kapi’olani Regional Park, housing the Honolulu Zoo and Aquarium should this appeal to you as well.
Take a Hike
Please don’t go to Hawaii without hiking. The landscape is breathtaking and hiking is one of the best (and most affordable) ways to experience the beauty and unique topography Hawaii offers. The hiking trails are plentiful and varied making this activity feasible for nearly all ages and activity levels.
Most people traveling to Oahu will be staying in Waikiki. With that in mind, these hiking distances are provided with Waikiki as a base. It’s impossible to talk about hiking in Oahu without mentioning Diamond Head. It is the most popular hike and located just 10 minutes from Waikiki. Diamond Head is a large crater formed by an explosive volcanic eruption several hundred thousand years ago. The main attraction is a short but steep 1.8 mile round-trip hike to the crater summit. The summit provides iconic views of Honolulu as well as expansive views of the ocean and surrounding countryside as well. Parking is $10. Admission without parking is $5. Check to see if reservations are required when you go. This trail is very popular and you should plan on arriving early (like before 8AM) or later in the day (but before 4PM). Consider arriving by Uber or Lyft to avoid stressing about the parking situation. The lot can fill up as the day goes along.
Other popular hikes include the Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail and the Kokohead Crater Railway Trail. The hikes are located just 15 minutes apart and pair well for a morning of hiking before returning to the beach! The Makapu’u Point trail is very popular. It is located about 35 minutes from Waikiki and therefore likely requires a rental car to enjoy. That being said, we found it to be a short and enjoyable trek. The trail is all paved and 2.5 miles roundtrip. The hike typically takes about 1-1.5 hours to complete. There is a gradual ascent to the trail with fantastic views of the coastline and offshore islets. The trail culminates with the picturesque red roofed Makapuu Lighthouse (not accessible to the public) located at the top of the trail. Note that migrating whales are known to be seen from this trail during the winter, therefore consider bringing binoculars if possible when visiting during this time.
The Kokohead Trail is truly more of a workout than a hike. If you want to challenge yourself, get some exercise, and enjoy some spectacular views, then this is likely the hike for you. However, if you are looking for a pretty coastline or tropical forest hike, then this is certainly not your activity. The trail is 1.6 miles roundtrip but literally straight up. Created along an old incline tram used to transport supplies to a summit lookout during WWII, the hike is basically testing your fitness as you ascend earthen stairs along the tramline. I would highly consider performing this hike first thing in the morning (like around 8A or earlier) because there is basically no coverage from the sun later in the day. Those who complete the ascent are rewarded with panoramic views of Hanauma Bay and the east Honolulu shoreline. Note that there is one small section of the trail that involves a bridge. Consisting of just planks and rails, this portion of the trail has no ground beneath. The drop is not too far and most people simply walk from plank to plank without incident, however, if this is a frightening proposition, there is a small section of trail that bypasses this section.
There are many other trails to choose from on Oahu. Click HERE to view the top hikes from AllTrails.com.
Experience Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor was one of the most historic events in American history. On December 7, 1941, a surprise attack by the Japanese left Pearl Harbor in ruins, claimed the lives of over 2,000 Americans, and plunged the US into WWII. This day which will forever live in infamy has been memorialized across 4 sites at the modern day Pearl Harbor.
Many take a full day to experience all of the sites. For the less enthused, visiting the FREE Pearl Harbor National Museum and taking a tour of the USS Arizona would be a minimum recommendation. The National Museum consists of wide open grounds with walking paths and memorials as well as several enclosed exhibits. Many of the exhibits contain first hand video accounts of soldiers and civilians who survived the experience.
The USS Arizona was a battleship that was sunk during the Pearl Harbor attack. An armor piercing bomb smashed through the deck and into the ships magazine (area where ammunition is stored) resulting in a cataclysmic explosion and the sinking of the ship. 1,177 crew members died on the USS Arizona and their sacrifice is now memorialized at the Arizona Memorial. The memorial requires a reservation (which can be made HERE) and a $1 fee per person. It includes a short boat ride from the Pearl Harbor National Museum out to the small Arizona Memorial, which is a beautiful building constructed on the site of the sunken ship. You can still see part of the ship underwater and occasionally still glimpse small plumes of oil rising to the surface.
The other three sites are the Battleship Missouri Memorial, the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. A fee is required for each of these sites
Snorkel Hanauma Bay
Formed within a volcanic crater, Hanauma Bay is widely considered the top spot for snorkeling on Oahu. This curved bay contains a pristine marine ecosystem sure to impress with the quantity and diversity of fish you are to encounter. It furthermore is one of the most beautiful beaches you are likely to see.
Once used as a relaxing getaway spot for Hawaiian royalty, access to the bay has again been limited due to over-tourism and overfishing. Once visited by over 1 million people annually, the Hawaiian government now limits access to just 1400 people per day. This has been done to limit human impact on the ecosystem. The bay is also closed on Mondays and Tuesdays to allow the marine life to live more naturally without human interference.
Hanauma Bay is located less than 30 minutes from Waikiki. A car rental is recommended for this activity. Parking is $3 first come first serve, thus it is recommended to come earlier in the morning if possible (the snorkeling is better earlier as well). Access to the bay now requires a RESERVATION and is $25 per person. You can make a reservation 2 days in advance starting at 7A Hawaiian time. The competition for spots is often steep and prime slots for the Bay literally fill within minutes.
With the price and hassle of setting an alarm to make the reservation, if you have already had great snorkeling and beach experiences on your trip, you could consider skipping this activity, however, if you are staying in Honolulu and this is to be your one snorkeling adventure, you can’t go wrong and will thoroughly enjoy your visit.
There are numerous bathrooms available as well as an information center, snorkel rental stand, lockers for rent and snack bar. We stayed for about 2-3 hours and as my wife’s first snorkeling experience, we will always have fond memories.
Kualoa Ranch
Widely known as “the place Jurassic Park was filmed” Kualoa Ranch continues to attract droves of visitors with its deep Hollywood history and gorgeous natural landscape. This 4,000 acre privately owned ranch is best experienced with one of the many guided tours available. Advanced reservations are highly recommended particularly for the more popular choices such as the 2 hours UTV tour. Buses, bikes, boats, UTVs, and horses are just some of the ways to tour the park. Click HERE for a full list of adventures!
In addition to Jurassic Park, popular titles such as Lost, Godzilla, Journey 2: The Mystery Island, and 50 First Dates were also filmed on the Ranch. Aside from its deep roots in cinema, Kualoa is also a working farm and ranch. That being said, tours of the farm and other cultural experiences on the land are available with different tours as well.
Perhaps the most popular tour is the 2 hour UTV tour. This is the tour that we chose on our recent trip and we found it thoroughly enjoyable. A guide takes your tour group all throughout the valley, stopping at particularly scenic picture stops along the way. The road is rough and you will get very DUSTY AND DIRTY. Goggles and a neck gaiter to be pulled up over your mouth are provided but still consider your clothing carefully before this trip. Luckily, we had our bathing suits, a change of clothes, and went across the street to Kualoa Regional Park to shower after the activity. This regional park is also a great spot to see the island known as “Chinaman’s Hat” and has a nice beach as well. If you’re trying to get less dusty, check in to your tour early and ask about being the front UTV.
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