Top 10 Things To Do In Oahu, Hawaii

Nicknamed as the ‘Gathering Place’, Oahu is the most visited Hawaiian island. This pretty island is known for its state capital of Honolulu, world-famous Waikiki Beach, historic Pearl Harbor, stunning North shore and, Hollywood’s backlot Jurassic Valley. We spent 5 days in Oahu and did a variety of activities ranging from outdoor adventures to immersive cultural experiences.

Our Oahu Itinerary Snapshot

• Day 1: Honululu + Waikiki Beach
• Day 2: Diamond Head + Paradise Cove
• Day 3: Byodo-In temple + Jurassic Valley + Lanikai Beach
• Day 4: Pearl Harbor + Luau
• Day 5: North Shore + Sunset Beach

The list of things to do on Oahu is endless but if you are visiting for the first time, this blog post is for you – I cover the 10 best things to do on your first visit to Oahu, across all areas of the island! Also, head out to my Instagram Hawaii story highlights to see travel tales from our trip.

1. Waikiki Beach

Waikiki beach is one of the most famous beaches in all of Hawaii and for the right reasons! Soft white sand, blue waters, colorful sunsets with a backdrop of highrises & palm trees on one side and the Diamond Head volcano on the other. Most of the hotels and luxury resorts in Oahu are along the Waikiki beach and this spot makes for a perfect beach vacation with its proximity to the beach, fun shopping scene, vibrant nightlife, and entertainment. This beach is also called the surfer’s paradise and you can take surf lessons here or do other activities like canoeing, boogie boarding, or parasailing. But it’s important to note that it’s right in the hustle-bustle of the city and is very crowded.

2. Take a tour at the Jurassic Valley

This is the location where movies like Jurassic Park, Jumanji, Godzilla, Skull Island and so many more were shot! We had a great time exploring the Jurassic valley and I highly recommend adding this to your Oahu Hawaii bucket list. The Kualoa Ranch (Jurassic Valley) is a 4,000-acre natural beauty located on the eastern side of Oahu. It’s about an hour’s drive from Waikiki and the ranch offers pickup options if you need them ($30 per person).

The only way to explore this place is by booking a tour and they have multiple tours to choose from on their website. Make sure to book at least a month in advance as they sell out very quickly. We did the Hollywood movie sets tour which was about 2 hours long & covered many iconic movie sites and was perfect for a family excursion. They have other options such as horseback riding, ATV tours, and many more.

3. Learn history at the Pearl Harbour

If it’s your first trip to Oahu, then you shouldn’t miss out on visiting The Pearl Harbour National Monument. There are multiple museums and historical landmarks to visit here and you can tour them all with the ‘Passport to Pearl Harbour’ pass ($70 per person) that you can purchase at the visitor center or buy tickets for each of the landmarks separately. There is a no bag policy at the Pearl Harbour (only wallets and water bottles are allowed or you have to rent a locker) and make sure to arrive early as this place can get very crowded.

• USS Arizona Memorial: Free but pre-reservation is required
• USS Bowfin submarine: $20 per person with audio tour
• Battleship Missouri Memorial: $30 per person with audio tour and shuttle ride
• Pacific Fleed Submarine Museum: $20 per person
• Pacific Aviation Museum: $25 per person with shuttle ride
• Pearl Harbor Visitor Center museums

4. Attend a Luau

The best way to experience the culture of Hawaii is through a Luau and it’s one of my favorite activities of our trip. Luau is a traditional Hawaiian and Polynesian celebration that includes dancing, authentic food, and other entertainment mostly in a beautiful outdoor setting by the ocean. We planned to attend the Paradise Cove Luau (which is one of the best ones on the island) but it got canceled last minute (covid/staffing shortages) so we managed to get tickets to the Ka Moana luau and absolutely enjoyed it! There were multiple events including the traditional Hawaiian dance, fire dancers, lei making, yummy food and so much more. It was a perfect evening on the beach surrounded by mountains and under the stars. We got lucky with the last-minute tickets but make sure to book the luau tickets in advance as they sell out very early (a month in advance)!

5. Explore the North Shore

While the Waikiki beach area is vibrant and brimming with activities, the North Shore of Oahu offers a whole different scene. If remote beaches and tiny towns are your vibes then the North Shore is perfect for you. I would say splitting your stay between Waikiki and the North Shore is the best way to experience Oahu. The North Shore is about an hour’s drive from Waikiki and the drive is beautiful. While you are at the North Shore, make sure to:

• Eat at one of the food trucks (specifically the shrimp trucks)
• Explore the cute shops at the tiny town of Haweiwa
• Snorkel at the Sharks Cove
• Take a photo at the Haleiwa surfer sign
• Stop at the Sunrise Shack for an acai bowl or a smoothie
• Try the shaved ice from Matsumoto’s

6. Experience a slice of Japan at the Byodo-In temple

The Byodo-In temple with the majestic Ko’olau Mountains in the backdrop is a breathtaking sight and is a must-add to your Oahu itinerary. It’s an hour’s drive from Waikiki and is very close to the Jurassic Valley. It is open from 8.30 AM to 5 PM and has an entry fee of $5 per person. This temple is a half-scale replica of a 900-year-old structure in Uji, Japan, and is built in a traditional way without any nails. I love the calm, peace, and positive vibes in this place and this spot was a family favorite.

7. Photoshoot at the Paradise Cove

I love stumbling upon beautiful unplanned places during a trip and Paradise Cove beach was one of them. As the Luau at Paradise Cove got canceled, we decided to head down to the beach and it was the perfect decision or else we would have missed out on this gem! We saw one of the prettiest sunsets of our trip here, did a little golden hour photoshoot and I am in love with the pictures! This place is also perfect for tidal pools and snorkeling.

8. Relax at the scenic Lanikai Beach

I learned that the word “Lani Kai” means “Heavenly Ocean” and Lanikai Beach is ranked as one of the best beaches in the world. I couldn’t agree more as this is by far my most favorite beach in all of Oahu and probably one of the best beaches I’ve been to! Tranquil turquoise waters and white sands here offer a relaxed and peaceful setting for that perfect day at the beach. The entrance to the beach might be slightly tricky as they have 6 small alleyways that go through residential homes and you will have to park somewhere in the neighborhood. You can also do the Lanikai Pillbox hike while in the area that takes about 30minutes to reach the top.

9. Catch a sunset at the Sunset Beach

As the name suggests, this beach offers one of the best sunsets on the island. Sunset beach is also known for its big-wave surfers during the winter. We spent a beautiful December afternoon here watching the surfers and seeing the sky turn into pretty colors during the sunset, which was the perfect way to wrap up our Oahu trip. Make sure to add this to your North Shore itinerary.

10. Swim in North America’s longest oceanfront infinity pool

Would you like to swim in North America’s longest oceanfront infinity pool? The pool in Sheraton Waikiki has the most stunning views of the Diamond Head and the Pacific ocean. This pool was the main reason why I wanted to stay at Sheraton Waikiki during my trip to Hawaii and it was totally worth it!! I enjoyed both sunrise and sunset swims here and enjoyed both. If you love infinity pools with views like me, then this place is for you.

In Conclusion, this is just an introduction to Oahu and there are so many more places to visit and things to do on this beautiful paradise island. Which of these above places are you most excited to visit on your trip to Oahu? I can’t wait to explore more of Hawaii soon – Maui and The Big Island are next on my list!

If you have any Oahu recommendations for first time visitors that are not on my list, let me know in the comments section below. And if you have any questions about my trips or are looking for any specific Hawaii trip information, feel free to DM me on Instagram.

Happy Exploring! ♥️

ABOUT ME

Hello, I am Deeksha! A passionate Instagram travel & lifestyle blogger, sharing my experiences and travel tips from across the globe. The Travelista Tales is the visual expression of my travel tales, personal style and lifestyle picks. Believing in the motto of ‘Dream, Discover & Explore’, my goal is to create an interactive and engaged community of travel lovers.

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