Oahu - Favorite Picks

I grew up in Honolulu, right at the base of Diamond Head, and a lot of my family still lives in area.

We frequently have friends come visit with us, and so have our usual favorite places to eat, activities, and hotels we recommend.

Here are a few of them:

Activities

Kualoa Ranch

When we have friends visit Oahu with kids, we tell them to book an activity at Kualoa Ranch. Yes, Kualoa will feel busy and, at peak times like Spring Break, it will be packed.

However, it's a great way to see some stunning scenery and do something other than hang out on the beach.

A few of our favorites are the movie tour, where you can see sets from Jurassic Park and King Kong, or the horse back riding and ATVing.

Hanauma Bay

This bay is a marine park along a peaceful beach. It has some of the best snorkeling on the island. Since Covid, Hanauma Bay requires a reservation to be able to visit. You'll want to book the first reservation of the day, beacuse the parking lot fills up quickly. Be prepared to watch an informational video on how to protect the sea life, and to buy some reef-safe sunscreen. Banana Boat and other mass brands from the Mainland can damage the delicate coral in the bay, and should not be used under any circumstances.

I recommend packing a lunch a cooler of non-alcoholic beverages, as well as your typical beach items like chairs and towels. There are shuttles that can bring you up and down the hill to the bay, our you can walk if you're feeling adventurous.

Dolphins at Kahala Hotel

This is an activity that I grew up doing when I came back home to visit. It's pretty easy to book and will be less crowded than Sea Life Park. You can learn how to train a dolphin and be in the water with them. The beach at Kahala is lovely, and if you're already parking at the hotel, you can easily walk down to it to warm up after the dolphin activity.

The Kahala also has a lovely afternoon tea.

Honolulu Zoo, Sea Life Park, Aquarium

If you are traveling with kids, these are good activities to get you out of your hotel room, but will be less impressive than similar attractions on the Mainland.

The Zoo gets really hot because there's no air flow, so bring hats and go as soon as they open. A membership might be worth skipping the line at the entrance for tickets.

The aquarium is small, but a good indoor activity to get out of the sun.

Sea Life Park is touristy, but offers a chance to shake things up a bit and see some cool fish close up.

Catamaran Sail

We like the Turtle Canyon sail where you can snorkel with turtles. There are tons of boats that leave right from Waikiki, so it's easiest to book one of these.

Luaus

There are a lot to choose from. The one at the Polynesian Cultural Center is probably the most authentic, but note because it's a Mormon attraction, there is no alcohol.

We enjoyed the Ritz Carlton Turtle Bay's Paniolo (cowboy) themed luau. The food was excellent, and they had fun activities like roping practice and lei making before the show.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is also a fun way to spend a day with kids, and you can learn a lot about Hawaiian culture.

Waimea Falls

Touristy, but easy attraction in the rainforest for kids. There are peacocks around and you can see how traditional Hawaiian homes were built.

Lyon Arboretum

This is a cool area to see a lot of different plants, and makes for an easy walk, even for little ones.

Bishop Museum and Doris Duke's House

For a change from kid-friendly activities, these are both beautiful museums that offer a calmer atmosphere.

Beaches

Our favorite beach is Lanikai, near Kailua. It has soft, powdery sand and two little islands in the distance. Parking can be a pain, and you'll likely have to park several blocks away, so be prepared for a walk to the beach access allies with all your gear and try to go on a week day instead of a weekend.

We spend a lot of time at the beach next to the Outrigger Canoe Club, and on Diamond Head beach.

Waikiki beach is fun for a day if you don't mind the crowds. You can rent umbrellas and chairs here.

Waimea Bay - big bay that's great for stand up paddle boarding if you can rent a board in town and drive it out.

Hikes

Tourist-friendly hikes that would be ok for friends from the Mainland. If you want more challenging recommendations, I can send them to you!

Maunawili Falls - this is a hike for older kids. It can get very muddy, but you can swim and jump off cliffs at the end of it. Bring shoes you don't mind wrecking, or water shoes (not flip flops) that are somewhat sturdy. You'll want towels if you plan to swim, and a packed lunch.

Pill Boxes - great hike at sunrise. Can get crowded, but amazing views. Would be challenging for smaller children.

Diamond Head - classic hike, go first thing in the morning and make your reservation ahead of time. Can get very hot, but it has a beautiful view of Waikiki at the top.

Manoa Falls - easy hike close to Waikiki in the rainforest. This hike has some pretty views of the vegetation inland from the water, and is ok for smaller kids. The parking can be challening, so go early to secure a spot. You'll want to buy water shoes if you plan to swim. There are rain ponchos at the store at the base if it's raining.

Restaurants

Ono's - this is about as traditional Hawaiian food as you can get. It's a hole-in-the-wall spot that turns tables quick. You'll probably have to wait for a seat, they don't take reservations.

Hau Tree Lanai - I love this spot because of its location on the beach. It's a good option for breakfast or dinner, but can get too hot for lunch.

Sasabune - hole-in-the wall spot with solid Omakase sushi.

Sushi Sho - very high-end Omakase sushi in the Ritz Carlton Waikiki. You have to call for reservations and they book up months in advance.

Nature Waikiki - this is a fun spot in Waikiki that does offer a creative, locally-sourced set menu that's delicious.

Roy's - classic date night spot with good fish options.

Duke's - fun, casual restaurant on the beach that doesn't take reservations, so be prepared to wait. They have live music on Fridays. Their Hula Pie is my favorite dessert on the island.

Leonard's Bakery - this place serves the best Malasadas (Portugese doughnuts) on the island. Go early because the social media tourists mob this place.

Waiola Shave Ice - best spot for Shave Ice on the island. There are two locations.

Fort Ruger Market - great poke and plate lunch, hole-in-the wall spot where you take food to go.

Bogart's - my favorite breakfast joint outside of Waikiki.

House without a Key - this is a favorite of mine for a fancy afternoon tea with my daughter. It's at the Halekulani Hotel.

There are so many places popping up all the time, so it's hard to keep up with them. These are just a few of my favorite spots when I go back to Oahu!

Hotels

From a luxury resort perspective on Oahu, you really only have:

The Halekulani

The Kahala

The Ritz Carlton Waikiki

The Jewel

The Four Seasons in Ko'olina

The Ritz Carlton Turtle Bay

The Ritz Carlton residences in Waikiki have solid family suites that can easily accommodate a family of four or five. The location can't be beat, and they have a nice pool and a great bar.

We loved staying two nights at the recently renovated Ritz Carlton Turtle Bay on the North Shore. Keep in mind if you do stay here, it's a trek to get back to the South Shore, so you'll be pretty restricted to acitivities on the North side of the island. It does make for a great stop, however. The rooms are beautiful with great views, the beach is calm and great for small kids, and the service was some of the most friendly I've encountered in the islands. I was very impressed with the property during our recent stay there.

The Four Seasons Ko'olina is also a bit out of the way, but the bay is very calm, so it makes for a good place for families. They have lots of large suites. I have a full post on this property from a couple of years ago. I don't recommend the Aulani next door - the majority of the pools aren't heated, and dining reservations were virtually impossible to get.

We stayed the Kahala for our wedding night. It's a beautiful, boutique hotel outside of Waikiki, but still on the South side, so you have access to everything you'd want to do. The pool is quite small and doesn't have waterslides, but it's a good option.

Recap

A lot of people overlook Oahu as an option when visiting Hawaii, but it's a lovely island. You want to make sure to rent a car when visiting because there's so much to see beyond Waikiki.

If you need any help planning a trip to Oahu or the other Hawaiian islands, our team at Alpenglow Travel loves Hawaii, and would be happy to help you! We are Four Seasons Preferred Partner agents and are in the Ritz Carlton Stars program, so we can get you perks on your booking, such as included breakfast and resort credits.