Ask anyone, and they’ll tell you “Hawaii” and “paradise” are synonyms. And after a year and a half of the pandemic? It was just the refuge I needed to recharge! This was my first time in Hawaii, so I wanted to see more than one island. I’ll publish a post on Maui soon, but this post is dedicated to what to do in Oahu.
Clique aqui para ler este post em Português.
When To Go:
Since it’s a tropical destination, Hawaii has beautiful weather year-round. My general rule for booking trips is to avoid the tourist season (May-August), and this rule applies well here! We went at the beginning of September, and it was perfect timing: tourist season was over, the weather was perfect, and we avoided the rainy season that begins in October.
April is also a good time to go, as it’s after the rainy season but before tourist season.
How To Get There:
For most people, flights to Hawaii land in Honolulu, which is in Oahu. One of the great incentives for me to go this year was that Hawaiian Airlines started a direct flight between Austin, TX (where I live) and Honolulu. From there, it’s so easy to island-hop. Hawaiian Airlines has direct (and super short) flights to Maui, Lanai, Kauai, and other islands.
Other than Hawaiian, several other airlines offer flights to Oahu, such as United, Air Canada, Delta, and American.
A quick reminder to tourists coming from abroad: Hawaii is an American state, so in order to visit you will need a US tourist (B2) visa.
What To Do In Oahu:
Now for the most important part: what to do in Oahu? The island has an incredible diversity of experiences! For those who want a mix of big city and nature, Oahu is an excellent choice to visit.
Getting to know the island
For those who love being in the middle of the action: Waikiki
Waikiki is the most famous beach in Honolulu, and it’s got everything: hotels, restaurants, shopping, and oh yeah, a beach. I stayed in Waikiki because I wanted a walkable spot from which I could try lots of different restaurants and bars. The location is easily accessible from the airport—just a 20 minute drive—and from Waikiki it’s easy to get to highways that take you to other parts of the island. If you’re looking for a shopping destination, especially from luxury brands, Kalakaua Avenue is a must-visit.
While I enjoyed the fact that Waikiki is walkable, honestly I wouldn’t choose to stay there again. Instead, I’d go for a hotel or AirBnb in a more remote location. I think it’s definitely worth visiting, especially for those who want to go shopping, but there are way better beaches around Oahu.
Don’t limit yourself to Waikiki!
Waikiki may be world-famous, but Oahu has so much more to offer. Rent a car (in advance, since there is a limited amount of rental cars which can drive up prices!) and dedicate at least one day to going around the island. The path we chose, which I highly recommend, is to take H1 from Waikiki going east, then taking 72 to Waimanalo Beach. From there, head to North Beach, and then take 830 to 83 to go around the entire northern part of the island. Our final stop was Laniakea, and from there we cut back through the middle of Oahu (taking 99 until H2 and finally H1) to return to Waikiki. I’m the kind of person who finds driving super stressful, but even I found this drive to be so lovely and relaxing.
Get ready to stop often as there are several lookout spots with stunning views. That’s the best part about this drive: seeing something incredible and stopping to just be in awe.
Beaches: Waimanalo e Laniakea
If you, like me, just want to go to Hawaii to enjoy a beautiful beach that’s not overcrowded, then head over to Waimanalo and Laniakea.
Waimanalo is just a half hour drive from Waikiki, and it’s everything you imagine when you think of a beautiful Hawaiian beach. As if its beauty were not enough, there’s free parking (it’s worth getting there before 9 am to secure a spot, since it’s not a big lot) and accessible public restrooms (not the best, but still a rarity). The combination of beach, palm trees that provide good shade (for those of us who can’t or don’t want to roast in the sun all day!), mountain and island views, and crystal clear water is just perfect.
Laniakea is farther out (about a ~45 minute drive from Waikiki) but there you find not only volcanic rock but also sea turtles. This beach is a known resting spot for sea turtles—we saw almost 10 when we went! Visitors must maintain at least 10 ft of distance from the turtles, and several parts of the beach will have a rope to indicate the proper distance. Note: there are several state and federal laws that prohibit people from touching, disturbing, or injuring sea turtles. Enjoy their company, but respect their space and habitat!
Sports/Physical Activity
Learn to surf
Hawaii is also famous for surfing, and Oahu has several beaches that are great for beginners and experienced surfers alike. It’s easy to find surf lessons through your hotel or websites like AirBnb or Trip Advisor. We took a beginner’s lesson in Ala Moana and had an amazing time!
Hike Diamond Head
Diamond Head is the crater of the extinct Le’ahi volcano. The national park is easy to get to from Waikiki, but it’s worth knowing that parking can be a challenge. There are few spots in the park itself, and if the lot is full, you’re bound to drive around for a bit to find parking. If you want to avoid stressing out over parking altogether, use your ride-sharing app of choice.
The trail itself is gorgeous and of low to medium difficulty (mostly due to the number of steps and certain parts of the crater have uneven footing). We took about 45 minutes to reach the top (about 0.8 mi, with an elevation of about 570 ft) stopping along the way to enjoy the views and making our way calmly. From the top, you can see all of Waikiki and the mountains. The view is so worth it! When you get back to the base of the crater, celebrate the end of the hike with a freshly cut coconut or a passionfruit shaved ice.
Light up yoga in the ocean
I had no idea this even existed, but it was one of the highlights of the trip! I had already done standup paddleboard yoga classes a few times before, but never in the ocean. We bought tickets to a group class that took place during the sunset. The water is so warm at the end of the day, and seeing the Honolulu skyline lighting up was gorgeous! The paddleboards themselves light up in the water, creating a surreal atmosphere. We booked our class through Yoga Floats, which I highly recommend. The instructor provided great instructions for beginners and adaptations for those who wanted more of a challenge.
Food
Poke
Poke is a traditional Hawaiian dish, so it goes without saying that the poke here is the best in the world! The fish is Oahu is ridiculously fresh, and each restaurant prepares its poke in a different way. My favorite was from Kyung’s Seafood, where we ordered the “mama special” poke. The medium size could have easily fed two people!
Japanese Food
Hawaii has heavy influence from Japanese culture, and the food there is no exception. Not just because of the quality of the fish, but also because of the preparation and the ingredients! The sashimi in Oahu is incredible, as are the ramen, chicken katsu, and so many other dishes. We’ve spent a few weeks in Japan, and while nothing will ever truly be as good as the food in Japan, the Japanese food in Hawaii was the best we’ve had in the US.
Burmese Food
Have you ever tried Burmese food? I had never had the chance to before visiting Oahu. We wanted to see a different part of Honolulu, so we went to Chinatown (which I highly recommend)! While we were there, we went to Rangoon, a Burmese restaurant. The portions are enormous, but it’s worth getting a few different dishes to share. If you enjoy Indian food and food from Southeast Asian countries (Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia) you’ll love it!
Macadamia Nuts
I had no idea before visiting, but Hawaii produces most of the world’s macadamia nuts. The chocolate-covered macadamia nuts are spectacular, and we had them every day! One of the things we didn’t have time for, but will definitely plan for next time, is visiting a macadamia nut farm.
I hope you found these tips on what to do in Oahu useful! If you’ve been to the island, what do you recommend? If you haven’t, what’s something you’d like to do?
Stay curious,
Nati