When it comes to the Hawaiian Islands, Oahu seems to be at the bottom of the list for vacationers to stay and explore. With Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island being the most visited for their beauty and activities, Oahu is often forgotten.
But I’m here to tell you Oahu has some incredible sights to see and activities to enjoy that many vacationers are unaware of. With both city and country available within 30 minutes of each other, you can get a little of everything and then some on this beautiful island. And each corner of the island is completely different and unique to each other. From the calm waters of Waikiki, to the epic waves of the famous North Shore, to the beautiful bay on the Windward side, and the resort lagoons on the Leeward side, there is literally something for everyone.
I was outlining how to best organize this post and decided “things to do in Oahu” would be most beneficial if broken up over a few posts due to the amount of activities, sights, and beaches to see on each part of this island.
To start with this particular blog post, I’ll share my must do’s and visits in Waikiki, including restaurants, hikes, and scenic spots, seeing as to how this Hawaiian city is the most visited part of Oahu. In Waikiki, there is so much to see if you know where to go.
Most people who visit Waikiki already plan on eating at Dukes, hiking Diamond Head, and staying in one of the beachfront hotels. As someone who lives here, Waikiki is not my go-to place (nor many other locals). But if you are willing to step out and explore a bit, there are some incredible eateries and less visited spots in Waikiki’s backyard.
Restaurants in Waikiki:
Like I said, most people eat at Dukes because it’s so famous. But I’m here to tell you that the food is average and the view is okay. Here are some of our favorite spots to eat at downtown:
SKY Waikiki – Raw & Bar: they are open for brunch, close and then reopen at 4pm daily. Reservations are recommended if you want to eat at a table, but no reservations needed to enjoy the outdoor bar. Though a little pricey, the view is incredible and the food and drinks are delicious. We’ve never had a bad meal here. Even if you just get a soda at the bar to enjoy the view, it’s worth it!
Hideout at the Laylow: they open at 5pm and reservations are recommended. The food and service is great here. The ambiance is fun, having both traditional tables, as well as couches around fire-pits to sit at. We recommend this place to many people who visit or move here and it never disappoints.
Kuhio Ave: Right behind Kalakaua Ave sits Kuhio Ave (2 blocks in from the beach), and here sits a plethora of food trucks, small restaurants, and other eateries. Our favorites are the taco truck next to Poke Fix (Poke Fix always has a huge line also), Topped Waikiki (Korean food), Marukame Udon Waikiki, Dukes Lane Market and Eatery, and Banzai Burger.
Paia Fish Market: Kuhio hosts Paia Fish Market, a restaurant where the food is amazing! There is something for everyone and the portions are huge. Feel free to share with a buddy if you don’t eat a lot. Also, be sure to check out their happy hour for best pricing.
Aloha Cafe Pineapple: their food is on point and the pricing is too! I enjoyed the cafe latte, alongside my Acai bowl. And my husband always gets the egg salad toast, which is so good it makes us want to come back everyday.
Activities in Waikiki:
Honolulu Zoo: Let me start by saying we lived in San Diego for a decade, so it’s REALLY hard to beat their world famous zoo. But all in all, the Honolulu Zoo is really nice and we frequent it often. It’s also inexpensive admission compared to most other zoos. The paths are clear, there are a lot of animals (with lots of space!), there are shaded areas throughout, tons of bathrooms, and a huge park in the middle for the kiddos. Additionally, there are chickens, roosters, and peacocks running around! You can get through the Honolulu Zoo in about 2 hours.
Picnic on the Beach: One of our favorite things to do in Waikiki is order food to go and take it to the beach. We throw down some towels to make a large sitting/eating space and chow down. The kids enjoy running around in the sand afterwards while my husband and I enjoy the sunset. The biggest perk is you can B.Y.O.B.!
Early Morning Walk: Waikiki Beach gets jam packed by 9am, so we love to take an early morning walk to enjoy the beautiful beach when it’s empty. Trust me, it’s worth waking up and having this normally overly-congested beach to yourself. It truly is beautiful and serene when it’s empty.
Diamond Head: This is easily one of the most famous hikes on Oahu (next to Stairway to Heaven) and it shows with the amount of people who do it. We have done this hike one time, during off-season, on a Friday morning and there was already no parking by that time. The hike itself is not as pleasing as other hikes on the island, but the views at the top are phenomenal. My suggestion is to arrive and be ready to hike at 6am when the park opens to ensure you have a parking space and get to enjoy the summit before it gets too crowded.
Diamond Head Beach Park: After you hike Diamond Head, move on to the Beach Park where you will get more spectacular views with less people.
Manoa Falls Hiking Trail: If you cannot leave the Waikiki/Downtown Oahu area, but want to see a waterfall before heading home, check out Manoa Falls. The scenery is beautiful and it would be a short Uber ride away if you don’t have a rental car. Just remember bug spray and water!
All in all, the main hub of Waikiki is pretty mainstream and underwhelming, but the immediate surrounding areas absolutely have worthwhile places to checkout. If you have a favorite “off-the-beaten-path” restaurant or activity in Waikiki you want to share, let me know.
Mahalo!
