When it comes to the Hawaiian Islands, Oahu seems to be at the bottom of the list of islands for vacationers to stay and explore. With Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island being the most sought after for their beauty, activities, and off-the-beaten path activities, Oahu is often forgotten.
(I’ll throw the caveat in there that this is my personal opinion based on living here and the many conversations I’ve had with visitors, as well as fellow residents.)
But I’m here to tell you Oahu has some incredible sights to see and activities to participate in 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 blog post, I’ll share my must do’s and visits in Waikiki, including restaurants, hikes, and scenic spots, seeing as to how Waikiki is the most visited part of Oahu and there is so much to see if you turn around and look in the backyard.
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 my favorite spots to eat at downtown:
–SKY Waikiki – Raw & Bar: they open at 4pm daily and reservations are recommended. 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.
–Kuhio Ave: if you are on the beach of Waikiki and walk 2 blocks inward to Kuhio Ave, there is 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.
–Cheeseburger in Paradise: burgers are good and portion sizes are not astronomical (which we appreciate!). I also get my burgers lettuce wrapped and still enjoy them.
–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 had the egg salad toast, which was so good he wanted to go back the next day.
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 the 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!
-Picnic on the Beach: One of our favorite things to do in Waikiki is order food to go (usually from Cheesecake Factory) 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 10am, 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 surrounding areas absolutely have some worthwhile places to checkout. If you have a favorite “off-the-beaten-path” restaurant or activity in Waikiki you want to share, comment below. Let’s give the small businesses more business and referrals!
Mahalo!
