The ONLY Guide to Oahu you'll ever need!


If you're here to plan your trip to Oahu, then look no further! Walker and I have lived on Oahu for over 3 years and know almost everything this little island has to offer. We're going to share our all time favorite things to do, so you can have the perfect Hawaiian getaway filled with lots of adventurous activities. We promise if you follow our guide, you will NEVER be bored!


We also made a YouTube Video of our Top 25 Things to do in Hawaii if you want more visuals of what these places look like!

1. Surfing


If you're visiting Hawaii, you have to try surfing at least once. Oahu is the birth place of surfing after all and there is no better place to try it than right here in Waikiki. The Canoes surf break is the perfect spot for beginngers and where thousands come to learn every year. There is usually quite a few people out there, but don't let that stop you! Just do your best to follow surfing etiquette, meet new friends and have fun! If you need a board you can rent them right off the beach or go to Costco and buy a wave storm for about $120. Other surfing spots we love are baby Maks and the Kailua Shelf.

2. Booze Cruise


One of our favorite activities is taking a booze cruise for sunset! Normally we try to book the smaller cruises like Mai Tai's, because we love how friendly the staff is and how much more intimate it feels. Their drinks are delicious, but are not included in your ticket price. Don't worry, they are very reasonably priced and you'll definitely be feeling it with 2 or 3 Mai Tai's. You don't want to miss this! Other cruises we love are Pink Sails & Hoku's.

3. Botanical Gardens


O'ahu has a few Botanical Gardens, but there are two we think are worth mentioning. Our favorite and the one with all the viral photos is the Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden. Gosh, we LOVE coming here especially when its cloudy to add a little mood to our photos. The great thing about this garden is that you can drive right in and parking is FREE. In our opinion, its one of the most scenic places in Oahu, so be sure to enjoy the beauty around you. We love having photo sessions here and it's a perfect place to have a picnic. Tip: If it rains you might be lucky enough to see all the waterfalls coming down the ridge line.


The other one worth mentioning is Lyon Arboretum. It's a beautiful garden nestled in the Manoa Valley and feels so fairy-tale like! The grounds are perfectly kept and you'll see agriculture students from UH Manoa maintaining the gardens. It's full of beautiful Indigenous plants that you can't see anywhere else on the island, but the best part is the waterfall at the end of the trail. ʻAihualama Falls is not as grand as many of the other falls, but its still worth a visit. You'll want to go after a heavy rain (or during) since it usually has little water flow.

4. Kayaking


There are quite a few little islands around Oahu and Kayaking to them makes for a great adventure! We loved kayaking to the Mokulua Islands, which are the two little islands off Lanikai Beach. The island on the left side is called Moku Nui (Big Island) and the one on the right is called Moku Iki (little island.) Moku Iki is completely off limits, but Moku Nui is available for anyone to visit. As close as they seem, it's a surprisingly far paddle to Moku Nui from the launch area. It took us a little over an hour, but we had the best time exploring it. We saw hundreds of birds, a seal, and a few turtles. We explored the back side where you can try the 25 ft. cliff jump into the water (but only if the waves aren't too big) and even float in the queens bath tide pool.


The other option is to kayak to Mokoli'i AKA China man's hat. It takes no more than 20 minutes and once you arrive there is a short hike to the top of the island. You'll get amazing views of Oahu and Kaneohe Bay. I'd suggest bringing shoes because there are fire ants all over the island. Tip: Bring your drone for epic content at the top of the island!

5. Pillbox Hikes


The pillboxes were used as military observation stations in World War II. Today, they are used for hiking and offer some of the best views in Oahu. We've hiked most of them, but here are our favorites:

Pink Pillbox


Believe it or not, this is our favorite sunset hike in Oahu. Again, this pillbox hike is quite short and is not too hard, but it does have a little incline.

On the way up we were lucky enough to see the cutest family of goats and when we got to the top we could see whales in the ocean down below!

There are beautiful panoramic views of the West Side all around and we just felt so lucky to have seen the most amazing sunset. It was such a special moment we got to share together. Tip: Don't forget to take a look inside the pillboxes because these ones have the most beautiful art!

Koko Head


Gosh, the Koko head trail is one of the HARDEST hikes on the island. And by hard, I mean it's more of a workout. The hike up is an old, but well maintained train rail that is all incline. Be ready for the best booty burn of your life. The way up took us 25 minutes, but it feels longer because of how painful it is. There is a pillbox at the top that you can sit and watch sunset from, which we highly suggest going at that time! Like all hikes in Oahu the views are worth it! You'll feel so proud of yourself when you're done and that alone is such a great accomplishment!

Lankai Pillbox


This spot might sound cliché to some, but if you've never been to Oahu this is a great place to start your hiking journey. It's an easy 25 minute hike to the top and goes down as one of our favorite sunrise hikes on the island. With a view of the Mokes and the crystal clear waters below, you'll be blown away at how beautiful Hawaii's landscape is. Sunrise is technically the busiest time to go for this hike, but it's also going to be the coolest time to go. If you're not one to wake up early, pack some water and be sure to stay hydrated because it can get HOT. Here's one of our favorite photo's we got!

6. Wet n Wild


There is no better way to mix things up then with a day spent at the water park with all your friends! The water park has a bar, a huge wave pool, a surf deck and a ton of fun rides! For the most thrilling ride, try the shaka! Pretty sure we both got some whip lash from it, but it was totally worth it!

The entrance fee is $59.99 for adults, but they do have options for season passes and they offer a kama'aina discount to Hawaii Residence. Be sure to check their hours of operations because the hours can be weird.

7. Waimanlo Country Farms


This is more of a seasonal thing, but every summer we love to come over and see the Sunflower fields. It's such a fun way to spend a couple hours saying hi to farm animals, drinking delicious lemonade, trying some grilled corn and of course take photos with the sunflowers!


They also have a pumpkin patch every fall!

8. Tantalus


Not only is the drive up to Tantalus really pretty, but there are multiple hikes to choose from off the road. We prefer driving up and watching the sunset below the city. Parking is free and its a short walk to the view point. It makes for another great picnic area / date spot!

9. Byodo- In Temple


Within the Valley of the Temples is a Japanese temple called Byodo- In. It translates to the "temple of equality." It's an EXACT replica of the one in Uji Japan and was built and dedicated to the first Japanese Immigrants in Hawaii. It's a hidden gem not many people know about and makes for AMAZING photos. Entrance is about $5 per car and so worth the visit!

10. Beaches


O'ahu is home to some of the most beautiful beaches in the world, in our opinion. The beaches are why most people visit Hawaii, so please rent a car and do not stay stuck in Waikiki. There is so much more to see and every side of Oahu has gorgeous beaches you don't want to miss! Here is our top 3:

Lanikai (East Side)


This has to go down as one of the most beautiful beaches on the island, if not the world. With powdery, white sand and calm, refreshing water you'll feel like you've just stepped into a picture perfect photo out of a travel magazine. Of course, like the pillbox you'll have the view of the Mokes in front of you, but you'll now be able to see the pillbox on the ridge behind you.

Makua (West Side)


This is hands down our favorite beach on the whole island. The water might not be as azure in color as Lanikai, but it's way more clear. We've had some of the best free diving experiences here where we've seen turtles, dolphins and even whales. Also don't even get me started on how beautiful the beach is! Pack a cooler, chairs, everything you need for a beach day because were staying until sunset! Tip: Bring your snorkel and remember to never touch or get too close to wild life.

Waimea (North Shore)


It was so hard to pick our favorite beaches because Oahu has so many we love. The beach is huge, the waters are clear and this is another great spot to free dive. We like to practice blowing underwater o's here and seeing the wild life. Believe it or not, we actually saw a Manta Ray here! We actually couldn't believe it! But the reason why so many come here is to take the jump from the rock! It's such a fun activity to try if you're not afraid of heights or want to face your fear!

11. Snorkeling/ Free Diving


This is one of our favorite things to do in Hawaii. We have a lot of favorite things to do, but this is our most favorite! The great thing about free diving is you never know what your going to see. It's different every time! Of course, safety comes first so please do not attempt to go out if you're not a strong swimmer and always bring a buddy with you. We've already talked briefly of some great spots to snorkel and practice your free diving, but here's one more: Electric Beach. If you want big of variety of sea animals this is hands down the best place to go. The reason why it's such a great spot is because of the electrical plant thats right behind it. There's a giant tube that pushes out warm water that the sea life love! There are numerous species of fish, yu'll always see turtles and sometimes you can even see sharks and eagle rays!

12. Makapu'u Tide Pools


This is a hike worth its own category! You can find this hike off the Makapu'u Light House Trail. Follow the main path up and when you reach the telescopes about mid way, there's a path on the left side you can take down to the pools. You need good shoes because there's a lot of loose gravel. I usually opt for my Chocco's since they double as water shoes! Also, bring water and a towel! Tip: Always check the tides for how big the waves are. It's best to go during low tide. People die here if they aren't careful and you can never be too careful! Please be safe!!!

13. Pearl Harbor


Pearl Harbor is just one of those things you have to see when visiting Oahu. Even if history isn't your thing, its nice to pay your respects to the fallen soldiers. We weren't even sure wanted to go, but we are happy we did. Its still very educational and there's a lot to learn. There were so many things we didn't know until we went there. After we left, we came home and watched the move "Pearl Harbor" which was the perfect amount of drama and education. Tip: There is a map of Oahu in Pearl Harbor. Talk to someone across from you and hear how they sound!

14. Spend a day on a boat


Did you know you can hire boats to take you out for the day? This is one of our favorite activities to do on every island! The best part is it's not too expensive and you can help cut costs by bringing more people or going on one of the larger tours. We prefer hiring a smaller boat or a private one with our friends. Depending on what you want to see that day is where you should look to hire your boat. If you want to hire one in Waikiki, you'll spend the day snorkeling with fish and you're guaranteed to see turtles at Turtle Canyon. If you hire one in the North Shore, you're going to do a shark dive or they have one's for regular snorkeling around Waimea Bay. If you hire one in Kaneohe, you're spending the day snorkeling or at the sand bar. Of course if you want to hire a boat to just party, you can do that too. We love doing this for New Years and Birthdays!

15. Go for Poke


You can't come to Hawaii and not try Poke. Even if you're not a sea food lover give it a try! You'll be surpirsed by how delicious it is and how many variations there are to choose from. In our opinion, it's best to go for the Ahi instead of Salmon. Ahi is way more fresh here in Hawaii, and Salmon comes frozen from Japan or Alaska. Some of our favorite restaurants to order poke from are Ono's, Foodland, Masa and Joyce and Tamura's (the west side location.) Spicy Ahi is usually what we all go for, but I also love Lomi flavored Ahi and the dynamite from Foodland. Ask for unagi sauce for a little extra flavor at Foodland! Tip: Poke is pronounced "Poh-Kay."

16. Big Waves/ Surf Competitions


Hawaii is known for having some of the biggest waves in the world. If you come between the months November and February the North Shore has some crazy, big waves. Believe it or not, some people will even try to surf them. The biggest we've seen were 30ft... it was insanity. During this time, there are surf competitions too, so come cheer on your favorite professionals!

17. Spend a day in Haleiwa


When going to the North Shore we like to spend some time in Haleiwa Town. We ALWAYS stop for Acai bowls at either Banzai bowls or Haleiwa bowls on the way to one of the beaches. After chilling for a few hours, we'll come back to eat lunch at one of the food trucks, Teddys Bigger Burgers or if we reallly want to treat ourselves we'll eat dinner at Haeiwa Joes. Then of course, we have to indulge in our favorite shave ice place "Malia's shave ice." We recommend splitting the large with someone, adding ice cream and topping with condensed milk. You wont regret it! For flavors, go with something more natural like pineapple, lilikoi and lychee. STAY AWAY from flavors like blue raspberry & green apple... just trust us.

18. Mermaid Caves


This is such a cool spot on the West side of Oahu. You can literally live out your childhood mermaid fairy-tale in these caves. It reminds me of the moon pool from H2O and I'm living for it! The water is so blue and there's surprisingly a lot of space down there. The one thing you need to be aware of is the tides. Low tide is the best time to go, but be careful because tides can change at any moment. If it doesn't look safe and nobody is inside do not go in!

19. The Pali


We love that the Pali is almost always moody and incredibly windy. We like to bring our friends and family who are visiting us to show them one of the best scenic views of the island. Most people don't know this, but in the 1700's there was a battle here that forced many soldiers off the cliff. It was the battle that united Oahu under it's rule by King Kamehameha 1. There's a ton of hikes in the area we love and there's a place along the road we like to get photo's long boarding down.

20. Ridge Hikes


You might think of Oahu as being known for Waikiki or beautiful beaches, but some of the best ridge hikes in Hawaii can be found on Oahu. The most amazing part about most of the ridge hikes is that they are fairly short. Low risk, high reward is what we like to say... at least for most of them. There can be some scarier ones, but usually the ridge hikes in O'ahu never exceed 3 hours to get to the top. Some of our favorites are:

Olomoana


Also known as three peeks is one of our favorite hikes. This hike is a little on the scarier side, so please if you're new to hiking do not attempt this one. You can expect sheer drop offs, high winds and rope/ rock climbing. We love to do this hike for sunrise which puts a little more risk into it, but the soft light at the top makes it all worth it. Tip: Best views are from the first peak. DO NOT attempt the third peak.

Kuli'ou'ou


This hike is long and hard, but the views at the top are super worth it. The hike up and down can take anywhere from 3-6 hours. Bring a lot of water, snacks and your camera!

Diamond Head Ridge Hike


This is such a fun, easy hike that almost anyone can do! Most of the way up is paved until you go down hill to this view point ^ here. Wear good shoes and you're good to go. On a cool day its a great place to walk your dog or if you have kids, it's easy enough for them too.

21. Eat Out/ Happy Hour


When we first arrived in Oahu we didnt think we loved any of the food, but that's because we were going to all the "tourist traps" in Waikiki. It took some time and a lot of digging to find the really good restaurants to eat at. Some of them are very known and some aren't! A few of our favorite places are Olay's Thai Laos, Rangoon Kitchen, Haleiwa Joes and Doraku. Even better, some of these places offer happy hour which is so nice since Hawaii can be an expensive place in general! I have a blog all about the best places to eat on island, including some dessert locations as well. Check it out here.

22. Waterfall Hikes


Oahu has some pretty amazing waterfall hikes. The thing we love most about them is most of them have a pool at the bottom you can swim in. And if there is no pool, then at least you can still get under the waterfall! It always baffles us when we see people who make it to the end and they have no swimsuit. We always come prepared because rain or shine we're getting in. Here are some of the best waterfalls in Oahu:

Lulumahu


When hiking any waterfalls remember not to wear your good shoes. It can be incredibly muddy and you never know what the path will look like. We usually opt for choccos or hiking shoes that rinse easily. The beginning of Lulu walks you through an amazing bamboo forest and is a very peaceful walk with not too many people on the trail. It's also dog friendly! Lulu has a small pool at the bottom, but we mostly just like to stand under the waterfall to cool off.

Maunawili


This waterfall has been closed for maintenance, but there are a few other trails you can take to reach it. This is my favorite waterfall hike on the island because of the massive swimming hole. We love coming here with our friends! Tip: if you keep walking passed the waterfall there is a catwalk and a smaller waterfall we like to inner tube down.

Bring some snacks and spend a few hours exploring and having fun!

Manoa Falls


No guide is complete without this waterfall on it. The best thing about Manoa Falls isnt even the falls itself. In our opinion, its the walk up with all the beautiful plants. It feels as if you've just stepped into Jurassic Park. It feels almost historic with how big all the plants and trees are. While a lot of people do this hike, most of them stop at the lookout. If you go passed the lookout and down to the waterfall theres a nice llittle pool to cool off in. The trail is very easy and anyone of any age can do it!

23. China Walls


This is an amazing spot to watch sunset and is such a lively place with people playing music, jumping in the water and surfing. It almost feels like your stepping into a high school party. Once you come and experience it for yourself you'll understand why, but nonetheless it is incredibly beautiful! During the day it's also an amazing spot to go free diving! The water is a deep drop off, but that what makes it so fun! Highly recommend it here, but of course, watch out for tides. China Walls can get some very big waves and swipe people away.

24. Helicopter Tour


There are many things that make Oahu beautiful, but the landscape has to be the number one thing. That's why taking a helicopter where you get an ariel view of Oahu and the beautiful blue waters is a must. We love the doors off heli ride and think it's such a special way of seeing the island. It's especially great if you like to take photos that way you can keep the memories forever.


25. Drive the Scenic East Coast


Spend some time driving around the rugged east coast of Oahu while making many stops along the way. We would recommend checking out Hanauma Bay for some great snorkeling, then stopping at one of our favorite perspectives of the island at Makapuu view point. Also, we would recommend stopping at Halona blowhole and then working your way down to the beautiful Halona Beach. There are so many spots to choose from, but pick any along the road. They are all beautiful!