Oahu is the Hawaiian Island with the largest population and has a lot to offer for everyone. What follows is an overview of the main sites and attractions that we visited while enjoying a leisurely drive around the island and stopping at various landmarks. Waikiki beach, Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay, Sunset Beach and Pearl Harbor are a few of the top places to see around the island.
Our favorite thing to do was to explore Oahu’s underwater world. The reefs are beautiful and full of life. Green sea turtles, dolphins and sharks are common sights which makes it an interesting place for a scuba diving vacation.
Of course, Oahu is also a great surfing destination where expert surfers come to ride the waves of the North Shore. Beginners should stick to the gentler surf off Waikiki Beach in Honolulu.
Oahu scenic drive highlights
On the North Shore we stopped at Matsumoto for shaved ice on our way to Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline. This is a great place to go to watch the experts surf in huge waves. Sunset Beach is also a beautiful white sand beach perfect for a dip and jumping in the waves.
The Waimea Valley Audubon Center is also a nice place to stop at, especially, to enjoy the lush fauna of Oahu. It’s a natural preserve with gardens and waterfalls. Keep an eye out for the peacocks roaming around the grounds!
On the South Shore we stopped at the Halona Blowhole lookout to watch water spouting in a powerful spray out from underwater lava tubes. Nearby, there’s the Toilet Bowl which is a rocky pool of churning water. It is best to enjoy these phenomena from a safe distance, as getting too close could be deadly!
Nearby, some people seemed to be enjoying the Halona Beach Cove, but the surf looked too powerful for our liking.
In the area there’s also the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, but instead of stopping for a brief photo-op we opted to come back another day. It’s a fantastic snorkeling spot with a beautiful colorful reef full of life. But please, do not stand on the coral reef! We saw many inexperienced snorkelers doing so and the contact kills that part of the reef for future visitors. If you go, get there early since the number of visitors and parking spots is limited.
A drive up to the Nu’uanu Pali lookout as well as the Tantalous drive rewarded us with many beautiful views of Oahu and the ocean below.
Windward Oahu rewarded us with lovely views of Oahu’s coastline and of Mokoli’i Island, better known as Chinaman’s Hat Island.
Things to do and places to see in Oahu
Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach is great for swimming or learning to surf. We had fun surfing in a canoe. One must paddle, paddle, paddle… catch the wave and stand up to ride it!
In the area there is also Waikiki Aquarium where you can see marine life including the endangered Hawaiian monk seals, turtles and sharks.
Diamond Head
Diamond Head is the iconic peak of an extinct volcano with remnants of military fortifications. The ancient Hawaiians had a temple there where they performed rituals. Hiking to the top is well worth it for the great views of Honolulu, Waikiki and Koko Head.
Pearl Harbor
We needed a full day to visit Pearl Harbor, there was a lot to see. We had to buy a time slot ticket to visit the USS Arizona Memorial. But first we had to watch the historical movie (very informative by the way) and then take the ferry to the memorial. It’s a solemn experience since the marines are entombed below.
The guided tour on the USS Missouri was an excellent way to learn about the history behind Pearl Harbor. Our guide was knowledgeable and dynamic. Touring the USS Bowfin submarine with the audio guide only made the visit more interesting. The exhibits at the aviation museum and the USS Bowfin submarine museum were also an interesting part of our visit.
Polynesian Cultural Center
On the other side of the island there is the Polynesian Cultural Center, which is the perfect place to visit and experience seven Polynesian nations and their cultures. Each has a pavilion to display their way of life.
Do not miss the floating parade of decorated boats and Polynesian dancers showing their moves with traditional dances to the beats of rhythmic music associated with each country. Where else can you visit Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, Maori, Tonga and the Marquesas in one day!
Stay late and try the Luau to enjoy traditional food and a show.
Aloha Tower
This is a good place to go before embarking on a cruise since it’s located within walking distance from the cruise terminal. The Aloha Tower is a 10-story lighthouse built in 1926. From the top, you can enjoy a 360-degree view of the harbor.
Here, you’ll also find the Aloha Tower Marketplace with shops and restaurants. Nearby there used to be the Hawaii Maritime Center but it closed in 2009.
Dole Plantation
Perhaps touristy but the Dole plantation is still nice to see. You can take the Pineapple Express for a leisurely train ride through the plantation and before leaving be sure to try some juicy ripe pineapple. Delicious!
Byodo-in Temple
On the Windward side of the island, we visited the Byodo-in Temple located in the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. The lovely location created a quiet and relaxing setting for an enjoyable experience. The temple is a replica of a 900-year-old Japanese temple. It’s an active site for Buddhist worshippers, and out of respect be sure to remove your shoes before entering.
Other highlights that caught our attention at the temple were the bell, koi pond and its resident black swan. A beautiful and serene place to visit!
Oahu’s underwater world
Exploring the island’s underwater world was the highlight of our trip. We dove near Koko Head in the Maunalua Bay in Hawaii Kay as well as on the Leeward side near Makaka and Waianae. We were there in May and at that time of the year the visibility was better on the Leeward side, water temperature was 77°F.
This Hawaiian green sea turtle came to check us out.
Our diving experience with Patrick’s Diving Adventures was great and the Waianae boat harbor was much closer to our resort. Our dive guide, Mike, was excellent and took good care of us.
Aside from reef diving we dove on a couple of wrecks: The M/S Mahi and Airplane dive sites. We didn’t mind diving twice at the Makaha Caverns since the sea life was very abundant and weaving through the lava caves was fun. However, do be careful of the strong surge that can pull you up!
We were lucky to see a huge pod of dolphins swimming above us and at the same time seeing a lone turtle below!
See our Life on the Reef Gallery
Conclusion
Honolulu, Ko Olina and Sunset Beach are the most popular places where many visitors choose to stay. On our first visit we stayed in Honolulu in front of Waikiki Beach and the second time around we stayed in Ko Olina. Both are nice with their own appeal.
We highly recommend venturing out to see some of Oahu other attractions because once out of the tourist zone it felt much more authentic. The beaches were less crowded (although the surf was strong in some places) and the atmosphere was more relax. No tourist bus in sight filled with rude tourists elbowing us out of the way for a photo. What a delight!
We never got tired of admiring Hawaiian sunsets or of looking at the surf and enjoying its relaxing sound…
Related Posts:
- Visiting Hawaii by Cruise and by Land
- Things to Do and Places to Visit on the Big Island of Hawaii
- Must-See Places and Things to Do in Maui
- How to Make the Most of Your Time in Port in Kauai
*Post updated in December 2020