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Home to the wonderful city of Honolulu, Oahu offers much to see and do beyond the city limits.

Things To Do on Oahu: (Jump To)

Pearl Harbor

The Pearl Harbor National Memorial is located on the outskirts of Honolulu. We were able to reach the memorial via the local bus lines. Entrance to the grounds and many of the museums is free but some portions carry an up-charge.

If you’re traveling with a military history buff plan to spend all day at the site. A reservation is recommended to visit the USS Arizona Memorial via a water shuttle that leaves from the memorial.

Also on the grounds is a visitor center and museum with modern and interactive displays making the history of the memorial digestible for all ages. Tours of a decommissioned submarine, the USS Bowfin, are also offered.

Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden

Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden flies under the tourist radar. It is an enormous park with a visitor center and small patches of planted gardens surrounded by a lush green Hawaiian paradise.

Getting there is only advisable via car with public transportation possible, but not convenient. We parked near the visitor center and walked down an easy trail to the Ho’omaluhia reservoir where we were surrounded by a flock of hungry and friendly ducks.

The garden is a perfect place to get away and really enjoy the beauty of the island.

Dole Plantation

To be honest, we weren’t crazy about our visit to the Dole Plantation. We found it to basically be a crowded and extremely overpriced gift shop and candy store. The highlight of the visit was the train ride around the plantation where we learned about the history of pineapple farming and canning on the island—but even that was lackluster.

If you’re driving by, stop in, but don’t make a day of it.

Diamondhead

Diamondhead is a volcanic cone on the Pacific shore just south of Waikiki Beach in Honolulu. Hiking to the top of the cliff is an absolute must-do while visiting the island.

Accessing the hike is easy from the city bus lines or via the parking area at the center of the cone. The hike is a steady climb to the top with the last portion in a close-quarters tunnel and underground spiral staircase. People of all ages and shapes were making the climb alongside us, so don’t be afraid of the climb.

At the top of the cliff, you will be rewarded with an iconic view of the towering resort skyscrapers of Waikiki Beach.

Waikiki Beach

Waikiki Beach is the resort center of Honolulu. It is world-famous and possibly one of the best beaches in the world. If you’re a beach bum, you can spend a week lying on a towel and wading in the warm shallow saltwater.

There is also a miles-long boardwalk for walking, people-watching, biking, or any other path-related recreational activity. There are plenty of benches and stopping points for a break to enjoy the view.

Walking the boardwalk as the sun sets is a must-do while visiting the island.

Honolulu Zoo

A small but fun zoo near Waikiki Beach. The zoo has all the animals you’d expect to see with a focus on bird species endemic to the Hawaiian islands. We visited on a very rainy December afternoon but still found the park to be extremely enjoyable.