What You Need To Know

Oahu Travel Guide

Dive into the wonders of Oahu with my travel guide, your ultimate companion to navigating this enchanting Hawaiian gem.

Oahu Unveiled

Your Ultimate Oahu Travel Guide for an Unforgettable Experience

Oahu, home to the popular city of Honolulu. Even if you aren’t familiar with the Hawaiian islands, everyone’s heard of Honolulu! And everyone goes there too – it’s extremely crowded and can be slightly overwhelming. That’s why I think it’s a good idea to get a taste of other quieter islands, in addition to Oahu (like Kauai).
Oahu has tons to do – more so than Maui and Kauai in my opinion. Here is where you’ll find everything from families to backpackers to solo female travelers!

There are many beaches, iconic hiking trails, and great nightlife. It’s a very alluring place and even though it’s very crowded, it’s still a must-do when visiting the Hawaiian islands! I really fell in love with life while I was here, I think because the lifestyle here is very outdoors and part of nature, so it gives your body a lot of natural serotonin.

Vanessa's Insider Tips

My Travel Tips for Oahu

Here are some helpful Oahu travel tips to know before you go:

Where to Stay: Waikiki is the most popular area to stay in, and it’s also where I stayed. I recommend staying here because it’s in the heart of all the action.
How to Get Around: If you’re able to, rent a car. When I went, it was CRAZY EXPENSIVE, so I signed up for tours and took the local bus. Taking the local bus is easy, it just takes time to get to certain places.

Discover Oahu

My Recommended Itinerary for Oahu Travel

You can spend forever in Oahu and not run of out things to do or get bored. Here’s what I recommend for what to do in Oahu:

North Shore:

The North Shore is about an hour away from Waikiki and offers tons to do. I went as part of a tour and found that to be the most convenient since I didn’t have a car. I wouldn’t recommend taking the public bus here.

Check out Banzai Pipeline, famous for hosting some of the world’s most prestigious surfing competitions. The waves there are no joke and can be deadly, so only go in if you are super experienced. Otherwise, sit on the sand and check out the surfers.

To swim, check out Waimea Bay Beach Park or Sunset Beach.

Spend some time walking around Hale’iwa, a historic surf town.

Part of the reason to go to the North Shore is to get away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, so make sure to spend at least a day here!

Pearl Harbor National Memorial:

This war museum is a MUST! As the name implies, here you’ll learn all about one of the most pivotal moments in U.S. history – the attack on pearl harbor. There were definitely moments of sadness – I couldn’t believe how such a beautiful place was home to such sadness and death.

Luau:

When coming to Hawaii, you have to experience Luau. If you don’t, it’s almost like you didn’t even come! I went to my first Luau when I was in Oahu and went with Chief’s Luau. Overall I had a great experience – the show was so much fun, and the food was good and plenty. They also offer pick-up service since it’s further out from Waikiki.

Kualoa Ranch:

This is a 4,000-acre nature reserve and cattle ranch. It’s a popular tourist attraction because Hollywood uses it a lot for filming TV shows and movies, like Jurassic Park! I took the public bus here and then just signed up for one of the tours. They take you around in a Jeep and show you all the popular filming spots – it was so much fun!

Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden:

This botanical garden is great for a beautiful stroll, taking in the sights and checking out various gardens and plant species. But to be honest, a lot of people come for the photo opp! Entering the gardens there’s a long path, perfect for Instagram pictures. So many people stop for photos that they’ve actually prohibited you from stopping there now!

Hiking:

Oahu has an endless number of hikes. I did multiple hikes a week, and it gave my body such a pure boost of serotonin – there’s really nothing quite like being outdoors and exploring nature!

Sun, Sea, and Sand

Best Hikes in Oahu

Diamond Head:

Probably the easiest hike in Oahu and should not take you more than an hour and a half roundtrip. It doesn’t take too long, and there’s nothing technical or difficult about it. There’s a paved path and some stairs for the trail. The summit offers breathtaking views of Honolulu!

Lanikai Pillbox:

Freakin’ amazing hike with killer views. Please start early, because there’s no shade or cover during the hike. It’s a moderate hike – no walk in the park, but a steady incline. At the top, there are various bunkers. Get on top of them and get the picture-perfect Instagram photos!

Olomana:

Also known as 3 Peaks Hike, I did not finish because I am deathly afraid of heights. I wouldn’t say it’s a hard hike, but there are areas where you will have to scramble and use rope to climb up certain sections. Right before I got to the summit of the first peak, I had to bow out. There are ropes and a technical climb, but what scared me most was it was so narrow at the top! My friends went without me and they said good thing I didn’t, because the 3 peaks are narrow and they were kinda nervous being up there.

Koko Crater:

This hike is just one long ass staircase! It’s only about a mile and a half, so it’s a short hike. What makes it challenging is the incline and all those stairs! Start before sunrise because there’s no shade or cover during the hike.

Crouching Lion:

Okay so when I went, this hike was closed because it was illegal or something? I’m not sure. The signs at the trail head said the area was closed. But a bunch of people (myself included) did it anyways. So do it at your own risk! There are 2 trails: when you first enter, use the left trail because that one is easier. The trail on the right was what we initially did but had to turn around because it was too difficult for us – there were steep inclines, and we didn’t have any rope. Anyways, once at the top – brace yourself! It’s crazy windy up there!

Dead Man’s Catwalk:

I mean even just the name implies that this is another illegal hike! So again, do it at your own risk. You’ll know you’re at the right place because there’s a gate with a red sign that says, “No trespassing.” After you hop the gate, keep walking past 2 more gates. After the second gate, make a right-hand turn. Then keep going until you see the beach! There, you’ll understand how this hike got its name! There’s a little platform that looks like it drops off suddenly, but there’s actually a little patch of land under it. It’s hard to explain so you’ll just have to see it in person!

Beaches:

A no brainer, because if you’ve ever seen pictures of the famous beaches of Oahu, then you know you’ll spend most of your days dipping in the clear blue waters.

Sun, Sea, and Sand

Best Beaches in Oahu

Waikiki Beach:

Good luck finding a spot to lay here. Seriously – it’s THAT crowded. Waikiki Beach is beautiful and super convenient to get to. I recommend checking it out because it’s so beautiful, but just know you might be laying on top of other people since it’s so crowded. What I did was walk further toward The Royal Hawaiian hotel (it’s a pink hotel) and I found that to be less crowded.

Lanikai Beach:

After you do the Lanikai Pillbox hike (which you should, since it’s right there) then walk on down to the beach. I loved it here because it was way less crowded than Waikiki! The only thing is there are no facilities or restaurants here.

Flavors of the Island

My Recommended Food in Oahu

Oahu has a vibrant restaurant and food scene. There was never any bad meal here! Here is what I recommend for what to eat in Oahu:

Deck:

Came here alone for my solo birthday dinner and it was spectacular. It’s a rooftop restaurant with a great view of Diamond Head. Get the ribs!

Island Vintage Coffee:

BEST ACAI BOWL OF MY LIFE. TOP IT WITH HAUPIA. Sorry for yelling, but seriously, I’m not exaggerating. If you’ve read my other travel guides, you know how much I love acai. Come here and get the Haupia Moana acai bowl. I came here multiple times and every single time, there was a long line, but in my opinion, it was so worth it!

Rainbow Drive-In:

This is not my usual cup of tea. From the outside you might think what the heck is this but trust me, it’s really really good! It’s a great choice for a cheap, DELICIOUS meal. For about $8 I got steak, macaroni salad, and fries. I still think about the macaroni salad to this day. Oh and it’s called a drive-in, but you don’t need a car to pull up, you can order at the window.

Marukame Udon:

I honestly thought this was local to Oahu, but turns out it’s a chain of Japanese udon noodles! Anyways, I kept passing by and the line would be MILES long. I’m one of those people that thinks, if there are such long lines, then it must be good right? I went during early lunchtime and can honestly say, it did not disappoint. Would I wait for hours for this food? No. But it was very good, and I would go back for sure. I got my noodles with chicken teriyaki!

Leonard’s Malasadas Bakery Truck:

A well-known bakery, people come here for their famous malasadas (Portuguese donut without a hole). Their Waikiki location was always over an hour wait but I have a secret for you – after you’re done hiking Koko Crater, check out Leonard’s food truck, about 10 minutes from the trail! The line there took me 10 minutes. I love love love sweets, but felt the malasadas were too much sugar for me. However, it’s a must-try.

Banan:

Cute little smoothie spot located in one of the entrances to Waikiki beach. I always got the Nutty Buddy: peanut butter, dates, granola, and almond milk.

Holey Grail Donuts:

A cute little food truck that I first had when I was in Kauai. There’s a location here in Waikiki too!

Duke’s:

They have locations on all the Hawaiian islands. Their claim to fame is the Original Hula pie – a delectable cookie-crust pie with macadamia nut ice cream, hot fudge, macadamia nuts, and whipped cream. Yes, it’s as good as it sounds!

Ted’s Bakery:

Another spot with insanely long lines, but if anything that just makes me more interested to try it out! They are famous for their pies. I am not a pie person but WOW! It was phenomenal. Like truly delicious. I got the chocolate haupia cream pie and I still dream of it to this day.