Favorite Activities in Oahu/Aulani

[Luv2trav]

We went to Aulani 4 years ago and received great recommendations from this board on tour guides, where to visit and what to do. We did amazing activities and I was just wondering what was everyone's most favorite tour on or off property activity they attended. Please give me all your suggestions. We may have done them last time but we want to know if anything new has come along. Thank you.

 

[WAstateDVCDaddy]

Might help is you tell us what you’ve already done, so people can think of what’s “new”.

Often overlooked:
Hike to a waterfall
Koko Head Crater hike
Byodo-In Temple (replica)
Bishop Museum

 

[Unclelude]

We paid $12ish for a self guided GPS waypoint app of Oahu that had narrator. Gypsy Guide or something like that.

It was really cool. We saw at least a dozen sites we never would have thought to see. As 'Bob' gives you the tour, you have options to turn off and see stuff. Plus you don't get in arguments with spouse about directions! Bob just tells you where to go!

 

[PoppyJ]

Here's my list from 2019 and 2021 Hawaii trips:

Circle Island tour
Helena's Hawaiian Food - traditional Hawaiian food
Maui Mike's - fast food chicken (when you go to Dole Plantation)
Dole Plantation - get Dole whip
Rainbow Drive Inn - Hawaiian fast food (Waikiki)
Leonard's Bakery - malasadas (Portuguese donuts), go to trucks around island if line is too long
Kualoa Ranch - Jurassic Park filmed here, horseback riding and other activities
Lanikai Beach - good for snorkeling
Kailua Beach - Kayak (water can be choppy, more difficult than lake kayaking)
Waimanalo Bay Beach / Sherwood Forest - good for boogie boarding
Waimea Valley - swim in waterfall, go early
Aloha Stadium Swap Meet - cheap souvenirs
Haleiwa town - Kua Aina Sandwich Shop, Matsumoto Shave Ice, Haleiwa Beach House (dinner Friday to Sunday), sunset
Laniakea Beach - sea turtles

 

[Paul Stupin]

We loved the walk to the waterfall at Waimea Valley.

 

[kmedina]

Toa Luau (gets you into Waimea Valley Cultural Site Botanical Gardens and Waimea Falls)

 

[Luv2trav]

We did a lot and I don't remember the name of everything. We ziplined at Climbworks (Kids LOVED it), hiked to a waterfall, Cliff jumped. Snorkled and swam with turtles. We visited North Shore. We visited Kualuo Ranch.

What we didn't do is Diamond Head (hike worth it?), Waikiki beach and Waimea Valley...

 

[Luv2trav]

We want to do a catamaran boat ride this time but looking to do private tour with about 16 of us.. Any recommendations? Thank you.

 

[HarlanE]

How necessary is it to have a car while staying at the resort?

 

[Paul Stupin]

How necessary is it to have a car while staying at the resort?

Depends on how much of the island you want to see, and how much time you want to spend at Aulani.

 

[HarlanE]

fair qualifications. I'm generally wondering whether the most visited sites of Oahu are accessible via bus from the resort? The other side of it is whether the resort is interesting enough to keep a family with young grandchildren engaged without needing to venture out much? thanks

 

[Paul Stupin]

fair qualifications. I'm generally wondering whether the most visited sites of Oahu are accessible via bus from the resort? The other side of it is whether the resort is interesting enough to keep a family with young grandchildren engaged without needing to venture out much? thanks

Although they might have had them in the past, I don’t believe any Oahu sites are accessible by tour bus from the resort. If you’re staying a week and want to see the island, and are new to Aulani and want to experience the resort as well, I’d explore for three days and hang out at Aulani for four. But in my opinion there’s enough at the resort to keep the kids engaged all week.

 

[Heroes_or_Villains]

If you have time, check out the Pacific Aviation Museum at Pearl Harbor and try to get into one of the private tours the museum offers, specifically run by tour guide Jerry. You may have to call and ask what days he is working (and confirm the times of the private tours) but I think he volunteers on Mondays & Tuesdays. I am not normally into museums, and we did the tour with him and it was SO engaging and interesting. He had such wonderful stories and really brought the museum to life. It was THE BEST $10 per person (on top of the normal ticket price) I have ever spent.

 

[Heroes_or_Villains]

Although they might have had them in the past, I don’t believe any Oahu sites are accessible by tour bus from the resort. If you’re staying a week and want to see the island, and are new to Aulani and want to experience the resort as well, I’d explore for three days and hang out at Aulani for four. But in my opinion there’s enough at the resort to keep the kids engaged all week.

I concur with Paul. I grew up on Oahu and can comfortably say that trying to access the rest of the island from the resort is going to be a pain in the "you know what" without a rental car if you're going to try to spend the majority of your time exploring outside of Ko'olina. There will be some tour companies that will initiate their tours from Ko'olina so that could work for you, but I would not recommend attempting to take the regular public transportation type bus.

 

[WillGan]

How necessary is it to have a car while staying at the resort?

All depends if you want to see the island!

 

[WillGan]

We went to Aulani 4 years ago and received great recommendations from this board on tour guides, where to visit and what to do. We did amazing activities and I was just wondering what was everyone's most favorite tour on or off property activity they attended. Please give me all your suggestions. We may have done them last time but we want to know if anything new has come along. Thank you.

I shared this with another earlier in the week:
Aloha from Honolulu! October 2023 is a long wait! That’ll be the hardest part! We became DVC members and had our first stay in a Deluxe Studio with a 4 year old and an infant. It worked but nap time took forever! Our second stay on the 4th of July we stayed in a 1 BR…..Wow! We are never going smaller ! The kitchen, the balcony, the jets in the tub, the space in the waterfall shower… The view we had both times was Pool but I could care less especially when it comes to saving on points. I’d be happy with a standard and will be telling my wife to book that view from now on because we mostly stay inside enjoying the space. So here are the scoops from a local who’s lived here all my life except while away for college in Memphis:
Food on property- blah! As a local, it’s pretty crappy! Typical fast food, fries, tenders, etc. it’ll do while at the pool but it is not “local” to Hawaii whatsoever! The shave ice in my opinion is the best thing they have! The ears are a nice way for Aulani to make an extra few bucks but our family of four are happy with the regular no ears option. For picture purposes and showing off, you’ll probably get it . If you’re looking for a night out for food, I’d recommend monkeypod across the street or Roy’s for fine dining. Aulani just doesn’t have the food selection to blow you away and that includes the olelo room. The makahiki for breakfast would be an option for the characters only. Kind of hard to mess up pancakes and eggs. Dinner, no thank you! My wife and I had our first anniversary date there and it disappointed. To be honest, the pizza from the ulu cafe is pretty dang good! If you have a car and don’t mind galavanting to nearby kapolei, you’ll find much better options! MUCH BETTER! I recommend chun wah Kam for Manapuas, pork hash, and crispy gau gee. If you order a plate from there…. Good luck finishing it by yourself! They pack it in! Depending on your kitchen in your room, you’d be better off prepping your own food. It doesn’t have the variety that Waikiki does but you’d be able to find some good food in kapolei, especially at foodland farms for poke (raw fish). Food trucks are all over the island so it all depends on what you want. The shrimp truck that is most popular is Giovanni’s up in Laie about 50 mins away from Aulani. There are other popular food trucks that have garlic shrimp but that is the most well-known especially on tv. If you are making the trek up north be sure to get your shave ice fix from matsumotos in Haleiwa. It’s one of the most popular places on island but personally not my favorite. But again that is the one that is most documented especially with Adam Sandler’s T-shirt on 50 first dates. My favorite spot for shave ice is on Maui (ululanis) but here it would be shimazu store. They have two locations- Waikiki and liliha. Of course you can fool around with all the flavors that they have, but you can never go wrong with rainbow. Other options to consider on island is baldwins and waiola. Anyplace else will be a hit or Miss! Just be sure to not buy any while at the Aloha Stadium swap meet that takes place on Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. Their shave ice is a joke. Don’t be the ones that locals laugh at when they see you eating them. Donut trucks lol you mean malasada trucks. If you want the prime location, it’s on kapahulu ave in Waikiki. If you ever do decide to spend a day or so in Waikiki, that’s the place you want to go when you head back to the hotel Because it is on your way back to the freeway. You could also possibly team that up with the shimazu store shave ice but you’ll for sure be on a sugar high .That spot is called Leonard’s the home of Leonard’s malasadas. Don’t fool around by getting cream field stuffed ones. The basic malasada is best! If Waikiki is not in the game plan, they have food trucks in nearby Waikele, pearlridge, or Hawaii Kai on your way to hanauma bay or hiking the makapuu lighthouse. If, if you want something that has become popular within the past 5 years or so, be sure to check out uncle Lanis poi mochi in the nearby ka makana alii mall in kapolei for what locals call the best donut in the state (arguably). You will not be disappointed as their lines are always long at craft fairs, carnivals, and food truck events that they are at. Beaches, you got a car? If so the best beaches on the island are west of the hotel. But be smart as there is a lot of break ins so make sure you have no visible bags or valuables. Makaha, pokai bay, are really great spots to enjoy the water and sun! Be sure to be smart in the water as the undertow and current can kick your booty! If you’re willing to take a trek, Kailua beach park is another top spot, prolly 45 mins away. Lanikai has been on numerous travel channel shows as being one of the most beautiful beaches in the world but parking can be a hassle. Waikiki is crowded and mostly rocky (not dangerous though) but it’s the picture that is seen all over the world when talking about Hawaii. A hidden gem is a spot our family loves, kaiona beach park in Waimanalo (near Kailua). Just make sure jellyfish aren’t around by watching the news. Other than that, those are the spots side recommend and again this is coming from somebody who is here no and as if they’re all my life. If you have any further questions please feel free to reach out to me as I would be more than happy to share you some safe and quality insight on what will probably be one of the most amazing trips you’ve ever taken! Aloha!

 

[WillGan]

fair qualifications. I'm generally wondering whether the most visited sites of Oahu are accessible via bus from the resort? The other side of it is whether the resort is interesting enough to keep a family with young grandchildren engaged without needing to venture out much? thanks

The pool, the beach, the pool, the lazy river, the pool, the beach, the slides, the pools, the beach, the shave ice, the pool, the beach, the activities, and of course the characters! The kids will not be bored! Just give them popcorn and water and they’ll be set!

 

[Maria_Ohana]

How necessary is it to have a car while staying at the resort?

Yes, having a car will give you access to explore outside of the resort. Even for 1/2 day trips it is worth it.

 

[WillGan]

We want to do a catamaran boat ride this time but looking to do private tour with about 16 of us.. Any recommendations? Thank you.

You could charter a boat but i haven’t heard any catamarans lately here. All depends where you want to go as well. Kaneohe sandbar would be awesome!

 

[monsterkitty]

Punch Bowl National Cemetery is a very overlooked site. It's beautiful and overlooks Honolulu.