What are the not to be missed Oahu attractions?

[Tigger031266]

Other than Aulani, Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head, what are the must see Oahu attractions?

Is waikiki beach? What else?

And I guess it depends on what people like and when there going. We like swimming (Never tried snokeling), eating, Hiking, great views....

We are going in Jan with a DS9, DS13 and DN25.

 

[Muhlenberg]

Polynesian Cultural Center. It's not what you think by the sound of it (not a stuffy museum).

Hanauma Bay. Great place to snorkel! Or just stand in the water and let the fish swim up to you.

Take a drive on the Nuuanu Pali Drive.

See the Punchbowl.

You can google all those and get a lot of info.

Waikiki may be very crowded. You could go there just to experience it. There are other less crowded beaches. I think we may have gone to Kailua Beach Park.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

TAKE THE "LOST" TOUR!!! They do run one from the Aulani resort, but right now, only one day a week. I think this would be such an awesome tour!!!

 

[DiznyDi]

We enjoyed the tour of the Dole Plantation. Nothing beats having a Dole whip from the 'motherland'. We also enjoyed seeing the sea turtles at the North Shore.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Arizona Memorial
The palace
Bishop Museum
North shore for surfer watching depending on the time of year you are there.
Hiking Diamond Head

 

[Muhlenberg]

Do you have two weeks???

Also, Waimea Falls Park on the North Shore.

 

[WildernessMickey]

I always go to the swap meet at Aloha Stadium. You can get all your souvenirs there for really great prices. T-shirts, wooden bowls, hawaiian quilted pillows, soap, jewelry, beach towels, etc. plus lots of food items such as coffee and macadamia nuts.

If you are adventurous, try kayaking at Lanikai beach in Kailua. It is on the Eastern shore and is really beautiful. You paddle out to an island that is a bird sanctuary, and there are sea turtles that swim with your boat. You can also paddle out further to the the twin islands of Mokulua. Awesome scenery too!

 

[Anal Annie]

We usually only spend 2 or 3 days on Oahu because it's our least fav. island...

I think the Polynesian Cultural Center is over priced & over rated but many like it. Allow a full day if you go there.

I kinda think the Punchbowl is another one of those take it or leave things.

We always go to the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor and now the USS Missouri is there so those 2 things take the better part of a day if you do both. It is the ONE THING on Oahu I feel that I MUST do everytime we go. It is very moving and it's a beautiful site.

Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. Shallow water but lots of fish - WILL get crowded so go VERY early.

We always walk thru the International Marketplace in Waikiki & see if there's anything worth haggling for.

There are also dinner shows & luaus if you'd like a dinner / show

Be sure to see Diamond Head up close

Of course there's Waikiki Beach...

If you're going in January I think you should be able to maybe do some whale watching. I have not been in January so I'm not sure when that "season" starts. I just know it ends in late spring.

 

[dianeschlicht]

If you're going in January I think you should be able to maybe do some whale watching. I have not been in January so I'm not sure when that "season" starts. I just know it ends in late spring.

That's right....January is the start of whale watching season. Not really a lot of them around Oahu though. Best whale watching is on Maui and Kauai.

I too think Punch bowl is over rated, and I wouldn't do that. We have enjoyed the aquarium too.

I also agree with Annie about Oahu being our least favorite and where we spend the least amount of time. I think the longest we've ever spent on Oahu in one trip was 4 days, and that was too long. We prefer to spend the lion's share of our Hawaii vacation time on either Hawaii or Kauai with an occasional Maui trip thrown in.

 

[kikiq]

Granted, Waikiki is not your "traditional" idea of Hawaii. There is plenty to do on Oahu that is more laid back.

Take a car ride around the island. You may or may not choose to visit the cultural center. If you don't have the time but still want to experience Hawaiian roots and history, go to the Bishop Museum. Stop at the Pali outlook not just because of the scenery but also because of the history behind the lookout. Stop at the Dole Pineapple Plantation. Take the highway to the North Shore and stop at Matsumoto's for shave ice. Hale'iwa and the North Shore for surfing, you might tour on a day when the surfers are out and stop at some of the surf stores, if that's your thing. Go to Kailua on the windward side, there are some great beaches. Rent a car or as my friend found out this trip...take a taxi to the Kapolei transit center and hop on the Country Express bus to Ala Moana Shopping Center. We've taken The Bus around the island many times.

 

[TEK224]

I guess I'm in the minority. I like Oahu and like hanging out at Waikiki Beach. I like the "touristy" feel and being able to be at the beach one minute and on the main street with shops an restaurants in another minute.

With that said, I've also been to Maui and Hawaii and like both of those islands also. They're each different and offer a variety of activities. Or just chill at the resort. That's the best part - I can pick what I like!

My question is regarding the North Shore of Oahu. I know the big waves are usually there in December. How long do they get big waves? I'll be there in mid-Feb and wondering if I'll get a chance to see some Banzai Pipeline type waves or if they'll be done by then.

 

[LB3]

DVC member and resident of Oahu! Yes, I live on Oahu...an island hated by so many but with so much to offer. Born and raised here. Each island is different, each trip is different.... my suggestion is just enjoy being in Hawaii!!!!!! Kayaking off Kailua and Lanikai is a must. Find Bellows Beach on Google...if you happen to be military...can access a part of the Beach just for the military. Probably the most beautiful beach on Oahu. Be warned...DO NOT LEAVE ANT VALUABLES IN YOUR CAR!! Hike to the Makapuu lighthouse, you might even see some whales in January. Hit the swap meet at the Stadium. Of course, visit Pearl Harbor and the USS Missouri. (to the person(s) who liked the history of PH but thought Punchbowl could be skipped...huh, I think the history there is special too), plus there is a nice view of the city. Mingle with the masses in Waikiki at night and enjoy the street performers. Have tea at the Moana Hotel in Waikiki, one of the oldest hotels on the island. Enjoy Hawaiian music and hula at the Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki, performances nightly, have a bite to eat and relax to the music and the sunset. Hop on and off a trolley that starts in Waikiki and goes all over the island. Swim with dolphins and the Kahala Resort or Sea Life Park. Great Chinese food at Hee Hing in Kapahulu. If you are an Elks Club member, visit the local club located on Waikiki Beach. Take a sunset catamaran cruise. Learn to surf, paddleboard or take a ride in a canoe. Granted Oahu is crowded, 10th largest city in the US...and on a small island. But please, do not put my island down...it is beautiful, the people are wonderful. I hope you enjoy your stay! Aloha!

 

[Tigger031266]

We are absolutely thrilled to be going to Oahu.

So I really like the Kayaking option. We have a 9 year old. Can he go with someone? By himself? Where is the best place to get Kayaks?

Thx

 

[Anal Annie]

DVC member and resident of Oahu! Yes, I live on Oahu...an island hated by so many but with so much to offer. Born and raised here. Each island is different, each trip is different.... my suggestion is just enjoy being in Hawaii!!!!!! Kayaking off Kailua and Lanikai is a must. Find Bellows Beach on Google...if you happen to be military...can access a part of the Beach just for the military. Probably the most beautiful beach on Oahu. Be warned...DO NOT LEAVE ANT VALUABLES IN YOUR CAR!! Hike to the Makapuu lighthouse, you might even see some whales in January. Hit the swap meet at the Stadium. Of course, visit Pearl Harbor and the USS Missouri. (to the person(s) who liked the history of PH but thought Punchbowl could be skipped...huh, I think the history there is special too), plus there is a nice view of the city. Mingle with the masses in Waikiki at night and enjoy the street performers. Have tea at the Moana Hotel in Waikiki, one of the oldest hotels on the island. Enjoy Hawaiian music and hula at the Halekulani Hotel in Waikiki, performances nightly, have a bite to eat and relax to the music and the sunset. Hop on and off a trolley that starts in Waikiki and goes all over the island. Swim with dolphins and the Kahala Resort or Sea Life Park. Great Chinese food at Hee Hing in Kapahulu. If you are an Elks Club member, visit the local club located on Waikiki Beach. Take a sunset catamaran cruise. Learn to surf, paddleboard or take a ride in a canoe. Granted Oahu is crowded, 10th largest city in the US...and on a small island. But please, do not put my island down...it is beautiful, the people are wonderful. I hope you enjoy your stay! Aloha!

LB3 I don't "hate" your island. If I "hated" it we would simply skip it. We just enjoy the others more. We only make it over there about once every 5-6 years and can usually only spend aboug 10 nights total - so with island hopping to 2 or 3 others that only gives us 2 - 3 nights for Oahu. We like to have at least 4 nights to finish up on Maui. IMHO anybody who travels all that way (esp. if coming from the east coast) and only visits 1 island for the duration is the one who's missing out. As you said yourself, each island is different and nobody can understand that until they've visited them. Hilo is very different from Kona even tho they're on the same island. The snorkeling right off the shore at Keahou is some of the best we've ever found ANYWHERE in the world although the shallow conditions with all the lava rock make it hard to maneuver. But it was incredible. Flying in a helicopter over Kileaua and then up the coast and around to the north side to see the waterfalls was another highlight that's not to be missed if one visits the Big Island.

We're hoping to also be able to visit Aulani next August but I am not sure we can afford the flights, even from CA if they stay as high as they've been lately. We just came back from Europe & a DCL Med cruise and are kinda tapped out right now. That crappy USD / Euro exchange rate did us in. But I'm hoping I can figure out a way to get flights to CA covered with miles or something and then maybe we can do the rest oop. ANYWAY, IF we can find a way to get over there we will. And this time, for the first time, because of Aulani, we will likely only visit 2 islands and we'll split it up 4 n & 4 n between Aulani and someplace on Maui. Even the inter-island flights add up to a lot these days so 2 islands is all I'm budgeting for. We also hope to visit DL on the way coming or going so by the time we add 2 or 3 nights there it will cut into our time that we have for the islands. But when we DO go to Aulani I would imagine we'll stick pretty close to the resort so we can enjoy it and probably only go into Waikiki one day. I think staying at Aulani will be a LOT different than staying in Waikiki since it's a real resort, not just a hotel on the beach. That's gonna make it a lot different.

 

[disnewbie108]

Other than Aulani, Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head, what are the must see Oahu attractions?

Is waikiki beach? What else?

And I guess it depends on what people like and when there going. We like swimming (Never tried snokeling), eating, Hiking, great views....

We are going in Jan with a DS9, DS13 and DN25.

All the answers PPs have given are great. Our personal favs are Polynesian Cultural Center, Dole Plantation, Pearl Harbour, Hanauma Bay & the swap meet in the Aloha bowl for souvies. If you are military, check out the Halekoa hotel. Great place for some decent meals, private access beach (military only) with a pool right next to the beach. We hope to go back some day and take our time and island hop and visit some off the beaten track locations. Everything is pretty good in Oahu and the locals are the nicest people around! Watchout for crazy evening traffic in the downtown locations.

Have fun! I'm jealous!