O’ahu is Hawaii’s 3rd largest island and is one of the most visited islands of Hawaii. With tropical weather, beautiful beaches, colorful nightlife, and traditional luau parties, O’ahu offers visitors many attractions that you can’t find on any other Hawaiian Island.
O’ahu has a perfect mix of island living and excitement of a modern city. Across the southeastern shores of O’ahu is Hawaii’s capital and biggest city, Honolulu. Honolulu is the heart of O’ahu. This cosmopolitan city is modern and vibrant and attracts millions of visitors every year. The city offers you everything from the historic site Pearl Harbor National Memorial to the world-famous Waikiki Beach to upscale dining and shopping. You will enjoy every minute you spend there.
You can experience all the quintessential attractions on O’ahu in four days without pushing too hard. Below is an itinerary that you can use directly.
Day 1 – Hike up the Diamond Head, Snorkel at Hanauma Bay, and Stroll Along the Kapiolani Beach Park
Day 2 – Explore the Kualoa Ranch, Relax on Kailua Beach, and Enjoy the Nightlife in the Waikiki Neighborhood
Day 3 – Tour Pupukea Beach Park and Spend a Wonderful Day at the Polynesian Cultural Center
Day 4 – Revisit History at Pearl Harbor and Enjoy Shopping and Dining at the International Market Place
Day 1 – Hike up the Diamond Head, Snorkel at Hanauma Bay, and Stroll Along the Kapiolani Beach Park
1. Diamond Head State Monument
Diamond Head is volcanic tuff cone located on the eastern side of Waikiki’s coastline. About 300,000 years ago, a single, explosive volcanic eruption sent a huge amount of ash and particles into the air. As those particles and ash settled, they cemented together into a kind of rock, tuff, forming the crater’s rim. You can witness the crater while you hike on the trail to the summit of Diamond Head. The historic trail to the summit was built in 1908 as part of O’ahu’s coastal defense system. It is a 0.8-mile hike from trailhead to the summit, approximately 30 minutes to get to the top.
Diamond Head State Monument is open all year long, from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., including holidays. The latest time you can enter to hike the trails is 4:30 p.m. Cash is required to buy tickets; $5 per car or $1 per pedestrian.
2. Hanauma Bay State Park
Hanauma Bay is located on the southeastern end of O’ahu. The bay itself is almost entirely enclosed by a circular ring of volcanic tuff. Hanauma Bay is one of the most popular tourist sites largely because of its pristine marine ecosystem. The water in the Bay is crystal clear and glistening with iridescent colors from green to blue, calm, and shallow with numerous fish and beautiful corals that you can easily see. Hanauma Bay is one of the best spots on O’ahu for snorkeling and swimming, and the crescent white sand beach is prefect for sunbathing. There are plenty of picnic areas at the Bay, and you can either take your own food or buy food or drinks on site. Hanauma Bay is a great place to enjoy a relaxing time and get close to marine life.
3. Kapiolani Beach Park
Kapiolani Beach Park, the first public park in Hawaii, opened in 1877. The park is located on the eastern end of Waikiki, spanning 300 acres. Kapiolani Park has a generous amount of green space, tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds, and a wide soft white sand beach, suitable for beach volleyball or sunbathing. It is a perfect place where you can avoid the crowds in the Waikiki area, relax and enjoy all kinds of outdoor activities.
Day 2 – Explore the Kualoa Ranch, Relax on Kailua Beach, and Enjoy the Nightlife in the Waikiki Neighborhood
4. Kualoa Ranch
Kualoa Ranch is a 4,000-acre private nature reserve and working cattle ranch, as well as a popular tourist attraction. Kualoa Ranch is located on the eastern side of O’ahu, approximately a half hour drive from Honolulu.
Kualoa Ranch includes a unique variety of landforms, including three beautiful valleys, rich pastures, aquaculture operations, steep mountain cliffs, and lush rainforests. This sustainable nature preserve is a paradise for outdoor lovers and attracts numerous tourists each year. Many movies and TV shows have been filmed at Kualoa over the years, including Jurassic Park, Kong: Skull Island, and the TV show Hawaii Five-0.
Kualoa Ranch offers many types of transportation to explore this special place. Whether you are looking to explore the movie scenes, riding in an ATV or Raptor UTV, or experience a horseback ride, or even take a zip-line, you can find something there. Check out the details here.
5. Kailua Beach Park
Situated on the eastern shore of O’ahu, Kailua Beach ranks number two among the most beautiful beaches of O’ahu. The turquoise water is glistening and calm, and you can enjoy all kinds of activities, such as swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, windsurfing, boogie boarding, and sailing. Kailua beach is two and half-miles long, with plenty of space for peaceful relaxation.
6. Waikiki Beach and Neighborhood
As the iconic beach of O’ahu, Waikiki Beach is famous for its crescent of white sand with overhanging palm trees and high-rise hotels as its backdrop, as well as the colorful nightlife in the Waikiki area. Located on the southern shore of O’ahu, Waikiki Beach is one of six beaches in the area, including Queens Beach, Kuhio Beach, Gray’s Beach, Fort DeRussy Beach and Kahanamoku Beach. You can see the crater of Diamond Head from Waikiki Beach. The water here has gentle waves making it one of the best spots for beginner surfers or swimmers. After dark, you can sip a cocktail from one of the many bars next to the beach to start a perfect evening in Honolulu.
The Waikiki neighborhood is filled with resorts, restaurants, bars and shops and is walking distance from the best Honolulu nightlife.
This area of Honolulu is where most people traveling to O’ahu stay. The hotel rooms can be pricy, and the area gets crowded during the peak season, but it is a convenient location that is close to everything. You can save a lot of money by booking your hotel as early as possible.
Day 3 – Tour Pupukea Beach Park and then Spend a Wonderful Day at Polynesian Cultural Center
7. Pupukea Beach Park
Pupukea Beach Park is an 80-acre beach park on the north shore of O’ahu. Pupukea contains many reefs that form plenty of tide pools. The water there is crystal clear, and you can see all the way to the bottom. Be sure to wear water resistant sandals all the time in the shallow areas, because the corals and rocks on the bottom are sharp. Pupukea is a marine life conservation area, so expect to see many types of fish, living coral, and shellfish in this area.
Pupukea Beach Park has two named sections, one at each end: Shark’s Cove and Three Tables. During the summertime, Pupukea is a popular site for snorkeling and diving for its rich marine life. In the winter months, the reef will disappear into the water, and the wild surf can be dangerous.
8. Polynesian Cultural Center
The Polynesian Cultural Center is a theme park and a living museum of Hawaiian history and lifestyle, located on the north shore of O’ahu Island. The Polynesian Cultural Center was voted the number one must-see attraction in Hawaii by USA Today in 2017. Here, you can experience the rich heritage of Hawaiian history and culture, explore 42-acres of tropical land, watch a traditional Polynesian dance, and enjoy the authentic Hawaiian Luau feast.
The Center is open from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. In the afternoon, you can either join a guided tour or explore on your own through six different Island Villages, watching their presentation shows and experiencing the thousands of years of Hawaiian civilization.
After touring those Island Villages, enjoy an Ali’i Luau feast. A Luau is a traditional Hawaiian feast usually accompanied by entertainment, such as Hawaiian music and dance. The food served at a luau includes meat and fish, seasonal fruits and salad, desserts and beverages. There are also vegetarian options for visitors.
After dinner, there is a more impressive show offered at the Polynesian Cultural Center, called Ha: Breath of Live. Performed by over 100 talented Polynesian natives, the show depicts how the native islanders lived. It is one of the best ways to learn about Polynesian culture.
The Polynesian Cultural Center offers different ticket options. You can check out the details here and choose the best option for you.
Day 4 – Revisit History at Pearl Harbor and Enjoy Shopping and Dining at the International Market Place
9. Pearl Harbor National Memorial
On the fateful day of December 7, 1941, a surprise Japanese aerial attack sunk 20 American Naval vessels, including 8 battleships, and prompted the United States to enter into World War II. Today, Pearl Harbor is a National Memorial where people from all over the world can learn about this pivotal moment in U.S. History. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial features five historic sites: the USS Arizona Memorial, the Battleship Missouri, the Submarine Museum, the Pacific Aviation Museum and the USS Oklahoma Memorial.
Start at the Visitor Center. Here you can watch a documentary film about the Pearl Harbor attack and also purchase tickets for visiting other sites. Note that there is a daily limit of 4,500 tickets for USS Arizona Memorial, and the tickets can be sold out by mid-morning, so come early and get your tickets as early as possible.
The USS Arizona Memorial is built on the water, above the hull of the sunken battleship. The memorial marks the resting place of the Arizona’s sailors and Marines killed during the attack on Pearl Harbor. Today, you can visit the memorial by boat learn about what happened on December 7, 1941 that brought the U.S. into World War II.
The Battleship Missouri is docked behind the USS Arizona, as a symbol of the end of the United States’ participation in WWII. The Battleship Missouri provides two different tours. One is General Admission that is a 35-minute tour and will lead you to the Surrender Deck, and you can see and hear the story of this ship. You can also take a map and adventure on your own with your General Admission. The second tour, called Heart of the Missouri, is a 90-minute tour that will take you to see the Engine rooms, Gun Turret, Damage Control Station, and other major parts of the ship. Note that the Heart of Missouri is not open to children under 10 years old.
10. International Market Place
International Market Place is a world-class open-air shopping and dining center, located in the Waikiki area, Honolulu.
In the early 19th century, the International Market Place was the residence of the first elected King, William Charles Lunalilo. In 1956, Donn Beach, a World War II veteran and the founding father of tiki culture, established the International Market Place. Today, the shopping center still keeps Beach’s tree house that he used to survey the activities in the Market Place.
The International Market Place has 90 stores and 10 restaurants. Come enjoy shopping and dining here after a whole day of exploring. It will make a fun O’ahu evening.
A trip to O’ahu is a lifetime experience, even for the avid traveler. O’ahu offers a perfect combination of natural island scenery and lively city life. I hope the pandemic ends soon and you will be able to visit O’ahu one day. I’ll see you in my next post!
