Our Guide to Visiting Hawaii | Oahu

Oahu

Each Hawaiian island is different and unique in its own way, and Arturo and I always enjoy learning about what each one has to offer. I’m constantly amazed by the steep, rippled cliffs of the mountains of Oahu, and can’t help but stare out the window in awe when we drive around the island. We spent a few days on Oahu during our most recent visit to Hawaii, and experienced so much while we were there! That being said, we’ve spent considerably less time on Oahu than the Big Island of Hawaii, so you’ll find this guide to be smaller than our previous one. However, each time we go we find new places to explore, things to do, and food to enjoy. Now that we’ve visited Oahu three times, I’m excited to be sharing some of our favorite locations and activities with you!

Where to Stay on Oahu

Honolulu
Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii, and a busy city at that! In some ways, it reminds me of a much smaller New York City combined with a bit of Miami. As with any city, there are countless hotels and resorts to choose from, along with a wide variety of restaurants and shopping. It’s easy enough to get in and out of the city if you want to visit other areas of Oahu as well. If you’re visiting Hawaii (or even just Oahu) for the first time, PLEASE get out of the city and explore other parts of the island. There is so much to see and do outside of Honolulu!

Waikiki
The neighborhood of Waikiki is within the city of Honolulu. It’s a vibrant, bustling area, and sits on the shoreline of Waikiki Beach. There are plenty of resorts and hotels to choose from, with endless luxury and designer shopping boutiques to browse through. We’ve stayed in Waikiki during each of our brief trips to Oahu, and though we loved our view of Diamond Head during our last visit, Arturo and I realized it wasn’t somewhere you could truly relax. It’s incredibly touristy, and pretty loud compared to the other areas of the island (however, we did expect this since we were in a city!).

Disney Aulani - Kapolei
I know we have a few Disney fans who read our blog, and this one is for you! Arturo and I haven’t stayed at Disney Aulani, but constantly see advertisements for it. We have had some of our past couples stay at this resort and they absolutely loved it!

Places to Visit on Oahu

Pali Lookout
This is probably my favorite scenic lookout point we’ve visited on Oahu. It’s located on a cliff of the Koʻolau mountain at the head of Nuʻuanu Valley. It has a panoramic view of the windward coast of Oahu, and is truly jaw-dropping. If you scroll to the top photo of this post, you’ll get an idea of some of the views you’ll be able to enjoy at Pali Lookout!

Windward Side of Oahu
The windward (eastern) side of Oahu was one of my favorites. It’s away from the city, and therefore isn’t as busy. Additionally, the views of the mountain ranges are just incredible. There are various towns you can check out, or simply enjoy the drive on that side of the island!

Mokoli'i
You’ve probably seen photos of Mokoli'i (also known as Chinaman’s Hat), a little islet well known for its hat-like outline located in Kaneohe. Though it can be seen from quite a distance at the Pali Lookout, you can get a clear, up-close view of it when you visit Kualoa Regional Park. If you’ll be heading to Kualoa Ranch, be sure to stop at this park for a photo opp with Mokoli’i!

North Shore
I officially decided that my favorite time of year to visit the Hawaiian islands in during the winter. The waves are bigger during this time of year, which means you’ll catch some pretty amazing surfers on the North Shore of Oahu! We haven’t had the chance to explore as much of the North Shore as I would like, but I certainly look forward to having the chance to do so during future visits to the island.

Halewia
Arturo and I drove up to this adorable little beach town located on the North Shore during our last trip to Oahu. As you drive through town, you’ll pass plenty of local restaurants, coffee shops, art galleries, boutiques, and more. We stopped for a few minutes at Haleiwa Beach Park to enjoy the views of the mountains, and even caught a glimpse of some surfers enjoying the water in Waialua Bay (though I’m certain had we driven a little further up the road to Halewia Alii Beach we would have gotten an even better view). You’ll definitely want to stop and walk around the town of Haleiwa to check out the different eateries and shops!

Things to Do on Oahu

Ala Moana Center - Honolulu
If you feel like shopping, check out the Ala Moana Center in Honolulu. Just outside Waikiki, this multi-level outdoor shopping mall offers a wide variety of shops, boutiques, and eateries to browse through.

Hike Diamond Head - Honolulu
This is on our bucket list, but one we have yet to make time for. The Diamond Head Summit Trail is 1.6 miles roundtrip. Once you’re at the top, the views are supposed to be breathtaking! I’ve heard it’s best to take your time since parts of the hike include rough terrain and steep steps, so be sure to set aside a few hours out of your day for this adventure.

Kualoa Ranch - Kaneohe
You’ve probably seen the grounds of Kualoa Ranch in various movies and TV shows (Jurassic Park, 50 First Dates, Pearl Harbor, and Jumanji to name a few!). It’s a popular spot for filming, and they also offer various tours, including ATVs, ziplining, Hollywood movie tours, and more. Arturo and I stopped here briefly on our honeymoon back in 2014 while we were driving around the island, but have yet to do any of the activities or tours.

Pearl Harbor - Aiea
If you’re a history buff, this one is for you! I’m ashamed to say that in our six trips to Hawaii together, Arturo and I have yet to make it to Pearl Harbor. However, I wanted to add it to this list since it’s something everyone seems to do when they visit Oahu!

Whale Watching
You can usually spot humpback whales from Oahu anywhere between mid-December through April. If you’ve browsed Our Guide to Visiting Hawaii | The Big Island, you’ll know that Arturo and I went on a whale watch excursion back in 2014; it was such a treat to see these wild animals up close! Definitely add this to your list if you’ll be visiting Hawaii during the winter months.

Drive Likelike Highway from Honolulu to Kaneohe
This is quite possibly my favorite drive to do on Oahu! Arturo and I first drove Likelike Highway (pronounced LEE-kay-LEE-kay) on our honeymoon back in 2014. When traveling from the western side of the island to the eastern side on this road, you’ll go through a tunnel that takes you through the mountains. After popping out on the other side of the tunnel, you’ll be greeted with these grand, incredible views of the mountain range! It’s truly breathtaking, and a view I never get sick of.

Drive Around the Island
In case you couldn’t tell, Arturo and I really enjoy driving around and exploring each island we visit. Whenever we visit Hawaii, we rarely have an itinerary or things we want to do. We’ve always had the best time by seeing where the day takes us. I suggest you do it too… who knows what you’ll discover!

Restaurants & Eateries on Oahu

Koa Pancake House - various locations around southern Oahu
During our last visit to Oahu, Arturo and I had an early morning flight that landed in Honolulu around 7am. As we were leaving the airport in our rental car, I did a quick Google search for breakfast nearby. Koa Pancake House came up as a casual, counter-serve breakfast spot located only a few minutes away. As soon as we walked in, we could tell that it was a local favorite, so we knew it had to be good! We were each pleasantly surprised by how delicious both of our meals were.

Rainbow Drive-In - various locations around southern Oahu
This is another spot that is enjoyed by both locals and tourists. Rainbow Drive-In has been serving up food since 1961, and now has a variety of locations on southern Oahu. They’re known for their plate lunches, which include two scoops of rice and one scoop of macaroni salad with your choice of protein (beef, pork, chicken, and much more).

Leonard’s Bakery - Honolulu
If you’ve read our previous Hawaii travel guide, you know how much Arturo and I enjoy malasadas (Portuguese donuts) when we visit the islands! We had visited Leonard’s once before, and I don’t remember their malasadas being nearly as delicious as they were on our most recent trip. Leonard’s has been serving up delicious goodies to locals and tourists alike since 1952, and has gained even more popularity in recent years!

Matsumoto Shave Ice - Haleiwa
As I was Googling what to do on the North Shore, Matsumoto Shave Ice kept popping up in different articles I was reading. If you’re not familiar, Hawaiian shave ice is an ice-based dessert made by shaving a block of ice and flavoring it with syrup and other sweet ingredients. It’s a fun treat to enjoy every once in a while, and being that Arturo and I had only tried it one time several years ago, we figured we’d check out Matsumoto. They have small and large sizes, but the small could definitely be more than enough for two people! We sat in the courtyard just outside the Matsumoto Country Store as we enjoyed our shaved ice before walking around that area of Haleiwa.

the ROW Kaka'ako - Honolulu
If you’re a cigar smoker (like Arturo!), you’ll notice that there really aren’t many places where you can smoke in Hawaii. However, if you happen to be in Honolulu and want to enjoy a drink and a cigar, check out the ROW. Though we didn’t eat there, their menu looked pretty good, too!

Mai Tai’s - Honolulu
Whenever we visit Oahu, we’ve made it a tradition to stop at Mai Tai’s Bar & Grill for one last drink and meal before we head to the airport and fly home. It’s conveniently located in the Ala Moana Center, so if you feel like shopping, this is the place to do it! Mai Tai’s has a small food menu, but it’s delicious nonetheless. I’m more of a mojito girl myself, and if you are too, check out the Lilikoi Mojito from their drink menu!

We hope you’ve found this blog post helpful! Comment below with places you’ve visited or your favorite things to do in Hawaii!