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Oʻahu: checked facts and things to do
Honolulu, Waikīkī, the North Shore and the Windward and Leeward coasts.
Where to stay (hotels)
- Where to stay on Oʻahu: areas comparedOʻahu · Most Oʻahu hotels are in Waikīkī, about 25 to 30 minutes from the airport. Ko Olina on the West Side is resort-quiet and close to the...
- Halekūlani (Waikīkī)Oʻahu · Waikīkī's most celebrated luxury hotel, ranked in Hawaiʻi Magazine's 2026 readers' top 10 and Condé Nast readers' top 10 Hawaiʻi hotels...
- The Kahala Hotel & Resort (Kāhala)Oʻahu · A quiet, classic beachfront resort past Diamond Head, about 10 minutes from Waikīkī, with a dolphin lagoon and no resort fee. It ranks in...
- Prince Waikīkī (Ala Moana side)Oʻahu · A modern, all-ocean-view tower at the Ala Wai Harbor end of Waikīkī, ranked No. 4 among Hawaiʻi hotels by Condé Nast Traveler readers in...
- Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach ResortOʻahu · Waikīkī's giant, 22-acre resort and the No. 1 Best Hotel in Hawaiʻi Magazine's 2026 Readers' Choice Awards. Pools, a lagoon, dozens of...
- Hyatt Regency Waikīkī Beach Resort and SpaOʻahu · Twin towers across Kalākaua Avenue from Kūhiō Beach in the heart of Waikīkī, No. 5 in Hawaiʻi Magazine's 2026 readers' poll. Solid rooms...
- Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort (Waikīkī)Oʻahu · Waikīkī's first hotel, opened in 1901 and called the First Lady of Waikīkī, right on the sand with its famous banyan courtyard. Historic...
- The Laylow, Autograph Collection (Waikīkī)Oʻahu · A stylish midcentury-modern boutique hotel a block from the beach, ranked No. 2 among Hawaiʻi hotels by Condé Nast Traveler readers in...
- Four Seasons Resort Oʻahu at Ko OlinaOʻahu · A luxury beach resort on the quiet West Side lagoons, about 25 minutes from the airport, with adults-only and family pools and excellent...
- Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa (Ko Olina)Oʻahu · Named the No. 1 Best Family Hotel in the USA by U.S. News & World Report for 2026. Disney's Hawaiʻi resort on a Ko Olina lagoon has a lazy...
- The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay (North Shore)Oʻahu · The North Shore's only big resort, on 850 acres at Kahuku, rebranded as a Ritz-Carlton and ranked No. 2 Best Hotel in Hawaiʻi Magazine's...
Military lodging & campgrounds
- Hale Koa Hotel (Waikīkī Armed Forces resort)Oʻahu · The Hale Koa is the military's beachfront hotel in Waikīkī, on Fort DeRussy, with 818 rooms, four pools, a lūʻau and a tax-free Exchange...
- Bellows Air Force Station beach cabins and campground (Waimānalo)Oʻahu · Bellows, on Waimānalo Bay on Oʻahu's windward side, is the islands' main military beach getaway and campground: beachfront cabins and...
- Pililāʻau Army Recreation Center (Waiʻanae)Oʻahu · Pililāʻau Army Recreation Center (PARC) has beachfront cabins on calm Pōkaʻī Bay in Waiʻanae on Oʻahu's west side, plus a restaurant...
- Barbers Point Beach Cottages (White Plains and Nimitz beaches, Kalaeloa)Oʻahu · Navy-run beach cottages on Oʻahu's southwest shore at Kalaeloa (Barbers Point): 24 one- to three-bedroom cottages, most oceanfront, at...
- Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi lodging (Kāneʻohe Bay)Oʻahu · Marine Corps Base Hawaiʻi at Kāneʻohe Bay has recreation lodging: 13 two-bedroom beach cottages with full kitchens, the Cabanas (29...
Camping & permits
- Oʻahu county beach park camping (camping.honolulu.gov)Oʻahu · Oʻahu's city beach parks allow camping with a permit from camping.honolulu.gov: $35 for 3 nights (Friday to Monday) or $55 for 5 nights...
- Oʻahu state park camping (Mālaekahana, Kahana, Keaīwa, Sand Island)Oʻahu · Oʻahu's state campgrounds are Mālaekahana (Kalanai Point), Ahupuaʻa ʻO Kahana, Keaīwa Heiau and Sand Island. Book online up to 30 days...
Nightlife & live music
- Oʻahu dance clubs (Honolulu and Waikīkī)Oʻahu · Honolulu's top dance clubs: The District on Kapiʻolani Boulevard across from Ala Moana Center (Honolulu Magazine readers' 2026 best club...
- Live music on Oʻahu: jazz, blues, rock and HawaiianOʻahu · For jazz and blues, go to Blue Note Hawaiʻi in Waikīkī (Honolulu Magazine readers' best live music venue 2026) or The Dragon Upstairs in...
Island day trips
- Oʻahu day trip: the circle island driveOʻahu · The classic full-day loop: head east past Hālona Blowhole and Makapuʻu, up the windward coast through Waimānalo, Kailua and Kualoa, stop...
- Oʻahu half-day trip: southeast coast and the PaliOʻahu · A half-day loop from Waikīkī around Diamond Head and the rugged southeast shore to Waimānalo and Kailua, then back over the mountains via...
- Oʻahu day trip: the North ShoreOʻahu · Go up through the middle of the island to Dole Plantation and Haleʻiwa town, then follow the coast past Waimea Bay, Waimea Valley's...
- Oʻahu day trip: Pearl Harbor and historic HonoluluOʻahu · A history-filled day: the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in the morning, then downtown Honolulu for ʻIolani Palace, the King...
Tours & activities
- Lūʻau on Oʻahu: which shows, where and what they costOʻahu · Oʻahu's lūʻau range from about $119 to $230 per adult. In or near Waikīkī: Waikīkī Starlight (Hilton Hawaiian Village rooftop) and Ka Moana...
- Polynesian Cultural Center (Lāʻie)Oʻahu · A full-day attraction on Oʻahu's North Shore with island villages from across Polynesia, canoe rides, cultural demonstrations, the Aliʻi...
- Waikīkī boat trips: sunset sails, booze cruises and the Atlantis submarineOʻahu · Sunset sails leave Waikīkī and Kewalo Basin most evenings around 5 to 5:30 p.m.: BYOB cruises from about $56, catamaran sails about $70 to...
- Surf lessons in WaikīkīOʻahu · Waikīkī's gentle, rolling waves are the classic place to learn to surf. Beach schools set up right on the sand by the big hotels and offer...
Events calendar
- Aloha Festivals (September, with the Waikīkī Hoʻolauleʻa and Floral Parade)Sept. · Oʻahu · Hawaiʻi's biggest Hawaiian cultural celebration runs every September. The two big public days are the Waikīkī Hoʻolauleʻa, a street party...
- Honolulu Festival (March)March · Oʻahu · A Pacific Rim cultural festival each March with performances at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center and Waikīkī stages, a free Grand Parade on...
- Pan-Pacific Festival (June, Waikīkī)June · Oʻahu · A free three-day festival in Waikīkī each June celebrating Hawaiʻi's cultural ties with Japan and the Pacific. It opens with a Hoʻolauleʻa...
- Made in Hawaiʻi Festival (August)Aug. · Oʻahu · Hawaiʻi's biggest shopping show for locally made products: more than 800 booths of food, crafts, clothing, art and gifts, plus chef demos...
- North Shore pro surf contests (winter season)Oct. to Feb. · Oʻahu · The North Shore's winter contest season runs roughly October through March at Sunset Beach, Haleʻiwa and Pipeline. 2026-27 World Surf...
- The Eddie (Eddie Aikau Big Wave Invitational, Waimea Bay)Dec. to March · Oʻahu · The most famous big-wave contest in the world, held at Waimea Bay only when waves are big enough: consistent 20-foot-plus Hawaiian-scale...
- Molokaʻi-to-Oʻahu canoe races (Nā Wāhine O Ke Kai and Molokaʻi Hoe)Sept. and Oct. · Oʻahu, Molokaʻi · The world championships of outrigger canoe racing cross the 41-mile Kaʻiwi Channel from Molokaʻi to Waikīkī. The women's race, Nā Wāhine O...
- Honolulu Marathon (December)Dec. · Oʻahu · A huge December marathon that starts at 5 a.m. in Honolulu. The 2026 race is Sunday, Dec. 13, with a 10K the same morning and the Kalākaua...
- Pro golf in Hawaiʻi: Sony Championship Hawaii at Waiʻalae (January)Jan. · Oʻahu · Starting in 2027, the long-running Sony Open in Hawaii becomes the Sony Championship Hawaii on the PGA TOUR Champions (golfers 50 and...
Hawaiian food & lunch wagons
- Kahuku shrimp trucks (Giovanni's, Romy's, Fumi's and more)Oʻahu · Kahuku on Oʻahu's North Shore is famous for garlic shrimp plates from trucks and stands next to the local shrimp farms. The best-known are...
- Haleʻiwa and North Shore food trucksOʻahu · Haleʻiwa town and the stretch toward Sunset Beach have Oʻahu's best-known cluster of food trucks. Look for Giovanni's Haleʻiwa truck...
- Honolulu food trucks: Kakaʻako, Ala Moana and WaikeleOʻahu · In town, the main food truck spot is the Kewalo Basin Food Truck Park in Kakaʻako, near Ala Moana. Other regulars include Zucchi Pizza at...
- Leonard's Malasadamobile (malasada trucks)Oʻahu · Leonard's Bakery, famous for Portuguese malasadas, runs pink-and-white Malasadamobile trucks around Oʻahu. One is at 540 Lagoon Drive near...
- KCC Farmers Market (Saturday mornings by Diamond Head)Oʻahu · Oʻahu's best-known farmers market runs Saturdays 7:30 to 11 a.m. at Kapiʻolani Community College, 4303 Diamond Head Road. Besides fruit and...
- Helena's Hawaiian Food (Kalihi, Honolulu)Oʻahu · A family-run Hawaiian food restaurant at 1240 N. School St. in Kalihi, open since 1946 and winner of a James Beard America's Classics award...
- Highway Inn (Waipahu and Kakaʻako)Oʻahu · One of Oʻahu's best-known Hawaiian food restaurants, started in 1947 by Seiichi and Nancy Toguchi in Waipahu. Locations in Waipahu and...
- More Hawaiian food on Oʻahu: Waiāhole Poi Factory and Yama'sOʻahu · On the windward side, Waiāhole Poi Factory (48-140 Kamehameha Hwy.) serves fresh hand-pounded poi, kālua pig and the Sweet Lady of Waiāhole...
- Where to get poke on OʻahuOʻahu · Poke (raw cubed fish, usually ʻahi) is everywhere on Oʻahu, from grocery counters to fish markets. Favorites include Ono Seafood (747...
- Haleʻiwa Joe's (Haleʻiwa and Kāneʻohe)Oʻahu · Haleʻiwa Joe's is a local seafood and grill restaurant with two Oʻahu locations: on the North Shore at 66-011 Kamehameha Highway in...
Places & parks
- Hanauma Bay Nature PreserveOʻahu · Protected marine preserve and popular snorkeling bay in East Oʻahu. Advance reservations are required, it is closed Mondays and Tuesdays...
- Sandy Beach ParkOʻahu · Southeast Oʻahu beach known for a powerful shorebreak, nicknamed "Broke Neck Beach" because waves breaking in shallow water cause serious...
- Diamond Head State Monument (Lēʻahi)Oʻahu · Popular crater hike in Honolulu. Non-residents must reserve entry and parking in advance; Hawaiʻi residents with ID enter free. Open 6 a.m...
- Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona MemorialOʻahu · Admission is free, but USS Arizona Memorial program tickets should be reserved on Recreation.gov ($1 reservation fee). No bags are allowed...
- Waikīkī AquariumOʻahu · No reservation is needed: buy tickets at the door or online. The Waikīkī Aquarium, run by the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, is open daily...
- Honolulu ZooOʻahu · No reservation is needed for the Honolulu Zoo; just arrive between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. (grounds close at 4 p.m.). It's at Kapahulu and...
Botanical gardens
- How many botanical gardens are on Oʻahu?Oʻahu · Oʻahu has eight major public gardens. The City runs five Honolulu Botanical Gardens: Foster, Hoʻomaluhia, Koko Crater, Liliʻuokalani and...
- Foster Botanical Garden (downtown Honolulu)Oʻahu · Honolulu's oldest botanical garden, with giant tropical trees planted in the 1850s, an orchid conservatory, palms and a butterfly garden...
- Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden (Kāneʻohe)Oʻahu · A free, 400-acre garden below the Koʻolau cliffs in Kāneʻohe, with a 32-acre lake and some of the most photographed mountain views on...
- Koko Crater Botanical Garden (Hawaiʻi Kai)Oʻahu · A free garden inside Koko Crater with rare and endangered dryland plants, cactus and a famous plumeria grove. A 2-mile mostly flat loop...
- Liliʻuokalani and Wahiawā Botanical Gardens (smaller city gardens)Oʻahu · Two quieter city gardens: Liliʻuokalani Botanical Garden in Nuʻuanu, once Queen Liliʻuokalani's favorite picnic spot, with native plants...
- Lyon Arboretum (Mānoa)Oʻahu · The University of Hawaiʻi's rainforest garden at the very back of Mānoa Valley. Free (suggested $10 donation), open weekdays 9 a.m. to 3...
- Waimea Valley (North Shore)Oʻahu · A culturally important valley across from Waimea Bay with a botanical garden along a paved path that ends at Waimea Falls. Adults $26...
Golf courses
- Oʻahu's six city golf courses (Ala Wai, West Loch, Pali and more)Oʻahu · The City and County of Honolulu runs six public courses: Ala Wai (next to Waikīkī, famously the world's busiest), ʻEwa Villages, Kahuku (9...
- Ko Olina Golf Club (West Oʻahu)Oʻahu · Resort course at Ko Olina, 92-1220 Aliʻinui Dr., Kapolei. 2026 rates: $275 for off-resort visitors, $245 for Ko Olina resort guests, $210...
- Turtle Bay golf: Arnold Palmer and George Fazio courses (North Shore)Oʻahu · Turtle Bay Resort at Kahuku has two courses: the Arnold Palmer Course (visitor rate from about $250 before 1 p.m.) and the shorter George...
- Other Oʻahu courses: Kapolei, Hawaiʻi Kai, Olomana and moreOʻahu · More public-access courses on Oʻahu: Kapolei Golf Club (about $155 to $210 visitors, $65 to $75 kamaʻāina), Hawaiʻi Kai Golf Course (about...
UH sports
- UH Mānoa sports: teams, tickets, conferences and venuesOʻahu · The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa fields about 21 teams, the Rainbow Warriors (men) and Rainbow Wahine (women). On July 1, 2026, UH became...
- UH football: 2026 schedule and home gamesAug. to Nov. · Oʻahu · Rainbow Warrior football plays home games at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on the Mānoa campus. Remaining 2026 home games...
- Going to a UH football game: Ching Complex parking, bags and gatesOʻahu · UH football is played at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex on lower campus at Mānoa. Stadium gates open 2 hours before kickoff...
- Sheraton Hawaiʻi Bowl (Christmas Eve)Dec. · Oʻahu · Hawaiʻi's college football bowl game is Thursday, Dec. 24, 2026, at 2 p.m. at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, matching teams...
- Rainbow Wahine volleyball (UH women's volleyball)Aug. to Nov. · Oʻahu · UH women's volleyball is one of Hawaiʻi's most popular teams, with NCAA titles in 1982, 1983 and 1987. The 2026 season (late August to...
- UH men's volleyball (2026 national champions)Jan. to May · Oʻahu · UH men's volleyball won the 2026 NCAA championship, its third title in six years (2021, 2022, 2026), beating UC Irvine in the final. The...
- UH basketball 2026-27 (men and women)Nov. to March · Oʻahu · Both UH basketball teams play at Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center from November to March. The men open Nov. 2 vs. Seattle and host the...
- UH baseball at Les Murakami StadiumFeb. to May · Oʻahu · Rainbow Warrior baseball plays at Les Murakami Stadium on the Mānoa campus, usually from February to May. 2027 is its first Mountain West...
- More UH sports: softball, soccer, swimming, water polo and moreOʻahu · Beyond the big four, UH has softball at Rainbow Wahine Softball Stadium (spring), women's soccer at Waipiʻo Peninsula Soccer Stadium...
- Bankoh Arena at Stan Sheriff Center (UH's arena)Oʻahu · UH's indoor arena on the Mānoa campus hosts men's and women's basketball and volleyball. Formerly called the Stan Sheriff Center and then...
Holidays & military events
- Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day (Dec. 7): 85th anniversary in 2026Dec. · Oʻahu · The National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Ceremony marks the 85th anniversary of the attack on Monday, Dec. 7, 2026, starting at 7:30 a.m. at...
- Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade (Waikīkī, Dec. 7 evening)Dec. · Oʻahu · An evening parade down Kalākaua Avenue honoring Pearl Harbor survivors and veterans, with military units, JROTC, high school bands from...
- Veterans Day in Hawaiʻi (Nov. 11)Nov. · Oʻahu, Maui · Veterans Day is Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2026. On Oʻahu, the 79th Wahiawā Lions Veterans Day Parade runs 10 a.m. to noon along California Avenue...
- Memorial Day at Punchbowl (late May)May · Oʻahu · On Memorial Day, volunteers place fresh lei on every grave at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (Punchbowl), about 38,000 lei...
- End of WWII ceremony on the Battleship Missouri (Sept. 2)Sept. · Oʻahu · Each Sept. 2 the Battleship Missouri Memorial marks Japan's 1945 surrender, which was signed on the Missouri's deck, with a ceremony on the...
- Kāneʻohe Bay Air Show (Marine Corps Base Hawaii)Aug. · Oʻahu · Hawaiʻi's big military air show, held on Marine Corps Base Hawaii at Kāneʻohe Bay with the Navy Blue Angels. The last show was Aug. 8 to...
- Fireworks rules and firecracker permits (Oʻahu)Dec. to July · Oʻahu · On Oʻahu, aerial fireworks, sparklers and fountains are illegal; firecrackers need a $25 permit (up to 5,000 firecrackers) bought online at...
Museums
- ʻIolani PalaceOʻahu · The royal palace of Hawaiʻi's last monarchs, King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani, in downtown Honolulu. Tours must be booked in advance...
- Bishop MuseumOʻahu · Hawaiʻi's largest museum of Hawaiian and Pacific culture and natural history, in Kalihi, Honolulu. Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. except...
- U.S. Army Museum of Hawaiʻi (Fort DeRussy, Waikīkī)Oʻahu · A free military history museum inside Battery Randolph, a 1911 coastal artillery bunker at Fort DeRussy in Waikīkī. It covers ancient...
Moving to Hawaiʻi
Animals & wildlife
Shopping centers
- Ala Moana Center, Hawaiʻi's biggest mall (Honolulu)Oʻahu · The world's largest open-air shopping center, with about 350 stores and restaurants, just outside Waikīkī at 1450 Ala Moana Boulevard...
- Waikīkī shopping: Royal Hawaiian Center and International Market PlaceOʻahu · The two big shopping centers on Kalākaua Avenue. Royal Hawaiian Center (2201 Kalākaua) has 100+ shops and restaurants and free cultural...
- Waikele Premium Outlets (Waipahu)Oʻahu · Hawaiʻi's only outlet mall, in Waipahu about 25 minutes west of Honolulu, with discount stores for brands like Coach, Michael Kors, Kate...
- Other Oʻahu malls: Pearlridge, Kahala, Windward and Ka Makana AliʻiOʻahu · Away from the tourist areas, locals shop at Pearlridge Center in ʻAiea (Oʻahu's largest enclosed mall, with a monorail between its two...
- Aloha Stadium Swap Meet & MarketplaceOʻahu · Oʻahu's big outdoor swap meet for cheap souvenirs, aloha shirts, crafts and local snacks. It moved to the lower parking lot at the Aloha...
Hikes
- Mānoa Falls TrailOʻahu · One of Oʻahu's easiest hikes: 1.6 miles round trip (about an hour) through Mānoa Valley rainforest to a roughly 150-foot waterfall, near...
- Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse TrailOʻahu · A 2-mile round-trip trail (about 500 feet of climbing) on Oʻahu's southeast tip with views of the lighthouse and the windward coast. Rated...
- Lanikai Pillbox Trail (Kaʻiwa Ridge)Oʻahu · A short but steep 1-mile round-trip ridge hike in Kailua to old military pillboxes with famous views over Lanikai and the Mokulua islands...
- Koko Crater Stairs (Koko Head)Oʻahu · Oʻahu's famous stair workout: 1,048 old railway ties straight up Koko Crater, about 1,200 feet of climbing in roughly 1.6 miles round trip...
- Kaʻena Point TrailOʻahu · A flat coastal walk, 2.5 miles each way, to Oʻahu's wild western tip, a protected Natural Area Reserve with nesting seabirds. Rated...
Routes & driving
- Waikīkī to Nānākuli, Waiʻanae and Mākaha (West Side)Oʻahu · Take H-1 West all the way to its end in Kapolei, where it becomes Farrington Highway (Route 93). Stay on Farrington Highway along the coast...
- Waikīkī to Ko OlinaOʻahu · Take H-1 West toward Kapolei. As the freeway becomes Farrington Highway, take the Ko Olina exit and continue onto Aliʻinui Drive into the...
- Waikīkī to the North Shore (Haleʻiwa, Waimea, Pipeline, Sunset)Oʻahu · Take H-1 West to H-2 North (exit 8B). H-2 ends at Wahiawā and becomes Kamehameha Highway (Route 99, then Route 83) down to Haleʻiwa. Stay...
- Waikīkī to Kailua and LanikaiOʻahu · Take H-1 West briefly to the Pali Highway (Route 61) and head over the mountains to Kailua. The road becomes Kailua Road in town. About 14...
- Waikīkī to KāneʻoheOʻahu · Three ways over the mountains: Likelike Highway (Route 63, H-1 exit 20A) is usually most direct; H-3 from the Hālawa Interchange is the...
- Waikīkī to Waimānalo (via the southeast coast)Oʻahu · Take H-1 East to its end at Kāhala, then continue on Kalanianaʻole Highway (Route 72) past Hawaiʻi Kai, Hanauma Bay, Sandy Beach and...
- Waikīkī to Mililani and WahiawāOʻahu · Take H-1 West to H-2 North (exit 8B). Mililani exits come up a few miles after the split, and H-2 continues to Wahiawā.
- Waikīkī to Pearl Harbor (USS Arizona Memorial visitor center)Oʻahu · Take H-1 West to exit 15A marked Arizona Mem./Stadium (not the Hickam/Pearl Harbor exit). Follow Kamehameha Highway (Route 99), turn left...
- Waikīkī to the airport (Daniel K. Inouye International, HNL)Oʻahu · Take H-1 West. After the Likelike off-ramp, stay right for the H-1 cut-off, keep in the right lane about a mile, and take the Airport...
- Oʻahu rush hour, HOV and zipper lanesOʻahu · Weekday rush hours run about 6 to 8:30 a.m. toward town and 3 to 6:30 p.m. heading west. H-1 has HOV lanes (2 or more people) eastbound...
Safety
Rules & laws
- Haʻikū Stairs (Stairway to Heaven) is illegal and being removedOʻahu · Climbing Oʻahu's Haʻikū Stairs has been illegal since 1987. The city voted in 2021 to remove them and began removal in 2024. Police cite...
- Looking at your phone in a crosswalk (Honolulu)Oʻahu · On Oʻahu it is illegal to look at a phone or other screen while crossing a street. Fines start at $15 and go up to $99 for repeat offenses...
History
Planning guides
Getting around
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Ask Hawaiʻi has 280 checked entries, each with its source and the date it was last checked. Ask a question or browse all topics.