Pearl Harbor National Memorial (Oahu)
America's most hallowed WWII site — the USS Arizona Memorial, floating above the sunken battleship, plus the Battleship Missouri, submarine Bowfin, and the Aviation Museum. Oahu's essential history visit.
Hawaii
Oahu (Honolulu & Waikiki)
Oahu is the Hawaiian island most travelers picture first: Waikiki's crescent of sand beneath Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor's solemn history, the North Shore's legendary surf, the green Koolau cliffs of the windward coast and the calm lagoons of Ko Olina.
It is also the island with the widest range of things to do, from Iolani Palace and Chinatown food tours to snorkeling with turtles, sunset catamaran sails, zipline courses, helicopter rides and some of the best luaus in the islands. Beaches, hikes, culture and plate lunches sit within an hour of one another, so one base can carry a whole trip. Warm weather makes any season a good one, with calm summer seas, winter surf and whales from roughly December to April.
Don't miss
Pearl Harbor National Memorial (Oahu)
America's most hallowed WWII site — the USS Arizona Memorial, floating above the sunken battleship, plus the Battleship Missouri, submarine Bowfin, and the Aviation Museum. Oahu's essential history visit.
Diamond Head State Monument (Oahu)
Oahu's iconic volcanic crater and Hawaii's most famous hike — a short, historic trail up to panoramic views over Waikiki and the Pacific. Reservations required for out-of-state visitors.
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve (Oahu)
Oahu's legendary snorkeling bay — a protected volcanic cove filled with reef fish and green sea turtles. Limited daily entry by online reservation; book the moment slots open.
Iolani Palace
The only royal palace on American soil — King Kalakaua's 1882 showpiece with its koa staircase, thrones and the room where a queen was imprisoned: Hawaii's monarchy told where it reigned, and where it was taken.
Things to do in Oahu (Honolulu & Waikiki)
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
Diamond Head State Monument (Oahu)
Oahu's iconic volcanic crater and Hawaii's most famous hike — a short, historic trail up to panoramic views over Waikiki and the Pacific. Reservations required for out-of-state visitors.
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve (Oahu)
Oahu's legendary snorkeling bay — a protected volcanic cove filled with reef fish and green sea turtles. Limited daily entry by online reservation; book the moment slots open.
Polynesian Cultural Center (Oahu)
Oahu's immersive celebration of Pacific cultures — six island villages, canoe pageants, hands-on activities, a luau, and the spectacular "HA: Breath of Life" evening show on the North Shore.
Kualoa Ranch (Oahu)
The "Jurassic Park" valley — a 4,000-acre private nature reserve on Oahu's windward coast offering movie-site tours, UTV and zipline adventures, horseback rides, and some of the island's most dramatic scenery.
Iolani Palace
The only royal palace on American soil — King Kalakaua's 1882 showpiece with its koa staircase, thrones and the room where a queen was imprisoned: Hawaii's monarchy told where it reigned, and where it was taken.
USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park
The Pearl Harbor Avenger, boarded — climb through a real WWII submarine from torpedo room to conning tower: the cramped bunks, the controls, the 44-patrol war record, and Pearl Harbor's most hands-on hour.
Battleship Missouri Memorial
Where World War II ended — stand on the Mighty Mo's surrender deck, under 16-inch guns, over the spot Japan signed: the war's bookend anchored a ship's length from where it began at the Arizona Memorial.
Waikiki Trolley
Honolulu's open-air hop-on lines — the pink, red, green and blue trolleys threading Waikiki to Diamond Head, downtown's history and the scenic coast: the car-free answer to Oahu's spread-out south shore.
LeaLea Trolley Passes
A multi-line trolley pass for Oahu that covers Waikiki, Honolulu and beyond, with one-day, four-day and seven-day options and an XploreRide sightseeing tour bundled in.
Waikiki Trolley Holiday Lights Tour
An evening trolley ride through Honolulu during the holiday season, past the glowing displays downtown and the festive decorations that make a tropical December unexpectedly sparkly.
Bishop Museum
The Smithsonian of the Pacific — Hawaiian Hall's three koa-railed floors of feather cloaks, war gods and voyaging canoes, the planetarium that teaches wayfinding, and erupting-lava science for the kids.
Where to stay
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
$$$$Halekulani (Oahu)
Waikiki, Oahu
Waikiki's legendary "House Befitting Heaven" — serene five-star luxury on the beach, the famous orchid pool, sunset mai tais at House Without a Key, and service that defines graciousness in the islands.
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$$$$The Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort (Oahu)
Waikiki, Oahu
The "Pink Palace of the Pacific" — Waikiki's flamingo-pink 1927 landmark, where Spanish-Moorish grandeur, a coconut grove heritage, and prime beachfront keep old-Hawaii glamour alive.
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$$$$Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina
Ko Olina (West Oahu)
Oahu's west-side luxury escape — Four Seasons polish on a calm Ko Olina lagoon, four pools, standout dining and spa, and resort serenity 40 minutes (and a world) from Waikiki's crowds.
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$$$Moana Surfrider, A Westin Resort and Spa
Waikiki Beach, Oahu
The First Lady of Waikiki — Honolulu's first hotel, opened in 1901, with a Victorian veranda, a century-old banyan courtyard on the sand and afternoon tea facing Diamond Head.
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$$$$The Ritz-Carlton Oahu, Turtle Bay
North Shore (Kahuku), Oahu
The North Shore's only full resort — a point of land with ocean on both sides, five miles of coastline and miles of trails, rebranded as a Ritz-Carlton in 2024 and an hour and a world from Waikiki.
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$$$$The Kahala Hotel and Resort
Kahala, Honolulu, Oahu
Honolulu's celebrity hideaway since the 1960s — a quiet private-feeling beach on the far side of Diamond Head, a dolphin lagoon at its center, and Waikiki ten minutes away when you want it.
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$$$$Aulani, A Disney Resort and Spa (Oahu)
Ko Olina, Oahu
Disney's Hawaii resort at Ko Olina: a lazy river and snorkel lagoon, Hawaiian storytelling woven through the property, and a calm west-side beach, all built for families.
Check rates →Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort (Oahu)
Waikiki, Oahu
Waikiki's biggest resort village: a lagoon beach, multiple pools, a Friday-night fireworks show and every restaurant and shop on site, at the quiet western end of the strip.
Check rates →Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort
Waikiki, Oahu
A big beachfront resort on the best stretch of Waikiki Beach, with a famous rooftop-level infinity pool, ocean-view towers and a front-row seat for the sunset.
Check rates →Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort
Waikiki, Oahu
An oceanfront Waikiki resort at the quieter western end of the strip, known for its Hawaiian cultural programs, beachfront dining and calmer swimming water.
Check rates →Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort
Waikiki, Oahu
A beachfront resort in the heart of Waikiki, home to the lively Duke's Waikiki restaurant and steps from the surf breaks, shopping and nightlife.
Check rates →Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa
Waikiki, Oahu
A full-service beach resort on the Diamond Head side of Waikiki, with a pool, a spa, a weekly luau and quick access to Kapiolani Park and the quieter eastern beaches.
Check rates →Hilton Waikiki Beach
Waikiki, Oahu
A tall, well-located Hilton a short walk from the sand, with ocean-view rooms, a lively pool deck and a quick walk to shopping, dining and the trolley.
Check rates →Embassy Suites by Hilton Waikiki Beach Walk
Waikiki, Oahu
An all-suite hotel on the Waikiki Beach Walk dining strip, with separate living areas, a breakfast included in many rates and an easy stroll to the sand.
Check rates →Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach
Waikiki, Oahu
A dependable mid-range hotel in central Waikiki, a few blocks from the beach and the shopping district, with clean rooms and balanced prices.
Check rates →Courtyard by Marriott Waikiki Beach
Waikiki, Oahu
A comfortable, reasonably priced Marriott in central Waikiki, a short walk from the beach, the Royal Hawaiian Center and the trolley stops.
Check rates →Oahu (Honolulu & Waikiki) guides
A First-Timer's Guide to Hawaii
Everything you need for a first Hawaii trip — how the islands differ, when to come, island-hopping logistics, costs and reservations to know about, and how to build a trip that actually fits your days.
Which Hawaiian Island Should You Choose?
Oahu, Maui, the Big Island, or Kauai — an honest comparison of the four main islands by travel style, with pairings that work for one- and two-week trips and the classic first-timer verdicts.
Oahu in 3 Days: The Essential Itinerary
A balanced three-day Oahu plan from a Waikiki base — Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay snorkeling, the windward coast and North Shore, with booking windows and local food stops built in.
Choosing a Luau in Hawaii: What to Expect and How to Pick One
How to choose a luau on Oahu, Maui, the Big Island or Kauai, from what happens at the imu ceremony to how seating, food and shows differ, plus tips for booking, timing and respectful behavior.
Where to Stay on Oahu: Waikiki, Ko Olina, the North Shore and Beyond
A neighborhood-by-neighborhood guide to Oahu lodging, from Waikiki's beachfront towers to Ko Olina's lagoons, Kailua's quiet beach and the North Shore's surf towns.
Eating and Drinking on Oahu: Plate Lunch, Poke, Shave Ice and More
What to eat on Oahu and where to find it, from plate lunches and poke to garlic shrimp trucks, malasadas, shave ice and a proper luau feast.
A Day on Oahu's North Shore: Beaches, Surf, Shrimp and Sunset
How to plan a North Shore day from Waikiki, with beach choices by season, where to eat, which activities to book and how to avoid the traffic.
When to Visit Oahu: Seasons, Weather, Surf and Whales
A seasonal guide to Oahu: when it is driest, when the surf is biggest, when whales arrive, when prices peak and how to choose the right month for your trip.
