We’ve wanted to write a post like this for a while. There’s no shortage of activity guides for Hawaii, and while those are great sources of information, we want to share some places we love.
You can trust us as your Hawaii wedding planners, and we think we also know a thing or two about activities.
These recommendations are our personal favorites. We included a few of the popular attractions that many of you’ve heard of. Still, we did our best to go off the beaten trail and focus on the lesser-knowns that we feel make Oahu so special.
We divided our recommendations into five categories: beaches, activities, hikes, Hawaiian foods, and shopping.
Okay, let’s get to it!
Oahu Beaches
Oahu’s beaches are a great place to start. Not only are they one of the top reasons people visit Hawaii, but they’re also free! Just as with weddings, we highly recommend weekdays (Monday-Friday) and non-holidays for the best beach experience and the least crowds. If you are driving, never leave valuables visible in your car. Don’t forget reef-safe sunscreen and towels!
Amy’s Pick: Kaimana Beach, Waikiki
Most visitors to Waikiki might refer to everything from Diamond Head down to the Hilton Hawaiian Village as Waikiki Beach. Still, most sections of the beach have their own names.
Kaimana Beach, Oahu
Kaimana Beach is a small stretch on the Diamond Head side of the Waikiki Aquarium just across from Kapiolani Park. It’s a popular beach for locals, and although visitors are there, it’s less crowded than the beaches directly in front of the hotels.
Although not a long stretch of beach, Kaimana is wide and there’s usually plenty of space to relax. It’s also a kid-friendly beach as it’s not too deep and the current is usually not strong, but this is not always the case, so please be careful.
It’s a great beach in the Waikiki area and a nice walk down from the Waikiki hotels.
Lauren’s Pick: Sunset Beach, North Shore
A little far from Waikiki but worth the trip, the North Shore has many beaches that could make our list. Lauren chose Sunset Beach because, as she put it, “it’s beautiful, usually easy to park, has restrooms, good for swimming in the summer, and the beach isn’t too crowded.”
Although Sunset Beach isn’t off the beaten trail, we recommend checking it out! A day at the North Shore will likely include many stops to explore, and there are several other great beaches. If I had to choose just one, I’d recommend Sunset Beach, too.
It may look crowded from the road, but there’s a lot of beach.
We thought it’d be good to point out that the surf on the North Shore can be dangerously big in the winter months. It’s great to watch, but it’s not advised to get in the water for a swim when the waves are that big.
Teri’s Pick: Laniakea (aka Turtle Beach), North Shore
Here’s another North Shore beach for you. Laniakea isn’t for swimming or lounging around but for seeing honu (sea turtles)!
Not that you can’t swim or lounge around, but most people stop hoping to see the turtles. If you’re lucky, there’ll be a few right up on the sand.
Turtles…just taking it easy on the beach.
Laniakea gets crowded, and parking is tight, but it’s a real treat for kids or animal lovers.
Note: It is illegal to feed, touch, or get within 10 feet (3 meters) of a sea turtle. If maintaining this distance isn’t possible, move away from the turtle as carefully as possible. Disturbing a turtle could result in a federal or state violation. You can read more on the State of Hawaii’s Division of Aquatic Resources page.
Rachel’s Pick: Sherwood Beach, Waimanalo
Sherwood’s is one of the best spots for an amazing beach day. If you see Rachel at a beach, there’s about a 90% chance this is where you’ll find her (the other 10% of the time she’s at Waimea Bay on the North Shore).
Sherwood’s is a very long stretch of beach with lots of space and seclusion, but if you go on a weekend or holiday, the parking lot fills up quickly. During the week, you might be surprised there aren’t more people here.
The wide, long beach, the turquoise water, the lush mountains in the background, and the smaller crowds than many of Oahu’s beaches—yeah, I’m with Rachel. Sherwood’s is a local favorite.
My pick: Yokohama Bay, Makaha
Okay, so this is a looooong drive, but totally worth it!
Located on Oahu’s West Side, Yokohama Bay is literally the end of the road. Few visitors make it this far, and considering the distance from Waikiki, I can understand why. However, if you want an uncrowded beach and have the time, it’s a beautiful part of the island to see.
The early crowd at Yokohama Bay.
A few things to consider: it’s far, and petty theft is more common here, so make sure not to leave valuables unattended or visible in your locked car. If you have the time and want to see all Oahu has to offer, I think it’s worth the drive, especially if you swing by Pearl Harbor on the way.
Also, on those infrequent days when Honolulu is covered in clouds, there’s a good chance Yokohama Bay is sunny. Check that weather radar. The West Side gets less rain than the rest of the island, and I like to believe there’s always sun somewhere on Oahu.
Oahu Activities
We teamed up on this to choose a few of our favorite activities.
PEARL HARBOR AND ARIZONA MEMORIAL
This is one of the top activities couples plan to do. You can book many tour options, but as of today, there is no fee for the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center , and no ticket is required to see the museums. Seeing this piece of history is likely something you’ll want to check out.
Island Water Sports
For the adventurous type, Island Water Sports offers what you’d expect. Yes, they have cruises, snorkeling trips, stand-up paddle boards, and surfing, but they also have something most people haven’t seen before: submarine scooters!
They also have a video on their Facebook page with an octopus stuck on the front of the helmet! None of us have tried the scooters, but they sure look fun.
They’re located in Hawaii Kai, not too far from Kona Brewing Company if you’re looking for a place to eat afterward.
KUALOA RANCH
Did you see Jurassic Park? Part of it was filmed here at Kualoa Ranch! They offer ATV, kayaking, horseback riding, jeep tours, zip lining, and other activity packages. Right next to the majestic Ko’olau mountain range, these are fun activities in an amazing setting!
ATTEND A LUAU
If you’ve never been to one before, we recommend you go. This could be an amazing idea for your Hawaii reception, but it’s also a fun activity for another day. A buffet dinner and a show to soak up some culture while having fun—what’s not to like?
BISHOP MUSEUM
If you want to learn more about Hawaiian history, Bishop Museum has the largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific cultural artifacts in the world. It also has a planetarium, and in the Science Center, a volcano erupts every seven minutes!
GET A MASSAGE
We love massages! And what better time to get one than when you’re on vacation? We are partial to the Infinity Spa at the Outrigger Waikiki, and their 50-minute couples massage is built into some of our elopement packages! (If you booked one of our wedding packages, we can add this on for you; just let us know.) Wherever you book your massage, get one! Relaxing and unwinding while on your Hawaii vacation is one of the best things to do.
Oahu Hikes
Amy’s Pick: Lanikai Pillbox Trail, Kailua
Lanikai is one of Oahu’s most famous beaches. The Pillbox Trail overlooks the Lanikai and the two Mokulua Islands. The hike isn’t too difficult, but it is steep and a little slippery with loose gravel initially.
I took this photo, and I can tell you the color was better in real life.
There are three pillboxes dating back to World War II. Most hikers only go to the first or second one, take some pictures, and then head back down. It is possible, however, to continue on the path. If you do, you’ll come out at the other end of Lanikai and have to walk back to your car through the neighborhood.
As long as you don’t slip on the way up, it’s not too difficult of a hike … and that view!
Lauren’s Pick: Koko Head Botanical Garden, Hawaii Kai
This one is definitely off the tourist trail. Koko Head Botanical Garden is a flat walk that leads through multiple gardens. Some plants back there look like they’re from another planet, which is very cool!
I think Dr. Seuss designed this tree.
At about two miles round trip, it’s long enough to feel like you’ve gotten some exercise. And if you go early or later in the day, it’s not too hot.
Teri’s Pick: Makapu’u Lighthouse
Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail is a popular and fairly easy hike. The path to the top is paved, and there are several lookout spots along the way. In the winter, this is a good spot to see whales, and on clear days, you can see Moloka’i, Lana’i, and maybe even Maui.
From the top, you can see the Waimanalo coastline, which we all agree is one of the best views on the island.
Such an amazing view from Makapu’u Lighthouse.
Rachel’s Pick: Does Ala Moana Shopping Center Count?
Yes, Rachel. Yes, it does, lol! As the largest open-air mall in the world, walking around 2.4 million square feet of retail space could certainly count as a hike!
My Pick: Koko Head Stairs, Hawaii Kai
Koko Head Stairs only takes 20 minutes for the super fit, but it can take over an hour for us regular people. And it’s tough! So tough, in fact, that I’ve never made it to the top. 🙂
The stairs are railroad ties from WWII (replaced with new ties in 2021 for a safer climb).
Even from halfway up, the views are impressive. In the photo above, you can see Hanauma Bay on the left. Above Hanauma Bay is the Hanauma Bay Ridge Trail, which is a lesser-known hike with beautiful views. That’s a little bonus suggestion for you. 😉
If you do try Koko Stairs, be sure to take water and be careful. The steps are uneven, and it’s easy to turn an ankle. Unless you’re looking for a workout, there are better options for a hike.
Hawaiian Food
We teamed up on this one mainly because there was a lot of agreement.
Best Hawaiian Plate Lunch: Waiahole Poi Factory
If you drive to the North Shore, we recommend heading across the Pali Highway or the Likelike Highway and driving up the coast. It’s faster to cut through the middle of the island, but this drive is beautiful. You can stop at the Waiahole Poi Factory for a plate lunch of laulau (chicken, pork, squid, or beef steamed in taro leaves) and kalua pig.
The staples of Hawaiian food are laulau, kalua pig, poi, lomilomi salmon, rice, and haupia.
Rustic charm.
Best Hawaiian Restaurant: Highway Inn
If you want Hawaiian food in Honolulu, our choice is the Highway Inn. You can try the same food as at the Poi Factory, but the Highway Inn is a short drive from Waikiki. The restaurant is casual and served on cafeteria-style trays, but it’s still a nice place for lunch or dinner.
The restaurant is located at the SALT complex outside of Waikiki. Several other restaurants, cafes, a craft beer bar, and other businesses are nearby, so you might want to hang out for a while.
Best Hawaiian Food You Might Not Try: Spam Musubi
Spam is huge in Hawaii, and although Lauren won’t eat it, the rest of us like it. Regular spam musubi is Spam cooked in shoyu (soy sauce) on a block of rice wrapped with seaweed, but there are several other kinds. My favorite is Spam, egg, avocado, and bacon musubi. Yum!
Spam musubis… selling out fast.
Best Hawaiian Desert: Shave Ice
Shave ice is a popular local treat. It’s Hawaii’s version of the snow cone. Matsumoto Shave Ice on the North Shore and Waiola Shave Ice in Honolulu are the two most famous places, and you’ll see lots of little shops selling them throughout the island.
Trust me — that’s no snow cone.
Oahu Shopping
Our Pick: Ala Moana Center
It’s more than just a place for Rachel to hike. Ala Moana Center is the largest open-air shopping center in the world, with over 340 stores and restaurants! If you’re looking for anything, there’s a good chance you’ll find it here.
(Photo from Ala Moana Center)
Our Second Pick: Waikiki
There are so many shops and shopping centers scattered throughout Waikiki that you should not have trouble finding things to buy.
Waikiki Shopping Plaza, Royal Hawaiian Center, International Marketplace, and Waikiki Beachwalk are just a few places to shop.
You can buy souvenirs and basic supplies at ABC Stores, individual name-brand stores all over, and a Tesla right on Kalakaua Avenue.
Okay, so these aren’t exactly off the beaten trail, but between Ala Moana Center and Waikiki, you have almosteverything you could want to buy.
Conclusion
We had a lot of fun brainstorming ideas for this blog post. If I had more time, I could write another couple thousand words, but I’m going to leave it here.
We’ll put together more recommendations soon. We have so many ideas to share.
If you ever have questions or need suggestions on what to do while in Hawaii, you can contact any of us. We know the island well and are always happy to help.
Mahalo!
