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Oahu was easily ranked my kids top places they visited in 2025. Despite not remembering many trips beyond that, it probably would still be their favorite trip they’ve ever taken. Just as importantly, it was also very enjoyable trip for us parents as well. Warm soft sand, calm beaches, spotting giant sea turtles, unique cultural adventures, and short but rewarding hikes. Oahu is an island packed with things to do with short easy drives between them. Below you will find our 7 day itinerary, activities we didn’t get to, and advice on where to stay on the island.

When to visit oahu

Ke Iki Beach on the North Shore of Oahu at Sunset

Truthfully, you can visit Oahu, and Hawaii in general, any time of the year. The weather is nice and warm year round. There will always be tourists in Hawaii, but there are some times of the year that are more crowded than others.

We visited Oahu in late April, during our kids spring break. We are fairly lucky that our spring break is later than other school districts around the U.S. April felt perfect for us because the crowds were fairly low, the ocean is calmer in the spring. Mid-April to Early June is a great time to visit for warm dry weather and lower crowds (in between spring and summer breaks).

Some of the lowest prices of the year can be found from September to Mid-October - if your school has an early fall break, this might be a perfect time to visit. Hurricane season runs from June to November, but Hawaii rarely gets hit with hurricanes.

Summer (June-August) also has calm oceans - good for snorkeling and swimming in the ocean. However, it is hotter and more humid, crowded and expensive.

Winter (December-March) has whale watching and big wave surfing on the north shore. It has the highest chance of rain but you will still get sunny days or parts of days. If you visit around the holidays, expect crowds.

How long to spend in Oahu?

We had 6 full days in Oahu. Our flight got in in the afternoon on the first day and then on our 8th day, we flew out in the morning. I’d recommend anywhere between 5 and 10 days. I felt like 6 full days felt perfect - it was a comfortable pace to explore the island with a couple chill beach days. If you are staying 5 days or less, I would recommend sticking with just one accommodation. With more than 5 days, I would recommend splitting your time between 2 different locations on Oahu.

Why Oahu?

Since moving to the west coast, we have a goal to hit all of the Hawaiian islands while our kids are still young. The flights are quite affordable and travel time is short and direct. The islands themselves, while all have that indescribable Hawaiian spirt, are quite different in what they offer. We visited Maui before kids and absolutely loved it and plan to go back again with our kids. We chose Oahu as our first Hawaiian destination with kids for several reasons:

The variety. It has beautiful beaches, easy kid-friendly hikes, cultural sites, bigger city amenities in Honolulu and smaller town vibes elsewhere on the island.
Calmer, swimmable beaches. Especially in the spring when we visited, while there is waves for surfing, the beaches are generally fairly calm to allow for young kids to swim.
Affordable accommodations. Several islands require that you only stay in the resorts, which can be pricey. We were able to find more affordable home shares on Oahu.
Easier flight times for not just us in the west coast but also for our friends who travelled with us from elsewhere in the US.
Shorter drive times. It is not a huge island. Traveling from one side of the island to the other typically only takes an hour max. If you were to circle the entire island (which we didn’t), it would only require 3 hours of driving.

Should we visit multiple islands?

If you are visiting for a week or less, I would recommend sticking with just one island. Especially with kids. Despite not being huge, there is so much to do and see in Oahu. If you were planning a 10+ day trip, a good second island to visit would be Kaua’i - a short (40 minute) flight and a good contrast to Oahu. Alternatively, you can Maui if you want more resort relaxing time.

Where to stay on oahu

We split our time between Waikiki and the North Shore. We stayed 4 nights in Waikiki and 3 nights on the North Shore. We used our time while staying in Waikiki to also explore the east side of the island. We felt like this was a good split.

We are typically an Airbnb/VRBO family when traveling. Oahu struggles with having enough housing for its residents, especially native Hawaiians. Airbnbs are controversial because they can take away homes from those who need them full time. It has recently become illegal to have Airbnbs outside of the touristy Waikiki area. You might find a couple home shares elsewhere are the island but it is questionable whether than are legal. Resorts and hotels on the island are expensive. We ended up staying the first half of the trip in Waikiki, to save some money on accommodations by getting an VRBO in a residential apartment complex in Waikiki rather than staying at a resort elsewhere on the east side.

Waikiki

Neighborhood with high-rise hotels close to the shore. The most popular hotel and resort area on the island. It is a very touristy area with high-end shopping and local restaurants.
Only legal place to stay at an Airbnb.
Walkable beaches, shops, restaurants
Large range of hotels from budget friendly to luxury. The only place on the island that allows airbnb.
Easy tours and activities. Close to the Honolulu Zoo, free Hula shows.
Great if you don’t want to rent a car. Guided tours/activities can pick you up from your hotel. The best public transit on the island
Doesn’t feel as Hawaiian and despite being close to beaches, there isn’t as much of a nature feel.

North Shore

Known for being laid-back, nature-focused, and its surf culture.
Beautiful beaches and scenery. Snorkeling, hikes, wildlife.
Fewer crowds than the south shore. Quieter.
Limited dining and shopping.
Big waves during the winter that are not swimmable
A car is required to get around

Ko Olina (on the west coast)

Calmer than Waikiki and more resort focused
This is where the famous Disney Aulani resort is located
Great if you want to stay at a resort and enjoy the amenities the resort has to offer. There are limited food options outside of the resorts and doesn’t have a local feel to it.
Longer drives to the north shore and the east side if you want to explore the rest of the island.
Best if you want a trip that is focused more on relaxation.
Calm water year round

East Oahu (Kailua/Lanikai)

Known for being more residential, windy and its great beaches.
Absolute beautiful beaches with a wide range of activities you can do on them (kayaking, swimming, etc)
Windy.
Great place if you want to be closer to the hiking and the the less crowded beaches.
Not as many hotels, harder to find accommodations. A car is needed.
Several nice towns where you can get good local food and international options.

REnting a car

Unless you are planning on spending all of your time in Waikiki or at a resort, I would recommend renting a car. While there are pockets of good public transit throughout the island, on a whole, to get to many of the must-see sites, you will need to rent a car. Driving around Oahu is easy. They have highways and residential roads just like elsewhere in the US. We ended up renting a car for the entire trip, even while we were staying in Waikiki as we took a couple trips around the east side of the island. Parking in Waikiki is expensive! If you are not planning on using your car in Waikiki, I would recommend waiting to rent a car till the part of your trip where you will.

Our Week Itinerary

Day 1 - Arrive in Honolulu mid-day, get groceries for the week, swim in hotel pool

Day 2 - Beach day at one or multiple of the Waikiki beaches. Free hula show at Kuhio Beach.

Day 3 - East Side: Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden, Byodo-in Temple.

Day 4 - East Side: Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail, Kailua Beach Park, Nu’uanu Pali Lookout.

Day 5 - Morning at Waikiki beach, Switching accommodations to North Shore, visiting Wahiawa Botanical Garden and Dole Plantation on the way

Day 6 - Laniakea Beach, Polynesian Cultural Center, Sunset on the beach

Day 7 - Waimea Valley, Haleiwa stores

Day 8 - Fly home in the morning

What to do in Waikiki

International Market Place

An open-air shopping center located in the center of Waikiki. We ended up eating several meals here or just walking through the building to get to the beach. We ended up visiting the Kubio Avenue Food Hall, the ABC store and target for a couple beach items we needed, and the delicious Liliha Bakery on the top floor. For shoppers there is so much to do and see in here.

Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon

Large, man-made saltwater lagoon next to the Hilton on Waikiki beach. Shallow protected waters that can be perfect for families with young kids. There are paddle boards, kayaks and other water sports equipment you can rent. Despite being on the Hilton property, it is publicly accessible.

Fort DeRussy Beach

A large less crowded beach in the Waikiki area. It is a bit of a farther walk. One of Waikiki’s widest stretches of sand. Calmer waters than the Waikiki beach for swimming.

Waikiki & Kuhio Beach

World-famous stretch of golden sand beach. Gentle waves that are prefect for beginner surfers. Waikiki, Duke’s, Kuhio, and Queen’s Surf beaches are all smaller beaches that are connected together. Kuhio beach has semi-protected “ponds” to swim in it that are made by lava rock walls. Family friendly amenities all along these stretches of beaches from light guards to showers and changing rooms. Plenty of food nearby.

Honolulu Zoo

Within walking distance of many of the resorts on Waikiki. We ended up skipping the zoo in favor of visiting places unlike those that we have at home. If you have extra time, don’t have a car and would prefer to stay close to Waikiki - it can be worth visiting. There is a children’s zoo and some native Hawaiian animals like rare butterflies and the nene (Hawaiian goose).

Kuhio Beach hula show

There is a free authentic Hawaiian hula and music show at the Kuhio Beach Hula Mound - right next to the beach every week. Check the above website for their up to date schedule, but when we were there it was held on Saturdays from 6:30-7:30pm. You sit directly on the grass and it does fill up, so I would advise getting there about 15 minutes before it starts.

Diamond Head

Diamond head was unfortunately closed when we visited for some repairs but has since re-opened. Note that it does cost to visit this state park - $5 per adult and $25 per car. You will also need to make a reservation in advance and it does book out. The hike up diamond head is 1.8 miles but intermediate in difficulty as you are climbing up stairs to the top. It is possible with kids, the hike itself is paved and there is nothing technically difficult - you just likely will need to take a few breaks on the walk up. It is a great hike for the beautiful views, seeing military bunkers along the way and seeing the remnants of a volcanic eruption. There is no trees or any shade, so if you are not going on a day with cloud cover - bring sun hats as the Hawaiian sun can be intense.

Waikiki Glass Bottom Boat Cruise

A great way to get out on the water to see animals like sea turtles, whales, dolphins and fish. The boats leave right from Waikiki.

What to do on the East Side

Hanauama Bay Nature Preserve

One of the best snorkeling spots on the island. From this protected marine sanctuary you can see coral reefs and lots of colorful fish. You need advanced reservations that are booked 2 days ahead of time at 7am. Tickets cost $25 for adults (13+) and you will need to bring or rent your own snorkeling gear. There is also an extra $3 fee to park.

Lana’i Lookout

Along the Kalanianaole Highway, there are several quick scenic pull off spots worth a visit. One of our favorites was the Lana’i lookout where you can see the dramatic lava cliffs along the coast. When making the journey along the east coast, try to leave as early as you can as it does get crowded later on. If there is no parking when you arrive, stick around for a bit as people only stay a short amount of time and a new spot should open up soon.

Makapu’u Point Lighthouse trail

You will definitely want to make sure you get out on the road early if this trail is on your itinerary. We left at 9am and got one of the last spots left in the parking lot. We watched several cars behind us look for a spot and have to leave. A 2.5 mile trail up and then down Makapu’u head.

It is an easy paved trail that we did with our 4 & 5 year olds along with our friends who had a 1 & 4 year old. There are some sections that are a bit steep and the path itself has no shade. After sprinting and giggling up the first 1/4 of the hill, our 4 year olds got slower and needed some extra motivation (snacks) to make it up the rest of the way. Going downhill was a lot quicker. It is stroller friendly (we also saw a few wheelchairs as well) or you can bring a carrier for younger kids.

You can see whales while walking on the trail but we were not lucky the day we went. The views of the light are beautiful and the views once you get to the top are spectacular. There are no easy bathrooms nearby so go before you reach the trail.

When we went, it started raining right before we arrived to the parking lot. We checked the forecast and it said it was going to stop raining within 20 minutes, so we waiting those 20 minutes and sure enough the rain stopped. In our experience, when it did rain, it did not rain for long and we were easily able to wait it out. Bringing a rain jacket with you in Hawaii is helpful, but it is not often where it rains all day long.

Kailua Beach park

Absolutely beautiful beach, soft white sand, gorgeous trees and mountain views around the beach. The waves are small and perfect for families wanting to swim and play in the sand. The water is also perfectly warm. We visited on a cloudy weekday and the beach was pretty empty. Parking is free and there are changing rooms and showers and picnic tables. We ate lunch before playing at the beach for a few hours. While I loved the north shore beaches, this was our favorite beach of the trip.

If the weather was clearer, we were planning on renting kayaks and paddling around in the water. I’ve heard on weekends and during peak-tourist seasons, the parking at this beach can be a challenge. So you might need to wait a bit for a spot to open up.

Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden

This free botanical garden is a must-see to enjoy some of Hawaii’s unique plants and landscapes. Unlike a lot of botanical gardens I am used to, you will be going in and out of your car a lot. We ended up stopping 3 separate times to get out of the car and walk around. With 4 young kids between the our 2 families, we wanted to minimize the amount of times pulling kids in and out of the car and 3 felt like the right amount to see a good diversity of what the botanical gardens have to offer. You first will go through the entrance gate. Right after the gate, is a gorgeous view that you will likely see if you look up this botanical garden on google or any social media. A lot of tourists were stopping and getting out of their car and walking on the road to get photos and videos of this spot, so much that there are now signs up telling you to stay in your car and do not walk on the road. You are welcome to drive slow and take in the views.

After a short drive, you will get to the visitor center. That parking lot was full when we arrived, so we skipped it and parked at the larger parking lot right afterwards. From that parking lot (Pau Launa), we walked down to the Loko Waimaluhia reservoir. It was a short walk down and we were greeted by hundreds of midas cichlid fish and ducks. The next stop was at Kilonani Mauka. After a steep walk uphill, we were able to get an overview of the entire garden. The final stop was at Kahua Nui. There was a beautiful view of the Ko’olau Mountains as well as a banyan tree. If you take time to walk around this area, you will find many more unique plants from Hawaii and they have a collection of African plants near here as well. After exploring here, we turned around and headed back toward the gate to exit.

We spent a little over 1 hour here, but you could easily spend half of the day if you wanted to visit all of the trails.

Byodo-in Temple

This beautiful Buddhist temple was built in 1963 as a replica of the 1,000 year old temple by the same name in Japan. It was built in such a scenic spot with the mountains behind it, the gorgeous trees surrounding it and the pond in front. Parking is free and can get busy. Admission costs $10 for adults and $6 for kids 2-12. Once inside, you can also buy koi food for a little extra at the gift shop. There were so many koi spread throughout the ponds on the property.

You are allowed to go inside the temple after taking your shoes off. You are also allowed to strike the sacred bell with the large wooden log. It is said that ringing the bell will bring you happiness and a long life.

It was definitely worth the stop and we spent about 45 minutes exploring the grounds and feeding the fish.

Nu’uanu Pali Lookout

Beautiful panoramic viewpoint of Oahu’s windward side. The lookout is off of route 61. Parking costs $7 per vehicle for non-residents. It can be quite windy up here, so bring a jacket.

Kualoa Ranch

A. privately owned property that hosts multiple different adventure-type tours. Kualoa Ranch is also the filming site for several notable movies like Jurassic Park and dozens of others. They offer tours from movie site bus tours, zip lining, biking, horseback riding, ATVs, and private beach adventures. Many of the tours have minimum age restrictions which limited the ones we could go on. We ultimately decided to not visit Kualoa Ranch, but if we had more time, we would have done a half day on the Secret Island Beach.

What to do on the North shore

Wahiawa Botanical Garden

We visited this free botanical garden on our drive from Waikiki to the North Shore. If you want to break up your drive, this is a must visit along the way. It is beautiful and is home to so many native flora. It is was relatively empty and we saw a lot of locals visiting - taking graduation photos, having picnics on the lawn or just enjoying a walk. The layout of the gardens can be a bit confusing and we had to backtrack a few times, but it is hard to complain when you are walking through such beautiful lush gardens.

Dole Plantation

The dole plantation was by far the most “touristy” thing we did in Oahu. It felt very commercialized, it was crowded and expensive. While I likely wouldn’t visit again if I were to return to Oahu – I still do recommend visiting for first time visitors to Oahu if you think your family would enjoy it. If only just to try the dole whip. Dole whip is a dairy-free soft-serve pineapple flavored “ice cream”. We love dole whip and even buy the powder to make it at home. It is popular at Disney parks and here at the Dole Plantation. I would highly recommend getting it with fresh pineapple on top. There are other extras - like making it into a float, souvenir cup, etc that did not feel worth it to me. Along with getting dole whip, we did the train tour. It was informational and we did get to see some of the different types of fruit and other plants they grow, it did not quite feel worth the $15 a person and the wait. The gift shop is quite extensive and we did pick up a few treats in there.

I think it is worth a quick stop on your drive to the north shore to look at the gift shop, try some dole whip, and walk around the free courtyard. However, I would not go to much out of your way to see it unless you are huge pineapple and dole fans.

Laniakae Beach

Also known as Turtle Beach. It is most famous for its large Hawaiian green sea turtles that warm up on the sand. There is very limited parking across the street and the beach itself has very few facilities. It is not the easiest beach to access, however I think it is definitely worth visiting if you can to see the sea turtles. The turtles are most frequently there mid-day, which coincidentally is also when it is hardest to find parking. We visited early in the morning and while we still had to wait a few minutes for a parking spot to open up (mainly from surfers visiting the beach in the morning). We were able to see 2 large green sea turtles and even a Hawaiian monk seal.

When we first got to the beach, we started playing because we didn’t initially see any turtles. They were however at a different part of the beach than we expected. The turtles and the seal were on the east side of the beach or the right side of the beach if you are looking at the water. There were a couple of volunteers there ensuring that everyone respected the turtle and the seals space. Legally, you have to stay at least 10 feet (3 meters) from Hawaiian green sea turtles and 50 feet (15 meters) from the Hawaiian monk seal. The seal just so happened to be laying against the bin that had all of the cones and signs the volunteers use to, so they were not able to make a barrier when we were there. We watched for over 30 minutes one of the turtles very slowly making its way back to the water and swimming away.

Waimea Valley

This beautiful nature reserve, I believe is a must visit on the North shore. It does cost to enter - about $26 per adults, but parking is free. The gardens themselves are huge and you can easily spend half a day just exploring them. If your main goal is just to see and swim in Waimea Falls - the hike is 3/4 of a mile each way. It takes about 30+ minutes, as you will likely be stopping to enjoy the beautiful scenery on your walk. There are also several cultural sites along the way, as well as resident artisans who can show you traditional crafts. We saw and hear several native Hawaiian birds, along with a beautiful peacock up in a tree. Near the end of the walk towards the waterfall, there is a small cafe and changing rooms. Once you get to the waterfall, there are free life jackets of varying sizes that you will need to wear.

Swimming in the falls is dependent on the waterfall conditions of the day. In April when we visited, it was pretty consistently good conditions, however we called the morning off just to make sure. They have a recorded message that will let you know if swimming is open that day. We wore our swimsuits under our clothes for the hike and packed lightweight towels in our backpack. We changed into dry underwear and our dry clothes again in the changing rooms after we were done swimming. The water was COLD. We had to very slowly make our way into the water and even still, our bodies seized up a bit once we were fully in the water. Life jackets are a must. Once we were moving our bodies and swimming around, it felt a lot better and manageable. The initial shock was just something we were not prepared for.

If you are a bit put off by the color in the rainier months - a reddish-brown color from rain washing in iron-rich volcanic soil around it, there is a hose to wash down your body afterwards. In the summer when there is less rain, the water is typically turquoise and clear. At the entrance/exit of Waimea Valley - there is a large cafe that had some pretty good options for lunch.

Waimea Bay Beach

Beautiful beach with soft sand and a large rock to cliff jump off of. In the winter, the waves are large and great for surfers. All other seasons, the waves are a lot more calmer for swimming or snorkeling.

Polynesian Cultural Center

I internally debated for weeks whether our family should visit the Polynesian Cultural Center. I possibly read every reddit thread and every review and blog to make my decision. We ultimately ended up going and had a great day. We only did the Islands of Polynesia and did not stay for any of the shows or luaus. The Polynesian Cultural Center is a collection of “showcases” of six different island nations. The island nations are Samoa, Aotearoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji and Hawaii. Each showcase has a different combination of cultural presentations, hands on activities and games, crafts, dance lessons, and food samples. The cultural center is open from 12:30-5:30pm and there is so many things to do that you won’t be able to cover everything in those 5 hours even if you were rushing through everything. If you arrive at opening like we did, you will start with a show performed on the water on canoes. After the show, you are allowed to freely walk around the different “island villages” as you please. We went for breadth rather than depth - we visited every island nation’s area of the park and did 2-3 things that most appealed to us and our age of kids rather than fully immersing ourself in just a few of the nations. Your ticket does include free-reentry for 3 days, so if you have extra time and are in the area, you can come back the following days to do everything. The cost of just doing the “Islands of Polynesia” is close to $100 per adult. You can save 10% if you book at least a week ahead of time.

The high cost wasn’t the only reason I was debating whether to do this very popular attraction. The Polynesian Cultural Center is run by the Morman church. The Morman church hires college kids to run the Polynesian Cultural center in exchange for free tuition at the local BYU. While there are a lot of people at each section from the nation they are presenting - it felt very much like an Epcot version of each culture. It felt white-washed in a sense. One of the reasons why we decided to go was that most of the reviews I saw from students who worked there were positive. That is was for the most part as authentic as it could be given the circumstances and that it was mostly enjoyable working there. So we went, there was so much to do and a lot of really fun unique activities. I learned a lot, I feel like my kids learned something about the cultures. Obviously the best way to learn about each of these cultures is to actually travel to places featured here, but that is not possible for most people.

We did not do a traditional Luau during our time on Oahu - so we did this and the free Luau at Kuhio Beach as our cultural activities of the trip.

Matsumoto Shave ice

Very popular shaved ice shop in Haleiwa on the North Shore. There is often a long line outside waiting to order their shaved ice. I highly recommend getting a shaved ice with ice cream underneath or condensed milk drizzled on top. The prices are very reasonable and the shaved ice is made as it always has been since the 1950s.

Other places to explore

Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona Memorial

The Pearl Harbor historic sites lets you into a famous piece of World War II history. There are museums, memorials and several historic sites you can visit.

Manoa Falls Trails

A 1.8 mile trail near Honolulu that takes you through a tropical rainforest to a waterfall. You are not allowed to swim in the pool at the base of the waterfall. It can be quite slippery and muddy if it has recently rained. You will also likely encounter lots of bugs.

What to read while in oahu

If you manage some time in between the hikes, swimming in the ocean or hotel pool with your kids, and adventures to read, here are some recommendations that fit the vibes of Hawaii or take place in Hawaii. One my favorite things is to read fiction books that take place in the spot I'm traveling to. Even if they don’t specifically take place there, as long as they have the same vibes. It started on accident - I just happened to bring The Women by Kristin Hannah on a trip to San Diego. Now I try to intentionally do it. Here some book recommendations across multiple genres that either take place in Hawaii or have similar island vibes:

The Descendants by Kari Hart Hemmings - you might be familiar with this story from the movie adaptation by the same name.
House of Many Gods by Kiana Davenport - generational saga set in Hawaii featuring a native Hawaiian women. (Also The Shark Diaries by the same author)
East Wind, Rain by Caroline Paul - Historical fiction about the Pearl harbor attack
This is Paradise: Stories by Kristiana Kahakauwila - collection of short stories portraying modern Hawaii
Unfamiliar Fishes by Sarah Vowell - humorous non-fiction book about the history of Hawaii
The Unhoneymooners by Christina Lauren - contemporary romance novel about a fake couple having a Honeymoon in Hawaii