Hawaiian Activities — island tours, luaus, and adventures across Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island.
Waikiki is two miles of an island that is forty-four miles long. Here is how to spend a first week on Oahu without wasting half of it.
Quick Answer: Do three things: Pearl Harbor (book ahead), a circle island tour from $79 to see the island beyond Waikiki, and get in the water at least once. Do the circle tour on day two or three — it shows you where to spend the rest of the week.
TL;DR
- Book first: Pearl Harbor and luaus sell out furthest ahead.
- Day two or three: Circle island tour — treat it as a survey.
- Skip the rental car: Waikiki parking is $35–$60 a night. Hire for one day instead.
- North Shore has a season: Huge surf in winter, swimmable in summer.
Oahu is not a resort island, and that catches people out
Oahu holds about 70% of Hawaii’s population. Honolulu is a real city with traffic,
neighbourhoods and a downtown. Waikiki is two miles of hotels at one end of it. That
combination means Oahu offers more variety than any other Hawaiian island — and
demands more planning, because the good things are spread out.
What follows is not a list of everything. It is the shape of a first week.
The three things almost everyone should do
1. Pearl Harbor
The USS Arizona Memorial is free but requires a timed reservation that is released
in batches and goes quickly. Most visitors book a tour that handles the logistics and
adds the vessels the memorial does not cover — the
Battleships of WWII tour
at $116.99 covers the Arizona, the Missouri and the Bowfin submarine from Waikiki.
Give it a morning, and read our
Pearl Harbor tours guide first. Travelling with
children? Visiting Pearl Harbor with kids covers
what works and what does not.
2. Get around the island
Waikiki is not Oahu. The windward coast, Kualoa, the North Shore and Waimea Valley
are the island most people came for. A
circle island tour
does it in a day from $79, or rent a car and do it at your own pace.
3. Get in the water
Whether that is a surf lesson,
a Turtle Canyon snorkel at $131, or
a kayak to the Mokulua Islands from Kailua
at $99 — do not spend a week beside the Pacific and only swim at your hotel.
A workable first week
| Day | Plan | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waikiki, beach, adjust | You will be jet-lagged. Do not book anything hard. |
| 2 | Pearl Harbor, morning | Early slots are cooler and less crowded. |
| 3 | Circle island tour | A survey of where to go back to. |
| 4 | Surf lesson or snorkel | Rested enough to enjoy it. |
| 5 | Return to your favourite spot from day 3 | This is why the circle tour goes early. |
| 6 | Luau | An evening thing, and a good last night. |
| 7 | Diamond Head or Kailua, then fly | Short, close, no risk of missing a flight. |
Beyond the obvious
Food
Oahu is the best eating in the state. The
Honolulu Sites & Bites food tour
($144.52) walks Chinatown’s food history, and the
Oahu Mix Plate Tour
($699 private, half day) is a proper eat-through-the-island day for a group.
eFoiling
Electric hydrofoil boards — you fly above the surface — are the newest thing on
the water here and genuinely fun. A
solo mid-length experience
is $199, a full-length lesson
$249, and a group session $149 each.
Kailua and the Mokuluas
The windward side has the best beaches on Oahu.
Self-guided kayak from Kailua
($99) sends you out to the Mokulua Islands after a briefing;
full beach gear rental
is $69 if you would rather stay in the bay.
Sunset
The Waikiki Sunset Cruise with tasting menu
is $105 for six guests and dinner — a quieter alternative to a luau, and better value
than it sounds for a couple.
“Do the circle island tour early. Its real value is not the day itself — it is knowing which three places you want to spend the rest of the week in.”
Practical things nobody tells you
- Traffic is real. H1 through Honolulu at rush hour is slow. Book
morning tours with pickup times that account for it. - Waikiki parking costs $35 to $60 a night. If your itinerary is
mostly tours, skip the rental car and hire one for a single day instead. - The North Shore has a season. Enormous surf and no swimming in
winter; calm and swimmable in summer. The same beach is two different places. - Reef-safe sunscreen is the law. Oxybenzone and octinoxate are
banned statewide. - Book Pearl Harbor and luaus first. They sell out furthest ahead.
Still deciding between islands? Our
island comparison guide and
best time to visit Hawaii are the place to
start.
For a first look at Waikiki from the air, our Waikiki parasailing guide compares line lengths, prices and age limits on the two Kewalo Harbor boats.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days do you need on Oahu?
Five to seven. That covers Pearl Harbor, a circle island day, water time and a luau without rushing.
Do you need a rental car on Oahu?
Not necessarily. Waikiki parking is $35 to $60 a night, so hiring for one or two days often works better.
What is the best order to do things on Oahu?
Adjust on day one, Pearl Harbor early, circle island on day two or three, then return to your favourite spot.
Is Oahu good for first-time visitors to Hawaii?
Yes. It has the widest range of activities, the best transport links and the most forgiving beginner surf.
Keep reading
Build your Oahu week
Tours, lessons, luaus and charters across Oahu, with live availability.
All Oahu activities · Oahu sightseeing tours · (808) 207-9427
Disclaimer: Prices are the lowest adult rate at time of writing. Pearl Harbor memorial reservations are managed by the National Park Service.
