Your TL;DR Guide to Oahu
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Recently, my family went on a trip together to visit the Island of Oahu. My dad lived on the western side as a kid, so getting to go as a whole family was truly a special experience. And while he had his favorite spots to visit, we also included a few side-adventures to enjoy together.
If you’ve never been before, Oahu is a fantastic place (and that is a bit of an understatement). It’s filled with fantastic food, sights, people, history, and so so much more. So, whether you love filling your itinerary with adventure after adventure or prefer a slow, relaxing trip, there is something for you.
As you start to explore the Island, you’ll find that Oahu can be broken down into 4 major sections:
Most tourist activities are located in Honolulu (the southern part of the Island) and the North Shore, but the whole Island is fantastic.
In this guide, I’ll be sticking to a few places you should start your adventures. You’ll notice I didn’t mention to many beaches by name – it’s Hawai’i so you can find fantastic coastal spots to enjoy the sun and sand wherever you go.
Visit North Shore
The North Shore is a surfer’s paradise. For those of you who’ve spent some time around Southern California, the overall vibe reminds me a bit of Huntington Beach – a mixture of coastal relaxation with a heavy hint of traffic and tourism. There is a ton to enjoy in the area, but keep in mind that there likewise is a lot of people moving about (which means slow-moving cars galore).
Hale’iwa Store Lots
Address: 66-111 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712
If you’re not sure where to go first, Hale’iwa store lots makes for a fantastic first stop. A stretch of stores off the highway, there are a plethora of great places to shop, dine, and enjoy. Parking is pretty easy, but it is only one road. It’s best to park one place and walk around as much as you’re comfortable.
This is where you can find the famous Matsumoto Shave Ice and other fantastic goodies, including various coffee shops, food trucks, and boutiques. There are a lot of other interesting places to explore up and down the road.
Sharks Cove
Address: 59-711 Kamehameha Hwy. Haleiwa, HI 96712
As you might imagine, there are a lot of beaches on the North Shore. But, if you’re looking for a place to start, check out Shark’s Cove.
After spending some time at Pipeline (not for the faint of heart), we ventured over to Pupukea Grill for some mac salad. Right across the way we saw Shark’s Cove and decided to walk over and check it out.
In short, it’s gorgeous. After visiting Hanauma Bay earlier in the week, I’d had Shark’s Cove on my mind – many people compare the two locations for snorkeling. Personally, I’d consider skipping Hanauma Bay the next time I’m in town and just visit Shark’s Cove. It’s logistically easier (and cheaper).
Stop by a Food Truck
Food trucks in Hawai’i are an essential part of the dining experience. And the North Shore is the perfect place to grab a bite. If you’re looking for a few places to start, consider checking out any of the below!
- Sunrise Shack
- Pupukea Grill
- Mike’s Huli Chicken
- Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck
Honolulu
Honolulu, located on the southern and central parts of the Island is always bustling. As the capitol of Hawai’i, it is packed full with historic sites, official buildings, tourist hubs, and so much more. Consequently, this is the largest section in today’s post. It’s not that the other parts of Oahu aren’t full of amazing things to do – they are, not to repeat myself too much, obviously amazing. However, Honolulu is set-up for heavier amounts of tourism and it’s pretty easy to navigate around the area – whether you’re taking a shuttle, renting a bike/scooter, or using a car.
‘Iolani Palace
‘Iolani Palace is a must visit. It’s beautiful (like everything else in Oahu), but it also provides vital information on Hawai’i’s history and complicated relationship with the U.S.
If you are a history buff or have already been to ‘Iolani Palace, I’d recommend checking out Bishop Museum for an even more enriching experience.
Read more on why I consider ‘Iolani Palace an essential stop
Waikiki Shopping & Beach
Waikiki is the hot destination. It’s very much your standard beach town, filled with resorts, high-end shopping, and restaurants/bars. If you are from the U.S. you can probably skip a few of the designer shops, but there are a few unique places to check out in the area.
Little heads-up parking and driving around downtown can be a headache. (But also, I find drivers on the Island are much more considerate of one another than on the mainland – less honking and more help with merging. So when you’re visiting, embrace the Aloha spirit and be kind out on the road!)
- Ala Moana – a large shopping center/mall located just outside of the main Waikiki beach area; it has the usual mainstream shops, so you may consider skipping this if you are looking for more unique shopping destinations
- International Marketplace – In addition to some classic shops (hello, Target), you can find an assortment of unique goodies and delicious foods. I’ve heard the coffee in here is some of the best within walking distance of the main resorts in Waikiki
- Waikiki – Waikiki has a ton of shops and small shopping centers all within a walking distance of one another. There are a lot of unique cafes, breweries, and shopping spots to check out. If you’re looking for somewhere special, I recommend checking out 88 Tees.
- Don Quijote – there are a few Don Quijote’s in the area, but I’ll include it here since there’s one not too far from the beach (a short drive or decent walk). Don Quijote is a Japanese convince store with a ton of great items. If you’re not planning a trip to Japan just yet, this might be the closest you can get to Don Quijote 🙂
Leonard’s Bakery
Leonard’s Bakery is one of the most popular things I found on Pinterest for Oahu. The cute pink boxes, fluffy donuts, and red and white trucks are certainly photographable.
As a self-procalaimed pastry enthusiast, the malasadas were worth it. There are so many trucks that you’ll probably be near one at some point. However, the original location is located at 933 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, Hawaii 96816.
Manoa Falls
Manoa Falls was one of my favorite parts of my last trip to Oahu. A beautiful, tropical hike, Manoa Falls is utterly stunning. It’s also one of the easier hikes in the area – just be prepared for some intense mud.
While here, you can stop by the Lyon Arboretum for some more outdoor adventuring.
Read more before you head out for the trails here
Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay is one of the most popular tourist spots in Oahu. A gorgeous nature preserve on the eastern end of Oahu, Hanauma Bay is popular for snorkeling, swimming, and relaxation. It does cost some money to get in here, though so you might prefer Shark’s Cove as the cheaper alternative.
I did a more in-depth review about Hanauma Bay on the blog here
Downtown Kaimuki
As I mentioned before, my travel plans (And honestly, my “I’m running errand” plans) usually go like this:
1) head out to destination
2) decide I should grab some food while I’m out
3) Then decide I should stop somewhere else for coffee or dessert
So after visiting Hanauma Bay, while driving back to meet up with the rest of my family, I wanted to stop in Downtown Kaimuki to grab some coffee. This area is cute, a mix of coastal city and suburban. It is a little more residential, so I think it’s a great stop while driving around (you will get stuck in traffic, my friends). But be mindful of the local neighborhoods while you’re out supporting the different businesses.
Windward
Windward, the eastern side, has my heart – it really is my favorite side of the Island. It is stunning, peaceful, and full of some of the most amazing fruit (and this girl loves a good snack). There are a ton of fruit stands or homestyle cooking spots to check out while you explore – truly some of the best meals I’ve ever had. But, today we’re focusing on some other destinations you should visit. So, without further ado, let’s continue on!
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
The Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden is another classic destination for Oahu-travelers. If you’ve spent any time scrolling through Pinterest, chances are you’ve seen someone walking down a gorgeous road in Oahu with trees and a manicured lawn around them.
That is the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden. (And, also the kind of photo they don’t really want you taking here). Easy to drive around and stop at the various garden spots for a walk, Ho’omaluhia is a little paradise within a paradise.
Read more on the Ultimate Guide to Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
Kualoa Ranch
Kualoa Ranch is another very popular but well-worth it tourist stop. The famed (and still used) film destination for things like Juraissic Park, Kualoa Ranch offers various tours in what is now known as “Juraissic Valley.”
The tours do cost some money, but it’s definitely a fun place to visit at least once. While in the area, I also recommend stopping by Kualoa Beach.
Read more about Kualoa Ranch here
West
The eastern side of Oahu is mostly residential, so I won’t be going too in depth on activities on this side.
Maili “Pink” Pillbox Hike
There are quite a few “Pillbox” hikes scattered around the Island. The Pu’u O Hulu Trail, or Pink Pillbox, can usually done in under an hour but will offer a stunning view of the Island.
Be warned, however, it can be a little dry and warm out on the trail.
Ko’Olina
Ko Olina is the resort part of Western Oahu. Like other resort towns, you’ll have plenty of shopping, golf courses, and dining options at your disposal. Compared to Waikiki, however, Ko’Olina is much calmer and definitely more tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city.
This is also where the Aulani Disney Resort is located – and you can find a special, full service Disney Spa for an extra treat-yourself trip.
Oahu is rich with history and gorgeous sights to see. While there is SO MUCH to explore, I think these are a few key destinations to check-out all over the Island. I’ll be coming out with more TL;DR Guides for the destinations I talked about here over the next few weeks – if you’re interested in following along be sure to drop your email down below to get those delivered straight to your inbox!
What other spots would you recommend to first-time travelers?
TL;DR Travels 
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