80 Things to Do on Oahu - the Bucket List
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80 THINGS TO DO ON OAHU - THE BUCKET LIST The Ultimate Oahu bucket list has the best things to do on Oahu with your friends and family! What to do on Oahu? No idea where to start? I have created the ultimate Oahu bucket list for some inspiration about the best things to do on Oahu, Hawaii. I have done almost all of the activities and been to most locations on the list. You can click on underlined bucket list items for a more detailed blog post with directions, tips and photos. Want to save this post to Pinterest for later? Pin it! 1 / 68 Where to stay on Oahu? These are the most popular hotels on Oahu by category: Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort (High-end): In the heart of Waikiki, this high-end resort is right on the beach. Luxury rooms overlooking the beach, a private lagoon and a free fireworks and dance performance show. Hilton is easily the most recognizable hotel on the Island. Click here to check availability. Sheraton Waikiki (High-end): A luxury resort with the most amazing infinity pool on the island, which overlooks the beach. The bar and nightclub at the Sheraton is a great place to relax after a long day of island adventures. Click here to check availability. Ramada Plaza Waikiki (Mid-Range): The perfect way to enjoy Oahu in a beautiful hotel without blowing the bank. This hotel has a rooftop pool and a restaurant but will only set you back around $100. Click here to check availability. 2 / 68 Waikiki Beachside Hostel (Budget): A budget alternative, which is still in an amazing location. Walking distance to Waikiki beach and a central location to base yourself for a week of adventures. Click here to check availability. I wrote two guides almost as awesome as this bucket list you are about to read to help you find the perfect accommodation for your stay on Oahu. You can check either of them out by clicking on the links below: Click to read - Waikiki Accommodation: Ultimate Hotel Guide Click to read - The Best Hotels on the North Shore of Oahu THE BUCKET LIST: 80 BEST THINGS TO DO ON OAHU 1. Hike Chinaman's Hat The Chinamans Hat is a small island near Kualoa Ranch. It is accessible by kayak or a short swim. Once you arrive at the island a mini hike to the top will give you amazing views of the shore and the Kualoa Mountains. We even spotted a seal sunbaking on the rocks! Full blog post: Kayak adventure to Chinaman's Hat 3 / 68 2. See a double rainbow Some of the best spots to find a rainbow on Oahu are Tantalus Lookout or on the west side of Oahu. Happy hunting. 4 / 68 Flickr: Peeter Tomson 3. Kayak to the Mokes From Lanikai or Kailua Beach a kayak to the mokes will take about thirty minutes. A beautiful canoe or kayak paddle to the Mokulua is a great escape for the day to an isolated island. However, there are quite a few tourists who make the journey later in the day. Around the back side of the island there are quite a few good cliff jumping spots and also the Queen's bath. Full blog post: Outrigger Canoe Adventure to Na Mokulua 5 / 68 4. Find the Crouching Lion Looking out over Kahana Bay, the Crouching Lion Hike offers amazing views, steep drop-offs and beautiful lush surroundings. It's located on the Northeast side of Oahu and is usually much less populated than many of the other hikes on Oahu despite how beautiful it is. Full blog post: Click here to find out how to find the Crouching Lion. 6 / 68 5. Hike Stairway to Heaven for sunrise The Stairway to heaven was one of my favorite things to do on Oahu. While it is illegal, the stairway is still frequented by a small number of people on most mornings. At the summit, there is an old satellite atop a small bunker. As the sun rises 20 or more people sit atop the bunker with views all the way to the beach and down into the valleys on either side. Full blog post: The Stairway to Heaven Hike Another Oahu sunrise worth waking up for is at Lanikai Pillbox Hike. 7 / 68 6. Try for a personal record up Koko Crater Railway Trail One of the most popular hikes on Oahu, Koko Head Stairs is a relatively short hike but don't be fooled. The unforgiving incline will have you gasping for breath by the time you reach the top. My personal best was 12:15 but I have seen people fly up much quicker. If you take a leisurely walk up you can expect to finish between 30 minutes and 1 hour. Full blog post: 1048 Steps up the Koko Head Stairs. 8 / 68 7. Try shrimp on North Shore The North shore of Oahu is famous for surf, beaches and it's chill vibes. But you can't visit the North shore without trying some famous Garlic Shrimp. There are plenty of food trucks lining the coast all claiming to be the best and the original. I tried quite a few of them during my time on Oahu and of the more well-known trucks, I enjoyed Romy's. While you are up there check out one of the best beaches on the North Shore. 9 / 68 Flickr: sling@flickr 8. Get a picture holding up Koko Crater Arch during sunrise Koko Crater Arch is an unbelievable rock formation on the edge of the crater. You can walk underneath or on top of the crater while looking out over the east coast of Oahu. Sunrise is the best time to visit the arch to get some nice color in the sky for a perfect backdrop 10 / 68 Flickr: Marvin Chandra 9. Endure Pali Notches The Pali Notches are one of the most dangerous hikes on Oahu due to the strong winds that often frequent the trail, which has an unforgiving drop on both sides. You also need to complete a few basic rock climbs to complete the trail. At the end of the trail is the 'chimney' a vertical rock face you can climb with the assistance of a rope. This is an iconic photo spot on Oahu. Full blog post: The Dangerous Pali Notches 10. Try stand up paddle board yoga Combine all the best parts of Oahu in one awesome fitness session on the Ocean while watching a sunset come down one side of Ala Moana, while palm trees line the other side of the bay. Full blog post: Sunset Paddle Board Yoga Session 11 / 68 11. See the view of Honolulu at the Diamond Head Crater Hike The most popular hike on Oahu and probably the most popular thing to do on Oahu aside from Waikiki Beach. It takes about 30 minutes to reach the old war bunkers at the top from which you will have amazing views of Waikiki and the ocean. Full blog post: The first thing you have to do in Honolulu 12 / 68 12. Tackle the Kuliouou ridge trail Kuliouou Ridge Trail isn't what you would expect on Oahu. A forest setting you would expect in the Pacific Northwest of the Mainland is a great spot to have an afternoon hike. 13 / 68 13. Adventure at Ka'au Crater Hike My favorite waterfall hike on Oahu, Ka'au Crater Hike leads you up three waterfalls before you navigate a fine ridge on the edge of the crater to reach expansive views in all directions. Full blog post: Ka'au Crater Hike 14 / 68 14. Visit Manoa Falls After Diamond Head Hike, Manoa Falls is the second most popular hike on Oahu. Only minutes from the busy streets of Waikiki, this jungle trail leads you to a large waterfall. Jurassic Park and Lost filmed scenes in this lush green area. Full blog post: Manoa Falls Jungle Trail 15 / 68 15. Find Dead man's catwalk (or where it used to be) Despite what its name might suggest, the Dead Man’s Catwalk provided more amazing views than perils. The catwalk referred to the cement slab that some claim was a possible war-era installation or was previously used as a launch strip for hang gliders. The words “The Dead Man’s Catwalk” were constantly being spray painted on the 6-yard strip that led out to a steep drop-off down the face of cliffs. Full blog post: Dead Man's Catwalk is Dead 16 / 68 16. Reach the summit of Wiliwilinui ridge trail "Standing at the summit of Wiliwili Nui Ridge I can make out Waikiki, a city of white buildings seemingly a world away from the ridges we are roaming. I spin around to see the turquoise water of the east coast and the panoramic views make me feel like I am at the center of this beautiful island." Full blog post: Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail 17 / 68 17. Visit the Mermaid caves Find a local or ask a friend if they will show you the caves. What used to be a secret spot has now become a bit of a hotspot for tourists and locals alike. Water flows from the ocean into underground caves, which create a magical atmosphere. If mermaids had homes they would likely look like these beautiful caves. 18 / 68 Flickr: Becca Hall 18. Watch the sunrise from Lanikai Pillbox hike Lanikai is by far one of the prettiest areas on Oahu, laden with spectacular homes, crystal clear water and the famous Mokoluas also known as “mokes” (Mountains) out in the ocean.