8 Favorite Things to do in Oahu With Kids

The Hawaiian island of Oahu is appropriately known as “The Gathering Place”. While it is home to about 80% of the state’s population, it also receives the most tourists. We have visited many times over the years to see family and friends for memorable reunions. These are some of our favorite things to do in Oahu with kids.

 1.  Visit Kualoa Ranch

Kualoa Ranch is a 4,000-acre private nature reserve and outdoor paradise that stretches from the rugged mountains to Kaneohe Bay. It may look familiar, as over 70 movies have used the ranch for filming earning its nickname as “Hawaii’s Backlot”. It is also a working cattle ranch.

The ranch offers zip line adventures, movie tours and several guided tours through mountain bikes, ATVs, horseback, kayak and electric mountain bike. The picturesque backdrops of these tours mean you can’t go wrong with any option. We really enjoyed our catamaran tour that showed a different perspective of Oahu.

Tip: Book tours early and they have shuttles from Waikiki hotels.

2. Snorkel at Hanauma Bay

Don’t miss this premiere snorkeling spot in Oahu. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is a protected area with over 450 tropical colorful fish variety including the Hawaiian state fish, Humuhumunukunukuapuaa. Yes, that’s really the name! It was a living aquarium and the water was comfortably warm.

The Marine Education Center does a great job with the 9-minute video and interactive exhibits to show the marine life in this area and how to preserve them. The beach here is also beautiful with white sand and plenty of shade for relaxing.

Tip: It is closed on Tuesday. Get there early as cars are turned away if parking fills up. Check on pickup shuttles from Waikiki.

3. Explore Dole Plantation

It’s hard not to associate pineapples with Hawaii. The Dole Plantation offers plenty of activities for families. The Pineapple Express Train Tour is a 20-minute narrated ride through the real-life working plantation.

There is also a maze for kids to run through. It’s a beautiful place to wander around including a large koi pond. But, my kids’ favorite part is eating the world-famous DoleWhip® here.

4. Day Trip to the North Shore

It’s tempting to stay in the beach resorts and the Honolulu area. But, the best day trip is probably to the North Shore area 90-minutes away. It has many activities worth the drive.

Stop at Laniakea Beach or Turtle Beach to observe the Hawaiian Sea Turtles or honu. The North Shore is one of the world’s best surfing spots. We love watching the surfers bravely conquer the waves here especially at Sunset Beach.

The historic Hale’iwa town is a fantastic place to walk around with its many shops, galleries and restaurants. I love the laidback feel of this surf town.

Many visitors also flock to this area for the popular shrimp trucks. We can’t get enough of Giovanni’s delicious garlic shrimp scampi. Don’t miss getting some shaved ice from Matsumoto’s for dessert. It’s a Hawaiian institution for over 80 years. Get the rainbow flavor for the best of everything.

5. Go Hiking

Oahu is filled with many scenic trails. The most popular is climbing Diamond Head which is the crater seen on Waikiki’s coastline. The 0.8-mile trail to the summit is steep which includes passing a 225-foot tunnel and some bunkers.

But, the coastal postcard view from the top is absolutely worth it. We’ve seen plenty of families conquer this trail.

Other popular trails include Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail and Manoa Falls Trail. The two-mile roundtrip Makapu’u trail.

It is located on the southern portion that includes a paved trail and some breathtaking ocean views including the historic lighthouse. The 1.6-mile roundtrip Manoa Falls trail is a popular and short waterfall hike though it can get muddy.

6. Learn at National Park Sites

Don’t miss visiting World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument in Pearl Harbor that includes the USS Arizona Memorial. This historic landmark was built over the remnants of the USS Arizona battleship and the final resting place of 1,177 sailors and marines killed during the Pearl Harbor attack on Dec. 7, 1941.

It is a sensitive place to take children so please do some prep talks beforehand about its significance. Families will also enjoy visiting the other sites like the Battleship Missouri Memorial, USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park, and the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor for a wonderful educational experience.

Guided tours and interactive experiences are available for these attractions. Kids can learn a lot and earn Junior Ranger badges by completing the scavenger hunt booklet.

Tip: Reserve USS Arizona Memorial tickets through reserve.com. 1,300 free walk-ins, time-stamped tickets are also available everyday on a first-come, first-served basis for the USS Arizona Memorial at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center or they can be reserved through Reserve.com

7. Attend a Luau

For a complete Oahu vacation, it’s hard to pass up a luau or Hawaiian feast. Many come with a buffet of traditional dishes (kalua pig, poke, lomi salmon) and a cultural show. We’ve attended several over the years and two of our favorites are Paradise Cove and Polynesian Cultural Center.

We like Paradise Cove’s oceanfront location and its sunset backdrop to start off the luau. They provide plenty of arts, crafts and games and my kids even canoed in the small lagoon.

Polynesian Cultural Center has six Pacific Island villages and exhibits, which is educational and entertaining. Both put on a great feast and show. So, you can’t really go wrong with either choice.

8. Relax at the Beach

It wouldn’t be a Hawaiian vacation without some beach days. While Waikiki is the most popular hangout, Oahu offers plenty of beautiful and other less busy beaches along its 112 coastline miles.

Rent a car, gather some picnic items and spend some time exploring the beaches around the island. Activities like surfing lessons, stand-up paddle board and kayak are also popular.

We loved Kailua Beach Park and Lanikai Beach in the windward side. Bellows Field Beach Park and the nearby Waimanalo Beach Park are also locals’ favorites worth checking out. We also enjoy the Ko Olina area’s man-made beach lagoons that was less busy and near Disney’s Aulani resort.

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