Oahu Activities and Things to Do
Popular Oahu activities include a wide variety of watersports, such as
swimming, snorkeling and diving. Hanauma Bay on the island's
southeastern shore is one of the best spots in all of Hawaii for
snorkeling. Scuba divers have access to many prime dive locations,
including Makaha Caverns on Oahu's leeward coast and Shark's Cove on the
North Shore.
A great windsurfing and kayaking destination is Kailua Beach on the windward coast. And not to forget there's always Waikiki Beach, which is suitable for almost every water activity there is – from swimming and snorkeling, to paddling, parasailing, and, of course, surfing. It was here where Duke Kahanamoku (1890-1968), who is considered the "Father of Modern Surfing," rode the waves in the early 20th century.
A popular land-based Oahu activity is hiking. Hikers have access to a variety of maintained trails on the island. Join an Oahu nature hike that takes you through lush rainforests and discover gorgeous waterfalls. Or, if you don’t want to do all the walking yourself, how about a horseback ride or an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) tour? At Kualoa Ranch, for example, you can ride through the lush Ka'a'awa Valley and discover popular Hollywood movie locations along the way.
If you are into fishing or have always wanted to experience reeling in a huge big game fish, such as a Jack Trevally, Marlin or Tuna, check out our selection of Oahu fishing charters. Go fishing early in the morning or how about a midnight shark hunt? Hawaii Discount offers a wide variety of deep sea and bottom fishing trips. Or come aboard a glass bottom boat and view marine life up close without having to get wet. Those who crave adventure can get up close and personal with nature’s most feared predator. Shark encounters depart from Oahu's North Shore.
For the non-fishermen there are great Oahu dinner cruises, ideal of you want to treat your loved one to something special. Enjoy wonderful coastline views and a delicious meal on board a cruise ship or sailboat. Alternatively, if you are on Oahu between November and April, you can go on an exciting whale watching cruise.
Last but not least, there are many interesting places to visit on the island, so plan on doing some Oahu sightseeing and visit for example Pearl Harbor, Iolani Palace and Diamond Head.
If you would like to read more about the many Oahu attractions and sights of interest, please visit our
Oahu landmarks and
Oahu beaches page. To get an overview of everything there is to do and see in Hawaii, please visit our
Hawaii tours page.
Testimonials
I just wanted to take this time to thank you for helping us put together a great vacation. Your knowledge, assistance and attention to detail really made the difference. All of our scheduled tours went off without a hitch. Everyone we dealt with from the bus drivers, tour greeters, tour guides, hosts and hostesses, all made sure we were well taken care of and that we had the best of experiences. We had a great time! Hawaii Discount is a prime example of the quality companies that can be found online. Be assured that we will recommend you personally and Hawaii Discount to anyone we know vacationing in Hawaii. Thanks again! - Ed and Jan