Fun Things to do on Oahu, Hawaii
I have this running list of things to do for when we have visitors or are bored. I've been meaning to share some of my favorites with you all.
Photos taken with my iPhone, not my camera, so excuse the quality. They say the best camera is the one you have with you ;)
1. Dole Pineapple Plantation
It's free to walk around and $12 per person to ride the Pineapple Express train ride
Bonus- they have rare Rainbow Eucalyptuses at the entrance, honestly it's worth the trip just to check out these beauties!
Be sure to get some delicious Dole Whip before you leave!
2. Stand Up Paddle Board Rental
We've rented from the MWR ($25 for the day) and at Tropical Rush in Haleiwa ($25 for two hours) and I vastly prefer renting from Tropical rush and SUPing in the 'Anahulu river on the north shore. The launch is right at Tropical Rush, so no need to bring the board anywhere which makes it super easy. Plus there's always sea turtles in the out there! Both of these photos (first one is my daughter, Clementine, second one is my husband, Dave) were taken in the 'Anahulu.
You can see the quality difference in the board rentals as well. Tropical Rush are much wider and sturdier which made it super easy to balance on, even with a kiddo on board!
3. KidsCity Hawaii in Kapolei
This place is super fun, but it does require a reservation online. It's $20 per child and $5 per adult for 2 hours. My daughter absolutely loves this place. There's a huge jungle gym with a slide, bounce house type play areas, pretend play sections, and even little foot cars for the kiddos to drive around on.
There's another location downtown that's even bigger! We've yet to check that one out, but it's on our list of places to go next! Here's their website- https://www.kidscityhawaii.com
4. The Honolulu Zoo
Who doesn't love seeing all the beautiful animals at the zoo? We usually do a membership because if you go more than once it pays for itself. Information on pricing and memberships can be found and purchased on their website - https://www.honoluluzoo.org
5. Snorkeling at Paradise Cove
Of course, there are tons of good snorkeling spots on Oahu, my favorite just happens to be Paradise Cove (despite the difficult parking situation- we usually park in Tiny lot 1 and walk over). Some other great spots for snorkeling (or so I've heard) are Sharks Cove, Electric Beach, and probably the most popular of all, Hanauma Bay.
6. Turtle Watching at Laniakea Beach (also known as Turtle Beach)
Just remember do not get closer than 6-10 feet per DLNR law.
There are often volunteers there who can tell you all about these magnificent creatures. We just loved watching them nap on the shore.
7. Byodo-In Temple in Kaneohe
The Byodo-In Temple is a smaller replica of the 950+ year old Byodo-in Temple in Japan. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children 2-12yo.
8. Pearl Harbor Memorial
Take a short boat ride over to the Arizona Memorial and learn about Pearl Harbor. Make sure you make reservations ahead of time and arrive early so you don't miss your boat!
9. Hawaii Children's Discovery Center
This is another spot that my daughter (and her friend Callie) just LOVE! It's got so much to do! When you first come in there's a large water play area, and as you go through the whole place you realize it's unassumingly big! So many different themed areas. You can definitely spend a few hours exploring in there. Here's a link to their site where you can get more info and purchase tickets- http://discoverycenterhawaii.org
We like to bring a snack to share with the chickens out front :p
10. Halona Cove and Blowhole
This spot is just gorgeous! Parking can be a little rough sometimes, but it's worth it! You're not technically supposed to go down to the cove, but pretty much everyone does anyway- just be careful if you do decide to make the trek.
On the other side of this cove is the Blowhole which resembles a whale's blowhole when the waves crash in just right.
It's also a perfect spot to watch the sunrise.
