20 Fun Family Things to do in Oahu

Hawaii is one of my favorite places in the whole world and I absolutely love the island of Oahu. I have been on three separate occasions. The first time I went was with my family a few years ago and I loved it so much I went back on my honeymoon! And the most recent occasion was on a girl’s trip with some of my gal pals from Instagram and we had the best time!

There is so much to do in Oahu so I decided to compile what I think are the most fun family things to do in Oahu! Whether you are looking for adventure or to relax, you will find something for everyone in Oahu.

Updated Feb. 2024

1- Kualoa Ranch

Kualoa Ranch is a must visit if you love movies, adventure or even just incredibly scenic places! In fact, this place is known as the Hollywood of Hawaii and has had over 50 tv shows and movies filmed here, including Jurassic Park and Lost.

It is actually still a working ranch as well and the property is HUGE. There is so much to do here including this movie tour I went on with my family. If you are keen for an adventurous activity, they have ATV tours, horseback riding and zip lining.

2- Pillbox Trail Hike

This viewpoint is one of the greatest I have seen in Oahu and it’s located above one of the prettiest beaches, Lanikai Beach. This hike starts in a residential area so you might have to park a little bit down the road from where it starts.

This hike is a bit steep in some places and takes about 30-45 minutes, depending on which “pillbox” you stop at. The pillboxes actually used to be military bunkers, but now they are just the place people hang out to get a great view. This is a great place to go right before sunset!

3- Wear a Flower Crown

My friends and I discovered Ocean Dreamer on Instagram and she is a dream. She lives in Hawaii and makes the most beautiful leis and flower crowns right from her garden. She has expanded a lot since I was in Oahu so she even has her own store front now which is amazing!

She was so lovely and very talented. I also saw on her website that she offers Hawaiian lei making classes now. This is a perfect girl’s trip activity, but I also would love to bring my toddler because it was one of the best family things to do in Oahu too! I loved wearing my flower crown all over Oahu and can you imagine your little ones wearing one too?

4- Sandy Beach

On one of the first nights of my trip to Oahu, we stopped at Sandy Beach for sunset and it was absolutely spectacular. The sky turned a beautiful pink and orange and I had a blast hanging out with there all evening.

This beach is located on the South Shore of Oahu so it’s a good pick if you are staying in Honolulu and want to escape the crowds of Waikiki Beach. The waves can get pretty strong here so be careful when you’re in the ocean. Because of the waves, this is a great place for body surfing!

5- Sunrise Shack

Sunrise Shack is a cute and instagrammable food stand located on the North Shore and one of the best things to do in Oahu. It’s a fun place to stop for fruit bowls and the owners were so lovely! It’s also a fun place to take some photos. I absolutely loved their papaya bowls too, totally worth stopping for. Don’t leave your food unattended though or some hungry roosters might eat it!

6- Waikiki Beach

A lot of the hotels in Honolulu are located right on Waikiki Beach. Although this is not necessarily a serene beach, it’s definitely worth visiting at least once. It is still very beautiful and enjoyable to walk down the beach and see all of the different hotels and activities going on.

It is great for people watching, body boarding or just soaking in the sun. If you need a break from the beach, head to the nearby International Marketplace or Duke’s for lunch.

7- Attend a Lu’au

A Luau is absolutely one of the best family things to do in Oahu. It is one of my all time favorite activities in Hawaii. I love learning more about the culture and really being able to feel it. I get chills when I watch the performances, they are so good! And don’t get me started on the food. They always have HUGE buffets so there is definitely something for everyone. I’ve been to two different luaus before and I highly recommend both.

The luau I did with my family was this one. I really enjoyed this one on my first visit to Hawaii and it was great for the whole family, including kids. The ticket we got included general admission from 12-6 PM where you can walk all around the place and learn about 6 different Polynesian cultures. Each area has different shows or even activities.

We got to canoe along the river, get temporary tattoos, make flower crowns and a lot more! The ticket also includes a seat, buffet and fresh flower lei on arrival at your luau and it was really great! And one last perk of this ticket, is an additional show after the luau called “Ha: Breath of life.” I absolutely loved this show so much! I had chills the whole time. It was incredible and definitely a do not miss while in Oahu.

The second luau I attended was this one. I went to this one on my girl’s trip and had a blast! It was actually located at the aquarium 50 First Dates was filmed so the setting was really fun! This luau was a bit more intimate with tables located on a lawn behind the aquarium and an amazing view in the background. It also included a delicious buffet, fresh flower leis and activities starting at 5 PM.

8- Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden

I’ve been to this botanical garden twice and really enjoyed it both times. It is actually free to visit and is a great place for photos! There are also a few walks/hikes at the garden which are fun to go on for all of the different flora and fauna you will find. This place definitely will give you all sorts of Jurassic Park type vibes.

NOTE: The park closes early at 4 PM so make sure to get there before closing and also the security guards are not so keen to let you take pictures in the front of the park.

9- China Walls

My friends found out about China Walls and I’m glad they did! It was such a spectacular and unique place to watch the sunset in Oahu! China Walls is a stretch of lava-rock ledges and cliffs just above the ocean. It is a really popular area for surfers and cliff jumpers. Make sure to use extra caution here. The rocks are very slippery! I slipped and fell on my butt pretty hard before I could even think twice.

10- Crouching Lion Hike & Rope Swing

If you love a good hike and an extraordinary view, this hike is definitely for you. It is a little bit challenging and quite steep, but the payoff is amazing. If you are not up for a hike, the area down below is beautiful as well and there is a rope swing which was really fun to play on and would definitely one of the best family things to do in Oahu.

Looking for Travel Insurance for your next trip? Try out my favorite company here.

11- Stay at the Sheraton Waikiki

Staying at the Sheraton Waikiki was an absolute dream! There were two different pool areas, both with views of the ocean and Diamondhead in the distance. One was a kid friendly pool with some super fun water-slides! The beach is literally right outside of the hotel! There is an on-site restaurant and fresh fruit juice constantly in the lobby. The balcony views from my room were absolutely incredible!

12-Visit the Dole Plantation

Visiting the Dole Plantation was another one of my favorite things to do in Oahu. The Dole Plantation is a pineapple plantation, with a huge souvenir shop selling all thing pineapples. There is also a café and they sell every kind of Dole Whip you can imagine from just an ice cream cone, to floats, to Dole Whip Sundaes. There are also activities there including train rides, a pineapple maze and a garden tour. You can book a tour here including transportation from Waikiki.

13- Snorkel at Hanauma Bay

Hanauma Bay is one of the best places to go snorkeling in Oahu! The water was so clear there and I saw so many colorful fish and even some sea turtles. The waters are so clear because the bay is protected by a volcanic formation. This area is a nature reserve and it is actually protected. This area is a nice place to spend the afternoon because the beach is really nice and the views from above are incredible. I took this tour for Hanauma Bay.

14- Maka’pu Lookout

This area and look-out are simply breathtaking! You will pass this area if you are taking the coastal road up to the North Shore. There is a lookout that you can walk to from the parking lot here with incredible views. But, if you are up for an adventure, you can go on a scenic hike to a lighthouse where I actually saw whales swimming down below!

There is also a hike down to some tide-pools! The pictures look amazing! This hike while require a lot of time and effort, however. It will take about 45 minutes each way and the hike down is very steep and rocky, so be careful if you do this option!

15- Polynesian Culture Center & LDS Temple

The Polynesian Cultural Center is a really fun attraction for the whole family. It showcases six native villages representing different Hawaiian and South Pacific cultures. It gives you the chance to learn more about these cultures while participating in activities and shows.

The area itself is really beautiful and fun to walk around in! You can ride in a canoe, get tattoos, learn how to play the ukulele and cook a meal! You can take this tour to get here that my family and I did and really loved.

The LDS Temple in Oahu is located nearby the Polynesian Cultural Center and the grounds are very beautiful! It’s one of my favorite LDS Temples. You don’t have to be religious to visit; you can still walk around the grounds and the visitor center.

16- Lanikai Beach

Lanikai Beach is consistently rated as one of the best beaches in the world and it is definitely for good reason. This is my all time favorite beach on Oahu and one of the top things to do in Oahu. It is absolutely beautiful with white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. You can actually kayak to the small nearby islands as well. It’s definitely a place you can spend all afternoon.

17- Rent a Jeep

I feel like it’s an absolute must to rent a jeep in Oahu (or a convertible)! There is nothing better than the windows and top down and the island breeze going in your hair while jamming out to Hawaiian tunes. I had a blast driving our jeep all over the island!

Click here for the website I use for comparing prices on rental cars and booking my rental car.

18- Road trip to North Shore

No visit to Oahu is complete with out visiting the North Shore. I absolutely love this area of Oahu because it feels more untouched than its busy counterpart- Waikiki. Part of the fun is the drive up here. Oahu is just incredibly scenic! Be on the look out on your way for scenic or interesting places you might want to stop.

On our way, we stopped at a cool palm tree with a nearby swing in it and at a farm with beautiful horses outside. Some highlights of the North Shore include: Matsumoto’s Shave Ice (arguably the best shave ice in Oahu), Laniakea Beach (also known as Turtle Beach), Giovanni’s Shrimp (a food truck famous for its garlic shrimp), Banzai Pipeline (to watch surfers) and Waimea Bay (beautiful beach known for cliff jumping.)

19- Byodo-in Temple

I absolutely loved the Byodo-In Temple in Oahu! I felt like I had just been transported into Japan! It actually was established in 1968 to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. This Temple is a smaller-scale replica of a 950-year-old Temple in Japan! The Temple was absolutely gorgeous, but the setting can not be beat! I also loved the koi pond and my niece had the best time feeding them!

I loved this tour because it combines this temple, tons of beaches, Hanauma Bay Lookout, the LDS Temple, Dole Plantation and a visit to the North Shore for a fun-filled day! It is one of my favorite family things to do in Oahu. Pearl Harbor National Memorial is a must to learn more about one of the most pivotal moments in U.S History and to honor the fallen. I took this tour and saw many memorials, a movie and a museum.

20- USS Arizona Memorial

The USS Arizona Memorial is a significant historical site commemorating the events of December 7, 1941, when Pearl Harbor was attacked. I found the experience both informative and impactful. Book the tour I did here. Accessible by boat, the memorial is built over the sunken hull of the USS Arizona battleship, where more than a thousand servicemen rest.

The site offers a unique perspective on the events of that day, allowing visitors to witness the submerged remains of the ship. The combination of the scenic boat journey and the historical significance of the memorial provides a comprehensive understanding of the role the USS Arizona played in World War II, making it a must-visit for those interested in American history.