Hawaii is one of my favorite places on earth and I have written down the best things to do in Oahu. We always stay on the North Shore because it’s a little more quiet and we love the slow, easy-going atmosphere. There are so many quaint airbnbs and lots of little hole in the wall places to eat. We also love the South East side of the island and will make the drive down their for the insane hikes and beautiful views.
Favorite Hikes in Oahu
1. Maunawili Falls
We did this hike in the winter and are so glad we did. It was muddy but beautiful. You park in a neighborhood and hike to a waterfall. There were a lot of people jumping in the pool at the end. We had our 14 month old and opted to just watch. There is a sign at the beginning of the trail warning of leptospirosis, which is a bacteria that lives in freshwater. So swim at your own risk!
I would rate it as moderate. I saw a handful of kids on the trail that made it just fine. We carried Kirk in our Ergobaby. He likes to be worn on the front and I’m not sure I would do that again. Like I mentioned, it was very muddy and I was worried about slipping and falling forward onto him. I didn’t, but just want to put that out there that it’s a slippery trail and I saw a lot of people fall. I think a back carrier would be much safer. I have all my hiking with kids gear linked here!
2. Three Peaks
This is not a hike I would recommend for kids unless they love hiking and don’t mind endless elevation gain. We did it when I was pregnant in September and it was tough. But the views at the top make it 1000% worth it. Like the name suggests, there are three peaks. The first one is the highest. There is a tiny bit of scrambling at parts where the rope they have is helpful.
We only did the first two peaks because getting to the third is a little more sketchy, and being pregnant, I was a little more cautious. This is absolutely my favorite hike on Oahu and I definitely recommend it if you are up for a challenge.
3. Makapuu Lighthouse
The Makapuu Lighthouse trail is actually a paved road instead of a dirt trail. This makes it very kid friendly and you can even bring your stroller on it. It is a lot of uphill, but nothing too crazy. You walk all the way up to a beautiful lookout where you can see whales in the winter time. We’ve done this one twice and it is a very busy one on the weekends.
If you are up for a little more adventure, you can hike down to some tide pools when you do this hike. There is a lookout about halfway up and a sign with information about whales. You can get off the road here and hike down to the tide pools. It is rocky and not a very clear path, but totally doable! The tide pools at the bottom are beautiful and fun to swim in. Just make sure there is no closed sign.
The last time we did it, we turned off right before the top lookout and went down a path that took us to a different lookout. I will include a picture to show the turn off. It was fun to enjoy the view without anyone else around.
Best Places to Eat in Oahu
1. Kono’s
If you like pork, do not miss eating at Kono’s. They have a location in Kailua and Haleiwa. They slow roast their pork for 12 hours and it is absolutely delicious. My favorite was the BBQ Pork Bomber. It had pork, rice, and cheese, all wrapped up in a tortilla and came with the yummy Hawaiian Sweet Maui Onion chips. I’m drooling just thinking of it right now. And they do have a kid’s menu!
2. Ted’s Bakery
A must-stop if you are the North Shore. What they’re really famous for is their pie. Their banana cream is legendary and so delicious. But I think my favorite was the chocolate macadamia nut. One piece was not enough! They also have great food like sandwiches, chicken, burgers. But if you want something really good, get their garlic shrimp. They also have a kid’s menu!
3. Ken’s Fish
A tiny, hole in the wall place on the North Shore. The owner, Ken, goes out and gets fresh fish daily so you know you’re getting the best. If you’re a fish lover, don’t miss Ken’s! I got the Ahi Katsu but loved Logan’s shrimp tempura probably a little more.
4. 7 Brothers
If you want some good hamburgers, 7 Brother’s is a fun stop. They have lots of different types of hamburgers and yummy sides. If you have picky kids that just want a hamburger, this place is great. They also have homemade banana bread there that is made fresh and so delicious. They have two locations on the North Shore. There is also a shave ice place right next to it and makes for a great dessert.
5. Waialua Bakery
If you’re up in Haleiwa shopping around, Waialua Bakery has some good fresh options for lunch. Their sandwiches and baked goods are delicious!
Best Beaches in Oahu
Most of the beaches we went to are on the North Shore. It’s our favorite part of the island, and in my opinion, has the best things to do in Oahu! I also shared about my top essentials for things to bring to the beach with a toddler here.
1. Shark’s Cove
Shark’s cove is known for its tide pools. You can wade out into knee deep water and see lots of fun sea creatures. You can also go out a little further and swim with colorful fish in the coral. My 14 month old loved being able to just sit in the water and play in the sand. I think we could have been there for hours! It’s not shady in the tide pools so make sure you put a hat and sunscreen on!
2. Three Tables Beach
This might be my favorite beach on Oahu. If you pass Shark’s cove, on the right is a beach called Three Tables. It’s a little bay that we love snorkeling in. The water is crystal clear, the fish are colorful, and we even saw a small sea turtle! It was magical. I much preferred snorkeling here to Hanama Bay, and it’s free! In the winter months the current is very strong and you can’t swim here. Definitely recommend going here when the water is a little calmer.
3. Lanikai Beach
If you are traveling to Oahu with kids, or just like a beach without waves, I definitely recommend Lanikai. There are no real waves and the water is a beautiful teal color. It’s a fun one to float in and just swim around. We did a little snorkeling and saw some fish, but the water wasn’t totally clear in the winter.
4. Kahana Bay
This is the most picturesque beach I have ever been to. It’s a bay and has beautiful, green mountains surrounding it. It is known for its calm water, but when it is breaking it’s fun to surf (so I hear, I don’t surf!) I have seen multiple weddings take place here because of the beautiful backdrops. I wish we would have spent more time here!
5. Kawela Bay
Another beautiful bay. Kawela is much less crowded than any beach in Oahu that I have been to. You can feel like the only one’s in Hawaii when you visit here. It doesn’t have waves so it’s another great beach to take kids to.
It’s across the street from a delicious fruit stand. Make sure to grab a bag of fresh fruit and a coconut to enjoy while you sit on the sand. When you’re walking from your car to the beach, you will also pass a famous Banton tree. It is huge and has been filmed for multiple productions like Pirates of the Caribbean and Lost.
6. Sunset Beach
Sunset Beach is a beautiful beach that has fun waves to play in. We went here in the winter and the waves were huge! We enjoyed watching people play while we sat under the shade of a beautiful sideways palm tree. There is a sign that says not to climb on it because of how old it is. But we had fun taking pictures under it! And because of it’s location on the island, it’s a beautiful spot to watch the sunset.
7. Laniakea Beach
If you want to pretty much be guaranteed to see a sea turtle, don’t miss visiting Turtle Beach. You can always see at least one sea turtle sunbathing on the sand. We played in the waves and saw multiple sea turtles in the waves trying to get on land which was so fun!
Sea Turtles are protected by Hawaiian law and it is illegal to touch one. They will be roped off so make sure to respect the laws and wildlife and don’t get too close. There are usually volunteers at the beach, watching the sea turtles and they are a wealth of knowledge. So be sure to ask them all your questions about sea turtles!
Hopefully this helps you find some gun things to do on your vacation in Oahu. There’s lots of fun things that your kids will enjoy if they’re coming along with you. Hawaii, in my opinion, is a great place for the whole family!
