Fun things to do in Oahu on vacation. Any suggestions?

Answer 1

Hi, Oahu is a fantastic place to go on vaction and this post that I previously put together will def help you out too! This post ranges from Hiking,Hotels,Waterfalls all the way to clubs and were to get discount coupons. I hope this helps you out! Have a great trip!

You have a good number of answers to look at but I thought I would add this since there was a few things that were different.

I love hiking Hawaii and this site is by far the most detailed. Manoa falls is one of my favorite falls to hike to and although not recommended the hike up past the first falls to the second, third and beyond are amazing. Many people go around the fence and up the banyan roots to the second falls and swim up above. I'm guilty of that too, but it is absolutely amazing and you can dive off the rocks into the water. This link http://www.hawaiitrails.org/ will take you to a site that explains any trail on all the islands and is an absolute MUST see if you’re going to do any hiking on the island. The rest of this post is stuff I put together for someone else and has other helpful or useful info for travelers to Hawaii. Def go and check that site out...you won't be disappointed. Hope this helps you out.

I am a nature nut and Hawaii is a great place to enjoy our beautiful planet! I put this together earlier but wanted to share it with you because there are some things here that will help you out! Hawaii is definitely worth it! I just can't get enough of that place! I have been 6 times and I have found enough on Oahu to do that I haven't even ventured out to the other islands yet! Here are some things in Waikiki and around the island to do; Dukes is def cool and right on the beach, and if you want to dance you can head over to Scruples. If you like to drink then do it in your room cause it is way way to expensive at the clubs. I suggest going to one of the 50+ ABC stores and grabbing your alcohol there for much cheaper! There is a ton of eating places down on the strip but the real Hawaii is out of town. Take the bus or drive up to manoa valley and experience the rainforest and a natural waterfall! Take a trip to the north shore and go to Waimaia Valley and see some of the most spectacular fauna anywhere! If you adventurous hike along the ridges and see paradise from 4000 feet! I did that and loved every second of it..Ok well it was more like 8 hours of it but anyway..lol. This link will take you to a site with very detailed info on hiking trails http://www.hawaiitrails.org/ Diving and snorkeling are pretty awesome too! Hanuama bay is touristy and with good reason. You are guaranteed to see tons of fish and have a nice afternoon at a beautiful beach! Diving can be done just off shore and runs around 100 bucks for 2 tanks and you don't need to be experienced. Not far out of town you can jet ski or parasail. Wouldn't really bother with the jet skiing because they have too many rules in Hawaii but the parasailing is something you should at least try once. After that it gets kind of boring. In town the international market place is def cool and worth strolling through...a tip..go to all the kiosks and then go back and don't be afraid to barter..that's how it works there! On the weekend a really cool thing to do it go to aloha stadium for a huge flea market!!! I mean huge the tents go all around the stadium and everything you find for souvenirs in Waikiki you will find there for way I mean way cheaper!! Oh one last thing, you have to go to a Luau and the Paradise Cove Luau is the best. oh crap...just thought of something else that will help you out. Go to www.Entertaiment.com and buy the book for Hawaii and it will give you so many discount coupons it will pay for it self right away. I did and it worked great. I just found another site that has coupons that you can print off the web so check this one out too http://www.ecouponshawaii.com/.... Don't forget that part..really do it and you won't be sorry. Many 2-1 coupons on dinners in the Entertainment Book. Waikiki is is really expensive so anytime you can save money it’s a good thing. I have been to Hawaii 6 times now and would love to live there. I hope you make it because you won't forget it! Aloha!

Some more stuff:

Must See Attractions

Paradise Cove Luau - Best on the Island (get entertainment coupon"
Polynesian Cultural Center - North Shore (can catch show here) Make sure you get the "entertainment coupon" At the 42-acre Polynesian Cultural Center, you can experience the everyday adventures of Pacific cultures first-hand. Immerse yourself in the habits and customs of the real Polynesia, while natives demonstrate the art of dancing with fire, making jewelry from plants and climbing 50-foot trees in bare feet. And our new “Go Native” activities let you try your hand at authentic activities and games in our seven native villages. Try Tongan spear throwing or participate in the Haka war dance of New Zealand. Enjoy the Ali’I Luau, named “Most Authentic” by the Kahili Awards, and the “Horizons” night show, featuring over 100 native performers
Diamond Head - Cause everyone's doing it
Waikiki- Can't go to Hawaii and miss the strip
Manoa Falls - An easy hike with views and feel of the jungle and it's free!
Hanuama Bay - Best tourist snorkeling in the islands!
Drive the Pali Highway and go to the lookout
Pink Cadillac is where most Japanese gals hang out and is located in Waikiki on Ena Road!
Zanzabar in Waikiki it's in the Waikiki Trade Center on Kuhio Avenue.
Pipeline Cafe in Honolulu located behind Dixie Grill.
The Ocean's Club located in the Restaurant Row Shopping Center.
The Mai Tai Bar located in Ala Moana Shopping Center located across from Bubba Gump 2nd floor from Shirokiya. The food & drink menu is awesome!
Rumours nightclub is located in the Ala Moana Hotel.
The Galaxy Club located at 1739 Kalakaua Avenue across the street from the back half of Hard Rock Cafe in Honolulu.

Have fun!
http://www.pinkcadillacwaikiki.com/html/...
http://www.zanzabarhawaii.com/
http://www.pipelinecafe.net/homepage.htm...
http://www.oceanclubonline.com/......
http://www.maitaibar.com/hawaii.html......
http://www.clubvibes.com/listings/listin...
http://www.myspace.com/galaxynightclub.....
http://www.iflygo.com (cheap interisland flights)


Makiki Heights drive - Tourists don't find this gem and it's amazing! MUST SEE. Check your map to get to Makiki Heights. Great views of the island

Restaurants: There are tons of restaurants in Waikiki. If you are young and like to drink then drink b/4 you go out! The Pacific Beach Hotel has drink specials all week long and there a good deal. There are Mai Tai specials all over but DIXIES has the screamin Mai TAi which comes in a 32 oz glass and is about 6 bucks!!! Good Eats there too! For cheaper eats go outside of town over towards the Kaneohe side. If you do want to eat in Waikiki then I would highly recommend that you go to www.entertainment.com and buy the book for Hawaii. This coupon book will save you a ton on the island! Seriously every time I go I get the book and use all the 2-1 deals in it! Check ebay for it too sometimes you can get it dirt cheap!

Hotels; Best hotel for the money is the Ocean Resort Hotel on the east end of the strip. Very close to the beach, decent rooms, service is good and you will pay under a 100 a night for most rooms and the parking is much cheaper than the other hotels. Most parking isn’t included in the cost of your hotel and can be as high as 17$ per day to park. At the Ocean Resort they have limited parking but you can park across the street for 5$/day!

Answer 2

The cool thing about Oahu is that there is everything to do. You can go to Waikiki and take a catamaran booze Cruise for $10.00 all you can drink. Just walking the strip at Waikiki at night is fun with all the street performers and people watching. Good shopping. Great surfing and diving all over the island. Sea Plane and glider flights at reasonable prices. Hit the north shore and the Haleiwa area and see some of the best waves in the world. And if it’s flat the fishing and snorkeling is spectacular. There are water falls, parks, concerts, and an amazing area of Strip clubs. (Not to my taste but available). Try Dukes for cocktails at Waikiki on Sunday afternoon. Beautiful people watching. Go to the Hawaii Yacht club on Friday night and ask for a ride on one of the big sailboats for the beer can races. Right after the races there are Fireworks on the point at the Sheraton. Have Lunch at tropical licks. It’s a cart by the Chart House that serves some the best tacos in the world. Tell Jim that Randy said Hi. The list goes on and on. Absolutely one of the best vacations in the world. I am envious. It will be awhile before I get back there.

PS there is a great old restaurant on Sand Island. La Mariana. It is this Great Tiki bar and it might be the last Real Tiki bar in the Islands. Sand Island is kind of Isolated and La Mariana serves a small Yacht club there. The Place is all Bamboo and blown up Puffer fish. Gorgeous waitresses and the old Lady that owns the place comes down, holds court and greets her guests. The food is just spectacular. With thick and hot Juicy steaks, Ice cold beer and great cocktails. There is a small piano bar and I swear that the same guy has been playing that piano for thirty years. The place was built at the beginning of WW2 and really hasn't changed that much. The old Bamboo has a kind of inner glow that only comes with age and care. It’s really great. Most tourists never find it because it’s off the beaten track. Check it out. You won't regret it and the price is right.

Answer 3

When you are up north shore, they have a Ranch there, and you can go 4-wheeling or hiking, or horse-back riding, etc. This tends to be peopular, because you can even recognize parts of the landscape from films... Otherwise, they've said most of the things to do... You can really do everything on Oahu, even ice-skating is possible. And you don't need a flash-light anymore to hike diamond head. And kite-flying, if you like the simple things... You can just fly a kite at any beach, or at a park. And be careful everywhere about people breaking into your car.

Answer 4

Snorkel in Hanama Bay, an underwater park

Visit the North Shore

Check out the Japanese restaurants on the island, lots of good ones

Visit the Crater

Spend a day downtown Honolulu

Visit Pearl Harbor

Go deep sea fishing, or on a Catamaran tour to see whales

Spend a day on an around the island drive

Answer 5

ONE WORD! SHOPPING! There is a great market place in Honolulu where you can haggle for price cuts...also you can go to these little ticket places where the people there actually get you good deals (look for little asian women with handouts). Also at night on the beach there is entertainment...sometimes hula shows, other times movies. Another thing to do would be to walk the main street of honolulu at night! There are great street performers...look for the golden cowboy!! Lastly go to a Luau and get layed! (sp...I mean the flowers)

Have fun! I know I would!

Answer 6

Check out the free music and hula shows at the hotel pools in the Waikiki area, and the hula dancers up and down the main drag in the evenings. Walk all the way down to the zoo, and you will see lots of interesting things on the way.

If you want to go to a luau, they provide free chartered bus rides to and from your hotel, so you can drink at the party to your heart's content. Germaine's Luau is a smaller one, more intimate. I like it the best. Paradise Cove Luau is much larger with activities you can do before the luau begins. It is very popular.

Hike up Diamond Head. Bring a flashlight.

Hike to Manoa Falls. Here's a cut and paste from this site: http://www.discoveringhawaii.com/sf_hidd...
"One of Hawaii's prettiest waterfalls lies hidden in....Honolulu! Just minutes from the University lies the Manoa Falls Trailhead. A one hour hike alongside Manoa Stream will bring you face to face with this beauty. The water is clear and cold, but feels good after the sweaty hike.
Take University Ave. past UH (the University of Hawaii). University Ave. changes names to OAHU ROAD as it passes E. MANOA ROAD. Keep going until you reach MANOA ROAD. Just don't confuse MANOA RD. with E. MANOA RD and you'll be OK.
At the very end of MANOA ROAD, just past the old Paradise Park parking lot on the right, and the entrance to the Lyon Arboretum further on and to the left, is a heavily shaded area of dead end road. You may park alongside it, but do not leave anything visible in the car, or be seen placing anything in the trunk. Make all your preparations for the hike to Manoa Falls before reaching this point."

Ask the concierge at your hotel for information about shuttles to Pearl Harbor. Arrange to go as early as possible, as the lines get long. Last I saw, there were some shuttle rides for about $7, but that was 5 years ago.

Also, take the free ride to Hilo Hattie's. You will see these trollies all over in Waikiki, taking on passengers at various hotels. If you go to the Kodak hula show at Kapiolani Park
in the morning, there will be greeters for Hilo Hatties waiting for you afterward with shell leis, and offers of free rides.

Take the ride, and do a bit of shopping. There is a nice restaurant (Sam Choy's) within a block of Hilo Hattie's that makes the BEST teriyaki beef.

After lunch, get back on the free bus ride over at Hilo Hattie's, and get off at the Ala Moana Shopping Center for higher end shopping fun.

You can get the free bus ride back to your hotel from there. Keep your shell lei as proof that you used it to get there, and don't tear off the little paper tag. Just find out from the driver where to meet it and the time schedule. I do this whenever I visit, even though I always rent a car. Why drive if there is a free ride? :-)

Rent a car for a couple of days. You need to drive east, over to see the blow hole (free), and Sea Life Park. Drive north from there to Kailua and see the Byodo In Buddhist Temple (free) ring the bell for good luck, and feed the carp.

From there, drive north along the shoreline past the Polynesian Cultural Center, and stop at some of the beaches along the way. They have restroom facilities, but bring some tissues in case they are out. During the work week, the beaches are pretty much deserted. Crowded on the weekends.

Further north, then west to the North Shore for shaved ice. You may see some big wave action at this time of the year.

Back south, and up over the Pali, and stop at the lookout (free). Don't leave any valuables in the car, but walk up to the lookout and lean into the wind. It will hold you up.

Take a scenic walk down the old paved Pali highway that is now overgrown with trees and plants and take in some really spectacular views from there. Then back to your car and back into Honolulu.

Take a whale watching cruise. Take a romantic dinner cruise. Or take a wild booze cruise.