Fun Things to Do in Oahu Today

A list of fun things to do on Oahu today could fill a book. If you’re lucky enough to have a copy of Oahu Today, they do! If not, you can’t miss with our suggestions right here, made from the heart.

For more than 40 years we’ve been guiding visitors with the same sense of responsibility we have while squiring family and long-lost high school buddies around our island. Literally millions of people have followed our advice and gone home with smiles as radiant as their tans. The fact is, you only have so much time, and every meal, show, activity and shopping experience deserves to be the best.

One secret is to get up early.

Yes, I know: you’re on vacation. But have you ever been in the Pacific Ocean at dawn? Watching the sun rise from the sea is magical. For local surfers and paddlers, starting the day like this makes whatever follows worthwhile. They call it “dawn patrol.” A crisp stroll along the length of Waikiki Beach — actually seven beaches in all — can do the same thing for you, especially if you’re walking toward a cup of fresh Kona coffee and perhaps macadamia nut pancakes with coconut syrup!

Midmorning is time to explore.

The roads are less crowded then, so head to the North Shore the long way, via Kailua. At the Makapuu Lookout, our entire windward coast stretches before you. A stop at Kailua Beach, repeatedly voted “America’s Best,” is a can’t-miss, while a kayak trip to the offshore Mokulua Islands could be the highlight of your vacation.

Further north is sprawling Kualoa, a 4000-acre private preserve and working cattle ranch, where “Lost” and “Jurassic World” were filmed. We’re partial to the jungle and movie tours, but that’s just us. In Laie is the venerable Polynesian Cultural Center. The evening entertainment is dazzling, and you can decide if you want to make a full day of it. Learning about the cultures that comprise the South Pacific is as much fun as it is a worthwhile education … highly recommended.

Is it lunchtime yet?

By now you’re probably on the North Shore, home to fabled surfing beaches like Sunset, Pipeline and Waimea Bay … and to roadside food trucks, whose succulent shrimp plates can be topped off with fresh, chilled coconut water, available at ubiquitous roadside stands. Hey, don’t be in any hurry to go in the water up there. Always check with the lifeguard: Being safe is part of having fun.

Keep on going.

On a little beach in Haleiwa you’ll see Hawaiian sea turtles napping in the sand. Out in Mokuleia, gliders soar above the Koolau Mountains, and hopping aboard opens the door to a surreal serenity. At the end of the road, if you’ve made preparations, a hike to Kaena Point, the westernmost spot on Oahu, is highly rewarding. Don’t disturb the nesting albatrosses, though they’re not camera-shy.

You get the idea.

It’s only noontime on your first day, and you have the rest of today … and the rest of your trip … to dive into the wonders of this island! We’re glad to help. In fact, we’re thrilled. One of the best things about Oahu is sharing it, and we look forward to filling your mornings, noons and nights with fun.

Aloha!