Things to do in Oahu at a glance
The main sights sit in clear areas: Honolulu and Pearl Harbor in the south, the North Shore with its beaches and turtles, the windward coast around Kailua and Kualoa, and Lāʻie with the Polynesian Cultural Center. You can combine two or three entries on a single day if they lie in the same area.
Three of the most popular sights need a timed reservation, and several places are closed on set weekdays. Each entry below says what to book and when. Prices are for adults in 2026.
Pearl Harbor and Honolulu (1 to 5)
History, a royal palace and the most famous beach in Hawaii.
1. Visit the USS Arizona Memorial
This is a memorial, so expect a quiet and serious visit. The program is free, but tickets cost a $1 booking fee and are sold only on recreation.gov. They are released at 3 pm Hawaii time, 56 days ahead and again one day ahead, and often go within minutes. Bags are not allowed. The visitor center is open daily from 7 am to 5 pm, and parking costs $7.
Pearl Harbor guide →2. Walk the deck of the Battleship Missouri
Adults pay $44.99 and children aged 4 to 12 pay $19.99 in 2026. The ship is open daily from 8 am to 4 pm, with the last entry at 3 pm. A 35-minute guided tour is included. It is closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Day and New Year's Day.
Pearl Harbor guide →3. Go below deck on the submarine Bowfin
The USS Bowfin costs $25.99 for adults and $14.99 for children and is open daily from 7 am to 5 pm. Children under 4 are not admitted to the submarine. The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum next door charges $29.99 and $17.99 (9 am to 5 pm). The Passport to Pearl Harbor covers the Missouri, the Bowfin and the museum for $99.99, but it does not replace the Arizona reservation.
Pearl Harbor guide →4. Tour ʻIolani Palace
The former royal residence in downtown Honolulu offers guided visits from Tuesday to Saturday. The ticket office is open on those days from 8:30 am to 4 pm. Children under 5 are free, and booking ahead is strongly recommended. Large bags, backpacks, food and drinks are not allowed inside.
5. Spend a morning at Waikiki Beach
Lifeguards watch Waikiki, Kūhiō, Queen's and Kapiʻolani Park every day from 8 am to 6:30 pm. The sheltered ponds at Kūhiō Beach suit young children, and Queen's Surf is a marine conservation district for bodyboarding and snorkeling. Hurricane Lowell left debris on parts of the beach in September 2026, so ask the lifeguards about current conditions.
Waikiki Beach →Our picks: things to do
From the air, under water and in the cage.
Hand-picked tours, booked through GetYourGuide. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
One-hour helicopter flight, doors off or on
A 60-minute flight with live commentary, with the doors off or on. Tips are not included.
Check availability →
Shark cage dive off the North Shore
A boat trip from Haleiwa with a guide. The cage dive and the snorkel gear are only included with the dive option.
Check availability →
Turtle Canyon snorkel trip off Waikiki
Snorkel gear, fins, a safety diver and guide, and soft drinks. Remember to keep your distance from the turtles.
Check availability →Oahu tours and experiences
Pearl Harbor trips, circle-island tours, snorkeling and luaus, with live prices and availability.
Hikes, snorkeling and the North Shore (6 to 10)
Book the first two ahead. The rest you can decide on the day.
6. Hike Diamond Head
The trail to the crater rim is 0.8 miles each way with 560 feet of climb, steep and tiring. Non-residents reserve entry ($5 per person) and parking ($10 per car) online, up to 30 days ahead. Visitors without a reservation are turned away. Open daily 6 am to 6 pm, with the last hike reservation at 4 pm.
Diamond Head hike →7. Snorkel at Hanauma Bay
Entry is $25 for non-residents aged 13 and over, children up to 12 are free, and parking costs $3 in cash. The preserve is open Wednesday to Sunday and closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Reservations open two days ahead at 7 am, and everyone watches the safety video on every visit. A second closure for canal work is announced for early 2027.
Hanauma Bay →8. Drive the North Shore to Haleiwa and Waimea Bay
A car makes the North Shore day easy. Lifeguards are on duty daily from 8 am to 6:30 pm at Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach, Ehukai Beach, Laniakea Beach and Haleʻiwa Aliʻi Beach Park. Winter brings big waves, so stay out of the water when the surf is high. If a lifeguard tower is empty, call 911 in an emergency.
North Shore guide →9. See the turtles at Laniakea Beach
Stay at least 10 feet (3 meters) from green sea turtles, on land and in the water, and at least 50 feet (15 meters) from monk seals. Volunteers usually watch over the animals during the day. There is no gate and no reservation, and cars park along the highway edge.
North Shore guide →10. Visit Waimea Valley
Adults pay $26, seniors and students $20, children 4 to 12 $18, and residents and military adults $10. It is open Tuesday to Sunday from 9 am to 4 pm and closed on Mondays. From 25 May to 7 September 2026 it opens daily until 5 pm. A shuttle costs $10 one way or $20 round trip.
The windward coast, culture and a luau (11 to 15)
The best days out beyond Honolulu. None of them sits on the rail line.
11. Take a tour at Kualoa Ranch
The 1.5-hour tours, such as the Movie Sites & Ranch Tour, cost $59.95 for adults in 2026. The UTV Raptor Tour costs $149.95 and sells out weeks ahead. The ranch is open daily from 7:30 am to 6 pm and closed on 25 December and 1 January. Transport from Waikiki costs $30 per person round trip, plus tax.
Kualoa Ranch →12. Explore the Polynesian Cultural Center
The center in Lāʻie is closed on Sundays and Wednesdays, with a few exceptions in 2026. The villages run from 12:15 pm to 5:30 pm. The Islands of Polynesia ticket costs $94.95, and the Aliʻi Lūʻau package with the evening show costs $197.95.
Polynesian Cultural Center →13. Ride the train at the Dole Plantation
Entry to the grounds is free. The Pineapple Express train costs $15, the maze $10 and the garden tour $8.50, or $28 for all three. The attractions open daily from 9:30 am to 5 pm, and you buy tickets on site. The plantation is closed on 25 December.
Dole Plantation →14. Walk to Lanikai Beach and Kailua
Lanikai has no public parking, toilets, showers or lifeguards, and parking on the roadside is prohibited. Take TheBus route 671 from Kailua Town or plan another way in. Kailua Beach has lifeguards daily from 8 am to 6:30 pm. The Mokulua islets are a bird sanctuary, so stay below the high-water mark.
Lanikai Beach and Kailua →15. Go to a luau
Kaula Lūʻau at Ko Olina opened in February 2026 and costs $169 for adults in the standard package. Germaine's Luau in Kapolei starts at $128. Paradise Cove closed on 31 December 2025, even though some sites still list it.
Luaus compared →Plan the rest of your trip
Useful pages before you decide.
Things to do in Oahu: frequently asked questions
Which sights need a reservation?
Non-residents reserve the USS Arizona Memorial on recreation.gov, Diamond Head online up to 30 days ahead, and Hanauma Bay online two days ahead. Booking ahead is also strongly recommended for ʻIolani Palace.
Which places are closed on certain days?
Hanauma Bay is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, the Polynesian Cultural Center on Sundays and Wednesdays, and Waimea Valley on Mondays. ʻIolani Palace offers visits from Tuesday to Saturday. Kualoa Ranch and the Dole Plantation are open daily.
Do I need a rental car?
A car is the easiest way to do a North Shore day trip. Kualoa Ranch and the Polynesian Cultural Center are not on the rail line, so reach them by car, tour or a bus with a change. In Waikiki you can manage without a car.
How close can I get to sea turtles?
At least 10 feet (3 meters) in Hawaii, on land and in the water. Keep 50 feet (15 meters) from monk seals. Both animals are protected by law.
What changed for visitors in 2026?
Paradise Cove Luau closed, the hotel tax rose to 11 % in January, TheBus raised fares in July, and the September hurricanes damaged parts of the south shore. Check beach and park status before you go.
Is visitoahu.org the official tourism site?
No. This is an independent travel guide. The official Hawaii tourism website is gohawaii.com.