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Hello dear reader! Did the click bait-y title promising secret things to do on Oahu that few humans on earth have ever done attract you here? ; )

Welcome. Now that I have you here, I’m going to level with you…Hawaii is not undiscovered anymore. Every single spot on Oahu has been covered by the YouTubers and TikTokers and bloggers seeking epic photos for their social media feeds.

But hey, SHE IS A BEAUTY. So you really can’t blame them.

In general (like with most tourist destinations), there are top tier tourist attractions (some definitely worth your time and some questionably overrated) and then things to do that are more off the beaten path or overlooked

This post is all about the latter.

Here’s the deal…I don’t recommend things that are illegal or have a high “danger” factor. I was recently browsing the internet and stumbled upon a blog that recommended the top 10 or so hikes on Oahu and HALF of them were labeled as illegal or “extremely dangerous” by the blogger themself! Seriously?? Why are you recommending them to people??

Anyways, just because some locals or YouTubers have done some crazy adventure and lived to tell the tale, doesn’t mean you need to ; ) Serious search and rescue operations occur across the Hawaiian Islands all. the. time. And MOST of them are for visitors/tourists that were venturing where they shouldn’t have been.

Besides hikes that are flat out illegal or basically scaling the side of a cliff, I also don’t tend to recommend cliff jumping into the open ocean or jumping into underwater caves at low tide that require extreme upper body strength to pull yourself back out of before the cave fills with water. There’s just sooooo much that can go wrong quickly.

Honestly, if you’re interested in those spots (no judgment but just pleeeeeeease be careful), you’ll find plenty of bloggers that have “spilled the secrets” on the Internet.

But in this post, “I” am going to let you in on a list of “secret” things to do on Oahu that I think are a little off the beaten path. Some are mainstream “attractions” that I think get overlooked, but they’re all seriously worth doing.

These are things that are perfectly safe and legal to do, but maybe not as “insta-worthy” so they don’t get all the crazy attention from the selfie-set. But they deserve some attention!

Mostly things outside of Waikiki and Honolulu, but a few in the area too. For this post, I’m going to assume you already know about luaus, Kualoa Ranch, the Polynesian Cultural Center, hiking Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, snorkeling Hanauma Bay, etc. All of the “big time” things to do on Oahu.

So, on with the show…

My Favorite “Secret” Things to Do on Oahu

Shangri La & the Honolulu Museum of Art

Okay, this is my #1 “secret thing to do on Oahu” right now. It is soooooo stunning, and such an absolute treasure that it blows my mind that more people don’t talk about it.

Originally the home of Doris Duke (heiress to the American Tobacco fortune), it now houses her extensive collection of Islamic art.

Shangri La has got to be one of the best house museums anywhere in the world.

The property can only be explored via a guided tour from the Honolulu Museum of Art, and if you have ANY appreciation for art, culture, and beautiful homes then I think this is a must do.

Your tour also includes admission to the Honolulu Museum of Art, which I was surprisingly impressed with. Honolulu is such a cultural crossroads and the museum does a great job representing so many different styles and cultures.

Besides their interesting temporary exhibits, and fairly impressive European Impressionist collection (always something I look for), my favorite part was the Georgia O’Keefe collection. She’s most known for her work in the American Southwest, but in 1939 she traveled to Hawaii with the Hawaii Pineapple Company (later the Dole Company) to work on a magazine advertising campaign.

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Pillbox Hikes

Oahu has plenty of famous hikes. Well trafficked ones like Diamond Head and illegal ones like the Stairway to Heaven. But my personal favorite is the Lanikai Pillbox. There are actually several pillbox hikes around the island, most notably at Lanikai on the windward coast, at Ehukai on the north shore, and Ma’ili (the pink one) on the west side.

The pillboxes are old bunkers left over from WWII and since they were all used as lookouts, they’ve got pretty amazing views.

What I love about them is that they’re all mostly pretty quick/easy-ish hikes for a BIG view payoff. And while they’re not undiscovered by any means, they’re definitely a little more off the beaten path than some of the bigger hikes.

Like I said, I love the Lanikai Pillbox hike, but recommend going early to beat the heat and get a parking spot. And since the trailhead is in a residential area, just be really sensitive about where you park and not walking through people’s property.

Iolani Palace

For being the showpiece of the Hawaiian Monarchy, I have a feeling that not nearly as many visitors see the Iolani Palace as have mai tais at Duke’s on Waikiki ; ) And that’s a shame. The palace speaks for itself (it had electricity before the White House!), but you’ll really want to book a guided tour with a docent to learn the history of the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy.

Royal Hawaiian & Moana Surfrider Tours

There’s nothing I love more than a grand old hotel, and Waikiki has TWO. The Moana Surfrider, built in 1901, is Waikiki’s original and oldest hotel and the Royal Hawaiian has got to be the most iconic hotel in Hawaii. They just don’t make them like this anymore.

You can pop by either one for dinner, drinks, shopping, or just general gawking. But they also both offer free historical tours a few times a week.

Complimentary walking tours covering the history of the hotel are offered on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday at 1PM at the Royal Hawaiian and on Monday and Wednesday at 11AM at the Moana Surfrider.

Tantalus Lookout

Everybody likes a hike, but you know what I love? A DRIVE with a view. After you’ve hiked Diamond Head, drive up to the Tantalus Lookout for a different perspective. It’s easy to find…your GPS will take you right there and you’ll know it when you see it.

Bishop Museum

This should sooooo not be a “secret” or overlooked spot on Oahu, because it is ESSENTIAL, but alas, most people are too wooed by all the tropical adventures on Oahu to carve out time for a…sigh…museum.

This is a world class, Smithsonian calibur museum is, well to quote them, the “premier natural and cultural history museum in the state.”

The Hawaiian and Polynesian Halls are top notch and the Planetarium’s daily presentations on Wayfaring are always a crowd pleaser.

Side Note: If you’re looking for a rental car for your trip, I LOVE Discount Hawaii Car Rentals. They’re seriously the only company I ever use. They’ll give you the very best prices, you don’t have to reserve with a credit card or pay until you show up, you can cancel and re-book anytime if you find a better rate, and they usually have a special that adds additional drivers for no fee. It’s a no brainer. Click here to check rates for your trip.

North Shore Shrimp Trucks

Giovanni’s may be the most famous, but did you know there’s actually a whole slew of longtime shrimp trucks and stands on the north shore? Most are concentrated around Kahuku.

Chinatown

Spend a few hours exploring Chinatown’s markets, lei shops, and bar and restaurant scene. Don’t miss the Pig and the Lady for lunch or a casual dinner or Senia for one of the best dinners in Honolulu.

Watch a Surfing Competition

The north shore of Oahu arguably has some of the best surfing in the entire world. Surf breaks in the winter (the big spots are flat as a pancake during the summer) and that’s when all the big surf competitions are. Vans Triple Crown of Surfing all takes place over a 30 day period in December and January at the Hawaiian Pro in Haleiwa, the World Cup at Sunset Beach, and Pipe Masters at the Banzai Pipeline. Even if the timing doesn’t workout to catch a big competition (and it’s soooooo crowded), you’re sure to spot the pros out on the waves along the north shore all winter.

More Spots to Put on Your List

Queen Emma Summer Palace: Originally built in 1847, the Queen Emma Summer Palace served as a mountain retreat and summer home for Queen Emma and her husband King Kamehameha IV from 1857 to 1885. It’s now open for tours.

Kahuku Farms: Maybe you’ve seen the popular organic farm to table cafe on the north shore, but did you know you can actually tour the farm that’s been in operation for over 100 years?

Honolulu Fish Auction: The Honolulu Fish Auction is the only tuna auction in the United States and quite an experience. It’s free and open to the public, but you’ll have to arrive early to see the show (6AM-8AM is preferred) and it’s chilly inside so bring a jacket! Even though you can technically go on your own, I would highly recommend a tour for this one.

Kaneohe Sandbar: This gorgeous sandbar in Kaneohe Bay used to be more of a locals weekend spot, but several tour operators are now offering options to take visitors to the sandbar via boat.

Byodo-In Temple at Valley of the Temples Memorial Park: You might think you were in Japan, but the rising Ko’olau Mountains in the background are a dead giveaway.

Waimea Valley: Waimea Bay gets all the attention on the north shore, but tucked into the Waimea Valley there’s a nice waterfall hike.

On Another Note: If you’re looking for a condo or vacation rental for your trip, I always book with Vrbo. They’ve got the largest selection of rentals you’ll find anywhere and you can easily filter to find exactly what you’re looking for. Need a specific number of bedrooms and bathrooms? Narrowed it down to a certain location? Want flexible cancellation terms? Need to stay under a fixed budget? Click here to search for Oahu vacation rentals for your trip.

Waimanalo Beach (aka Sherwood Beach): Just as pretty as nearby Lanikia & Kailua Beaches, but a whole lot less crowded.

Manoa Falls: A great waterfall hike that’s on a well traveled trail. No cliffs, risks, or imminent death involved ; )

Lyon Arboretum: A lush botanical garden with great mountain views in the same area as Manoa Falls.

Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens: It’s practically a rule that if you’re a YouTuber, Instagramer, Tik Tok-er, Blogger, etc. you HAVE to come here for photos. But don’t worry, they’ll still let you in if you’re just a regular ol’ traveler ; )

North Shore Shark Dive: I’ll be honest. I haven’t done this, and it sounds mildly terrifying, but everyone I talk with who does this tour LOVES it. And Oahu is the only island where you can dive with sharks, so if you’re an adventure/adrenaline lover, you’ve got to check this out.

Want to read more posts about Oahu? I’ve got plenty!

My Favorite Things to Do on Oahu // Things to Do in Waikiki // 5 Day Oahu Itinerary // Oahu North Shore Guide // Oahu Windward Coast (Kailua) Guide // Easy Hikes on Oahu

My Favorite Boutique Hotels in Waikiki // Where to Stay on Oahu Besides Waikiki // The Laylow Review

The Best Luaus (and the Worst) on Oahu // Paradise Cove Luau Review // Is the Polynesian Cultural Center Worth It? // Paradise Cove vs Polynesian Cultural Center

Where Locals Eat in Waikiki // Jurassic Park at Kualoa Ranch // Shangri La and the Honolulu Museum of Art // Tips for Visiting Pearl Harbor

Tips for Staying at Aulani // Is Aulani Worth It? // How Many Days to Spend at Aulani // Aulani Character Schedule // Ka Wa’a Luau Review // Things to Do Near Aulani (in Ko Olina) // Where to Eat Near Aulani

Everything You Need to Know BEFORE You Go to Oahu

Here’s one more really important thing you need to know before your Hawaii trip…

Reservations You Need to Make BEFORE Your Hawaii Trip

You’ve got your airfare, hotel, rental car and your big activities booked, so you should be good to go, right? Wrong!

Travel is BOOMING in Hawaii so a lot of state and national parks used the closure and reopening to institute reservation systems at some of the island’s most popular spots to make things a little more sustainable.

That means that there are now over half a dozen sites (beaches, trailheads, etc.) that require advance reservations. And some sell out well before you arrive on the island so you really need to have some sort of a plan.

I recently saw somebody in a Hawaii travel group post in a panic that they didn’t know they had to make reservations for things in advance…they thought they could just show up and “go with the flow.” I was tempted to say, well, “as long as the flow doesn’t take you somewhere that requires reservations, you can!” ; )

But I don’t want YOU to be that person, so I’ve pulled together a list of all the places you need to reserve entry in advance (plus all the details on booking windows, price, links, etc.) and a handful of popular tourist hotspots that book out really far in advance too.

Haleakala National Park (Maui)

To visit Haleakala National Park for sunrise at the summit, you must make reservations in advance here.

Reservations are required to enter the park gates between 3AM and 7AM (sunrise hours).

Online reservations are $1 per reservation/vehicle PLUS you’ll pay the park entrance fee of $30/vehicle when you arrive (National Park annual passes are also accepted at the gate).

The reservation booking window opens 60 days in advance at 7AM HST. There are also a limited number of tickets released two days before.

You can make one reservation every three days with the same account. So if you want to make reservations for back to back days (in case of weather/conditions), you’ll need to do so with separate accounts (email addresses).

If you can’t get reservations for sunrise, you can enter the park anytime after 7AM without reservations. The summit is spectacular during the day and you don’t need reservations for sunset.

I strongly recommend creating an account before and making sure you’re logged in at 7AM HST because it’s not uncommon for reservations to sell out quickly.

Waianapanapa State Park (Maui)

To visit Maui’s famous black sand beach at Waianapanapa State Park on the Road to Hana, you must make reservations in advance here.

Reservations are required to visit the beach and are distributed in windows from 7AM-10AM, 10AM-12:30PM, 12:30PM-3PM, and 3PM-6PM. And they are pretty strict about exiting by the end of your window time (you can arrive anytime within your window).

It’s $5/person to enter plus $10/vehicle to park and those fees are paid when you book your time slot.

Reservations open up 30 days in advance.

Iao Valley State Park (Maui)

To visit the lush, green mountains and hike at Iao Valley State Park, you must make reservations in advance here.

Reservations are offered for 90 minute time slots beginning at 7AM and ending at 6PM. They ask that you arrive within the first 30 minutes of your time slot.

Entry is $5/person plus $10/vehicle to park.

Reservations open up 30 days in advance.

Diamond Head (Oahu)

To hike to the top of Waikiki’s famous Diamond Head, you must make reservations in advance here.

Reservations are offered in two hour increments beginning at 6AM (6AM-8AM, 8AM-10AM, etc.) and ending at 6PM. If you’re parking onsite, they ask that you arrive within the first 30 minutes of your reservation window.

Entry is $5/person plus $10/vehicle to park.

Reservations open up 30 days in advance.

Tip: I recommend booking one of the first two time slots because there isn’t much shade on this hike and it gets pretty hot.

Hanauma Bay (Oahu)

To snorkel at Oahu’s pristine Hanauma Bay, you must make reservations in advance here.

Entry times are staggered in 10 minute increments from 7AM to 1:20PM with roughly 1000 slots being assigned in advance every day.

Reservations can be made two days in advance and they open at 7AM HST. They’re usually gone in minutes (if not seconds).

If you’re unable to get an advanced reservation, you can try for a day of, walk in ticket. They open at 6:45AM and they only have a limited number available. Everyone in your group needs to be present when you purchase your tickets in person.

There are no reservations for parking and it’s first come, first serve. $3/vehicle.

It’s $25/person to snorkel at Hanauma Bay (12 and under, active military, and locals with HI ID are free).

The Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is open Wednesday through Sunday (CLOSED MONDAY AND TUESDAY) from 6:45AM-4PM. Last entry is at 1:30PM, the beach is cleared at 3:15PM and you have to leave the facility by 4PM.

Jellyfish patterns can also affect whether or not the bay is open so double check the day before/day of.

USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor (Oahu)

If you want to take the boat tour at Pearl Harbor out to the USS Arizona, it’s recommended to make advance reservations here.

Online reservations are guaranteed a specific boarding time to go out to the USS Arizona. If you’re unable to get an advance reservation, you can wait standby when you arrive. The line could be short (15 minutes or so) or long (hours) and it just depends on the day (if they’re having problems with the loading dock sometimes they don’t take many from the standby line) and the time of day.

Reservations are supposed to open up 60 days in advance, but keep an eye on your exact dates, because lately they’ve actually been opening up about 57ish days in advance???

They also release a small batch of tickets the day before.

The boat ride out to the USS Arizona is free, but it’s $1 to make the reservations online.

They recently started charging $7/vehicle for parking at Pearl Harbor.

Haena State Park / Kalalau Trail (Kauai)

If you want to hike Kauai’s famous Kalalau Trail, you must make advance reservations here.
You’ve got three options here:

1) Parking & Entry: This is the most flexible option and also the most limited. THESE RESERVATIONS SELL OUT IN LESS THAN A MINUTE. There are three time slots available: 6:30AM-12:30PM, 12:30PM-5:30PM and 4:30PM to sunset. You can purchase multiple time slots if you want to stay longer. It’s $10/timeslot (parking) plus $5/person and you have to reserve every person when you initially book. Everybody has to arrive in the same car and your ID needs to match the reservation.

2) Shuttle & Entry: If you can’t get parking at the trailhead, there’s also a shuttle option. Shuttle reservations are $35/person (16+), $25/person (ages 4-15), 3 and under can ride free. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes 6:20AM to 6:40PM.

3) Entry Only: If you’re a Hawaiian resident (with HI ID) or someone WITH a Hawaiian resident, you can purchase entry only for $5/person with no advance reservations. Also, if you’re walking or biking to the trailhead you can do this option. But there is NOWHERE to park in the area to walk in. So this really only works for those with bikes or who are staying close enough to walk. They will tow your car if you park outside the designated areas.

The reservation window opens 30 days in advance at 12AM HST. The parking & entry option usually sells out in a minute, but the shuttle availability will last longer.

There are a TON of FAQs here including the possibility of snagging a canceled reservation.

Other Things to Book in Advance

Hawaii is a busy place these days! Besides the state and national parks above, here’s a handful of miscellaneous things you should make reservations for in advance (if they’re on your radar):

Mama’s Fish House (Maui): The iconic spot is the most popular restaurant in Hawaii and dinner reservations usually start filling up about 6 months in advance (they open up bookings 18 months in advance). Make reservations through their website and if the dates you want are already booked, you can join a waitlist. Most people have pretty good success getting in on the waitlist (even if it’s for lunch).

Old Lahaina Luau (Maui): Honestly, any luau you’re planning to attend you should book early, but most people are usually shocked how far out the Old Lahaina Luau books out. Book it as soon as you know your dates (I think they open at the six month window). They also have a waitlist.

Kualoa Ranch UTV Tour (Oahu): Everybody loves Jurassic Park so getting to ride UTVs where they filmed the movies is very popular. The ranch offers a lot of different tours but the UTV tours usually book out a couple of months in advance.

Spa Reservations: If you’re staying at a resort with a spa (or planning on visiting one), don’t wait until you arrive to make your reservations. I’d make them at least a month in advance.

Tee Times: Same for golf, reserve your tee times well in advance.

Dining Reservations: Any “fancy” or resort restaurant is likely to be booked up these days so if you like having a nice dinner every night, make your plans in advance.

Save

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