Oahu Vacation Ideas
Written by VacationIdea.com Travel Editors.
Island activities range from surfing lessons and canoeing to swimming with dolphins and scuba diving. To help you choose, we've grouped Oahu vacation ideas by interest, including adventure, romance, family and cultural attractions.
Adventure Vacations on Oahu
Thrill and adventure seekers can choose from a wide spectrum of water sports and land activities on Oahu. If you want to spend your vacation in or near the water, try surfing on Waikiki Beach, scuba diving and windsurfing. Land adventures include hiking through rainforests, biking along mountain ranges, parasailing and parachuting.
If you are staying on Waikiki Beach, there are several shops that rent outrigger canoes, surf boards and other gear right on the beach. For tennis, archery and jogging, go to Kapiolani Park on the Diamond Head side of Waikiki Beach.
For the Romantic Couple
Romantic ideas on Oahu range from renewing your wedding vows on Waikiki Beach to luxurious beach service at several hotels. Pink aficionados should stay at the historic Royal Hawaiian hotel which features pink decorative touches everywhere. If you've never tasted pink beer or pink champagne, Mai Tai Bar is the place to go.
At Halekulani Hotel on Waikiki Beach, rooms measure 519 to 720 square feet in size and offer private lanai, many with views of the Pacific Ocean.
If you'd rather stay in a more secluded hotel, Kahala Mandarin Oriental, a 10-minutes drive from Waikiki Beach, offers a long sandy beach, attentive service and swimming with Atlantic Bottlenose dolphins.
Family Vacation Ideas on Oahu
Oahu is a vacation destination that offers many things to do for the whole family. Choose from children's programs at Waikiki Beach hotels, hands-on programs and a variety of watersports. The Honolulu Zoo, the Waikiki Aquarium and See Life Park Hawaii are just some of the attractions both kids and grown-ups can enjoy.
Waikiki Beach is shallow and the water is calm most of the year, especially in the winter when the surf stays under two feet. Certain parts of the beach have a life guard on duty watching over swimmers and surfers.
If you want to spend some quiet time by yourself relaxing on the beach or at a health spa, many hotels offer children's programs that are both fun and educational. These programs are half- and full-day in length and will set you back around $25 for a half-day session and $50 for a full day. For detailed pricing, call your hotel directly.
Kids ages 5 to 12 at The Royal Hawaiian, Sheraton Waikiki, Sheraton Moana Surfrider and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani get access to the Keiki Aloha Program with activities such as snorkeling, kite flying and cooking.
Hilton Hawaiian Village offers the Rainbow Express Keiki Club year-round. Activities include fishing at Hilton Lagoon, Hawaiian games, reef walking, fish feeding at the koi ponds, and swimming at the keiki pool.
Cultural Vacations
For all those interested in the Hawaiian culture, Oahu offers a selection of museums, historical attractions and interactive exhibits. The Polynesian Cultural Center on the North Shore of Oahu offers villages and other exhibits inspired by the Polynesian culture.
In Honolulu, take a tour of Iolani Palace, view the King Kamehameha Statue and visit the Mission Houses Museum. If you are interested in Hawaiian art, the Hawaii State Art Museum showcases art pieces by Hawaiian artists from the 1960s to the present.
More About Oahu
Visit out main page on Oahu and browse more things to see & do, hotel reviews and restaurants.
Oahu Vacation
Written By the Travel Editors at VacationIdea.com, Last Update: Oct 12, 2005