Oahu Tours & Activities

Waikiki was introduced to the world when its first hotel, the Moana Surfrider, was built on its shores in 1901. Known in Hawaiian as "spouting waters," nearly every hotel room in Waikiki is just a few blocks away from the ocean or directly on the beach.

Oahu is known as the “gathering place” and is the third largest of the four main islands. It is the most populated of all the islands with over 1 million residents. It is home to Pearl Harbor, which was attacked by the Japanese in 1941. The north shore of the island has world famous surf spots featuring some of the largest waves ever ridden (in the winter months) at Waimea Bay, Banzai Pipeline and Sunset beach.

Waikiki is a neighborhood within the city of Honolulu. It fronts the coastline (beach) of downtown Honolulu.

Oahu is 44 miles long and 30 miles wide. It is the third largest island and is 112 miles around. From Honolulu it takes around 40 minutes to get to the north shore or to the west side of the island through the mid island Pali tunnel (depending on traffic).

The leeward side of the island is the side protected from the prevailing northeastern trade winds and is typically the drier side. The windward side (north and eastern side) is exposed to the prevailing winds and thus is the wetter side which produces lush rainforests and large surf.

Pay your respects at Pearl Harbor, sunbathe on Waikiki Beach, visit north shore beaches and watch the surfers (or sunset), visit Waimea Canyon and swim under the waterfall and visit the Polynesian Cultural Center. Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay and stopping at the blowhole on the west side is also popular.

With flights that short, each of the islands can be seen in one day. That being said, most islands will require you to choose a single coast or shore (i.e. the Kahala Coast on the Big Island or the North Shore on Oahu). Molokai and Lanai are small enough that you’ll feel content only budgeting one day on the respective islands versus wishes you had more time.

Going for a leisurely ride is called going “holo holo” in the Hawaiian culture. The word “Oahu” means the “gathering place” and part of the reason for this ancient name is the island’s size. Driving around the island only takes a few hours but there is so much to see it’s hard to know where to stop and for how long. The most popular sightseeing activities on Oahu are the north shore beaches and surf, the Pali lookout, the Dole Pineapple Plantation, the Byodo-In Japanese Temple and the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Waikiki is a neighborhood that lines the famous Waikiki Beach in the city of Honolulu. Both Waikiki and Honolulu are located on the island of Oahu.