Emma @ theweekendabroad.com on One Week on Oahu: What to See, Do, and Eat
Oahu was our home for 7 nights and 8 peaceful days in mid-October where we swam with vibrant fish, undertook sweaty yet rewarding hikes, and feasted on the freshest of local bites. The trip was partially business, as we plan to have our wedding on the island next summer and wanted to see the venue and meet vendors there, but honestly most of it was pleasure. This was the first time Roger and I had spent an entire week in one location since most of our trips consist of jumping from place to place every few days (see: How We Visited 5 Countries in 19 Days). It felt really good to sink our teeth (and toes) into one destination and relax. We fell in love with the island and can’t wait to celebrate with our closest friends and family there next year. Here’s a look at our week on Oahu and what to see, do, and eat on the island.
One Week on Oahu Trip Basics
Accommodations: We stayed in a wonderful Airbnb in the quaint town of Kailua, which is on the east shore of Oahu.
Weather: We thought the weather in mid-October was perfect – roughly 25C everyday with very intermittent showers.
Transportation: They have busses around the island, but we highly recommend renting a car from the airport. We barely experienced any traffic on the island (mostly because we avoided busy Honolulu).
Tips:
- Bring an umbrella everywhere you go if you don’t like getting wet!
- Avoid Waikiki at all costs if you don’t like crowds and traffic
- Rent snorkeling gear at a local snorkel shop rather than the actual snorkel site to save money
Hanauma Bay: A breathtaking place to snorkeling and diving.
Summary of Our Favorites Things on Oahu
Top 5 things we did on Oahu:
- Snorkel at Hanauma Bay
- Hiked Koko Head Crater Trail
- Hiked the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail
- Stumbled upon the Home of the Brave Museum in Honolulu, which is home to the incredible Wiki Waki Tiki Bar
- Relaxed on Kailua’s Lanikai Beach, a beautiful and quiet white sand beach
Top 5 things we ate on Oahu:
- Poke at The Hibachi in Kailua
- Traditional Hawaiian food at Rainbow Drive-In in Honolulu
- Hawaiian/Asian-fusion brunch at Koko Head Cafe in Honolulu
- We didn’t get to eat much here, but were in absolute awe of the Shirokiya Japanese Village Walk at Ala Moana Center – this is a must-see if you like Japanese food
- Garlic shrimp at Romy’s Kahuku Prawns & Shrimp Hut in Kahuku
Beer Recommendations on Oahu:
- Definitely hit up Lanikai Brewing Company (we went twice during our stay!)
- Visit the famous Kona Brewing Company (they have a pretty good happy hour)
A Deeper Dive Into Our Favorite Oahu Beaches, Hikes, Food & Drinks, & Activities
FAVORITE OAHU BEACHES
Lanikai Beach: An incredibly serene and picturesque white sand beach in Kailua
Papa’iloa Beach: The North Shore beach where they filmed Lost!
China Walls: Not really a beach, but a really cool spot to relax and watch surfers.
FAVORITE OAHU HIKES
Koko Head: Not for the faint of heart! An almost vertical stair climb up to this gorgeous view of Hanauma Bay.
Makapu’u Point Trail: A steep and newly paved trail takes you to this deep blue Pacific view.
Ka’ena Point Trail Hike: A quiet hike on the northwest shore of Oahu.
OAHU FOOD & DRINKS
Shirokiya Japan Village Walk: The most magical Japanese food court we stumbled upon in Ala Moana Center in Honolulu.
OAHU ACTIVITIES
Dole Plantation: a fun activity for all ages! We paid a small fee to conquer the maze there.
Pearl Harbor: An immersive look into one of the country’s most well know events. Completely free excluding some tours.
Home of the Brave Museum: Another free look into World War II. A really cool tiki bar, Wiki Waki Woo, is hidden in this museum!
Questions or comments about our trip to Oahu? Let me know in the comments!
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