Things to do in Oahu
Sunset Cruise Waikiki38 optionsSnorkel Oahu61 optionsWhale Watching Oahu31 optionsBoat Tour Oahu69 optionsOahu Helicopter Tour9 optionsNorth Shore Tours40 optionsZipline Oahu5 optionsSunset Cruise Oahu22 optionsOahu Catamaran36 optionsFishing Tour Oahu8 optionsSnorkeling Tour Waikiki8 optionsGlass Bottom Boat Oahu8 options
Sort
Waikiki: Semi Private Surf Lesson with Local InstructorsYou’ll laugh through wipeouts and cheer for each small win as local instructors guide your group through every step—from paddling basics on Waikīkī’s sand to catching your first gentle wave together. Expect warm encouragement, real tips tailored for all ages, and quiet moments floating under Honolulu’s sky that might stick with you long after.
Oahu: Dolphin & Whale Safari with Marine BiologistsYou board a small boat with nine other people and a marine biologist, then spend the morning in offshore waters where dolphins, turtles, and whales actually live. The route changes based on real ocean conditions and wildlife behavior, not a preset schedule. You get snorkeling gear, local juices, and snacks included; the boat has shade and a bathroom, so you're comfortable between stops. No crowds, no rigid timeline, no pressure on the animals—just a flexible, conditions-based safari that adapts to what shows up that day.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see dolphins, turtles, and whales without the crowds of Waikiki tours, and you're comfortable with the fact that wildlife sightings depend on real ocean conditions rather than a guarantee—the small group and flexible route are what make respectful, meaningful encounters possible.
Honolulu Airport to Hotel or Cruise: Private SUV & SprinterYou’ll step off your flight in Honolulu and find your private driver waiting—no lines, no confusion. Settle into a cool SUV or Sprinter as you head straight from HNL airport to your Waikiki hotel or cruise port. Along the way, you’ll catch glimpses of Diamond Head and maybe even swap tips with your local driver. Sometimes comfort is what sticks with you most.
Scuba Diving Oahu: 2-Tank Private Charter from WaikikiA two-tank scuba dive off Oahu boards a private boat from Waikiki and descends to two separate Pacific locations with PADI-certified instructors. All diving equipment, a professional guide and complimentary roundtrip transportation within Waikiki are included. Certified divers explore reefs and wrecks; first-time divers and snorkelers are welcome, though evidence of certification is required for certified dives and all participants complete a health questionnaire before entering the water.Is it for me?The dive runs three hours total, which suits an afternoon with no early start, and the private boat keeps groups small so you're not jostling for space or air time. Book this if you want to descend to two separate sites without renting a boat yourself or coordinating with a larger group.
Day trip Oahu to Kauai: Waimea Canyon & Wailua River boatThis all-inclusive day trip from Oahu to Kauai combines roundtrip interisland airfare, ground transport, a guided sightseeing tour, and lunch into one package, so you arrive and the day unfolds without planning. You'll cruise the Wailua River by open-air boat to Fern Grotto, see Opaekaa Falls and Spouting Horn, tour Waimea Canyon (nicknamed the Grand Canyon of the Pacific), and visit Kauai Coffee Estate. The 14-hour experience includes an English-speaking guide and air-conditioned vehicle throughout.Is it for me?Book this if you want airfare, airport transfers, and a guided land tour bundled together—choose a self-guided rental if you'd rather explore Kauai independently after arriving.
Oahu Whale Watching Sail: Waianae Coast Catamaran & DrinksYou’ll feel the ocean breeze as you sail Oahu’s west coast by catamaran, eyes peeled for humpback whales breaching nearby. With a local guide sharing stories and tropical drinks in hand, every sighting feels personal. There’s shaded seating to relax between whale spouts—and if luck isn’t on your side, you get another shot for free.
Oahu Circle Island Tour: Waikiki, North Shore & Dole with PickupYou’ll circle Oahu from Waikiki’s legendary surf breaks to North Shore’s wild beaches with a local guide who knows every story. Taste macadamia nuts fresh at Tropical Farms, grab lunch from famous food trucks, and maybe spot sea turtles if you’re lucky. Expect salty air, laughter in the van, and moments you’ll want to pause forever.
Oahu: Small Group Yacht Snorkel Tour with Lunch & DrinksYou’ll set sail from Ko Olina on a small group yacht cruise along West Oahu’s coast, guided by locals who know where to find dolphins and turtles. Snorkel clear reefs with all gear provided, then relax over a fresh lunch with drinks from an open bar. Expect laughter, sun-warmed decks, and those quiet underwater moments that stick with you long after.
Group Surf Lesson Hawaii: Guaranteed Wave CatchA group surf lesson in Hawaii for 2–4 people ages 12 and older, with a certified DLNR instructor, one hour in the water, and all gear provided. You meet at a small beach, learn paddling and pop-ups on shore, then spend an hour practicing with hands-on help from the instructor—they'll tow you if paddling is tough and push you onto waves until you catch them. Photos and videos from the session arrive by email the same day.Is it for me?Pick this if you're staying anywhere on Oahu and want hands-on instruction from a certified lifeguard—the beach has parking and sits near public transit, so you can get there on your own schedule.
Oahu: Semi Private Surfing Lesson for Beginners & FriendsYou’ll start on Oahu’s North Shore with a local surf instructor who keeps things relaxed but focused. Practice paddling and standing up in warm sand before heading into gentle waves together — just you and one friend or partner per instructor. Expect real-time feedback (and probably some laughs) as you catch your first wave in a quiet cove away from crowds.
Waikiki Night Marchers Ghost Tour: 1.5-hour walking tourThe Waikiki Night Marchers Ghost Tour is a 90-minute guided walking tour through Kapiolani Park led by Lopaka Kapanui, a master storyteller and Hawaii's known ghost expert, covering the area's ancient burials, sacred heiau (temples), and documented accounts of the legendary Night Marchers. The tour draws on true stories from eyewitnesses who have encountered the ghostly march, grounded in Hawaiian history and culture. Voted #1 Ghost Tour in the nation for three consecutive years (2023–2025) by USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards, it is operated by a Native Hawaiian-owned company with no hidden fees—the price shown is what you pay, plus state taxes.Is it for me?Book this tour if you want the history and paranormal accounts of Waikiki told by someone with deep cultural knowledge of the place—Lopaka Kapanui's storytelling grounds the legends in true witness testimony and Hawaiian tradition, which is what sets this tour apart from generic ghost walks elsewhere.
Oahu West Coast: Turtle Snorkel Sail & Premium Bar AfternoonYou’ll board a catamaran on Oahu’s west coast for an afternoon sail with spinner dolphin sightings, guided snorkeling among sea turtles and reef fish (gear included), plus time to relax with drinks from a premium bar as you drift back toward shore. The memory of watching a honu glide by stays with you long after your feet are dry.
North Shore Surfing Lessons Oahu: Learn to Ride WavesNorth Shore surfing lessons on Oahu teach you to paddle, stand and catch waves in a 1.5-hour class with a live instructor. The lesson starts on the beach with technique drills, then moves into the water at either Chuns Reef or Pua'ena Point depending on conditions; board, rash guard and leash are provided. Children from age 4 are welcome, and the instructor stays with you throughout.Is it for me?Book the group lesson if you want to learn alongside other beginners and keep the cost down; choose the private option if you'd rather have the instructor's full attention and a custom pace. Either way, the 1.5-hour format gives you enough time in the water to feel the difference between the beach drills and actually riding a wave.
Oahu West Coast: Dolphin Watching & Turtle Snorkeling TourYou’ll watch wild dolphins play along Oahu’s west coast from a stable catamaran before snorkeling with sea turtles in clear water. Local guides share stories and help even beginners feel at ease in the ocean. Includes shuttle pickup from Waikiki hotels and a Hawaiian-style lunch on board. You might leave still thinking about those quiet moments drifting above the reef.
Oahu Circle Island: Private Day Tour with Custom StopsYou’ll move from Waikiki’s early buzz to quiet North Shore beaches with a local guide who adapts everything around your pace—whether that means pausing for shrimp trucks or wandering temple gardens under the Koʻolau cliffs. Expect laughter, ocean air, and small details you’d miss on your own.
Oahu Helicopter Tour: Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor & WaterfallsYou fly in a modern Airbus EC 130 with individual window seats and two-way headset communication with the pilot, soaring over Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, hidden rainforests, Sacred Falls, and Lanikai Beach. The tour includes all fees and taxes, a certified pilot guide, and aviation-grade noise-cancelling headsets. Arrive an hour early for check-in and safety briefing; the flight itself runs about an hour depending on conditions.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see the entire island's geography and hidden valleys in one flight without arranging multiple ground tours—the helicopter covers rainforests, waterfalls, and coastline that are unreachable by car, and the individual window seats mean you're not competing for the view.
Clear Bottom Kayak Oahu: Guaranteed Sea TurtlesA guided kayak tour on Oahu's North Shore using glass-bottom kayaks to see Hawaiian green sea turtles and river wildlife. A lifeguard-certified instructor leads small groups into the ocean and down the Anahulu River, a quiet spot locals know. All equipment is provided and no prior paddling experience is required. The tour runs about two hours and shifts with the season: ocean tours peak April through September, while October through April focuses on the calmer river.Is it for me?Choose this if you want to see sea turtles in two settings—both ocean and river—from a glass-bottom kayak that lets you watch wildlife below without paddling skills.
Honolulu Airport to Waikiki: Private Van Transfer up to 14You get picked up at baggage claim by a driver who's already tracked your flight, driven to your Waikiki hotel without arranging transport yourself, and the return trip to Honolulu airport works the same way. The van holds up to 14 passengers, so group travel costs the same per person as solo travel. No taxi line, no app, no waiting.Is it for me?A good fit if you're landing in Honolulu with luggage and don't want to arrange a taxi or figure out public transport — the driver tracks your flight and meets you at baggage claim, which is what saves you the wait and the negotiation. Works equally well for groups up to 14, since the van price stays the same whether you're one person or a full load.
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum: WWII Aircraft & Control TowerYou get general admission to the museum's two WWII hangars, a free audio tour in your choice of six languages, access to 70+ restored aircraft, and a guided ascent of the 168-foot control tower with a 360-degree view of the attack site. Complimentary shuttle service from Honolulu hotels is included, so you arrive without the logistics of base entry or parking.Is it for me?Best for anyone visiting Honolulu who wants to understand the Pacific war through the aircraft and the people who flew them, without arranging base access or transport—the shuttle and audio tour handle both, leaving you free to move through the hangars at your own pace.
Oahu Half Circle Tour: Diamond Head to Downtown HonoluluThis half-circle island tour on Oahu takes you by car through the island's most recognizable landmarks in a single afternoon, with a local guide, bottled water and snacks included. The route starts at Diamond Head, curves around the windward side past Hanauma Bay and the Halona Blowhole, then returns through downtown Honolulu to see Iolani Palace, the Hawaii State Capitol, and Kawaiaha'o Church. Pickup is included; you choose whether to stop for lunch on your own.Is it for me?Book this if you want a guided tour covering multiple landmarks in one afternoon; choose a self-guided drive instead if you'd rather spend hours swimming or hiking at fewer spots.
