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
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Beginner Scuba Diving in Honolulu: No Certification NeededBeginner scuba diving in Honolulu at Magic Island, Ala Moana Beach Park, where you descend into a calm lagoon with a professional guide, all equipment provided, and no certification needed. The dive runs 90 minutes and includes free underwater videos of your experience. Children from age 10 are welcome; a maximum of 16 people keeps the group small and personalized.Is it for me?Choose this if you want hands-on instruction from a guide who stays beside you throughout—it's designed for swimmers with no scuba experience or certification.
Honolulu: Magic Show & Rum Punch at Hilton WaikikiYou sit within arm's reach of world-class magic in a 65-seat theater at the Hilton Waikiki, watch an audience member levitate for the first time anywhere, and sip a rum punch cocktail while valet parking is handled for you. No crowds, no distance, no screens — just three hours of artistry that lands because you're close enough to see how it's done and still can't figure it out.Is it for me?Book this if you want an evening activity in Honolulu that doesn't require travel outside the hotel, works for families and couples alike, and leaves you with a memory people actually ask you about — the valet and cocktail mean you arrive relaxed and leave without logistics to manage.
Shark Cage Snorkeling Oahu North Shore: See Sharks Up CloseShark cage snorkeling off Oahu's North Shore puts you inside a secure floating cage to watch Galapagos and Sandbar sharks in clear water, with all snorkel gear and an experienced crew included. No swimming ability is needed, and you can choose to stay dry and watch from the boat instead. Check in 30 minutes early; the dive lasts about 90 minutes.Is it for me?Book cage viewing if you want to be in the water watching sharks move past you at close range; choose observer status if you want the same sharks and the same crew but prefer to stay dry on the boat. Either way, no swimming ability is needed, and the captain will make sure you're secure before the sharks arrive.
Chief's Luau Oahu: Polynesian show with feast and fire dancingChief's Luau is an evening luau on Oahu at Wet 'n' Wild Hawaii where you attend a Polynesian show, feast on Hawaiian food, and interact with the Chief's tribe of hula dancers and warriors. The experience lasts about three hours and includes a lei greeting, all-you-can-eat feast, and beverages; you choose between three tiers — Aloha, Paradise, or Royal — each with different lei styles, drink counts, and add-ons like a Mai Tai or gift.Is it for me?Book the Aloha or Paradise tier if you want the full luau experience without extra drinks or gifts; choose Royal if you'd rather start with a Mai Tai and take home a souvenir, and the three beverages suit a longer evening of eating and watching between courses.
Waikiki Trolley Historic Honolulu Red Line Cultural TourThe Waikiki Trolley Historic Honolulu Red Line is a hop-on-hop-off trolley tour through downtown Honolulu and its cultural landmarks, with a live English-speaking guide narrating the route. You board at any stop, ride to the next, get off to explore, then catch the next trolley when you're ready to move on. The route covers Punchbowl Crater, downtown Honolulu and Honolulu Harbor, tracing Hawaii's history from the kingdom era through World War II to present-day culture. Unlimited hop-on-hop-off access means you set the pace at each stop.Is it for me?Spend your downtown morning or afternoon hopping between Iolani Palace, Punchbowl Crater, and the harbor at your own pace—no car rental or separate bookings needed.
Oahu Circle Island Day Tour: Beaches, Shrimp Lunch & Dole StopYou’ll circle Oahu with a local guide from Waikiki, stopping for Diamond Head views, tasting fresh malasadas, eating garlic shrimp on picnic benches, spotting sea turtles on North Shore beaches, and finishing with pineapple treats at Dole Plantation. Expect salty air in your hair and stories you’ll want to remember long after you’re home.
Honolulu: Pearl Harbor USS Arizona & Battleship MissouriYou get picked up from your Waikiki hotel and spend the morning at Pearl Harbor with a briefing, a boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial, and entry to the Battleship Missouri. The afternoon includes Punchbowl Cemetery and the King Kamehameha Statue. Plan for six to seven hours total, and bring only a small bag.Is it for me?Right for travelers staying in Waikiki who want to see both the USS Arizona and Battleship Missouri in one morning without arranging transport or buying separate tickets. The six-to-seven-hour duration includes driving time, so plan accordingly if you have afternoon plans.
Oahu: Submarine Scooter & Diamond Head Catamaran TourYou board a catamaran at Maunalua Bay, cruise past Diamond Head, then descend on an electric submarine scooter for a 20-minute glide among sea turtles and tropical fish. No diving or snorkeling experience required. The tour includes all equipment, a wetsuit top, snacks, and beverages, with time to swim afterward. Two hours total, small groups, and you're back on land with optional professional photos of the dive.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see sea turtles and coral reefs up close without learning to dive or snorkel first—the electric scooter removes the skill barrier and lets you focus on the underwater world itself.
Waikiki Sunset Sail: Cocktails on the Moana CatamaranThe Waikiki Sunset Cocktail Sail is a two-hour evening cruise on Oahu's Moana Catamaran, sailing past Diamond Head and along the Waikiki coast as the sun sets. You get a complimentary first drink from the premium bar, an experienced captain and crew, and onboard restrooms; the boat holds a maximum of 47 passengers. Check in at 4:45 p.m., and the cruise runs from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Four departure options are available—General Boarding, VIP, Semi-private on the Nalu, or Friday Sunset Fireworks Combo—each with different inclusions and pricing.Is it for me?Book General Boarding if you want the sunset and a single cocktail without extras; choose VIP if you'd rather have drinks throughout the sail; pick the Semi-private Nalu if a smaller group matters more than the larger catamaran experience; or go for the Friday Fireworks Combo if you want both the sunset and the city's weekly fireworks show from the water.
Waikiki Glass Bottom Boat Cruise: See coral reefs and sea turtlesA 60-minute glass bottom boat cruise from Kewalo Basin Harbor along Waikiki Beach toward Diamond Head aboard the Haleiwa Queen, a 50ft catamaran with 49 seats and shaded deck. You watch the ocean floor through magnified viewports while the local crew shares the history and stories of Waikiki and their own connection to the water. Bottled water and an onboard restroom are included; arrive 20 minutes early at Slip F21, where metered parking and city bus access are both available.Is it for me?This is a shared boat tour, so you'll cruise with other passengers and watch the ocean floor from your seat rather than snorkel or dive into it. It suits anyone who wants to see coral reefs and sea turtles without swimming, getting wet, or needing special equipment—families with young children, older travelers, and anyone with mobility considerations all fit the format.
Oahu: Circle Island Day Tour with Waimea Valley & Dole WhipYou’ll circle Oahu with a local guide—from Diamond Head’s volcanic slopes to Byodo-In Temple’s peaceful gardens and Waimea Valley’s waterfall pool (swim if weather allows). Taste real Hawaiian shaved ice in Haleiwa and finish with Dole Whip at the plantation before heading back—expect moments that stick with you long after.
Polynesian Cultural Center Luau: Feast & HĀ ShowThe Aliʻi Lūʻau Package is a full-day guided tour of the Polynesian Cultural Center combining exploration of six authentic island villages, hands-on cultural activities, a traditional Hawaiian buffet dinner with live music, and gold-level seating at the award-winning "HĀ: Breath of Life" evening show. Arrive when the park opens at noon to experience all the stops—the guided tour runs five and a half hours, dinner follows at five, and the show begins at seven-thirty. A guide leads the village exploration in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian or six other languages.Is it for me?Book this package if you want the full Polynesian Cultural Center experience in one day without piecing it together yourself—the guide handles the village route and timing, the dinner and show are scheduled back-to-back, and you arrive at noon so nothing gets missed.
Oahu: Waikiki Catamaran Snorkel & Sea Turtles with LunchYou board at Kewalo Basin, cruise past Diamond Head and the Waikiki coastline, then snorkel at Turtle Canyon where green sea turtles feed. The afternoon option includes lunch and drinks; morning trips include drinks only. Gear, life jackets, and a stable catamaran are provided, and if turtles don't show, you get a free re-ride on any Oahu, Big Island, or Maui sailing.Is it for me?Book this if you want to see Hawaiian green sea turtles without arranging your own boat or gear — the guarantee means you're not paying to search, and the stable catamaran keeps the focus on the water instead of your stomach.
Oahu North Shore: Waimea Falls & Turtle Snorkeling with GearYou get hotel pickup, entry to Waimea Valley, and your choice of snorkel gear, bikes, kayaks or paddleboards—all included. Spend your day between the waterfall, Shark's Cove, Sunset Beach, and Haleiwa Town's shops and shave-ice stands, moving at your own pace. The small-group format and flexible itinerary mean you adapt to ocean conditions and your own rhythm instead of following a fixed schedule.Is it for me?Book this if you want North Shore highlights without arranging your own transport, paying for activity rentals separately, or following a rigid schedule—the included gear and flexible itinerary let you adapt to conditions and your own pace instead of being locked into fixed stops.
Oahu Whale Watch: 2-Hour Waikiki Harbor Tour & HydrophoneYou board at Ala Wai Harbor in Waikiki, spend two hours on a newly renovated vessel watching humpback whales breach and dive, listen to them through an underwater hydrophone, and view Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach from the water. The boat stays under eighty passengers and includes a shaded cabin with windows. Arrive thirty minutes early with a valid ID.Is it for me?Book this if you're staying in Waikiki during whale season and want to see humpbacks without arranging separate transport or spending the morning on logistics — the harbor is walking distance, the boat leaves on time, and the reduced passenger count means you actually have space to move and see.
Oahu: Kualoa Ranch Movie Sites Tour & Kaneohe BayYou ride a vintage school bus through Kualoa Ranch's 4,000 acres, stopping at filming locations from Jurassic Park, Lost, Pearl Harbor, and other productions while your guide explains the history of each site. Kaneohe Bay and the Ko'olau mountains frame every stop. The tour suits all fitness levels, includes a professional guide, and requires 45-minute early check-in with photo ID at the ticket office.Is it for me?This tour works well if you want to see the actual locations where famous films and shows were shot without arranging your own transportation or navigation — the vintage bus and guide handle both, leaving you free to watch the landscape and listen to the stories behind each stop.
Oahu Circle Island Tour: Small Group, Byodo-In & Macadamia FarmYou’ll circle Oahu with a small group, stopping at places like Diamond Head lookout and Byodo-In Temple while hearing stories from your local guide. Taste fresh macadamia nuts and shrimp lunch on the North Shore, then cool off with a swim or just relax by Waimea Bay before heading back with new friends and maybe a little sand still stuck between your toes.
Oahu Dolphin Snorkel Tour: Swim with Spinner DolphinsA 3.5-hour dolphin and snorkel tour departing from Waikiki hotels cruises the west coast of Oahu to watch Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins in their natural habitat, then anchors for snorkeling with sea turtles and colorful reef fish. The boat carries certified lifeguards and guides, includes lunch, snorkel gear, and round-trip transportation from select Waikiki hotels, with optional water activities like kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding, and a 20-foot water slide.Is it for me?The fixed 3.5-hour schedule and included transportation mean you don't coordinate pickup times or arrange your own way to the harbor—the boat leaves from Waikiki and returns you to your hotel, so the morning stays simple even with young children or a group.
Oahu Catamaran Snorkel: Turtles Guaranteed or Full RefundYou board the Kahala Kai in Waikiki and snorkel for two hours at Turtle Canyon Reef with a guarantee you'll see Hawaiian green sea turtles or get a full refund. Premium snorkel gear, water, snacks, and drinks are included, and the boat carries only half its capacity so there's room to move. After snorkeling, the crew searches for dolphins, whales, and monk seals on the return cruise.Is it for me?A solid choice if you want to see Hawaiian sea turtles without arranging your own boat or gear, and the refund guarantee removes the risk of a wasted morning. The small group size and two-hour snorkel window mean you get real time in the water without an all-day commitment.
Waikiki: Turtle Canyon Snorkel & Catamaran Sail with DrinksYou’ll start your day sailing from Waikiki with cold brew coffee and granola bars before snorkeling at Turtle Canyon with green sea turtles and reef fish. Afterward, relax with a complimentary mai tai as you cruise along the coast toward Diamond Head. Expect friendly guides, laughter, and those small moments that stick with you long after you’ve rinsed off the salt.
