There’s certainly no shortage of things to do in Oahu with kids. Hawaii’s most populous island truly has something for every age group. There are more than 120 beaches here, including some real sugar-sand stunners with turquoise waves for surfing. If your kids love marine life, they’ll find plenty of it right offshore here. Bring a snorkeling mask and a waterproof digital camera or smartphone case, and they’ll come back with close-up shots of tropical fish.
Oahu also offers an incredible cultural diversity and a remarkable history. This is a wonderful place for children to learn about the Polynesians who bravely crossed the Pacific in dugout canoes thousands of years ago. More recent arrivals, including Portuguese, Japanese, Chinese, and Filipinos have all left their mark on the island.
Here are just a few of the best things to do in Oahu for families.
Go Snorkeling with Sea Turtles
Sea turtle
One reason Hawaii is great for travelers of all ages is that you don’t need to be dive-certified to see incredible marine critters here. Thanks to Oahu’s crystal-clear waters, kids can check out sea creatures with just a snorkel mask and pair of fins. While you can snorkel off of just about any beach on Oahu, it’s worth taking a short boat ride out to certain spots.
Turtle Canyon, located just a mile and a half offshore near Waikiki, is home to a large number of Hawaiian green sea turtles. These gentle creatures will often glide right by snorkelers here. The area is also home to a thriving reef. Kids will love watching colorful angelfish, damselfish, and more swim in front of their goggles.
See if your kids can spot—and pronounce—official state fish, the humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa. Also known as a reef triggerfish, these are a common sight out here.
Take Part in a Lūʻau
Lūʻau
Few experiences are more quintessential to a Hawaiian vacation than a lūʻau. This also happens to be one tradition that kids of all ages can enjoy. After all, what’s not to love about a tiki torch-illuminated feast with live entertainment? Hula dancing is traditional here, although fire-spinning is common and modern-day lūʻaus. The meal typically revolves around a whole pit-roasted kālua pig, but huli-huli chicken, lau lau, and lomi-lomi salmon are often present.
While today the lūʻau may be popular with visitors to the island, its roots are royal and important to the history of the archipelago. In the 1800s, King Kamehameha II threw an extravagant wedding feast. Although previously these celebrations were separated by gender, the monarch decreed that men and women could both join in the festivities together. And so, the lūʻau was born.
Lūʻau plate
For kids in particular, part of the fun here is that this is one meal where you’re not just allowed to but encouraged to eat with your hands. Eating with one’s fingers was common practice in many Polynesian cultures historically and is still done to this day at times.
There are a few basic rules of etiquette for kids and adults to abide by here. First, make sure that all family members thoroughly wash their hands for hygiene reasons. Second, the right hand is usually used for eating, while the left hand is for serving oneself or others. Finally, little ones may be tempted to lick their fingers, but tell them to wait until the end of the meal.
Read: What Is Hawaii Known For?
Get Brain Freeze With a Shaved Ice
Shaved ice
Although Hawaii’s wonderfully balanced climate rarely gets uncomfortably hot, your kids may still crave a frozen treat on sunny afternoons. There are plenty of ice cream shops in Oahu, of course, but for something really special, opt for a more visually dramatic option.
Shaved ice, or “shave ice,” as it’s commonly referred to here, is closely related to Japanese kakigori. Picture a mountain of tiny frozen flakes piled to the moon, then loaded up with all sorts of flavored syrups and toppings. It’s like an ice cream sundae on steroids, which kids can customize to their heart’s content.
Fresh fruits, sweetened red Azuki beans, mochi, and assorted jellies are all common. It helps that most versions are also brilliantly colored, thanks either to artificial food dyes or naturally vibrant additions like matcha or ube.
Matsumoto’s Shave Ice
There are shaved ice shops all over the island, but Matsumoto’s Shave Ice on the north side is particularly beloved. Family-run since 1951, it’s one of the few places left that still uses the vintage, hand-operated machinery that turns out especially feathery flakes.
Go Boogie Boarding on Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous beaches in Honolulu—if not on the planet—and it lives up to the hype. Yes, it’s mostly man-made, but that won’t stop your kids from enjoying running around two whole miles of white sand. Thanks to its shallow waters free of dangerous rip-tides or sharp rocks, Waikiki Beach is great for kids looking to splash around.
Kids are likely to immediately notice surfers riding the incoming waves here. Waikiki Beach is where modern-day surf culture was born and popularized. But even kids who aren’t quite ready to hang ten can participate here. Plenty of shops along the waterfront will rent boogie boards for the afternoon, which require a lot less skill to master.
Try Surfing on the North Shore
Surfing in Oahu
For teens ready for a bit more of a challenge, Hawaii is a terrific place to learn to surf. Oahu’s North Shore is legendary for its massive waves, which draw champion surfers from all over the globe. You’ll find more than seven miles of beaches here, including Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay, all of which are great for catching waves.
Even if your teen has some experience, it’s wise—and often more fun—to pair up with professional instruction here. The North Shore has a bunch of surf schools catering to all different ages and ability levels. Or if the size of the waves feels too daunting, your family can always watch the pros from the comfort of the sandy shoreline.
See the Halona Blowhole
Halona Blowhole
Take your family to the southeastern side of the island to watch seawater shoot 30 feet up in the air. The Halona Blowhole is a rather curious rock formation created—like just about everything on the Hawaiian islands—by volcanic activity. As an ancient lava flow hardened and cooled here, it created a narrow tunnel. When a large wave crashes in, all that water is forced through a small space, which causes it to fly upward with such impressive force.
A few different factors impact just how big that jet of water gets. For starters, the blowhole is most powerful in the winter months from November to February. It’s also strongest whenever the tide is high.
Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail
Even if you don’t manage to catch the blowhole at its peak, the stretch of coastline where it’s located is breathtaking and well worth a visit. Tell your kids to keep an eye out for humpback whales, since this is one of the best places on Oahu to see them from the shore.
You can also check out the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail located a few minutes away by car. This trail hugs the coastline, offering breathtaking views the whole way, and ends at a picturesque lighthouse.
Try a Hawaiian Plate Lunch
Loco moco
Convincing children to try new foods while traveling can often be a challenge. Luckily, one of Hawaii’s most iconic meals is extremely customizable—perfect even for picky kids. The classic Hawaiian plate lunch started off as fuel for 19th-century plantation workers. As waves of Japanese, Filipino, and Chinese immigrants arrived in Hawaii, the plate lunch evolved.
Today, the plate lunch is very much a choose your own adventure situation. Kids can opt for loco moco, a gravy-smothered, fried egg-topped hamburger. There’s also teriyaki chicken, pork katsu, and char siu, or Chinese-style roast pork, plus loads of sides and pickles to choose from.
Visit the Botanical Gardens
Liliʻuokalani Gardens
To fully appreciate just how lush Hawaii is, pay a visit to the Liliʻuokalani Gardens, named in honor of Queen Liliʻuokalani. This lush green space is not the only botanical garden on Oahu, but it is particularly special. It sprawls over 24 acres, all of which are carefully landscaped into a Japanese ornamental garden.
Kids will love roaming between the beautiful pagodas and spying koi fish in the decorative ponds here. There’s a particularly lovely teahouse and countless flowering trees and shrubs, all set against the backdrop of Hilo Bay. As a bonus, admission is free here.
Shop for a Ukulele
Ukulele
For musically inclined kids and teens, Hawaii might just be the perfect place to pick up a new instrument. While it takes skill and practice to play, the ukulele is generally easier to learn than, say, guitar. This four-stringed instrument is also small by design, making it ideally suited to smaller hands and fingers.
Portuguese immigrants were responsible for bringing similar instruments to Hawaii in the 1800s. King David Kalākaua, the second to last reigning monarch of Hawaii, was a great patron of the arts who took a liking to the ukulele. After performances became common at the royal court, the instrument’s popularity skyrocketed.
While there are plenty of mass-produced ukuleles in the world, it’s worth seeking out the high-quality handcrafted version while in Hawaii. A number of shops in Oahu specialize in beautifully carved instruments. ʻUkulele Puapua, located a short stroll from Waikiki Beach, is a great spot to shop for these popular Hawaiian souvenirs.
Dive into Military History at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
There’s no better history lesson on the island than a visit to this museum dedicated to the “day that will live in infamy.” The Japanese attack on the Pearl Harbor naval base in 1941 forever changed the world. Today, the space is home to a memorial to the men and women who lost their lives on that tragic day. It also features immersive, interactive ways for visitors of all ages to engage more deeply with the past.
After visiting the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, which is free for everyone, take your family to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, which is spread over two World War II-era hangars. In Hangar 37, kids can see the historic aircraft that helped the Allies win the Second World War. Hangar 79 is dedicated to aircraft from later decades. At the end, be sure to climb to the top of the 168-foot Ford Island Control Tower for an incredible view in all directions.
Ride the Pineapple Express
Dole Plantation
The history of Hawaii over the last century is deeply entwined with the history of the Dole Corporation. In 1922, James Drummond Dole purchased the entire Hawaiian island of Lanai in order to grow pineapples. Although pineapples are not native to Hawaii, the Dole Corporation’s marketing campaigns helped create a large demand for them in the continental United States.
Today, visitors can see the old Dole Plantation from the comfort of one of four vintage trains: Lady Liberty, the Pineapple Express, the Ohana Express, and the Aloha Express. Each takes passengers on a two-mile journey accompanied by a history lesson. After the train journey, take your kids on a garden tour, where they’ll get to see real cacao pods, also grown on the plantation, up close. A free smartphone app provides audio narration.
Hike Out to the Valley of Rainbows
Manoa Valley Rainforest
There’s a reason why renowned film and television show directors have chosen to shoot in the Manoa Valley Rainforest. This impossibly lush jungle looks like the kind of place where a velociraptor could dash out at any moment. More than 5,000 plant species thrive here, including banyan trees, wild gingers, and eye-catching blooms such as parrot flowers.
If your kids are game for a roughly 45-minute trek through this otherworldly landscape, you’ll reach the so-called “Valley of Rainbows.” In this clearing, you’ll see an absolutely spectacular 150-foot waterfall, which refracts the light into all colors of the rainbow.
Honolulu
With so many fun activities for travelers of all ages, Oahu may just be the ultimate family-friendly destination. Browse Celebrity’s cruises to Honolulu to find out more and book your family’s next big adventure.
