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Oahu Attractions
Honolulu Attractions
The beach might seem less interesting once you’ve climbed inside a volcano, or tunnelled beneath the sea at Bishop Museum. Spot spiral-shelled cephalopod molluscs at the Waikiki Aquarium, or see where the oil still seeps from bombed USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor.
73 Results
- Sports Venue
Ala Wai Municipal Golf Course
This is Oahu’s most popular municipal course. Translation: it gets really crowded; some 500 rounds a day are played on this 18-hole course. But it’s the closest course, and within walking distance, to Waikiki’s hotels. It’s something of a challenge to get a tee time at this busy…Waikiki
- Historic Site
Aliiolani Hale
Don't be surprised if this place looks familiar; you probably saw it on the old television show Magnum, P.I. This gingerbread Italianate building, designed by Australian Thomas Rowe in Renaissance revival style, was built in 1874 and was originally intended to be a palace. Instead,… - Landmark
Aloha Tower
One of the reasons that the word aloha is synonymous with Hawaii is because of the Aloha Tower. Built in 1926 (for the then-outrageous sum of $160,000), this 184-foot, 10-story tower (until 1959, the tallest structure in Hawaii) has clocks on all four of its sides, with the word… - The Performing Arts
Ballet Hawaii
Performing twice a year in August and December (the annual Nutcracker ballet, generally sells out) this company performs at the Neal Blaisdell Center. - Museum
Bishop Museum
This is a museum for adults and kids alike. For the adults: the original Hawaiian Hall, built in 1889 to house the collection of Hawaiian artifacts and royal family heirlooms of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant of King Kamehameha I. Today, the exhibits, spread out…Honolulu & Waikiki - Active Pursuit
Captain Bob’s Picnic Sail
See the majestic Windward Coast the way it should be seen—from a boat. Captain Bob will take you on a 4-hour lazy-day sail of Kaneohe Bay aboard his 42-foot catamaran, which skims across the almost always calm water above the shallow coral reef, lands at the disappearing sandbar Ahu… - Hiking/Biking Route
Diamond Head Crater
This is a moderate but steep walk to the summit of Hawaii’s most famous landmark. Kids love to look out from the top of the 760-foot volcanic cone, where they have 360-degree views of Oahu up the leeward coast from Waikiki. The 1.5-mile round-trip takes about 1 1/2 hours, and the… - The Performing Arts
Diamond Head Theatre
Hawaii’s oldest theater (since 1915), this community theater presents a sort of “Broadway of the Pacific,” producing a variety of performances from musicals to comedies to classical dramas. - Garden
Foster Botanical Garden
You could spend days in this unique historic garden, a leafy oasis amid the high-rises of downtown Honolulu. Combine a tour of the garden with a trip to Chinatown (just across the street) to maximize your time and double your pleasure. The giant trees that tower over the garden’s…Honolulu & Waikiki - Hiking/Biking Route
Hauula Loop Trail
For one of the best views of the coast and the ocean, follow the Hauula Loop Trail on the windward side of the island. It’s an easy 2.5-mile loop on a well-maintained path that passes through a whispering ironwood forest and a grove of tall Norfolk pines. The trip takes about 3 hours… - Attraction
Hawaii Coffee Company
Here you'll find an excellent behind-the-scenes tour of its LION and Royal Kona Coffee facility (as well as its Hawaiian Island Tea Company). You are met in the retail/cafe area of the facility and taken through the 55,000-square-foot plant on a step-by-step tour of how Hawaii’s… - Sports Venue
Hawaii Country Club
This public course in Wahiawa is a modest course where golfers usually have no trouble getting a tee time. The 5,861-yard, par-71 course is not manicured like the resort courses, but it does offer fair play, with relatively inexpensive greens fees. Located in the middle of former…Central Oahu - Sports Venue
Hawaii Kai Golf Course
This is actually two golf courses in one. The par-72, 6,222-yard Championship Course is moderately challenging, with scenic vistas. The course is forgiving to high-handicap golfers, although it does have a few surprises. The par-55 Executive Course is fun for beginners and those just… - The Performing Arts
Hawaii Opera Theatre
From January to March, this highly successful group takes to the stage with hits like La Bohème, Carmen, Turandot, Romeo and Juliet, Rigoletto, and Aïda. In the summer during July, they put on a lighter performance, such as South Pacific. - The Performing Arts
Hawaii Theatre
Audiences here have enjoyed performances ranging from the big off-Broadway percussion hit Stomp to the talent of Tap Dogs, Momix, the Jim Nabors Christmas show, the Hawaii International Jazz Festival, the American Repertory Dance Company, barbershop quartets, and John Ka’imikaua’s… - Historic Site
Hawaii's Plantation Village
The hour-long tour of this restored 50-acre village offers a glimpse back in time to when sugar planters shaped the land, economy, and culture of Hawaii. From 1852, when the first contract laborers arrived here from China, to 1947, when the plantation era ended, more than 400,000…Just Beyond Pearl Harbor - Historic Site
Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives
Centered on the first mission houses built in the 1800s, what was formerly known as the Mission Houses Museum has undergone a rebranding. Possibly it’s because missionaries have been cast as the bad white guys who eradicated native Hawaiian culture. Now, instead of depicting early…Honolulu & Waikiki - Ride
Hawaiian Railway
It’s like a Disneyland ride . . . through Honolulu’s suburbia. It’s also a quirky way to see the less-traveled leeward side of Oahu. Between 1890 and 1947, the chief mode of transportation for Oahu’s sugar mills was the Oahu Railway and Land Co.’s narrow-gauge trains. The line…Just Beyond Pearl Harbor - Cruise
Holokai Catamaran
One of the most fun and effortless ways to get in the water is a sail off of Waikiki. Many catamarans launch from Waikiki, but this is our favorite of the “booze cruises.” It’s the least crowded and rowdy, and the drink selection is the best, with multiple Maui Brewing Co. brews and…Waikiki - Market
Honolulu Fish Auction
If you want to experience the high drama of fish buying, head to this auction at the United Fishing Agency. The fishermen bring their fresh catch in at 5:30am (sharp) Monday through Saturday, and buyers bid on a variety of fish, from massive tunas to weird-looking hapupu. Don't be… - Museum
Honolulu Museum of Art
In 2011, the Honolulu Academy of Art merged with the Contemporary Museum and was renamed the (more apropos) Honolulu Museum of Art. It also finished a reinstallation of the European and American art galleries, bringing to light many pieces from the archives. The museum’s Asian…Honolulu & Waikiki - Zoo
Honolulu Zoo
Nobody comes to Hawaii to see an Indian elephant or African lions and zebras, right? Wrong. This 43-acre municipal zoo in Waikiki attracts visitors in droves. If you’ve got kids, allot at least half a day. The highlight is the African Savanna, a 10-acre exhibit with more than 40…Honolulu & Waikiki - Garden
Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden
This 400-acre botanical garden at the foot of the steepled Koolau Range is the perfect place for a picnic. Its name means “a peaceful refuge,” and that’s exactly what the Army Corps of Engineers created when they installed a flood-control project here, which resulted in a 32-acre…Windward Coast - Historic Building
Iolani Palace
If you want to really “understand” Hawaii, this 45-minute tour is worth your time. The Iolani Palace was built by King David Kalākaua, who spared no expense. The 4-year project, completed in 1882, cost $360,000—and nearly bankrupted the Hawaiian kingdom. This four-story Italian…Honolulu & Waikiki - Hiking/Biking Route
Kaena Point
At the very western tip of Oahu lie the dry, barren lands of Kaena Point State Park, 853 acres of jagged sea cliffs, deep gulches, sand dunes, endangered plant life, and a remote, wild, wind- and surf-battered coastline. Kaena means “red-hot” or “glowing” in Hawaiian; the name refers… - Cooking Class
Kahana Bay Beach Park
Lying under Tahiti-like cliffs, with a beautiful gold-sand crescent beach framed by pine-needle casuarina trees, Kahana Bay Beach Park is a place of serene beauty. You can swim, bodysurf, fish, hike, and picnic or just sit and listen to the trade winds whistle through the beach pines… - Sports Venue
Kahuku Golf Course
This 9-hole budget golf course is a bit funky. Don’t expect a clubhouse: there’s only a dilapidated shack where you check in and minimal facilities consisting of golf club rentals, a few pull carts, and two Porta-Potties. But a round at this scenic oceanside course amid the…The North Shore - Park/Garden
Kapiolani Park
In 1877, King David Kalakaua gave 130 acres of land to the people of Hawaii and named it after his beloved wife, Queen Kapiolani. This truly royal park has something for just about everyone: tennis courts, soccer and rugby fields, archery, picnic areas, wide-open spaces for kite… - Religious Site
Kawaiahao Church
In 1842, Kawaiahao Church stood complete at last. Designed by Rev. Hiram Bingham (grandfather of explorer and politician Hiram Bingham III) and supervised by Kamehameha III, who ordered his people to help build it, the project took 5 years to complete. Workers quarried 14,000 coral…Honolulu & Waikiki - Sports Venue
Ko Olina Golf Club
This Ted Robinson–designed course has rolling fairways and elevated tee and water features. Golf Digest once named it one of “America’s Top 75 Resort Courses.” The signature hole—the 12th, a par-3—has an elevated tee that sits on a rock garden with a cascading waterfall. At the 18th…Leeward Oahu - Sports Venue
Koolau Golf Club
This is a spectacularly beautiful golf course, carved out of the tropical rainforest nestled against the Ko‘olau mountain range. It’s also spectacularly difficult—narrow and winding, with extreme changes in elevation. Legend has it that when Koolau Golf Club first opened, it was so…Windward Coast - Ranch
Kualoa Ranch and Activity Club
Kualoa Ranch does raise cattle, but people don’t come here to see the cows. They come for adventure packages covering numerous activities on its 4,000 acres. Options include horseback riding and ATV rides that take you through the locations where movies like Jurassic Park and…Windward Coast - Cooking Class
Kualoa Regional Park
This park has a spectacular setting on a peninsula on Kaneohe Bay. The gold-sand beach is excellent for snorkeling, and fishing can be rewarding as well. There are two campgrounds: Campground A—located in a wooded area with a sandy beach and palm, ironwood, kamani, and monkeypod… - Historic Site
Kukaniloko Birthing Stones
This is the most sacred site in central Oahu. Two rows of 18 lava rocks once flanked a central birthing stone, where women of ancient Hawaii gave birth to potential alii (royalty). The rocks, according to Hawaiian belief, held the power to ease the labor pains of childbirth. Birth…Central Oahu - The Performing Arts
Kumu Kahua Theatre
For an intimate glimpse at island life, take in a show at Kumu Kahua. This tiny theater (100 seats) produces plays dealing with today’s cultural experience in Hawaii, often written by residents. - Beach
Lanikai Beach
This is one of the best places on Oahu to greet the sunrise. Watch the sky slowly move from pitch black to wisps of gray to burnt orange as the sun rises over the two tiny offshore islands of Mokulua. Use your five senses for this experience: hear the birds sing, feel the gentle… - Arboretum
Lyon Arboretum
The Lyon Arboretum dates from 1918, when the Hawaiian Sugar Planters Association wanted to demonstrate the value of watershed for reforestation. In 1953, it became part of the University of Hawaii, where they continued to expand the extensive collection of tropical plants.…Honolulu & Waikiki - Sports Venue
Makaha Resort Golf Club
This challenging course -- once named "The Best Golf Course on Oahu" by Honolulu magazine -- sits some 45 miles west of Honolulu, in Makaha Valley. Designed by William Bell, the par-72, 7,091-yard course meanders toward the ocean before turning and heading into the valley. Sheer…Leeward Oahu: the Waianae Coast - Hiking/Biking Route
Makapuu Lighthouse Trail
You’ve seen this famous old lighthouse on episodes of "Magnum, P.I." and "Hawaii Five-O." No longer staffed by the Coast Guard (it’s fully automated now), the lighthouse sits at the end of a precipitous cliff trail on an airy perch over the Windward Coast, Manana (Rabbit) Island, and… - Cooking Class
Malaekahana Bay State Recreation Area
This is one of the most beautiful beach-camping areas in the state, with a mile-long, gold-sand beach on Oahu’s North Shore. There are two areas for tent camping. Facilities include picnic tables, restrooms, showers, sinks, and drinking water. For your safety, the park gate is closed… - Hiking/Biking Route
Manoa Falls Trail
This easy .75-mile (one-way) hike is terrific for families; it takes less than an hour to reach idyllic Manoa Falls. The trail head, marked by a footbridge, is at the end of Manoa Road, past Lyon Arboretum. The staff at the arboretum prefers that hikers not park in their lot, so the… - The Performing Arts
Manoa Valley Theatre
One of Honolulu’s smaller theatres, Manoa Valley Theatre is the equivalent of off-Broadway, with performances of well-known shows—anything from Urinetown to Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. - Sports Venue
Mililani Golf Club
This par-72, 6,455-yard public course is home to the Sports Shinko Rainbow Open, where Hawaii's top professionals compete. Located between the Koolau and Waianae mountain ranges on the Leilehua Plateau, this is one of Oahu's most scenic courses, with views of mountains from every…Central Oahu - Cemetery
National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific (aka Punchbowl) is an ash-and-lava tuff cone that exploded about 150,000 years ago—like Diamond Head, only smaller. Early Hawaiians called it Puowaina, or “hill of sacrifice.” The old crater is a burial ground for veterans as well as the…Honolulu & Waikiki - Active Pursuit
Navatek I
You’ve never been on a boat, you don’t want to be on a boat, but here you are being dragged aboard one. Why are you boarding this weird-looking vessel? It guarantees that you’ll be “seasick-free,” that’s why. The 140-foot-long Navatek I isn’t even a boat; it’s actually a SWATH (Small… - Natural Attraction
Nuuanu Pali Lookout
Gale-force winds sometimes howl through the mountain pass at this 1,186-foot-high perch guarded by 3,000-foot peaks, so hold on to your hat—and small children. But if you walk up from the parking lot to the precipice, you’ll be rewarded with a view that’ll blow you away. At the edge,…Honolulu & Waikiki - Natural Attraction
Nuuanu Valley Rainforest
It’s not the same as a peaceful nature walk, but if time is short and hiking isn’t your thing, Honolulu has a rainforest you can drive through. It’s only a few minutes from downtown Honolulu in verdant Nuuanu Valley, where it rains nearly 300 inches a year. And it’s easy to reach: As… - Attraction
Oahu Ghost Tours
Look at the supernatural side of this ancient place. Originally started by Glen Grant, who dedicated his life to exploring stories and sightings of the paranormal, the company has continued his investigations of ghosts, unusual sightings, and the unexplainable. The offerings include… - Hiking/Biking Route
Pali (Maunawili) Trail
For a million-dollar view of the Windward Coast, take this 11-mile (one-way) foothill trail. The trail head is about 6 miles from downtown Honolulu, on the windward side of the Nuuanu Pali Tunnel, at the scenic lookout just beyond the hairpin turn of the Pali Highway (Hwy. 61). Just… - Sports Venue
Pali Golf Course
This beautiful municipal course sits near Kaneohe, just below the historic spot where King Kamehameha the Great won the battle that united the islands of Hawaii. The par-72, 6,494-yard course, designed by Willard G. Wilkinson and built in 1953, makes use of the natural terrain (hills…The Windward Coast - Sports Venue
Pearl Country Club
Looking for a challenge? You'll find one at this popular public course, just above Pearl City in Aiea. Sure, the 6,230-yard, par-72 looks harmless enough, and the views of Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial are gorgeous, but around the 5th hole, you'll start to see what you're…Central Oahu - Museum
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
This is is the flashiest (and newest) of the Pearl Harbor exhibits, with its propaganda-esque written histories and signs. There are two hangars: Hangar 37 includes planes involved in the 1942 attack, but the best is Hangar 79, the doors still riddled with bullet holes from the Pearl…Honolulu & Waikiki - Theme Park
Polynesian Cultural Center
This is the Disneyland version of Polynesia, operated by the Mormon Church. It’s a great show for families, informative and fun (the droll Samoan presentation amuses both adults and children). Here you can see the lifestyles, songs, dance, costumes, and architecture of six Pacific…Windward Coast - State Park/Natural Attraction
Puu Ualakaa State Park
The best sunset view of Honolulu is from a 1,048-foot-high hill named for sweet potatoes. Actually, the poetic Hawaiian name means “rolling sweet potato hill,” for the way early planters used gravity to harvest their crop. The panorama is sweeping and majestic. On a clear day—which…Honolulu & Waikiki - Historic Site
Puu o Mahuka Heiau
Go around sundown to feel the mana (sacred spirit) of this Hawaiian place. The largest sacrificial temple on Oahu, it’s associated with the great Kaopulupulu, who sought peace between Oahu and Kauai. This prescient kahuna predicted that the island would be overrun by strangers from a…North Shore - Religious Site
Queen Emma Summer Palace
Hanaiakamalama, the name of the country estate of Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma, was once in the secluded uplands of Nuuanu Valley. These days it’s adjacent to a six-lane highway full of speeding cars. This simple, seven-room New England–style house, built in 1848 and restored by the…Honolulu & Waikiki - Sports Venue
Royal Hawaiian Golf Club
Here’s another gorgeous course, often referred to as the Jurassic Park of golf courses, so named for both the breathtaking scenery and because it’s not for the faint-hearted. Designed by Perry and Pete Dye, the club has since been redeveloped by hall-of-fame golfer Greg Norman.…Windward Coast - Religious Site
Royal Mausoleum
In the cool uplands of Nuuanu, on a 3.7-acre patch of sacred land dedicated in 1865 -- and never surrendered to the United States -- stands the Royal Mausoleum, the final resting place of King Kalakaua, Queen Kapiolani, and 16 other Hawaiian royals. Only the Hawaiian flag flies over… - Zoo/Aquarium
Sea Life Park
This 62-acre park in East Oahu is one of the island's top attractions. It features whales from Puget Sound, Atlantic bottle-nosed dolphins, California sea lions, and penguins going through their motions to the delight of kids of all ages. With children, allow all day to take in the… - Garden
Senator Fong’s Plantation Gardens
Hiram Fong, the first Chinese American elected to the U.S. Senate, served 17 years before retiring to this 725-acre tropical garden years ago. This land originally belonged to King Lunalilo; Senator Fong purchased it in 1950. The landscape you see today is relatively the same as what… - Sports Venue
Turtle Bay Resort Golf Courses
This North Shore resort is home to two of Hawaii’s top golf courses. The 18-hole Arnold Palmer Course (formerly the Links at Kuilima) was designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay. Now that the casuarina (ironwood) trees have matured, it’s not as windy as it used to be, but this is still…The North Shore - Historic Site
U.S. Army Schofield Barracks
James Jones, author of From Here to Eternity, called Schofield Barracks "the most beautiful army post the U.S. has or ever had." The Honolulu Star Bulletin called it a country club. More than a million soldiers just called Schofield Barracks home. With its broad, palm-lined… - Historic Site
USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor
On December 7, 1941, the USS Arizona, while moored here in Pearl Harbor, was bombed in a Japanese air raid. The 608-foot battleship sank in 9 minutes without firing a shot, taking 1,177 sailors and Marines to their deaths—and catapulting the United States into World War II. Nobody…Honolulu & Waikiki - Historic Site
USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park
Ever wonder what life on a submarine is like? Then go inside the USS Bowfin, aka the Pearl Harbor Avenger, to experience the claustrophobic quarters where soldiers lived and launched torpedoes. The Bowfin Museum details wartime submarine history and gives a sense of the impressive…Honolulu & Waikiki - Historic site/museum
USS Missouri Memorial
In the deck of this 58,000-ton battleship (the last one the navy launched), World War II came to an end with the signing of the Japanese surrender on September 2, 1945. The Missouri was part of the force that carried out bombing raids over Tokyo and provided firepower in the battles… - Historic Site
Valley of the Temples
This famous cemetery in a cleft of the pali is stalked by wild peacocks and about 700 curious people a day, who pay to see the 9-foot meditation Buddha, acres of ponds full of more than 10,000 Japanese koi carp, and a replica of Japan’s 900-year-old Byodo-In Temple of Equality. The…Windward Coast - Zoo/Aquarium
Waikiki Aquarium
Half of Hawaii’s beauty is its underwater world. Behold the chambered nautilus, nature’s submarine and inspiration for Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea. You can see this tropical, spiral-shelled cephalopod mollusk—the only living one born in captivity—any day of the week…Honolulu & Waikiki - Hiking/Biking Route
Waikiki Historic Trail
The Waikiki you see today bears no resemblance to the Waikiki of yesteryear, a place of vast taro fields extending from the ocean to deep into Manoa Valley, dotted with numerous fishponds and gardens tended by thousands of people. This picture of old Waikiki can be recaptured by… - Tour
Waikiki Trolley Tours
Waikiki Trolley Tours offers four tours of sightseeing, entertainment, dining, and shopping. These are a great way to get the lay of the land. You can get on and off the trolley as needed (trolleys come along every 2–20 min.). An all-day pass (8:30am–11:35pm) is $35 for adults, $19… - Natural Attraction
Waimea Valley
For nearly 3 decades, this 1,875-acre park has lured visitors with activities from cliff diving and hula performances to kayaking and ATV tours. In 2008, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs took over and formed a nonprofit corporation, Hiipaka, to run the park, with an emphasis on…North Coast - Sports Venue
West Loch Municipal Golf Course
This par-72, 6,615-yard course located just 30 minutes from Waikiki, in Ewa Beach, offers golfers a challenge at bargain rates. The difficulties on this unusual municipal course, designed by Robin Nelson and Rodney Wright, are water (lots of hazards), constant trade winds, and narrow…Leeward Oahu - Theme Park
Wet'n'Wild Hawaii
Formerly called the Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, kids love this 29-acre water-theme amusement park, which opened in 1999 with some $14 million in attractions. Plan to spend the day. Highlights are a football-field-size wave pool for bodysurfing, two 65-foot-high free-fall slides,… - Tour
Wild Side Tours
You’re floating in the calm waters off the Waianae coast, where your 42-foot sailing catamaran has just dropped you off. Below, in the reef, are turtles, and suddenly in the distance, you see spinner dolphins. This happens almost every day on the 4-hour tours (departing at 8am;…Around Town
More About Oahu Attractions
Oahu Shopping
Shopping in Honolulu
Shopping for presents can be great fun in Honolulu stores. Bamboo nose flute and hula skirt for the grandkids perhaps? Japanese woodblock print and silk aloha shirt for trendy grandparents? Treat yourself to a new surfboard too, with board shorts to match.
23 Results
- Malls & Shopping Centers
Ala Moana Center
Hawaii’s largest mall includes luxury brands and mainstream chains. But it also offers a selection of local stores. Make sure to browse Manaola and stop by Tori Richard and Reyn Spooner (see “Clothing” for all three); for surf-and-skate wear, check out Hawaiian Island Creations or…Honolulu & Waikiki - Fashion
Aloha Beach Club
One of Kailua’s newer boutiques, Aloha Beach Club also designs and makes its own aloha shirts and board shorts in Hawaii. The style is updated retro. You’ll also find tasteful Aloha Beach Club logo wear. Make sure to grab a shave ice in the shop-within-a-shop, The Local Hawaii, made…Kailua - Fashion
Avanti Fashion
This leading retro aloha shirt label turns out stunning silk shirts and dresses in authentic 1930s to 1950s fabric patterns. The shirts, though made of thin silk, are hip and nostalgic, without the web-thin fragility of authentic antique shirts. The line is distributed in better… - Fashion
Bailey's Antiques & Aloha Shirts
A large selection (that is, thousands) of vintage, secondhand, and nearly new aloha shirts and other collectibles fills this eclectic emporium. It looks as though the owners regularly scour Hollywood movie costume departments for odd ball gowns, feather boas, fur stoles, leather… - Malls & Shopping Centers
DFS Galleria
"Boat days" is the theme at this Waikiki emporium, a three-floor extravaganza of shops ranging from the superluxe (such as Givenchy and Coach) to the very touristy. Great Hawaii food products range from the incomparable Big Island Candies' shortbread cookies to a spate of coffees and… - Food
Don Quijote
Stands offering takeout sushi, Korean kal bi, pizza, Chinese food, flowers, Mrs. Fields cookies, and other items for self and home surround this huge emporium. Inside, you'll find household products, a pharmacy, and inexpensive clothing, but it's the prepared foods and produce that…$ - Sporting Goods
Hawaiian Island Creations
HIC is a super-cool surf shop offering sunglasses, sun lotions, surf wear, surfboards, skateboards, and accessories galore. - Fashion
Island Bungalow
Come here to furnish the beachy bohemian house of your dreams. Don’t have one? Pretend you do while browsing indigo dipped pillowcases, gauzy cotton canopies, tea glasses from Morocco, and intricately patterned textiles and caftans from India…because if you don’t have that beach…Kailua - Food
Madre Chocolate
Honolulu’s first bean-to-bar maker pays homage to chocolate’s origins—no surprise, considering owner Nat Bletter’s career as an ethnobotanist. The Triple Cacao bar blends cacao in all its forms: cacao pulp from Brazil, and nibs and chocolate from Mexico, reflecting the origin of the…Kailua - Gifts
Na Mea Hawaii
A one-stop shop and resource for all things local and Hawaiian, you’ll find hula stones and ipu (gourds); Niihau shell lei; prints, crafts, and jewelry from local artists; local jams and coffee; and shelves of Hawaiian history and culture books. Regular classes in lauhala weaving,…Honolulu & Waikiki - Food
Nisshodo Candy Store
Mochi (Japanese rice cake) is so essential to locals’ lives that even the drugstores sell it. But for the freshest and widest variety, go straight to the source: Nisshodo, an almost century-old business. Choose among pink-and-white chichi dango (or milk mochi), mochi filled with…Honolulu & Waikiki - Gifts
Nohea Gallery
Since its inception in 1990 Nohea Gallery has carried the work of more than 2,100 artists, almost all local. Here you’ll find original gyotaku, or prints using real fish such as ono and opelu by Naoki Hayashi, and woodwork, including beautiful bowls made of mango wood and koa. I love…Honolulu & Waikiki - Fashion
Oliver
This tiny, quirky shop for stylish men sells aloha shirts from local brand Salvage Public, pocket knives for the urban explorer, and soaps to clean up with when you're done exploring. Browse the shop’s collection of vinyl records for some great vintage surf-band finds. Next door,…Kailua - Food
Padovani’s Chocolates
Philippe and Pierre Padovani are two of Hawaii’s best chefs, involved with the Hawaii Regional Cuisine movement. In recent years, they’ve been devoting their attention to chocolate truffles. Their edible gems come in delightful flavors such as a calamansi (a small Filipino lime) and…Honolulu & Waikiki - Malls & Shopping Centers
Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center
Thanks to a $115 million renovaton, The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center is a gleaming temple of conspicuous consumption with 110 shops, restaurants, a nightclub and theater, and a garden grove of 70 coconut trees with an entertainment area. Totaling 310,000 square feet (17,000 sq. ft.… - Malls & Shopping Centers
Salt at Kakaako
There are grand plans for Kakaako, the neighborhood between Waikiki and downtown. Mostly, it’s a lot of new, hi-rise luxury condos, but developers are also trying to create an interesting mix of restaurants and retailers. Here, you’ll find Milo, a hip surf shop that also carries…Honolulu & Waikiki - Sporting Goods
Surf & Sea Surf Sail & Dive Shop
A longtime favorite among old-timers is this large, flamboyant roadside structure just over the bridge, with old wood floors and blowing fans. It sports a tangle of surf and swimwear, T-shirts, surfboards, boogie boards, fins, watches, sunglasses, and miscellaneous goods; you can… - Gifts
Tin Can Mailman
What, not looking for a 1950s oil hula lamp? Check out this shop anyway. It’s packed with vintage Hawaiiana to emulate old-school general stores. The emphasis is on ephemera, such as pinups, postcards, old sheet music and advertisements, and the elusive Betty Boop hula girl…Honolulu & Waikiki - Sporting Goods
Tropical Rush
Tropical Rush has a huge inventory of surf and swim gear: surfboards, long boards, bodyboards, Sector 9 skateboards, and all the accessories to go with an ocean-minded life, such as slippers and swimwear for men and women. T-shirts, hats, sunglasses, and visors are among the scads of… - Malls & Shopping Centers
Waikele Premium Outlets
Just say the word Waikele and our eyes glaze over. So many shops, so little time! There are two sections to this sprawling discount shopping mecca: the Waikele Premium Outlets, some 51 retailers offering designer and name-brand merchandise; and the Waikele Value Center across the… - Malls & Shopping Centers
Ward Village Shops
Gems here include Na Mea Hawaii (see “Hawaiiana & Gift Items” ). Find unique gifts at Red Pineapple, such as Sumadra clutches printed with silhouettes of the Mokulua Islands off Kailua, and Saffron James’ scents, which capture the exoticism of Hawaii’s flowers. Don’t miss the…Honolulu & Waikiki - Malls & Shopping Centers
Ward Warehouse
The Ward Warehouse, which houses Native Books/Na Mea Hawaii and the Nohea Gallery, both terrific sources for good, locally made arts and crafts. Kaypee Soh, a local designer, opened his eponymous store here recently, showcasing colorful, tropical designs on housewares, from pillows… - Food
Whole Foods Market
Whole Foods does a great job of sourcing local, both in produce and in specialty items such as honey, jams, hot sauces, coffee, and chocolate. It’s also got one of the best selections of locally made soaps, great for gifts to take home.Honolulu & Waikiki
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Oahu Nightlife
Honolulu Nightlife
Keeping with tradition is easy when it means sipping Mai Tai cocktails at sunset under spiny kiawe trees, to the gentle strains of Hawaiian music. Or doing big steak and seafood on the beach at long-time favourite Duke's.
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More To Do in Oahu
The Best Websites in Oahu
Veteran travelers usually carry some essential items to make their trips easier. Following is a selection of handy online tools to bookmark and use.Airplane Food (www.airlinemeals.net) Airplane Seating (www.seatguru.com) Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau…
The Best Walks in Oahu
The weather on Oahu is usually sunny, with trade winds providing cooling breezes — perfect for a walk. Below are our favorites, from city to trail.Diamond Head Crater: Most everyone can make this moderate walk to the summit of Hawaii's most famous landmark. Kids love the top of the…
