Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve has been a protected marine life conservation area and underwater park since 1967. As a result, its native ecosystem has flourished, and the Bay is a beautiful natural destination for visitors. Conservation remains at the heart of this unique outdoor experience.
The beach is a beloved spot for snorkeling. Because of the preserved natural environment, many beautiful and fascinating fish and sea creatures can be spotted during snorkeling excursions. Equipment and lessons can be rented right on the beach.
Located just 11 miles from Waikīkī, the Bay is very accessible. Visitors can easily drive or take a bus, making for accessible day trip transportation.
Though tourism is still permitted on site, conservatorship of the land has taken a rightful priority. Visitors are required to watch a video before visiting with instructions for caring for the land and interacting with the animals on it.
If you're a more active traveler and sunning and snorkeling aren't enough to fill your day, consider taking a wildlife and preservation education course. The Bay provides a uniquely beautiful classroom to learn about the environment.
Entrance to Hanauma Bay is $25 for nonresidents. This fee covers not only the protection of the land but upkeep of the many facilities available on site, including restrooms, beach showers, a life guard on duty, concession stands, locker rentals, and snorkel equipment.
Whether you come to snorkel, dive into a good beach read, or learn about environmental protections, Hanauma Bay makes for a satisfying day trip. You'll come away with a better understanding of how ecosystems can flourish when protected.
Tourism accounts for approximately 21 percent of the Hawaiian economy, and nowhere are there more tourists than Waikiki. Located on Oahu's southern shore, more than 40 percent of tourists to the state of Hawaii stay in Waikiki, despite there being incredible views, picturesque beaches, and cascading waterfalls throughout the islands, including on Oahu. So, if you’re looking for unforgettable Oahu day trips, leaving from Honolulu or Waikiki, you’re sure to find something amazing.
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Whether you live in Honolulu and feel the need to explore, or are planning a vacation to Waikiki and want recommendations that reach beyond the luxury resort scene, we've got the perfect day trip for any adventure-filled Saturday. From historic sites and stunning beaches to striking waterfalls and charming towns, these 11 Hawaii day trips across the island of Oahu are sure to feed your wanderlust.
While Oahu’s north shore is known for its massive waves and professional surf competitions during the winter months, this beautiful stretch of coastline has so much more to offer. The main settlement in this area is Haleiwa, which has consistently been voted one of Hawaii’s favorite small towns for years. From the best acai bowls and shave ice in Haleiwa to snorkel spots, secluded beaches, phenomenal hiking, and historic places, you could spend a year exploring the north shore without visiting the same place twice.
The beautiful windward coast is known for incredible hiking and lush jungle, Honolulu is the center for business and culture, and the north shore is a haven for surfers, but the west coast is often overlooked for other, more accessible parts of the island. It’s a true shame, because this slice of coastline is home to some simply stunning beaches, incredible hiking opportunities, and countless hidden gems to uncover. We suggest checking out Makaha Beach, Kaena Point State Park, Kahumana Organic Farm & Cafe, Yokohama Bay, and Kaneana Cave.
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For more information about Kaena Point State Park, make sure to visit the park’s website.
From Waimanalo and Bellows to Lanikai, and Kailua beaches, Oahu’s windward coast - specifically the 10-mile stretch from the Marine Corps Base Kaneohe to Makapu’u Beach Park – is home to the most brilliant blue waters, sure to make your next beach day unforgettable. Don’t forget to stop at the Makai Research Pier to take that quintessential Hawaiian photograph.
Oahu’s second city, Kapolei, is located on the leeward side of the island - and is home to some incredible shopping, Wet’n’Wild, and the picturesque resort area of Ko’Olina. You won’t regret a stop at Aulani, a Disney resort - with character breakfasts and pool parties, movie nights, and a variety of kid’s entertainment, your children are sure to be in absolute bliss – and so will you, with an adults-only pool bar.
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Wet'n'Wild has great information on its website about attractions and visitor rates.
Located on the northern shore of Oahu is the Polynesian Cultural Center, a Polynesian-themed attraction and living museum known for eight simulated tropical villages and a phenomenal luau. Fun fact: The center is owned by neighboring Brigham Young University, and 70 percent of the staff are students at the school.
To see times of their events, and to learn more, make sure to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center's website.
Just minutes away from the bustling state capital of Honolulu – but still within the city limits – is the lush Manoa Valley. This residential area is home to the University of Hawaii at Manoa, receives almost daily rain, and was the site of the first sugarcane and coffee plantations in the Hawaiian Islands. And hidden deep within Manoa Valley are two amazing activities that can be paired together to create the perfect day in paradise: a hike through the lush Hawaiian jungle to Manoa Falls, and a visit to the magnificent Mu Ryang Sa Buddhist Temple.
From horseback riding and ATV tours to boat excursions and ziplining, Kualoa Ranch has an activity perfect for everyone. Oh, and did we mention the stunning natural beauty and countless movies filmed there? Those films include 50 First Dates, Jurassic Park, Soul Surfer, Along Came Polly, The Hunger Games, Godzilla, and George of the Jungle, as well as several television shows.
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To see Kualoa Ranch’s full range of activities currently available, make sure to pursue their website for more up to date information.
While we love our beautiful beaches as much as the next person, sometimes you want to escape the hoards of tourists, as well as the hustle and bustle of Hawaii’s capital city. That’s when you retreat inland for the day, and treat yourself to mouthwatering food, stellar coffee, and some fascinating attractions in the often overlooked Wahiawa: the literal heart of Oahu. We suggest stopping at Surfers Coffee Bar, the Wahiawa Botanical Garden, the famous Dole Plantation, and the Kukaniloko Birthing Stones.
From incredible lava formations and charming coves to challenging hikes and beautiful beaches, Oahu’s southeastern shore is a treasure trove of incredible spots you won’t find anywhere else in the world. In just a ten mile stretch of Kalanianaole Highway from the beautiful Spitting Caves to the popular Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail, you will find countless spots to explore, including Hanauma Bay, Koko Head, the Lanai Lookout, and Halona Cove + Blowhole.
Meandering from Honolulu to Oahu’s windward coast, the Pali Highway is a picturesque drive through the jungle. Along the road, you’ll find some incredible sights, including amazing hiking trails, bamboo forests, and the stunning Nu’uanu Pali State Wayside. It’ll cost you $3 to stop here if you’re not a Hawaii resident, but the lookout provides stunning, panoramic views of the windward coast - and a stellar photo opp.
The December 7, 1941 Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor triggered the United State’s entry into World War II. You may not have known that Hawaii was put under martial law until the end of the war. Today, Pearl Harbor houses a variety of historical sites, and is home to more than 160 commands. If you only see one thing while visiting Pearl Harbor, it has to be the famous USS Arizona Memorial, but we also recommend checking out the Pacific Aviation Museum, the USS Battleship Missouri, and the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park.
To see when tours are offered to the USS Arizone Memorial, and hours of information, check out their website with all of the most up-to-date listings.
Have you done any of these awesome Oahu day trips in Hawaii? What did you think? Would you recommend it? Let us know in the comments below!
How do you make a visit to one of the only wineries in Hawaii even better? Add waterfalls. There is little better than watching a waterfall cascade into the pool below, and luckily, the Hawaiian Islands are home to an abundance of incredible waterfalls. Among the intense lava landscapes of Hawaii Island, you will find some of the most accessible waterfalls in the state, many of which are easily visited in a single day. If you’re searching for "waterfalls near me on Hawaii," then look no further than this list! And what better way to end a day of chasing waterfalls than with a visit to a one-of-a-kind winery? Join us for one of the most unique road trips in Hawaii that you can do.
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Coming in at just 60 miles and less than two hours of drive time, there's truly no better day trip than this one that leads you on a magnificent journey to five waterfalls and one winery.
This multi-tiered waterfall is located on private land owned by the Umauma Experience Company, so you will, unfortunately, be required to either book a ziplining or kayak adventure with the company — or simply pay the $10 admission fee to take a self-guided walk of the gardens.
It’s a fine trade off, as the sights are absolutely worth the entrance fee.
It’s easily found on the Big Island’s Hamakua Coast, a place of pure paradise flowing from the Kolekole Stream. To view the falls, visitors take a short stroll leading through a jungle of banana plants, towering bamboo groves, and lush orchids. There is an entrance fee for Akaka Falls State Park.
Onto Onomea Falls, a lovely little waterfall in a botanical garden!
This tiered waterfall is a mere 20 to 30 feet in comparison to some of the larger waterfalls, though it is quite breathtaking all the same. The falls are nestled within the Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden off the four-mile scenic drive through Onomea Bay. We love Onomea Falls in Hawaii; it’s the perfect little hike for the whole family.
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Rainbow Falls is up next, and it’s as pretty as a postcard.
This easy, kid-friendly hike in Hawaii is the perfect place to go on a hot day. The beautiful hike has plenty to offer, including a more challenging trail to the top of the falls.
A short trail from the parking lot offers views from the waterfall’s summit, and if you visit early on a sunny morning, you might experience how the falls got its name: waianuenue means rainbow in Hawaiian.
Rainbow Falls is 80-feet tall, and nearly 100-feet wide, which is impressive, considering that many of Hawaii’s greatest waterfalls are mere trickles in comparison. This is a stunning waterfall hike in Hawaii that you must put on your bucket list!
Located just one mile past the more famous Rainbow Falls on the Wailuku River is an equally gorgeous - but dangerous - natural phenomenon: Pe’epe’e Falls feeds a series of several pools known as the boiling pots.
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Connected by a series of cascading waterfalls along with columns that were formed from the slow cooling of basalt lava, these pools appear to be bubbling, almost as if they were boiling.
This is an accessible waterfall that’s good for a quick visit and tends to be less crowded than some of the more popular waterfalls in the area. Pe’epe’e Falls in Hawaii is a lovely addition to our list.
And finally, we’re headed to the wine portion of our day trip with a visit to Volcano Winery.
Located just five minutes from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and ten minutes from the Kilauea Overlook is a picturesque winery perfect for ending a day of waterfall chasing.
The unique Volcano Winery is located at 4,000 feet in elevation on the slopes of an active volcano and nestled between two volcanoes on lava-covered land that allows Symphony Grape Vines to flourish.
Founded in 1986, Volcano Winery is the only winery on Hawaii Island and one of only three commercial wineries in Hawaii. It is also the southernmost winery in the United States. Here, tropical fruits like yellow guava, star fruit, and the exotic jaboticaba berry, are blended with traditional wine grapes to create vibrant wines that perfectly capture the Hawaiian spirit. Visiting this winery in Hawaii is the perfect way to end your day of waterfall sightseeing!
Have you ever been to any of these phenomenal destinations on one of your Hawaii road trips? When you’re on the Big Island, add these waterfalls and Volcano Winery - one of the only wineries in Hawaii - to your must-visit list!
If you prefer a day of exercise over wine drinking, you might be interested in our ultimate waterfall hike bucket list. This is a great way to enjoy the sights without having to trek around everywhere!
