G'day mates! On this post we will be sharing our top 5 things to do if you visit the island of Oahu, HI. There are A LOT of things to do on this beautiful island, there is no way in heck we could cover every single activity available to do. On our 5 days on the island we ourselves did not get a chance to do everything we wanted. We missed some big ones like Pearl Harbor, hanging out on Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head... the list goes on. But hey, that just gives us a reason to go back, right? So for now, let us share the top 5 things we did do on our visit.
Swim with sharks, cage-free!
This may sound a little scary if you watched JAWS when you were a kid but trust us when we say the worst part of this experience was the choppy water. We opted to do our shark dive with One Ocean because they are HUGE on educating people on the importance of sharks. TBH, sharks have been demonized over the years but the truth is they don't attack as often as we think. Of course, always exercise caution when you are near them! Tip: the water is less choppy on the early morning tour, book that if you can and take Dramamine!
2. Relax at Lanikai Beach
Looking for that picture perfect Hawaiian beach? Look no further. Lanikai Beach has soft, sugary sand and clear turquoise waters that will make all your co-workers jealous! Bonus: you also get a great view of the Mokes and can swim out to them if you're feeling adventurous. We spent three hours here soaking in the sun, swimming in the warm water and getting sprinkled on- it was perfect! When you start to get hungry, head to Ono Steak and Shrimp (about a 15 minute drive), it was the best meal we had on our entire trip!
3. Tour Kualoa Ranch
This one is pretty touristy but 100% worth visiting anyway! Kualoa Ranch has been featured on countless movies, including Jurassic World. When you visit, you'll see exactly why its such a popular filming location. Some of the most beautiful views on the entire island of Oahu can be found here. The ranch offers lots of different tours for all levels of budgets and adventure. We opted for the Raptor Tour which allowed us to drive our own ATV instead of being crammed in one of the larger buses. If you choose this option, be ready for some filthy fun. You will be covered in dirt by the time its over!
4. Explore Kaneohe Sandbar
Until recently, Kaneohe Sandbar has been mostly a "locals only" spot. The reason for that is that a sandbar can be difficult to access if you don't have a boat or a friend with a boat. In fact, I only found 2 companies that are taking tour groups out there. We visited Kaneohe Sandbar with Captain Bob's Picnic Company and had an awesome experience, though I do wish we could have spent more time at the sandbar. The tour included a stop at Kaneohe, the world's largest sandbar (and its still growing!), lunch on the boat and snorkeling. The crew was awesome and definitely added to the experience. Note: as this place grows in popularity, some of the locals grow unhappy. Please make sure to treat this beautiful place and its people with kindness and respect. Don't leave anything behind!
5. Walk to Waimea Valley Falls
This is a great activity to do if you've got little kids or elderly parents/grandparents that can't do difficult hikes but that would enjoy seeing a beautiful waterfall. The waterfall is found within the Waimea Valley Botanical Garden ($20 entrance fee pp). Its not the largest or most majestic waterfall but you can swim in it, which makes it really fun. Plus, the botanical garden is unbelievably gorgeous! There's hundreds of different plants. There's also a ton of different little paths you can take so you never feel like you're in a crowded place. You can spend an entire day exploring the gardens and swimming at the waterfall. Make sure you bring comfortable shoes, a towel and a change of clothes if you plan on swimming (changing rooms are available).
There you have it! Our top 5 Oahu activities. Of course, we documented everything for the 'Tube and the 'Gram so make sure to check us out on there if you haven't already :-) And make sure you follow us on both! If you have questions on anything, slide into our DMs ;-)
Here is the Oahu playlist.
We appreciate you today and always ♥
Xoxo, V