11 Best Things to do in Oahu (You Probably Haven’t Heard of)

Although Oahu has many popular tourist attractions, there is a lot more to see on the island than just Waikiki Beach and the other typical stops.

During your Oahu vacation, slip away from the usual attractions and try something off the beaten path. From interesting photo ops to stunning treks, here is your ultimate guide to incredible Honolulu adventures.

What to Pack? Before traveling to Oahu, make sure to read my Hawaii Packing List so you can know exactly what you need to bring to Hawaii.

Koko Crater Railway Trail

If you’re looking for a challenging hike with a rewarding summit, then you should definitely make the trip to Koko Crater Railway Trail.

Walk the thousand steps, made of railroad ties, to the top of the mountain for stunning panoramic views.

Not only will you get fabulous shots of the Hawaiian landscape, but you’ll also have the chance to enjoy the Koko Crater Botanical Garden, which is located at the top of the crater.

Easter Island head on Kualoa Ranch Oahu

Although Kualoa Ranch is a pretty spectacular place all on its own (the working cattle ranch covers 4,000 acres of verdant tropical land), most people come to see the Easter Island Head. Although the head is a copy and has no historical significance, it’s the perfect photo op for Instagrammers!

Don’t miss the chance to enjoy the peaceful nature reserve on the ranch and get a good look at the impressive Easter Island head.

My favorite way to tour Kualoa Ranch is with an ATV Raptor tour.

ATV Tour of Kuala Ranch

Discover the natural beauty of Kualoa Ranch on a self-drive ATV tour of Ka’a’awa Valley. Following a guide, explore the lush valley in a 4WD vehicle to check out filming sites from Hollywood movies such as “Jurassic Park.” Read more about Kualoa Ranch – ATV Raptor Tour 2022.

You can even ZIPLINE through Kualoa Ranch! This area is one of the most beautiful places in Oahu and has even been th backdrop for multiple movie sets.

Click here to book your tour on the booking website.

If ATV’s aren’t your thing you can explore Kualoa Ranch on a horse instead with this tour here. Highly recommend. Book your tour: Kualoa Ranch – Horseback Walking Tour

Banyan Tree on Oahu, Hawaii, United States

Although you’ll see frequent house-sized banyan trees sprawling at the corners of streets during your vacation in Hawaii, these stunning trees are not actually native to Hawaii. They were brought from India to the islands by early European settlers, and have thrived there ever since. While you’re on Oahu, be sure to stop and see one!

One of the most magnificent banyan trees can be found at the Moana Hotel, Oahu’s oldest accommodations. The tree at the Moana was planted in the early 1900s, and it has grown to a height of 75 feet and a width of 150 feet. Incredible!

Aerial of Tantalus Mountain

You could literally drive through Hawaii for years and never see all the beautiful scenery. However, some drives should definitely make it to the top of your Oahu bucket list. Aerial of Tantalus Mountain in Puu Ualakaa State Park is one such place. Take Round Top Drive, a road that will take you winding up the hill past beautiful private homes and views of Moana.

If you can’t make a hike for whatever reason, this is a perfectly acceptable alternative.

Hike Kuliouou Ridge Trail (South Oahu)

Hawaii has a surprising number of biomes, from tropical rainforests to drier areas with a completely different feel. The Kuliouou Ridge Trail begins as a relatively dry coniferous forest, but as you take the steep climb upward, you’ll find yourself trekking through the tropical overgrowth.

As the trail becomes steeper, it mercifully changes from a dirt path to a series of rough steps. As you climb out of the thick vegetation, you’ll emerge into the open air, with the azure dome of the Hawaiian sky overhead and views of the south shore of Oahu. However, you won’t get to the truly stunning views until you get to the top of the sparsely-vegetated Kuliouou Ridge. There, you’ll find a clear panorama of Oahu, from Koko Head Crater to Waimanalo.

Visit the Sunflower Fields Oahu

When you think of Hawaiian flowers, you probably think of hibiscus, not sunflowers. However, the autumn season brings fields of yellow throughout Oahu. The sunflower fields here typically bloom in July and October (and November) for up to 10 days.

One of the best places to see the spectacular sight is Kaena Point National Park. This park is located on the northern shore of Oahu, one of the loveliest places on the island.

If you take a hike through the park, you can enjoy endless fields of bright yellow flowers. The sunflowers here are so big that they are the height of an adult and have centers the size of your face! Be ready to snap photos with sunflowers in the foreground and the ocean in the background.

Where is the best place to see the Sunflower fields in Oahu?

There are 3 locations in Waialua, Waimanalo, and Kapolei where you can see the sunflower fields.

Aloun Farms in Kapolei typically has sunflower fields between October – November. While you are their you should check out the Kapolei pumpkin patch as well.

You can find sunflowers in Waialua, near Waialua High School on the North Shore of Oahu.

Located on the East side of Oahu the Waimanalo County Farms has sunflower fields that typically bloom in July and October. It is a beautiful site with the Koolau Mountains in the background.

Kaneohe, Oahu

Beautiful Kaneohe is a paradise of tropical nature. Thanks to frequent rainfall, this part of the island is startlingly green. You can enjoy beautiful views of the mountains here, or wander through the nature reserves and wild places of the island. Beside Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden, there are many places you can go to immerse yourself in the stunning outdoor world of Oahu.

He’eia State park is one such place, and beautiful Hanauma Bay is another. If you want to experience the best of Kaneohe, take the aptly-named Stairway to Heaven hike.

Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden, Kaneohe

Hawaiian flora is stunning anywhere you go on the islands, but you can see a particularly incredible diversity on display when you visit the Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden.

Wander through 400 acres of gardens ringed by rugged green cliffs. The many displays in the garden include plants from tropical locations such as Philippines, Malaysia, Tropical America, India and Sri Lanka, Melanesia, Hawaii, Polynesia, and Africa.

If you need a quiet and peaceful place to escape the noise of Oahu’s tourism, this is the place to do it.

Enjoy the view (in Palolo) from some of the best hotels, Oahu

Palolo is a neighborhood just outside of Honolulu. The neighborhood lies entirely in a valley.  I’m jealous of the residents being surrounded by beautiful mountains and oceans. 

The views from many of the hotels are famous. (Image taken on the 30th floor of the Hyatt Regency Hotel.) If you are looking to stay here the area is less than a mile from the famous Diamond Head hike.

Byodo-In Temple, Oahu 

This temple was built to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii, is a replica of another from Kyoto, Japan, and is a perfect way to pay homage to Hawaii’s Japanese influence.

This beautiful temple is surrounded by lush Japanese gardens and koi ponds.  It is also featured in a few tv series including Hawaii Five-O, Magnum, Lost and House of the Rising Sun.

Hike at Kaena Point National Park on the north shore of Oahu

Hawaii has more than its fair share of amazing experiences, and Oahu is home to many of them! Make this the best vacation ever with these off-the-beaten-path activities.

Which one do you want to try first? Let us know in the comments, or share your favorite little-known Oahu excursion.

What to pack for Oahu

• Quick Dry Travel Towel – This quick dry towel is amazing to travel with. We honestly usually travel with 2 of them. It really will come in handy when you need extra room in your suitcase.
• Snorkeling gear – for obvious reasons.
• Sandals – LOVE these Tevas sandals. You can actually hike in them which is perfect for hawaii if you don’t want to bother with hiking boots.
• Hiking Boots – The hikes in Hawaii are MUDDY. Make sure to pack a nice pair of waterproof hiking boots so trekking through the mud and puddles doesn’t make you miserable. Nothing worse than wet socks. These are my favorite hiking boots. They are cute and comfortable. I never go hiking without them! Buy them from DSW here.
• Tank tops – Free people is my go to place to buy cute and affordable tank tops (Depending on the style of course). I have this tighten up tank in almost every color.
• Shorts – Anyone who is traveling to Hawaii needs a good pair of shorts. Khakis are great for guys. For women, cute athletic shorts or denim shorts are perfect for a breezy summertime look.
  • These denim shorts are my current favorites!
  • These high waisted athletic shorts have gone viral on instagram and for good reason, they are AMAZING.
  • Hat – essential. Shop my favorite hats at Nordstrom here.

• Dresses for Hawaii – Packing a few good dresses is essential for Hawaii. Dresses have become my go to on trips to help quickly put an outfit together.
• Tennis Shoes – I guess you could wear sandals hiking this trail but I would recommend tennis shoes. It can get narrow and slippery in parts. I never go anywhere without my white Air force ones. They are the most versatile shoe I own.
  • These Nike tennis shoes are also my current favs. Only bummer is they sell out so fast! If they are sold out I would check out the newest released Nikes here. They look so cute with shorts too!
• Beach cover-up – Having at least one good cover-up is essential on any beach trip. Amazon actually has amazing ones at really affordable prices. If you aren’t a fan of buying clothes off Amazon I recommend ASOS, Nordstrom and Revolve as well.
• Camera Gear – The iPhone 13 Pro is amazing and probably all that most people need. BUT, if you want something more I can’t recommend the Sony A7IV mirrorless camera enough. It is AMAZING. If you are more into video than taking photos I recommend the Sony A7SIII or the Canon R5 for you Canon lovers.
• Travel tripod – This Peak Design travel tripod is the best I have ever used. It is so easy to carry around because it is literally the size of a water bottle. Fits perfectly in a backpack. I have never seen a tripod so compact. It’s life changing. You can check it out here if you’re interested. Note – It isn’t cheap, but that’s why I bought it from backcountry.com. They frequently have 15% off sales so I was luckily able to purchase during a sale.

Thank you so much for reading.

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By Breana Johnson & Claire