Connecting Hawaii

A Look at Some Fun & Romantic Things to Do on Oahu

Waikiki Beach on a Romantic Oahu Vacation

Hey! It’s Waikiki Beach. One of the most famous of all Hawaiian beaches. And like you’ve probably heard, it is crowded!

There are a couple reasons for that – it’s close to Waikiki accommodation and Hotel Deals in Honolulu, and it’s actually a very good beach in spots! Warm water, some waves but not too turbulent, decent sand, lots of sun, and every imaginable convenience about 2 blocks away!

We always spend at least 1 day at or near Waikiki beach, just to be there, watch the other sun worshippers, and stock up on sunscreen and cheap beach mats! There’s usually music and entertainment after dark along the beach front hotels. A couple of gorgeous hotels to just stroll through the breezy lobby are the Royal Hawaiian and Sheraton Moana.

There are some interesting places to eat nearby too. The Shorebird Restaurant & Beach Bar is a great place for a nice romantic evening meal. You cook your own steak on an open flame grille, there’s live Hawaiian music, and you get a beautiful view of Diamond Head and the sun setting over the Pacific! After dinner, you can stroll along the darkened beach, or wander out to the end of the pier for a look at all the lights along the shore.You can find the ShoreBird Restaurant at the back of the Outrigger Reef Hotel, right on the beach.

Here are some Oahu day trip ideas to find some quieter places away from Waikiki: (and for tips on finding the best deals on entertainment, dining and tours in and around Waikiki, have a look at our Oahu Activities Discounts page)

Ala Moana Beach Park

Ala Moanna is a nice alternative to Waikiki, and less crowded too (apparently not that safe after dark though). Here’s the plan: take the bus there around noon (Bus 8 from Waikiki), enjoy the beach and nearby park in the afternoon, then walk across the street to the Ala Moana Shopping Center for a cheap eat in their huge food court!

Then, for a different way home, do what we did – pay $2 and board the pink shopping shuttle (catch them outside beside the covered parking lot). It’s an open-sided trolley wagon that does a circuit from the mall back to all the major Waikiki hotels. In the evening it’s a gorgeous look at the city, with the warm breeze in your hair. An inexpensive Honolulu tour! It tends to be a little less crowded at night too.

Over 30 Oahu Attractions, Tours, Museums, Activities & Sights for 1 Low Price are included with the Go Oahu Card!

Diamond Head

Hiking up to the top of Diamond Head is one of the more strenuous things to do on Oahu, but the views are well worth it. We headed out a couple hours before sunset and caught some great views of Waikiki beach, the ocean, city and surrounding mountains.

Hanuama Bay

Hanuama Bay is easy to get to, even if you don’t have a car. We found transit maps and schedules at a nearby McDonalds. Bus 22 takes you straight through Waikiki and east to Hanuama Bay.

If snorkelling is on your list of things to do on Oahu, you’ll find Hanuama a nice “snorkel and sand” excursion for the day. You can rent snorkel gear there as well. The water is fairly calm, and the underwater visibility of the coral was quite good! Warning: It gets crowded by noon.

Romantic Tour of Oahu

Oahu Beach

To get away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki, one of the most romantic things to do on Oahu is a circle tour of the island by car. Honolulu is a good starting point.

We started off heading west for a full day circle tour of the island. If the weather is good (and most of the time it is) you can just go from beach to beach – there’s over 130 of them!

And when you find the right one, stop and just relax, maybe do a little swimming, read a good book, or work on your tan.

Along the way you’ll also find:

* The North Shore: world class surfers here with some of the biggest waves in the world!

* Waimea Falls Park: Beautiful secluded waterfalls, although not so secluded if the tourist busloads beat you to it! Cultural shows, cliff diving exhibition, horseback rides and a lot more. A bit on the pricey side ($24).

* Polynesian Cultural Center: A huge pavilion of everything Polynesian. We toured the grounds, had the buffet and watched the impressive evening show. To do this justice (and get your money’s worth!) you do need to spend all day though. Alot of Hawaii vacation packages include a day trip here – it’s one of the most popular things to do on Oahu.

* Pali Lookout: One of the best views in all of Oahu. Open 9-4 daily. Watch out for high winds!

The state of Hawaii is really and truly one of the most wonderful places in the world. Not only is it absolutely gorgeous, but there are also a million different things to do there. Everything from waterskiing and scuba diving to skiing and snowboarding, the landscape of Hawaii is incredibly versatile and you have almost limitless options when it comes to things to do.

The State of Hawaii

Most people are not aware of the fact that the state of Hawaii actually comprises of over 100 different islands. Hawaii was actually a native kingdom throughout most of the 19th century, when the expansion of the sugar industry came about and this meant increasing U.S. business and political involvement.

The temperature in Hawaii is very mild and there is rarely any precipitation. Flowers and nursery products are the chief products, but Hawaii also grows coffee beans, bananas, and macadamia nuts. The highest peak is Mauna Koa at 13,796 feet, and the Mauna Loa is the largest volcanic mountain in the world by volume, standing 13,679 feet.

There are also a few particular points of interest that are famous in the state of Hawaii, including the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, National Historic Park, Polynesian Cultural Center, and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Things to Do

You are sure to be almost overwhelmed by the variety of things that you can do in the state of Hawaii, and there is literally something for everyone. Dolphin encounters are one of the most popular activities, and although there are a few different dolphin excursions that you can go on, one in particular is the Hawaii Dolphin Watch & Kayak – Big Island Early Riser Dolphin Quest, on which you will search for dolphins as you enjoy an early morning kayak excursion along Hawaii’s beautiful coastline.

Scuba diving is also very popular in the state of Hawaii, as there are so many beautiful and breathtaking views under the Hawaiian waters and the Big Island Hawaii Scuba Diving – Red Sail Sports Scuba Dive is by far one of the most popular. Here you will explore the underwater world of one of the most geographically isolated places on the earth. Hawaii’s Kohala Coast offers some of the best diving in all the Hawaiian Islands, and the water along the coast is clear year round and often exceeds 100-foot visibility.