Best things to do on Oahu
The top 3 according to 7 votes from people: Pearl Harbor National Memorial · Diamond Head · Waikiki Beach. (Updated Apr 10, 2026.)
Beaches, history and the North Shore: Oahu's top experiences according to Hawaii guidebooks, Love Oahu and island bloggers.
Top 10
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1
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
The USS Arizona Memorial and museums on the 1941 attack.
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2
Diamond Head
Crater hike with tunnels and switchbacks to views over Waikiki; reservations needed.
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3
Waikiki Beach
The famous beach of Honolulu, birthplace of modern surfing with the Duke Kahanamoku statue.
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4
Kualoa Ranch
Valley where Jurassic Park and Lost were filmed, with movie tours.
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5
Byodo-In Temple
Replica of a Japanese temple at the foot of the Koʻolau Mountains.
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6
Waimea Valley
Botanical gardens and cultural sites leading to a waterfall you can swim in.
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7
Manoa Falls Trail
Rainforest trail to a 150-foot waterfall near Honolulu.
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8
Hanauma Bay
Protected bay of coral reefs for snorkelling, with a mandatory education video.
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9
North Shore
Winter big-wave surf at Banzai Pipeline and Waimea Bay, and Haleiwa's shrimp trucks.
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10
Polynesian Cultural Center
Six island villages and an evening show in Laie.
Candidates
They don't make it into the top 10… yet. Vote for them to move them up.
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11
Lanikai Beach and the Lanikai Pillbox Hike
Powder-white sand on the windward coast and a ridge hike with views of the Mokulua islands.
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12
Iolani Palace
The only royal palace on US soil, home of Hawaii's last monarchs.
How is this ranking ordered? By people's votes: each ▲ adds a point and each ▼ takes one away. Anyone can vote and add what is missing.
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Comments (1)
Hanauma Bay snorkeling, reserve online, it's limited now.