The Bus
Oahu is the only Hawaiian island with really excellent and reliable public transportation. The City and County of Honolulu's bus system is simply called "The Bus", the fare is $2.50 per ride (with one free transfer) and the system's bus routes cover the entire island of Oahu.
Visitor 4 Day Bus Pass: $25 for four (4) consecutive days of unlimited bus rides. Honored on all regular and commuter express services.
Guided Driving Tour
Mini Island Driving Tour - Monday, Wednesday, Friday - 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Enjoy this scenic 4-hour motor coach tour of the Island of Oahu! Experience the unique structure of Diamond Head, the lush tropical beauty of the Nuuanu Rainforest & the world famous beaches of Oahu! Roundtrip Waikiki hotel transportation & expert narration included.
Stretch your legs and check out the scenery with approximate 10-15 minute stops at the following locations (some stops subject to driver discretion based upon scheduling):
- Complimentary Waikiki hotel pickup and return included for your convenience.
- Travel in an air-conditioned mini-coach with large vista view windows, so you won't miss a thing!
- Enjoy the spectacular views from Diamond Head Lookout.
- Take in the best panoramic views from the top of Mount Tantalus.
- Enjoy the sea air and blustery trade winds along the scenic windward coastline.
- See beautiful Hanauma Bay, an incomparable marine preserve nestled in a beautiful tropical setting.
- See Chinaman's Hat from the Nuuanu Pali Lookout.
- View Queen Emma's Summer Palace and continue up into the cool, lush rainforest.
- Take the magnificent drive past some of Oahu's most impressive homes for awesome photo shots!
- Diamond Head Lookout
- Queen Emma Summer Palace
- Nuuanu Pali Lookout
- Koko Head to see Koko Head Crater
- Sandy Beach
- Halona Blowhole
- Hanauma Bay
- Kahala
Fireworks
Each Friday evening the Hilton Hawaiian Village puts on a free firework show on Waikiki Beach. The fireworks show begins at 7:45pm lasts about ten minutes. Details here.
One vantage point for the fireworks that we really liked was from the concrete pier in front of the Outrigger Reef on the Beach hotel. It was a perfect location to see the fireworks reflecting off the water.
Hike: Diamond Head
Hiking Diamond Head is a lot of fun but the trail is dry, hot and steep. Diamond head summit is 760 feet high. The trail is about 75% paved. You will be walking in direct sun about 90% of the time so be prepared with a hat and sunscreen. After walking about 1/3 of the way up the trail, you come to a 225 foot tunnel that you must pass through to proceed to the summit, so be sure to bring a flashlight. You will climb two tall spiral staircases, one is 99 steps and the other is 76 steps. You will come to spots along the way that are sort of look-out points where you get an amazing view of Oahu's east coast. When you have finally reached the top, you will discover old bunkers that were used during World War II to spot and shoot down enemy planes. After passing through the bunkers you will reach the summit. "WOW" what an incredible view of Oahu's west side and Waikiki beach. Bring a camera for some once in a lifetime photo opportunity. If you visit the Diamond Head summit in the winter months, keep a look-out just off the coast for migrating whales. This is a great spot to see them. First look for the spray of water coming out of the ocean and then look for their shadow under the water. If you are lucky you can spot them as they jump up out of the water. This hike is definitely worth the walk, and I rate it number 1 for being the closest to Waikiki. Make sure you bring sunscreen while hiking in Oahu. The park is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Hike: Manoa Falls
If you are hiking in Oahu and want to see a beautiful waterfall, one of the best hikes is within 5 miles from Waikiki.This hike is perfect for those who wish to see a lush tropical rain forest and a beautiful waterfall. The trail can be reached b y car, bus, or walking from Waikiki. At the beginning of the trailhead the elevation gradually reaches to approximately 600 feet. The total roundtrip hike is abut 2 miles and takes about 1.5 hours. The trail is very well maintained. This hike is an excellent slow paced hike that the average person can easily handle. As you hike through the Manoa valley rainforest you will see a large variety of native Hawaiian plants and flowers and a number of smaller waterfalls. Since this is a rainforest, be careful because it does get a bit slippery in some spots. You will pass through a bamboo forest that is in few words, incredible. When you reach the end, you will see the wonderful 200 foot nearly vertical Moana falls. Take your camera for some incredible rainforest and waterfall shots. This is an easy enough hike to take your children and they will love it. Take mosquito repellent to protect yourself and take along a bottle of water because the water from the falls is not safe to drink. If it is raining, watch for flash floods. This is a great choice for hiking in Oahu to see a nice waterfall.
To reach Manoa Falls from Waikiki, take McCully street out of Waikiki towards the mountains. Turn right onto Kapiolani blvd and turn onto university and drive through the University of Hawaii campus.... turn right onto Manoa road and it will dead end at the trailhead. If you take the bus, get on the university bus.
Secret Waterfall
Oahu is known to host a wonderful array of hikes with a waterfall at the end, and they are all beautiful. However, there are a few known only to locals, which can make the experience quite unique- for one thing, you won’t have to wait in a line for a jump off the top with other tourists.
One such waterfall is only 15 minutes away from downtown Honolulu. Heading west on the H1, take the LikeLike exit heading north. From there, take a right and an immediate left onto Kalihi Street, and follow it all the way until it dead-ends in a lush tropical forest.After a short, beautiful hike, the trail ends at a clearing. A gorgeous rushing waterfall will be cascading into a jade colored pool. The waterfall, about thirty feet high, makes for a great jump spot for those looking for a rush, and there is even a rope swing for the truly daring spirits.What sets this place above the rest, however, is the jewels hidden behind the waterfall. Climb up to the top and discover even more waterfalls, complete with their own pools for swimming or jumping into. Whether you are basking in the sun on one of the rocks or daring a back flip into water, this hidden gem will is a must-see on your visit to Oahu.
Halona Beach
Also known as Cockroach Cove, is an isolated, picture perfect cove enclosed by high cliffs. Crystal clear aquamarine water has light waves to splash in, and see turtles often make an appearance here as well.
Parasailing
I did this in Florida and it was awesome. I bet you'd get AMAZING views of the island from up there! It's also cheaper than Florida! https://www.xtremeparasail.com
Estimated Sunrise and Sunset Times:
March 12: 6:42 a.m. - 6:40 p.m.
March 13: 6:41 a.m. - 6:40 p.m.
March 14: 6:40 a.m. - 6:41 p.m.
March 15: 6:39 a.m. - 6:41 p.m.
March 16: 6:38 a.m. - 6:41 p.m.
March 17: 6:38 a.m. - 6:42 p.m.
Remember to Bring:
- water bottle
- bug spray
- sun screen
- puma bag
- cameras & batteries
- hat/visor
- hiking shoes
