Itineraries for Your Trip to Oahu
3 Days on Oahu for Families
I began visiting Oahu as a child, and I’ve been able to take my own kids back there a few times. Days at the beach are a given, but I always try to find something new to do each time we visit, whether that's swimming among sea turtles or visiting pineapple farms.
With three days on Oahu, you can visit the historical sites, such as the Pearl HarborNational Memorial and the Battleship Missouri Memorial, and have time to explore more on a circle-island tour or a sunset cruise. Here's my 3-day Oahu itinerary for families to get you started.
If you only have time for one thing, make it a luau.
You'll typically have warm weather when visiting Oahu, with some rainy days in the winter.
With so much to do and see in and beyond Waikiki, start your visit aboard a hop-on hop-off bus or open-air trolley: an easy way to get kids motivated to explore. Stops include popular family-friendly Oahu attractions, such as the Waikiki Aquarium, the Honolulu Zoo, and the Halona Blowhole.
Follow afternoon naps with a dive into Native Hawaiian culture. Many Oahu luaus offer kid-priced tickets for performances as well as tasty food to go along with the dinner show.
Enjoy a morning of snorkeling with the whole family. Oahu has plenty of options, most departing from Waikiki. You'll head out to the island's top snorkel sites with the hopes of spotting green sea turtles and dolphins along the way.
This afternoon, take the kids over to Kualoa Ranch to see movie locations and learn about the production process for some 17+ flicks filmed on Oahu, including Jumanji, Jurassic Park, and 50 First Dates. Don’t forget to look for dinosaurs in the foliage!
On day three, encourage the kids to try delicious new foods, such as loco moco and malasadas, on a food tour. Follow your guide on foot to under-the-radar spots or interesting food trucks, and taste plenty of samples while you walk.
If you have history buffs in your crew, a visit to Pearl Harbor National Memorial and the Battleship Missouri Memorial should be on your Oahu must-do list before you leave. Most tours include hotel transport or pickup from designated zones in Waikiki, so you can avoid renting a car at the Honolulu airport.
