9 of the Best Views on Oahu and Where To Find Them

Making an appearance in thousands of Waikiki and Honolulu photos, Leahi—more commonly known as Diamond Head—is the most famous landmark on Oahu. More importantly, it was a sacred Native Hawaiian place of worship for centuries. Today, you can tackle the 1.6-mile (2.6-kilometer) round-trip hike to the top of this famed peak. Once there, you can capture postcard-worthy shots of Oahu city and beach views, just like those that plaster Instagram feeds, Pinterest boards, and magazine spreads.

Within a few minutes of hiking the Lanikai Pillbox Trail, you’ll start to see what the hype is all about. Unending ocean views broken up by the two Mokulua Islands—locally called the “mokes”—will capture your attention. Add a golden sunrise to the mix, and it's no wonder the length of this trail is considered one the must-see places on Oahu. Other than the steep first quarter-mile (0.4 kilometers), the Lanikai Pillbox Trail is a relatively easy hike; it only takes 25 minutes to reach the endpoint—the “pillbox,” or abandoned military observation station.

Considering how little effort the Makapuu Lighthouse Trail requires, a sunrise hike should be on every view-chaser’s island bucket list. Just a 30-minute shuttle ride from downtown Honolulu, this paved, 2-mile (3.2-kilometer) hike is great for most, with everyone from elderly grandparents to babies in strollers enjoying the journey. Once you reach the end of the trail, you’ll get a peek at the little lighthouse the trail is named after. Beyond that, there’s the winter whale–dotted Pacific Ocean—one of the best places on Oahu to see migrating gray whales—along with the two islands in its forefront, Rabbit Island and Kaohikaipu Island State Seabird Sanctuary.

La'ie Point State Wayside Park is one of Oahu’s pull-up-and-look kind of viewpoints. If you claim one of the rare treasured parking spaces, you can see powerful waves and a few dotted islands around the La’ie Point peninsula from the comfort of your car. Or go with a local guide and walk on the rocky terrain, close-up views of naupaka (beach cabbage) flowers and local fishermen await. For your safety, please leave several feet of distance between you and the edges of the peninsula.

Traditionally called Pu‘u O Hulu and colloquially called the Pink Pillbox, the Maili Pillbox Trail goes by a lot of names. Like the Lanikai Pillbox Trail, the end of the Maili Pillbox Trail is marked by abandoned military observation stations. While there are a few on this West Oahu trail, the most predominant one has been painted pink for breast cancer awareness. About a mile (1.6 kilometers) in, you’ll reach the magenta pillbox, where you’ll be greeted by panoramic views of Oahu’s West Side—from Ko Olina to Makaha Beach Park, which you can visit on a customizable private tour.

Despite the many recommended hikes, you don't need to be high up to enjoy Oahu's scenic spots. The Ko Olina lagoons in West Oahu are already picture-perfect by day, home to four calm pools ideal for swimming and snorkeling. When sunset rolls around, these lagoons become even more magical, painting the sky in pastel pinks, oranges, reds, yellows, and purples that you won’t want to miss—especially from a sailboat.

Insider tip: Stick around for another 15 minutes or so after sunset. That’s often when the colorful clouds become their brightest.

Get two views for one drive, starting at Kualoa Regional Park. This East Side beach offers vistas of Kaneohe Bay and the hat-shaped island of Mokolii. Simply relax on the beach or in the calm waters as you take it all in. For a more active option, pull out a kayak. Mokolii is only a quarter-mile (0.4 kilometers) offshore, so it’s easy to paddle to when the conditions are right. Once on the island, make the 20-minute hike to the peak, where you’ll get 360-degree, unobstructed views of the ocean and the Koolau Mountains. Though the hike is short, it’s very steep and not recommended for beginner hikers.

The scenic drive around the southeastern tip of Oahu has quite a few scenic lookout points, but the Halona Blowhole Lookout is undoubtedly the coolest. If you don’t have your own wheels, book a Circle Island tour of Oahu. Essentially, the combination of the waves and the hole-shaped rock formation create a geyser-esque view known as a blowhole. Plus, on the other side of this classic Oahu sightseeing location, you can glimpse the beautiful Halona Beach Cove.

Insider tip: From November to May at Halona Blowhole Lookout, search for whale spouts (like brief puffs of smoke) in the distance.

This 4.4-mile (7.1-kilometer), 3-hour hike covers 1,666 feet (508 meters) of elevation gain and multiple types of terrain, from dry brush to pine forests to native plant-covered ridges. As if that weren’t enough, the final half-mile (0.8 kilometers) or so is composed of 359 muddy, consecutive steps. Hiking the Kuli’ou’ou Ridge Trail is not an easy feat and is only recommended for practiced hikers. But if you can make it to the end, you’ll get to enjoy the ocean and island views of multiple hikes in one—Lanikai Pillbox, Leahi, and Makapuu Lighthouse included.