Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Local Tips for Oʻahu’s Best Spots
31
items Your Oʻahu (Oahu) cheat sheet from someone who grew up here. Whether you’re planning a Hawaiʻi vacation or exploring Honolulu like a kamaʻāina, these are my favorite beaches, easy hikes, scenic drives and lookouts, cultural sites, botanical gardens, ...
Map
Sections
9
Beaches
Hikes
Scenic Drives & Lookouts
Oʻahu’s Cultural Treasures
Botanical Gardens
Vegan/Veggie Eats
Beaches
Oʻahu’s beaches are beautiful, but the ocean here is powerful. Check conditions before you go, swim near lifeguards when you can, and if you’re unsure, stay out. Never turn your back on the ocean, wear reef-safe sunscreen, and take only photos. You m...
Four calm, protected lagoons that are perfect for an easy swim, even with kids. Insider tip: public parking is free but limited, so arrive early. Each lagoon has its own small lot, open sunrise to sunset, and Lagoon 4 (the last one) has the most spot...
Ko Olina Beach
If you do one thing on Oʻahu, make it snorkeling here. You’re sure to see tons of fish and marine life. Open Wednesday to Sunday, 6:45am to 4pm (closed Mondays and Tuesdays). Visitors need a reservation, which opens 2 days ahead at 7am and sells out ...
Hanauma Bay
A quiet windward beach with clear blue water and dramatic Kualoa mountain views (yes, the Jurassic Park ones). It’s near Kualoa Ranch, so it’s the perfect photo op before or after your tour there. Heads up: there’s no lifeguard here, so stay vigilant...
Ka’a’awa Beach
Hikes
Easy hikes, big views. These are my picks for beginners and visitors. Oʻahu’s harder trails are best left to locals and experienced hikers who know the terrain. Every year, visitors get lost or hurt on them, and it often doesn’t end well. Stick to th...
Go at sunrise and park at Kailua Beach Park, since parking on the Lanikai loop is now banned. Bring water, a hat, and sunscreen, as there’s no shade up top. Insider tip: the back way is longer but gives you so much more scenery. Short on time? Take t...
Lanikai Pillbox
The easiest hike on the list. It’s a paved path, about 2 miles round trip, with sweeping views of the east side coastline, Rabbit Island, and the red-roofed lighthouse below. Insider tip: there’s zero shade, so go early and bring water. In winter (ro...
Makapu‘u Lighthouse
A lush rainforest walk to a 150-foot waterfall, just 15 minutes from Waikīkī. It’s about 1.6 miles round trip, with no reservation needed, just paid parking at the trailhead. Insider tip: wear shoes you don’t mind getting muddy, because it’s almost a...
Mānoa Falls
Scenic Drives & Lookouts
Big views without the hike. These are my favorite drives and lookouts for soaking in Oʻahu’s coastlines, cliffs, and city lights. Go on a clear day, and never leave valuables in your car, since break-ins are common at lookouts.
Often called one of the most beautiful freeways in the U.S., the H-3 cuts straight through the Koʻolau mountains. Coming from the west side, take H-1 east to the H-3 and you’ll pass through tunnels that open onto jaw-dropping views of lush, waterfall...
H3 Freeway (West to Kailua)
A 1,200-foot cliffside lookout with sweeping views of the windward coast, Kāneʻohe, and Kailua, just 20 to 30 minutes from Waikīkī. It’s also a sacred, historic site where Kamehameha the Great won the 1795 Battle of Nuʻuanu, a key step in uniting the...
Nu'uanu Pali Lookout
A free, quick stop along the east side coastal drive, where waves force seawater up through a lava tube and shoot spray high into the air. On clear days, you can see Molokaʻi across the channel, and from December to April it’s a great spot to watch f...
Halona Blowhole Lookout
A winding drive up the Tantalus–Round Top loop through lush rainforest leads to one of the best views in Honolulu, stretching from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor. No hike needed, just a short walk from the parking lot to the covered lookout. Parking is...
Tantalus Lookout
Oʻahu’s Cultural Treasures
Oʻahu is so much more than beaches. These spots share the island’s rich history, from Hawaiian royalty to the art and cultures that found a home here. Plan ahead, since many require tickets in advance, and visit with respect.
The only royal palace on U.S. soil, and home to Hawaiʻi’s last reigning monarchs, King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani. Open Tuesday to Saturday, with docent-led or self-guided audio tours (book online ahead, especially for Saturdays). Insider tip: ...
Iolani Palace
Heiress Doris Duke’s oceanfront estate near Diamond Head, now the only museum in the U.S. dedicated to Islamic art, with around 4,500 pieces collected from her travels. You can’t drive there yourself. Tours run Thursdays and Fridays from the Honolulu...
Shangri La
A stunning replica of Japan’s 950-year-old Byodo-In temple, set against the Koʻolau mountains in Kāneʻohe’s Valley of the Temples. Open daily 8:30am to 4:30pm (last entry 4:15pm). Admission is $10 for adults, with kamaʻāina rates, and parking is paid...
Byodo-In Temple
Botanical Gardens
Oʻahu’s botanical gardens are some of the most peaceful spots on the island. Wander among towering trees, swaying palms, vibrant orchids, and native Hawaiian plants, with birds flitting overhead and mountain views all around. Most are open 9am to 4pm...
Free, and open 9am to 4pm daily except Thursdays, when the garden gets a weekly “day of rest.” Plants are grouped by world region, from Hawaiʻi and Polynesia to Africa and tropical America, so one walk takes you around the tropics. Keep an eye out fo...
Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Gardens
Open daily 9 am to 4 pm, with a small admission fee (about $5 for visitors). Honolulu’s oldest botanical garden, with giant trees planted back in the 1850s, an orchid collection, and the Prehistoric Glen of ancient plants. Insider tip: join the free ...(808) 768-7135 to confirm before you go.
Foster Botanical Garden
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 9am to 4pm (closed Mondays, with seasonal changes). Admission is about $25 to $26 for adults, with kama’āina discounts. A paved, mostly flat 3/4-mile path winds through botanical gardens and Hawaiian cultural sites to a 45-foo...(808) 638-7766 after 9am to check the swim status, since it changes with the weather. If swimming’s closed, they offer free return admission within 10 days. Bring a swimsuit, the water is cold but so worth it.
Waimea Valley
Vegan/Veggie Eats
My go-to spots for vegan and vegetarian food in Oʻahu. Even my non-vegan friends ask to go back. From Indian curries and vegan sushi to Vietnamese phở and local-style comfort food. Some are fully vegan or vegetarian, and some serve meat too but have ...
A laid-back, colorful, family-run Indian spot in Mōʻiliʻili, serving family recipes since 2000. Dinner only, 5 to 10pm nightly. Insider tip: you don’t come here for the service, you come for the food. The best chai on the island to date (fresh homema...
Cafe Maharani
Honolulu’s first fully vegan sushi spot, and a hit with non-vegans too. Dinner only, Monday to Saturday, and reservations fill fast, so book ahead on OpenTable. Must-try: The Wedge roll, which reviewers can’t stop raving about, plus the garlic edamam...
TANE VEGAN IZAKAYA
A no-frills, family-owned spot on King Street where the whole menu is vegan, even though the name says vegetarian. Expect a huge menu spanning Vietnamese, Chinese, Thai, Italian, and even local favorites like loco moco. Must-try: the banana flower sa...
Simple Joy Vegetarian Cuisine
A cozy, family-owned vegan café on King Street with Japanese and local-inspired comfort food, all made to order. Must-try: the katsu curry (get it half tofu, half tempeh), and keep an eye out for the loco moco when it’s on special. Portions are filli...
Peace Cafe Hawaii
Modern Vietnamese in the heart of Ward Village, from the family behind Chinatown favorite Cuu Long II, which has been serving pho for over 20 years. Their vegan options are top tier and packed with flavor, never bland. Must-try: the Vegetarian Phở Ra...
An Di Dzo
Hawaiʻi’s local Erewhon. A little pricey, but all-vegetarian (they don’t sell meat at all), with a hot bar and deli full of vegan and vegetarian options. Locations around the island make it an easy stop. Insider tip: grab a plate from the hot bar or ...
Down to Earth
Farmers Markets
The easiest way to eat with the seasons in Honolulu. Shop local and support island farmers and makers, with fresh produce, flowers, handmade finds, and lots of ready-to-eat food and drinks. These are outdoor markets, so bring an umbrella or hat, and ...
Ranked one of the top farmers markets in the country. Saturdays from 8 am to noon. Insider tip: locals show up around 7 am for the best fresh produce, so go early and bring a reusable bag. My must-get is Da Tomato Guy’s chips and salsa.
Kaka'ako Farmers Market
Oʻahu’s oldest farmers market, running since 2003. Saturdays from 7:30 am to 11 am. Insider tip: by 9, it’s packed, and the sun is no joke, so hike Diamond Head first thing (it opens at 6 am), then roll in right at opening. Cool off with a drink from...
KCC Farmers’ Market
Wednesdays from 4 to 8pm and Sundays from 11am to 3pm. Insider tip: go Wednesday evening, since it runs through sunset and the west side has the best ones on the island. Must-try: The Miss Taho, a Filipino comfort treat of warm silken tofu, brown sug...
Makana Mkt. at Ka Makana Ali’i
Local Makers
Local brands and makers where your money goes straight back into Hawaiʻi’s small businesses. Perfect for souvenirs and gifts with real island roots.
The state’s biggest celebration of local makers, held every August at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center. Expect 800+ vendors selling everything from food and fashion to art, home goods, and jewelry, all meeting strict Made in Hawaiʻi standards, plus live...
Made in Hawaii Festival
The easiest one-stop shop for authentic Hawaiʻi-made gifts. Every product comes from local brands that went through Mana Up, a program that helps Hawaiʻi entrepreneurs grow, so you’re supporting real island businesses, not souvenirs made overseas. Fi...
House of Mana Up
A Hawaiʻi-born brand founded by two Native Hawaiian best friends, known for its colorful splash-proof bags that keep wet swimsuits and sandy gear from soaking everything else. Totes, pouches, hip packs, and toiletry bags are perfect for beach days an...
ALOHA Collection
Yoga Studios
Keep your practice going while you’re on the island. These are the studios I love, from open-air classes surrounded by palms to infrared hot yoga in town. Many offer intro deals for visitors, so it’s an easy way to stay grounded on your trip.
A Kaimukī favorite with 80+ classes a week, from infrared hot yoga and Hot 26/2 to yoga sculpt, vinyasa, and yin. Infrared heat warms your body without the sticky humidity. Insider tip: visitors can grab the traveler’s pass for one week unlimited at ...
Yoga Room Hawaii
A Hawaiian-owned studio where you practice outdoors, surrounded by lush greenery. The Kaimukī studio was featured by Yoga Journal as one of the most breathtaking yoga studios in the world. There are no mirrors, just open-air views of the trees and sk...
Yoga Under the Palms Kaimukī
A reliable choice with four Oʻahu studios: Ward (Kakaʻako), Kahala, Kailua, and Kapolei. Clean, consistent, and heated with infrared, with classes from slow flows to sweaty yoga sculpt. Insider tip: every first Sunday of the month there’s a donation-...
CorePower Yoga - Ward