As a passionate adventure lover, it’s safe to say that when I travelled to Oahu, Hawaii, I found the island incredibly exciting. From thrilling hikes to beautiful beach sunsets, Hawaii has something for everyone. While there are loads of things to do on Oahu, Hawaii that I could talk about, this post solely focuses on the seven most adventurous things I did on the island (plus three things I plan to do next time!). And the best part is — many of these things are under 30 dollars or free!
1. Climbing Diamond Head Crater
Arguably one of the most popular hikes on Oahu, the views at Diamond Head (Lē’ahi) State Monument are nothing short of spectacular. Sitting on the coastline of Waikiki, Diamond Head Crater offers both city and coastal scenery. The hike is a total of 0.8 miles, but don’t let the relatively short distance fool you: gaining 560 feet in elevation, the climb to the summit is quite demanding. This famous hiking destination offers a rich history in addition to its awe-inspiring scenery. According to the Hawaii Division of State Parks, the crater was formed around 300,000 years ago when an eruption sent ash and other materials into the air. When these particles landed, they formed together into a massive rock, creating the crater.
In addition to its geological history, Diamond Head Crater also has a fascinating military history, with the trail being built as part of Oahu’s military defense. As you climb to the top of the crater, you can see evidence of its military background through the bunkers located near the peak. In order to get here, you’ll have to climb through a 225-foot tunnel (comprised of a steep staircase!) near the end of the trail. If that’s not totally for you, you can always turn around at this point and still see some incredible views. However, if you can manage it, the top of the crater is absolutely stunning and worth the extra work.
I’ll admit, the trail tends to be crowded, especially near the top. However, if you get to the park early in the morning right at opening (6:00 am!), there tends to be less crowds and thus you are more likely to get a more fulfilling experience. The later it gets, the more crowded it is. If getting up early isn’t your jam, the trail does allow entry until 4:00 pm, with the gates closing at 6:00 pm.
The entire hike takes around 1.5-2 hours, depending on your pace (and time spent taking pictures!). As of May 2022, the park now requires reservations for non-residents of Hawaii for both entry to the trail and parking. The reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance, and can be accessed by clicking here. Entry for non-residents is $5 and parking is $10, while residents of Hawaii can enter for free with proof of residency such as a Driver’s License. Of note: the park takes credit card forms of payment only for entry. When I went, reservations were not required, so hopefully with this system in place the trails are a bit less crowded than what I experienced.
2. Scuba Diving in Crystal Clear Water
Calling all sea turtle lovers, this one’s for you! During my trip to Oahu, I took the opportunity to go scuba diving off the island and was amazed with the amount of sea turtles I saw! I wish I had pictures of this adventure, but I forgot my GoPro on this trip. For most of my dives, I love using my GoPro, as it is significantly cheaper than a lot of the other underwater photography options out there and still produces great quality photo and video. I recommend getting an underwater housing for your GoPro if you plan on taking it scuba diving as the waterproofing of the camera alone is only good until 33 feet (10 meters).
For this excursion, I went to Aaron’s Dive Shop in Kailua, near where I was staying. The dive shop offers several different options depending on your interest and certification level, ranging from Discover Scuba to more advanced certifications. I took the early morning boat (7:00 am!), which was for those with advanced open water certifications. They also have later boat times for different experience levels.
The first dive was the Corsair Plane Wreck Dive Site located at about 110 feet below the ocean surface. The site, which is one of Oahu’s only natural wrecks, included a former WWII plane which had landed in the ocean in 1945 due to an engine failure, fortunately with the pilot surviving. The dive was short-lived due to its depth, so I only enjoyed the history and beauty of this wreck for around 10-15 minutes. Following the deep dive, we headed to a shallower reef called Koko Craters, a spot known for its abundance of sea turtles! This dive site is much shallower, with the maximum depth being only 40 feet. Nonetheless, I am of the opinion that deeper isn’t always better in scuba diving, and found this to be incredibly true on this dive. Shallower depth also meant longer dive time, a perk which I enjoyed!
Depending on the conditions and your certification level, you may not end up at these same two sites as I did. The shop goes to various interesting dive locations, and their website explicitly states that the dive masters will choose which sites are optimal based on conditions for that day. No matter where you end up, I am sure you will enjoy the warm, crystal clear waters that can be found in Hawaii. Admittedly, these dives were not the best dives I have ever done, but I still think it’s a great experience and if you’ve never been diving before, use this opportunity to do so!
The cost of a two tank dive is $150 for certified divers and $95 for snorkelers. If you have never been diving before, the cost of a Discover Scuba experience during a two tank dive is $220. While this is one of the more expensive adventures on the list, I am a huge lover of scuba diving and would encourage you to try it if it fits your budget!
3. Hiking To Oahu’s Historic Pillboxes
Hidden in the quiet town of Lanikai, the Kaiwa Ridge Trail (also known as The Lanikai Pillbox Hike) brings adventurers up to former WWII bunkers known as a pillbox. This hike is a bit more challenging than Diamond Head Crater, with steeper, unpaved areas throughout the trail. That’s all part of the adventure, though! Throughout the hike, there are beautiful views of Lanikai Beach as well as the town of Lanikai. After doing Diamond Head Crater and the Lanikai Pillbox Hike, I’m convinced that everywhere you look on Oahu, Hawaii is beautiful.
When you get near the top, you will see the first of the pillboxes, which were used as military lookout posts during World War II. Here, you can choose to sit atop the bunker and watch the sunrise or sunset, or simply take in the incredible scenery. You can also go inside the bunker, getting a taste of history as you look out. From here, you can hike another 10 minutes to get to the second pillbox, which is the point at which most hikers (including myself) turn around. You do, however, have the option to continue another hour or so past this point after which you will end in another neighborhood.
Getting to the trail is a bit tricky as the trail head is within a residential neighborhood. To get to the Kaiwa Ridge Trail, you will have to make your way to Lanikai and head to Ka’elepupu Drive across from the Mid-Pacific Country Club. From here, you can park on the street (if you take a car) and will need to walk a little ways down the street until you come across a small sign indicating the Pillbox Hike. It’s fairly easy to find with the signs! From here, you will end up stepping through some trees and up a steep (but brief) incline. This is probably the hardest part of the hike, so don’t let that initial ascent deter you from the rest of the trail! From there, the trail is incredibly easy to navigate, with a clear dirt trail leading the way.
As I said, this trail is a bit more challenging than Diamond Head, so be prepared for loose dirt and possibly muddy conditions. Wear appropriate hiking shoes and don’t forget sunscreen as there is very little shade! The entire hike to the second pillbox and back is around an hour to an hour and a half, depending on your pace and how long you stay at the pillboxes. The best part is — all of this is completely free!
4. Searching For a Hidden Jungle Waterfall
Arguably one of my most adventurous moments of the trip, hiking to Maunawili Falls made me feel like a real-life jungle explorer. Of all the hiking I did on Oahu, this was probably the most challenging of the hikes, though it wasn’t as up-hill as the other hikes. What makes this hike challenging is the sheer length of the hike as well as the unpaved jungle route to get to the waterfall which can often be tricky to navigate and is covered in roots and lush flora. Honestly, though, this was my favorite part of the whole trip. This was a unique experience and truly made me feel like I was on an adventure.
The trail is fun in itself with an incredible reward of a secluded jungle waterfall at the end. At the waterfall, you have the opportunity to jump from the ledge or climb even higher to swing from a rope into the water. What better way to test the waters – pun intended – of cliff jumping? Be warned – the water is NOT warm, but after that long hike, the cool down is much needed.
Parking for this hike was a bit challenging, as there is no parking lot and the only parking available is within residential streets. The trailhead itself is located at the end of Kelewina Street in Kailua, but you may have to park on a street farther away due to limited availability. Please be respectful of the residents that live here! No one is happy being trapped in their own driveway, nor do they want to hear any rowdy tourists on their way to the trail. Just be mindful that though it is a hiking destination, people really do live here! Once you park and walk down the street, you will see small signs marking the trail. I’ll admit, the trail is not well marked throughout the hike. Though there is a fairly clear path, there will be some areas that are a bit confusing and easy to get lost. I would recommend either going with someone that has done it before or going on a busier day when you can follow other hikers.
Update: As of July 2021, entrance to Maunawili Falls via the Maunawili neighborhood is closed for realignment. The closure is projected to occur until summer of 2023, with the promise of a potential new parking lot for the trail (score!). According to AllTrails, access to the hike can still be found through the Pali Highway or Waimanalo entrance. Directions from the State of Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife can be found here.
Be prepared to watch your step throughout this hike as there are lots of roots covering the trail! Wear good quality shoes that you don’t mind getting muddy (and wet!). Keep in mind that there are various spots throughout the hike that will require you to cross through streams, so don’t plan on staying dry. Most of the hike is shaded by trees so sunscreen is not a concern here. However, I would recommend bringing bug repellent as there are mosquitos!
The entire hike (which is free, by the way!) is 2.8 miles long and can take anywhere from 90 minutes to 3 hours depending on your pace. I’d recommend allotting time to swim in the waterfall to reap the rewards of the hike! I would definitely recommend wearing a swimsuit under your clothes for this hike to use once you get to the waterfall. Trust me, everyone else is doing it too. It can also be helpful to bring a dry bag to put everything you don’t want getting wet in while you’re in the water.
A bit of a warning – there are signs indicating that the water may be polluted with a bacteria called Leptospirosis, so it’s best to avoid getting in the water with any open cuts or fresh tattoos. I swam in the water and didn’t experience any issues, but if this is not something you are comfortable with or able to do, just enjoying the scenery is rewarding enough.
5. Surfing at Waikiki
OK, I admit, I am far from a professional surfer. I have tried my hand at surfing a couple of times, but end up in the water more often than I’m on the board. Nonetheless, I still had to give it a go in Hawaii, a renowned surfing destination, right? I quickly learned that Waikiki has some incredible views of the city and landscapes while you surf (or fall into the water, like myself).
The best part about surfing in Waikiki on Oahu is there are plenty of surf shops available and options for beginners. If you have never surfed before and want to learn, there are tons of surfing lessons available in Waikiki. This definitely isn’t the most cost-friendly of the adventures on this list, but well worth the money in my opinion! The cost of lessons can range from $150-180 for a private lesson or $125-150 for a semi-private lesson. Some shops also offer group lessons which averages $100 per person. Most lessons last around 1.5 to 2 hours.
If you don’t want to pay for a surf lesson or have been surfing before, there are plenty of surf shops that allow you to rent surfboards, such as Big Wave Dave or Quality Surfboards Hawaii. You can choose to rent a surfboard for as little as an hour to as long as a week, depending on what you want to do. A full day rental averages around $30-40, while a week is around $150-165. If you don’t plan on surfing that long, you can find many shops where you can rent for only 1 or 2 hours, costing around $10-20. You can also find many options for stand-up paddle boarding or bodyboarding if you want to try something different. Renting a bodyboard is cheaper than renting a surfboard and much easier!
6. Trekking the Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail
Another rewarding (and free!) hike on Oahu takes place on the Makapu’u Point Lighthouse trail. The lighthouse for which this trail was named was built in 1909. While going into the lighthouse itself is not allowed, you can still enjoy the view from afar as well as stunning views of the ocean and Koko Crater. Near the top of the trail, there are several lookout points that give you the opportunity to take in the beautiful scenery. There are also informative signs throughout the trail, some mentioning the humpback whales that can be seen during the winter months. While I went during the summer, I would definitely take the opportunity to try to spot the whales if you will be hiking this trail in the winter!
There is a free parking lot available at the entrance of the trail, making this hike easy to access and very affordable! The trail is open from 7 am until 6:45 pm. I would recommend getting there early as parking spots fill up fast. In addition, there is very little shade, thus the trail becomes very hot during the middle of the day. On that note, bring lots of sunscreen and water! A would also recommend wearing a hat and sunglasses on this hike.
The entire trail is 2 miles roundtrip, and takes approximately an hour or two to complete. There is a 500 foot elevation gain, with the majority of the hike going uphill to get to the lookout point. The trail itself is not too challenging, however, as it is paved and wider than a lot of the other trails.
Note: There are many Instagram photos and posts out there detailing the trail to the Makapu’u Tide Pools. This trail is CLOSED indefinitely, and for good reason. The trail can be exceptionally treacherous due to the unpredictable wave surges and strong currents that can easily pull people out to sea. The area itself has many sharp volcanic rock formations, that could easily be dangerous to anyone pushed by a wave. Please do not attempt hiking this area. The above hike that I detailed is of the paved Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail that does not go to the tide pools. Be safe!
7. Taking in the Views at Hanauma Bay and Koko Head District Park
Located about 30 minutes from Waikiki on the southeastern part of Oahu, Hanauma Bay and Koko Head District Park offer lots to see and do for adventurers. At Hanauma Bay, you have the opportunity to try snorkeling if scuba diving isn’t necessarily your thing, as there are a variety of snorkel tours and rental gear locations available. Be sure to wear reef-safe sunscreen while snorkeling in the reef in order to protect the natural coral formations and keep the reef healthy for future generations! Hawaii has passed a law banning sunscreens with certain chemicals (oxybenzone and octinoxate), so be sure to read up on which sunscreens you can bring with you.
Parking is available at the bay for $3.00 per vehicle. To enter the bay, the fee is $25 per person (locals, active military, and children under 13 enter free), making Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve a bit more expensive than the other parks described. As of April 2021, Hanauma Bay now has an online reservation system and limits entry to 1400 guests per day to limit the environmental impact on the bay from extensive tourism. In addition, the park is CLOSED on Mondays and Tuesdays, so keep this in mind during your travel planning.
You also have the opportunity to explore Koko Head crater, an extinct volcano located next to Hanauma Bay. The hike up Koko Head crater primarily consists of stairs, and is an ideal hike to watch either the sunrise or sunset. The stairs are made up of an old railroad track with a military history, as these were used to transport equipment up to bunkers at the top of the crater. From the top, you can enjoy a stunning view of Hanauma Bay.
The trail is approximately 1.5 miles long and takes around 1-2 hours roundtrip to complete. With an elevation gain of about 900 feet and over 1,000 stairs to climb, this hike is definitely a workout. Make sure to bring plenty of water, sunscreen, a hat, and sunglasses for this hike as there is very little shade! Koko Head District Park is open from 4 AM-11 PM, with the parking lot open from 6:30 AM-11 PM. Parking and access to the trail are completely free!
8. Go Skydiving
This is at the top of my bucket list for my next trip to Oahu. I think my biggest regret of this trip was not taking the opportunity to try skydiving in one of the most beautiful places in the world. From my research, there are multiple places on Oahu to try skydiving, such as Pacific Skydiving Honolulu and Skydive Hawaii. While I have yet to try either of these places, they both have incredible reviews and offer altitude guarantees. Both are also located in Waialua, Hawaii, which is about a 30 minute drive from Honolulu.
This adventure is on the pricey side, with a tandem jump ranging around $215-325, with one option available for $1600 per person for a 20,000 foot jump with Skydive Hawaii. $1600 is a bit too pricey for my liking, but I would totally spend $300 to get to experience skydiving on Oahu. According to their website, Pacific Skydiving Honolulu even lets you pay after the skydive, and if the altitude when you exit the plane is not the altitude you were guaranteed, your skydive is free! Definitely looking forward to trying this adrenaline rush next time!
9. Soar in a Helicopter Above the Island
Yet another opportunity to take in the views from above the island that I missed. If you want to take in the views of the island from above without jumping out of a plane, Oahu has a plethora of helicopter tours available. Some of the ones I found online with great reviews include Blue Hawaiian Helicopters, Mauna Loa Helicopter Tours Oahu, and Rainbow Helicopters. This adventure also gets expensive, with 1 hour tours ranging from $370-420, or around $300 for a 30 minute tour. I know it’s pricey, but I think this would definitely be something exciting to try if there is room in your budget!
10. Zipline Through Kualoa Ranch
In my defense, I did attempt to do this last one, but was disappointed to learn that you need reservations in advance and this was the last day of our trip. Kualoa Ranch is located on the eastern coast of Oahu in the city of Kaneohe, which is about a half hour drive from Honolulu. For all the movie buffs out there, Kualoa Ranch is the site of over 70 Hollywood movies including Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, Kong Skull Island, Jumanji, Pearl Harbor, 50 First Dates, and TV shows such as Hawaii Five-O and Lost.
In addition to its cinematic fame, the site also offers historical value. According to the park’s website, Kualoa was once considered a sacred place where Hawaiian natives could seek forgiveness and refuge during ancient times. It was also a place where warriors would come to train. Even at the entrance, a sign with a Hawaiian proverb reading “Kūlia i ka nu’u”, or “strive to reach the highest”, can be found, providing inspiration to visitors.
Kualoa Ranch offers a Jurassic Valley Zipline Tour, which lasts 3 hours and takes you back in time as you zip over film locations from Jurassic Park and Jurassic World. The ziplines are as high as 200 feet and up to a quarter of a mile long, providing an adrenaline rush as you take in the landscape. The price for this tour is $175 per person, so keep this in mind when planning your travel budget.
If zip lining doesn’t appeal to you, the park offers a TON of different tours and packages, so you can explore this private nature reserve in plenty of other (cheaper) ways. Some of the other tours Kualoa Ranch offers include Jeep tours for only $50/person, UTV tours for $145/person, and horseback tours for $145/person. They offer half-day packages and beach tours as well, so there’s something for everyone!
The ranch is open from 8 AM to 6 PM every day, and definitely requires advance reservations! The website recommends booking 2-3 weeks in advance to get the tour you want, especially if you are going with a larger group. If only I had read this beforehand!
And that concluded my list of 10 adventures to be had on Oahu, Hawaii. I definitely look forward to someday returning to Hawaii and getting to re-experience some of these things as well as trying the last three adventures I missed out on last time! I hope you found this guide helpful and will take the opportunity to go on one (or more) of these adventures if you’re ever in Hawaii! As the sign at Kuala Ranch, I hope you strive to reach the highest.
(Disclaimer: Some of the products mentioned in this post contain affiliate links. While I am not paid to promote these products, if you choose to purchase any of the products through the links in this post, I may receive a small portion of the sale. Any products mentioned in this post are products I personally use and recommend. I will never recommend products I have note personally used or do not think are useful).
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