Baltrum

What is the best thing to see/do on the Hawaiian island of Oahu with my family on vacation this summer?

I'm looking for things that two adults and two high school age kids would like to do together. We're also going to Maui. The same question applies for that island.

Public Comments

1. Visit this site for detailed information on activities available for all of the Hawaiian Islands. http://www.hawaiiactivities.com
2. The Polynesian Cultural Center is a good place for adults and kids. The windward side has some good spots for body surfing.
3. I take it you havent been before. The previous person gave you a great site to get ideas. I looked over the site myself as we will be going at end of July. I have been to Oahu and have researched Maui. Oahu is much like being in Las Vegas surrounded by ocean. It is fast paced and you might feel you need a break after being there, it is fun and 24 hours. Of course Hanama bay. Go to the blow whole there, it is fun, a litle hike but beautiful. Great snorkeling (make sure you wear a tshirt while snorkeling, you forget time and have a major sunburn). Do any of you surf? If so you will love it there, if not maybe look into lessons. Not expensive unless you book through your hotel. The beaches are great, a bit crowded but your teenagers will like it. Depending on your budget there is really nothing you cant do. Doing it together and kind of making some plans on what you like doing together and seperately will be key. Maui is a bit more layed back. We are going to the west side to get away from all the visitors. We are coming from Ukraine and decided to see maui instead of the black sea. I know I plan to go snorkeling and do some bike riding. I dont know how much you travel but I always find it best to go to smaller local resturants and meet locals. Ask them advice, find the hidden places. It has gotten me in some very interesting areas and I have met the most wonderful people. Depends on your tastes and budgets. Your kids and you will love the para sailing. Maybe some deep sea fishing if you have boys. Have fun!
4. Thee are many things to do on Oahu and Maui will be a little more laid back than Oahu only because you have so many more choices on Oahu...Without knowing what your family is interested in there is a wide variety...I live in the NO. Shore and its quieter but most definetly the prettiest area. It is more of what Hawaii used to be and we are fighting hard to keep it that way, but worth the drive. Pack towels and suits..drive up the entire windward side and stop at the beachs the intrique you..take your time. If you staying in Waikiki.. then you and your husband can easily do things and the kids do their thing..There are surf lessons that will get your highschoolers up on boards in an hour..just go to the Duke statue and there will be many surf schools. If you want to snorkel..there are LOTS of snorkeling areas..Hanauma Bay is proably the most common among tourist.. there is wonderful snorkeling up in the No Shore.. in Turtle Bay and you will most likely be swimming and run into one! Great to look at , just don't touch. There are so many spas..to many to mention, but your conceige can help you..shopping is great at the Ala Moana shopping center and Aloha swap meet.. is the BEST for buying things for the people back on the mainland. can't beat the price .50 cents to get in! I personally would do the Luau in Maui....if your up for a long drive go to hana and the seven pools. NO matter how long your here, it won't be enough and you will want to come back and see the things you missed. Most important is don't come home , more tired than when you left!! Aloha!
5. I am a native Hawaiian and my favorite place on Oahu is Sandy Beach! It is a huge sandy beach with a killer shore break ...great for body surfing, boogie boarding and breaking bones...so be careful if it's big. The thing that's so fun about it is watching people there!! It's an absolute scream! That entire coastline is glorious Hanauma Bay for snorkeling...fun for the entire family, don't miss the toilet bowl, just ask, it's so fun, it's a local only secret, tourists don't usually get to experience it, unless a local tells them about it . It is at Hanauma Bay. Sea Life Park is right there, granted Sea World is bigger, better but NOT more beuatiful! Keep travelling northward on the windward coast and you will find one of the most beautiful (and quickly eroding beaches) in the world: Lanikai (Hawaiian for Beautiful Ocean). Don't miss the little town of Kailua and Lanikai Beack. Kitesurfing, kayaking to the Mokalua Islands off Kailua Beach Park is a local favroite, very safe and a wonderful day trip. Don't arrange it through your hotel, do it yourself: local style! Get a map, or pick up an independent newspaper at Ward Center (in town ) on AlaMoana Blvd. and join a hike...in Kailua/Kaneohe there's the "stairway to Heaven" guided hike straight up the Pali (hawaiian for cliffs) and you will have been where most Hawaiians have never been before! This hike is accessible through either the Sierra Club (contact them now for info) or the Honolulu Parks and Recreation Dept.the stairway could be maintained through the Coast Guard...Park and Rec should be able to tell you ask for info re: "Haiku Gardens and the Satirway to Heaven" Visitors think that Honolulu is just another busy city on the beach and that is not true...we have all the beautiful amenities of all the outer islands but with the convenience of a big city close by! It's a perfect world! Take a trail ride on the beach in Waimanalo, the stable is atthe old Polo Grounds just past Sea Life Park and across from Bellows Beach, where there's a beach called "Sherwood Forest". "Sherwoods to locals, you can camp there if you make reservations early! It's an amazing place-old Hawaiiana. As you travel along this road, you will have dramatic mountains to yor left and breathtaking azure blue Pacific Ocean to your right...it always takes my breath away! If you stay this course, you will eventually end up on the famed North Shore of Oahu: Sunset Beach, Waimea Bay and the Bonzai Pipeline. The surf breaks are active in winter months...south swell ( Waikiki-side)is alive in summer but doesn't get big. So take a swim at Waimea Bay and jump of the rock...it's good fun for the whole family! good snorkeling there too! Grab some grinds in Haleiwa town...the town that time forgot...make your way to the H3...the prettiest freeway in Hawaii (we only have 3-jeez)..it's a beautiful drive. and now you have seen half of the island. Go sportfishing on the Sea Verse with Captain Lee Severs and catch a blue marlin! It's worth the money and he is the most successful captain in the fleet at the harbor on Ala Moana! As for Maui! DO NOT, under any circumstances miss: CRUISER BOB'S DOWNHILL BIKE RIDE. Cruiser Bob's boys drive you and your bikes to the top of an extinct volcano Haleakala (House of the Rising Sun) to watch the most incredible sight you will witness in your life: sunrise over the volcano, then you will bike down the face of this volcano 30 plus miles to the ocean. I have been up there when it was like 35 degrees and get to the bottem and it 80 degrees. This is truly an adventure NOT to miss! Have fun!