Laid-Back Hawaiian Lifestyle: 6 Bucket-List Days in Oahu

Start your time in O’ahu with a classic must-do hike at Diamond Head. The start of the hike is where Jurassic World and the original Jurassic Park were filmed! It is so fun to get pictures in the valley with that memorable movie scenery behind you. The hike up Diamond Head is somewhat challenging, but do-able. My four-year-old completed the hike on her own. The view at the top is worth it!

Next, head to L&L Hawaiian Barbeque for lunch (the location at 404 Kapahulu Ave is close!). I am not normally one to recommend fast-food chains on a trip, but this BBQ is so good, and has the classic Hawaiian flavors you have to try! The chicken katsu and loco moco were our favorites, and the portions were huge—we literally ate our BBQ leftovers for the rest of our trip.

After eating, enjoy a drive along Kalaniana’ole Highway (Highway 72). This drive along the coast is incredibly scenic, and has a lot of lookout points to stop at. We were thrilled to spot whales and dolphins along one of the lookout points, and loved climbing around the rocks and waves at another.

Enjoy a slow morning after your busy day yesterday before heading to the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC). I truly can’t say enough good things about the PCC. You begin the day with a canoe pageant featuring the different Polynesian cultures that you will get to visit throughout the day. Experience their music, clothing, and dancing in an energetic show that will have you cheering along. Then, visit each “island” and experience their culture—from sampling Poi on the Hawaiian island to watching a warrior scale a tree barefooted on the Fiji island to learning the marriage dance in Tahiti. At the end of the day, you get to go to a Luau with the most incredible bottomless pina colada smoothies (served in a pineapple, with a bamboo straw you get to take home—yes, we still use ours several times a week!), a delectable buffet including several unique tropical fruits, and a show to watch (and maybe even participate in)! The night ends with a live, Broadway-quality show in their indoor theater, with even more incredible dancing. Unlike my 7-year-old, you’ll definitely want to stay awake for the show.

The PCC doesn’t open until noon, but if you arrive early, there are shops and restaurants you can enjoy—including more pineapples filled with smoothies!

Try to get up nice and early today to visit Leonards Malasadas Bakery Truck. These fresh, fluffy, sugar-coated malasadas will be devoured immediately by everyone in your party—the truck gets busy, so going first thing in the morning lets you beat the crowd.

Once you’ve finished your malasadas, head to Pearl Harbor. You will be able to boat over to the USS Arizona Memorial, where you can still see the sunken ship and oil in the water. Take time to walk through the museum and enjoy the beautiful grounds around the memorial.

Next, head over to Aloha Stadium. This is a huge open-air market where you will absolutely want to load up on souvenirs. It costs $2 to get in, which is absurdly worth it. At the swap meet, you’ll find Hawaiian candy, stunning artwork, and tropical clothing, all for such a good price. Enjoy supporting local artists and vendors, and grab a bite to eat here too.

Today is also worth an early start time so that you can hike Koko Head. The hike is only 1.5-miles, but I would recommend this as an adults-only hike, as you are climbing railway ties most of the time. That’s also why I recommend doing this hike first thing in the morning—both to beat the heat for this steep hike, and to enjoy the sunrise view!

Next, head to Waikiki Beach for some well-deserved beach time. This was one of our favorite beaches. In between swimming time, take a walk over to the pier, where there’s a good chance you will spot sea turtles! We saw several turtles nibbling on seaweed, so fun to watch that!

There are a lot of walkable places to eat near here, so grab a bite to eat before heading to Hanauma Bay for more beach time. Hanauma Bay is our favorite place to do our own little snorkeling excursion. Snorkel out a 20 feet or so, and you might just find some wildlife. We found several turtles swimming around and snacking. There is something incredibly surreal about watching animals in their natural habitat. Just be sure to give them at least 10 feet of space! It’s not just respectful to keep your distance from the turtles. It’s the law.

Begin your day at the Dole Plantation. If you’re like I was prior to this trip, you probably have never seen a pineapple growing. I could not even handle how cute the tiny growing pineapples were, and was shocked at how many different types there are! This is also, of course, the perfect place to enjoy a cup of that classic, hard to find outside of Disney World, Dole Whip.

Next, head up to Waimea Falls. Waimea Falls is a super family-friendly hike—you meander less than a mile through truly stunning botanical gardens. There are all sorts of flowers, huge trees, and unique plants—make sure you have plenty of photo storage available on your phone! The hike ends at a big waterfall that you can swim in! The swimming area is monitored by lifeguards, and life jackets are provided (and required), so the whole family can truly enjoy a dip.

Is it really vacation if you haven’t had multiple treats in one day? After your adventure at Waimea Falls, swing on over to Matsumoto Shave Ice. O'ahu is known for this treat!! I recommend topping your shaved ice with condensed milk, though my husband went big and ordered the “Ichiban Special!” We all stole a bite of his to try the azuki beans—not our typical dessert experience, but so fun!

For your last day here, you’ll explore the downtown Honolulu area. First, I recommend experiencing Chinatown through a food tour. Next, tour the Iolani Palace and Ali’iolani Hale for a deeper understanding of Hawaiian history. Spend the rest of your day at the Ala Moana Beach. When you’re hungry, just hop over to the Ala Moana Food Court (try the poke at Poke and Box!), then head back to the beach to watch the sunset on your last night in beautiful O'ahu.