Oahu Tours and Activities
Add more to your trip to Oahu with our favorite tours and activities. From surfing on Waikiki Beach to a sunset sail on the Waianae Coast to a private tour of Pearl Harbor, here are the best tours for your Hawaii vacation.
Each activity listed here is from a company we know, respect, and love. We’ve hand-picked these based on our experiences, reviews from others, and the quality of the tour. We hope you enjoy them as much as we do.
🍍 Luaus
Luaus
Polynesian Cultural Center Luaus
The Polynesian Cultural Center is so much more than a luau. Visit six Polynesian island nations over 42 tropical acres. This and Pearl Harbor National Memorial are the two most visited sights on Oahu. Enjoy the adventure of hands-on activities for the whole family and then dine like royalty. Save 10% when you book more than 10 days in advance on select packages.
Polynesian Cultural Center Luaus
Location: La’ie (North Shore)
Tour operator: Polynesian Cultural Center
Guided Tours
Pearl Harbor All-Day, All Sites Tour
This is our favorite Hawaii Tours package, learn the complete history of Pearl Harbor including the USS Arizona Memorial. USS Bowfin Submarine, the USS Battleship Missouri, and more.
Pearl Harbor All-Day, All Sites Tour
Location: Pickup at your resort
Tour operator: Hawaii Tours
Grand Circle Island Guided Tour
Escape from Waikiki for a full island sightseeing tour. Waimea Valley waterfall, Byodo-in Temple, lunch included, and so much more as you take a 120-mile sightseeing tour of Oahu. Let a guide do the driving as you experience much of what Oahu has to offer.
Grand Circle Island Guided Tour
Location: Pickup at your resort
Tour operator: Hawaii Tours
Oahu Private Guided Tour
An all-day private guided tour for any size group for 8 to 9 hours, customize your island circle tour as this is your day to sightsee. Pearl Harbor reservations for the USS Arizona included.
Oahu Private Guided Tour
Location: Pickup at your resort
Tour operator: Hawaii Tours
Inter-Island Day Trips to Maui, Big Island, or Kauai
Jump over to another island during your Oahu-based vacation. Go explore the volcano on Big Island, take the road to Hana on Maui, or visit the most popular sites on Kauai. The choice is yours. Hawaii Tours inter-island day trips are the perfect solution. They handle all the arrangements for you.
Inter-Island Day Trips: Maui, Big Island, or Kauai
Location: Maui, Big Island, Kauai
Tour operator: Hawaii Tours
Hawaiian Foodie Bike Tour
The diners, drive-ins, and dives are all in the foodie paradise of Kaimuki and Kapahulu neighborhoods of Honolulu, below Diamond Head. Take in the history and culture of the area through food and a neighborhood bike tour. Food and drinks are included in the price. The biking is easy to moderate on mostly flat terrain and expect to travel five to seven miles.
Hawaiian Foodie Bike Tour
Starting Location: Waikiki (Kuhio Beach)
Tour operator: Bike Tour Hawaii
Honolulu History Tour by Bike
Experience the history of Hawaii with a professionally guided bike tour of Honolulu’s famous spots, including Aloha Tower, ‘Iolani Palace, Kaka’ako murals, Chinatown and the Arts District, and more.
Honolulu History Tour by Bike
Starting Location: Waikiki (Kuhio Beach)
Tour operator: Bike Tour Hawaii
Snorkeling Tours
Picnic Sail to the Kaneohe Sandbar
Captain Bob’s is your ticket to the paradise on the Kaneohe sandbar off Oahu’s windward coast. The 4-hour tour will take you to two locations on the sandbar with their spacious twin hull catamaran. Play water volleyball, swim, and snorkel for some fun on famous Kaneohe sandbar.
Picnic Sail to the Kaneohe Sandbar
Departs from: Heeia Kea Small Boat Harbor (Windward)
Tour operator: Captain Bob’s Picnic Sail
Catamaran Snorkel & Sail – Sunrise
Board a 53-foot catamaran to sail the leeward coast in the morning. Snorkel with Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles (honu), see spinner dolphins, and so much more marine life on the beautiful coral reefs along Oahu’s coast. Enjoy lunch, three complimentary alcoholic drinks, and transportation from Waikiki. Humpback whale watching is possible during their migratory season from December through March.
Catamaran Snorkel & Sail – Sunrise
Departs from: Ko Olina Marina
Tour operator: Ko Olina Ocean Adventures
Catamaran Snorkel & Sail – Afternoon
Board a 53-foot catamaran to sail the leeward coast in the afternoon. Snorkel with Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles (honu), see spinner dolphins, and so much more marine life on the beautiful coral reefs along Oahu’s coast. Enjoy lunch, three complimentary alcoholic drinks, and transportation from Waikiki. Humpback whale watching is possible during their migratory season from December through March.
Catamaran Snorkel & Sail – Afternoon
Departs from: Ko Olina Marina
Tour operator: Ko Olina Ocean Adventures
Waikiki Beach Day Sail
When staying in Waikiki, Erica. and I love hopping on one of the beach loading catamarans for a day sail. Na Hoku II, Manakai, and Maitai’i are all great but the best is Kepoikai II in front of the Royal Hawaiian. Grab some sun, sea air, marine life, and views. of Waikiki and Diamond Head.
Waikiki Beach Day Sail
Departs from: Waikiki Beach (The Royal Hawaiian)
Tour operator: Kepoikai II
Sunset Sailing Tours
Ko Olina Sunset Sail
Board a 53-foot catamaran from Ko Olina Marina for.a leisurely sunset sail along Oahu’s leeward coast. Enjoy pupus (appetizers) and drinks as the tropical sunset dips into the Pacific. That sounds nice.
Ko Olina Sunset Sail
Departs from: Ko Olina Marina
Tour operator: Ko Olina Ocean Adventures
Waikiki Beach Sunset Sail
The Waikiki sunsets are legendary. Load from Waikiki Beach for a sunset sail with Diamond Head as a backdrop. Na Hoku II, Manakai, and Maitai’i are all great but the best is Kepoikai II in front of the Royal Hawaiian. Grab some sun, sea air, marine life, and views. of Waikiki and Diamond Head.
Waikiki Beach Sunset Sail
Departs from: Waikiki Beach (The Royal Hawaiian)
Tour operator: Kepoikai II
Surf and SUP Lessons
Surf Lessons on Oahu’s North Shore
North Shore Surf Girls provide group, semi-private, and private surf instruction to get you standing up and surfing during your 1-hour or 2-hour lesson. With a 4:1 student to instructor ratio, you will get the attention you need. If you are going to learn to surf, learning on the famous North Shore is worth the tale. North Shore Surf Girls love teaching surfing! Their goal is to get you to love surfing as much as they do.
Surf Lessons on Oahu’s North Shore
Location: Haleiwa (North Shore)
Tour operator: North Shore Surf Girls
Surf Lessons in Waikiki
You know you’ve always wanted to try it. Surfing is an important part of Hawaii’s culture dating back to the 4th century. And now with your trip to Hawaii, you can take part in this time-honored tradition with the Ohana Surf Project, on the famous Waikiki Beach!
Surf Lessons in Waikiki
Location: Waikiki (Kapi’olani Regional Park)
Tour operator: Ohana Surf Project
Standup Paddleboard Lessons on Oahu’s North Shore
North Shore Surf Girls provides private, semi-private, family, and group SUP instruction to get you standing up and paddling comfortably on Oahu’s famous North Shore in a 2-hour lesson.
Standup Paddleboard Lessons North Shore
Location: Haleiwa (North Shore)
Tour operator: North Shore Surf Girls
Hawaiian Style Cooking Class
Hawaiian Style Cooking Class – Standard Class
Hawaiian Style Cooking Classes are held in a beautiful home on the Diamond Head coast of Honolulu, Hawaii. Your menu, recipes, and all cooking equipment will be awaiting you and you’ll jump into a full hands-on cooking experience. After cooking, enjoy the fruits of your labor with a communal meal with beverages.
Hawaiian Style Cooking Class – Standard
Location: Waikiki (Diamond Head)
Tour operator: Hawaiian Style Cooking
Hawaiian Style Cooking Class – Premium Class
Cook 5 to 6 dishes over a 4 hour period, more cooking than the standard class! Hawaiian Style Cooking Classes are held in a beautiful home on the Diamond Head coast of Honolulu, Hawaii. Your menu, recipes, and all cooking equipment will be awaiting you and you’ll jump into a full hands-on cooking experience. After cooking, enjoy the fruits of your labor with a communal meal with beverages.
Hawaiian Style Cooking Class – Premium
Location: Waikiki (Diamond Head)
Tour operator: Hawaiian Style Cooking
Adventure – Zipline and UTV
Jurassic Valley Zipline Adventure at Kualoa Ranch
This amazing Jurassic Valley Zipline Adventure begins at the top of Ka’a’awa Valley with seven thrilling tandem sections, two suspension bridges, and finishes with three five-minute hiking trails through the lush jungle landscape… be sure to look out for the dinosaur skeletons!
Jurassic Valley Zipline at Kualoa Ranch
Location: Kaneohe (Windward)
Tour operator: Kualoa Ranch
UTV Tour in Jurassic Valley at Kualoa Ranch
You will drive a 5-6 passenger ultra terrain vehicle (UTV) along a saddle trail that traverses remote areas and stunning scenery in this lush 1,000-acre valley.
Jurassic Valley UTV Tour at Kualoa Ranch
Location: Kaneohe (Windward)
Tour operator: Kualoa Ranch
SCUBA Diving Tours
No Experience/Refresher Dive
For uncertified or rusty divers, let the team at Banzai Divers Hawaii get you started SCUBA diving or get you comfortable underwater again during your Hawaii vacation. They pick the location based on the conditions and get you to a max depth of 40 feet. Have fun!
No Experience/Refresher Dive
Dive Locations: Waikiki (South Shore) or North Shore
Tour operator: Banzai Divers Hawaii
Lava Tube Signature Dive
This is Banzai Dive Hawaii’s signature tour offered from April through September. The owner gets giddy about this one. Explore lava tubes at the world-renowned Pupukea Marine Life Preserve.
Lava Tube Dive
Dive Locations: Pupukea (North Shore)
Tour operator: Banzai Divers Hawaii
Two Tank Shallow Reef Boat Dive
A diving tour that is perfect for all experience levels, let Banzai Divers Hawaii give you a tour of Oahu’s best reefs. Have fun!.
Two Tank Shallow Reef Boat Dive
Dive Locations: Waikiki (South Shore)
Tour operator: Banzai Divers Hawaii