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Oahu, Hawaii is a great place for a family vacation, if you know what to do with the kids. Here are the best things to do in Oahu with kids from a family who know how to vacation in Hawaii.

Oahu is the best Hawaiian island for kids. We go back and forth at times with Maui (Maui vs Oahu for Kids), but you can’t go wrong taking the kids to Oahu. From babies to teenagers, we have you covered with this list.

Here are the kid-friendly restaurants, beaches, resort pools, and waterfalls that will keep you and the kids entertained. Escape the Aulani Disney Resort to take the kids on adventures across Waikiki, Honolulu, and North Shore Oahu with these epic things to do in Oahu with kids list. 

Let’s start with the best kid-friendly beaches in Waikiki. If you need more ideas for Oahu, dig into our 40 Things to Do in Oahu.

Things to Do in Oahu with Kids Videos

We have two videos where we showcase the many things to do with kids in Oahu and specifically in Waikiki. 

At The Hawaii Vacation Guide, we like to share our travel experience so you can see what is best for your family. See our free Oahu Travel Guide for more planning tips.

If you’re planning on visiting Maui with your family, check out our 68 Things to Do in Maui with Kids (sorted by age).

Things to Do in Oahu with Kids: Waikiki

Waikiki is a small neighborhood in the city of Honolulu on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu. Waikiki is 2 miles long by 0.5 miles wide but there are a lot of activities for kids on this plot of land.

Waikiki Beach is famous for being the playground of Hawaiian royalty, surfing, views of Diamond Head, and being the most visited spot in Hawaii. Half of all visitors to Hawaii stay in Waikiki. 

While it can feel busy, crowded, and dirty at times, we still like to stay here with our kids for things to do and the central location on Oahu. See our Oahu where to stay article for tips on finding the location in Oahu for your family.

Below is a Google map showing all of the best things to do in Waikiki with kids from this list.

Are you interested in taking your older children up in a helicopter? Make sure you pick a helicopter tour with a good safety record. You can find our Hawaii helicopter tour research here.

1. Kid-Friendly Waikiki Beaches

Waikiki Beach is 2-miles long so they have divided it up into about eight beaches and they are not all created equally. 

Our two favorite beaches for kids are Kuhio Beach and Kahanamoku Beach. See the map below for directions.

Kuhio Beach is located on the Diamond Head side of Waikiki (southeast side). Nicknamed the Kuhio Ponds, the beach is divided by two concrete walls that stretch 40 yards into the ocean and a break wall to block the surf.

The wall keeps the surf out creating a shallow, calm pool for the kids to play in with a lifeguard tower overlooking the beach.

If you have teenagers in the family, they can surf directly in front of Kuhio Beach at Queen’s Break. Or, bodyboard along The Wall on the Diamond Head side of Kuhio Beach.

Our second favorite beach for kids is Kahanamoku Beach on the Ewa Side of Waikiki. Located in front of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort, this beach has won awards for being the best beach in the country. 

You will be greeted with a large beach and calm waters for the kids. There is no break wall but the reef protects the beach from the rough surf. Always keep your eyes on your kids as while these beaches are calm, the Pacific Ocean is mighty. Never turn your back on the ocean.

Kahanamoku Beach is less crowded than Kuhio Beach as it is located at the far end of Waikiki. Come here to escape the Waikiki Beach crowd. The Waikiki Atlantis Submarine also leaves from this location.  

This beach is named after Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, the Hawaiian waterman who won multiple Olympic medals in swimming and brought surfing to the world. He was raised where the Hilton Hawaiian Village now sits.

2. Hilton Lagoon for Water Toys

Officially named the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, this artificial salt-water lagoon with an island in the middle is a wonderful place to bring babies, toddlers, and young children to play without having to worry about ocean conditions. 

You don’t have to stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort to play at the Hilton Lagoon. We visit the lagoon on every trip to Oahu per the request of our son Henry. 

From a kiosk on the lagoon near the resort, you can rent standup paddle boards, pedal boats, kayaks, and aqua cycles (our favorite). They also offer mermaid sessions and SUP yoga. See the full list of beach activities at the lagoon.

The lagoon reaches a max depth of about 8 to 10 feet.

Directions: Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon Boardwalk, Honolulu, HI 96815

3. Best Family Pools in Waikiki

If you’re like us, we’re always looking for the best resort pools for our kids. While we travel Hawaii for the snorkeling, swimming, and playing in the ocean, there is nothing more relaxing and fun than a good resort pool. Especially if the weather and waves aren’t good.

The best family pools in Waikiki are located at the following Resorts

• Sheraton Waikiki
• Royal Hawaiian (stay here to get access to the Sheraton Waikiki pool)
• Hilton Hawaiian Village Resort
• The Ritz-Carlton Residences Waikiki Beach

Our favorite is the Sheraton Waikiki family pool as it has multiple levels and waterslides while also being fun for the parents. The pool has great views of Diamond Head and is located right on Waikiki Beach. 

The Ritz-Carlton’s family-pool is good as it has one small waterslide, chairs in the pool, and an infinity wall.

Explore our where to stay on Oahu with kids with our 7 family-resort recommendations for more pool options and details on these resorts.

4. Waikiki Surf Lessons for the Family

Find your hidden talent. Take the whole family out surfing with a surf lesson on the famous Waikiki waves. 

Waikiki is perfect for learning how to surf as they have year-long slow-rolling waves that make learning easy.

A family surf lesson with our favorite Waikiki surf school starts with one adult and one child under 12 years old. Family surf lessons start at one hour. Learn more about surf lessons in Waikiki here (plus watch my wife school me on the surfboard).

If you’re up on Oahu’s North Shore (famous for surfing), look into booking surf lessons with these girls.

5. Honolulu Zoo

With Hawaiian Nene birds (the state bird), giraffes, penguins, howler monkeys, flamingos, and 900 animals on 42 acres, the Honolulu Zoo is a great place to take the kids right in Waikiki.

Hours: Daily 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (closed on Christmas Day)

Location: 151 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

Why we love the Honolulu Zoo: the convenient location in Kapiolani Regional Park makes visiting the zoo an easy few hours. I like taking kids to the zoo while Erica goes surfing, shopping, or relaxing. 

6. Waikiki Aquarium 

Located near the Honolulu Zoo, on the ocean side of Kapiolani Regional Park, the Waikiki Aquarium gets children immersed in Hawaii’s marine life with monk seals, a living reef, and giant aquariums. 

While the Waikiki Aquarium may need a remodel in places, this is a wonderful place to show the kids the rich marine life of Hawaii and the Pacific.

Hours: Daily 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM (facility closes at 5:00 PM)

Location: 2777 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

Why we love the Waikiki Aquarium: The exhibits help our young daughter to better understand the reef and ocean life before she starts to snorkel. 

7. Kid-Friendly Lunch in Waikiki

Here are some great lunch spots near the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Aquarium.

• Barefoot Beach Cafe – a 3-minute walk from the Waikiki Aquarium is a classic ocean-side shack with Hawaiian plate lunches, pineapple smoothies, and standard American fare. Order at the window and sit under the shade with an ocean view.
• Munch Wagon – located across from Honolulu Zoo, this food truck offers vegetarian, vegan, and tater tot munchies for the kids. They have a keiki menu so enjoy!
• Rainbow Drive-in – a 12-minute walk (0.6-miles) from the Honolulu Zoo is a famous Hawaiian plate-lunch counter restaurant. Order burgers, fish sandwiches, or loco moco for an authentic Hawaii experience.

Looking for more places to eat on Oahu? We share our favorite restaurants across Oahu in our Oahu Wayfinder Itinerary. Plus, those elusive vegetarian, gluten-free, and vegan places. We also have perfectly planned out excursion days so you don’t have to think about how you’re going to turn these things to do in Oahu with kids activities into an itinerary. 

Let us do the planning for you!

8. Free Hula Shows

Our favorite thing about staying in Waikiki is all the free hula shows. The kids are mesmerized by the storytelling, the dancing, and the Hawaiian music from free shows at shopping centers and along the street in the evenings. If you can’t make it to one of our favorite Hawaii luaus, this is a great alternative.

Our favorite free hula show is nightly at the Royal Hawaiian Center in central Waikiki. You will find their stage right off the main avenue. See their events calendar for lei making workshops and hula lessons.

Directions: 2201 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815

Things to Do in Oahu with Kids: Honolulu

Let’s broaden our search for things to do in Oahu with kids outside of Waikiki and into greater Honolulu. As the largest city in Hawaii, Honolulu is home to the best museums in the state. Explore these cultural and interactive sights to enrich your Hawaii vacation. 

Below is a map of all the things to do in Honolulu with kids.

9. Hawaiian Style Cooking Class

Chef Linda welcomes you into her beautiful home to cook a multi-course meal with drinks. Bring your children to teach them how to cook, talk story, and enjoy regional cuisine. We like this cooking class as a way to learn about Hawaii and local foods.

Learn more about Chef Linda’s Hawaiian Cooking Class.

• Duration: 3 hours
• Ages: 8 years old and older
• Location: Diamond Head Neighborhood (near Waikiki)
• Menu: Hawaiian, regional, and international cuisine

10. Diamond Head Crater Hike

Diamond Head Crater Hike makes a lot of our things to do lists. A few people find Diamond Head to be overrated but we disagree. The trailhead is a 15-minute drive from Waikiki without going on the freeway and in what other state can you hike inside a volcano? 

Make the 0.8-mile hike up ramps, steps, and through a 225-foot tunnel to explore a pre-WWII bunker carved into the mountain. Kids and adults love this hike for the view from the top and the history inside the crater. 

Directions: Diamond Head in Kapahulu, Honolulu, HI 96815

Reservations are required to hike Diamond Head due to its popularity. There is also a parking and entrance fee but for the price, this is a wonderful activity for the family. 

Get a great family picture from the top observation deck! Ours wasn’t great from our last trip, but there was a rainbow over Honolulu.

Explore all of the best easy hikes on Oahu for kids plus the Ehukai Pillbox Hike: directions, parking, and all you need to know.

11. Snorkeling and Swimming at Hanauma Bay

Hanauma Bay made our top 5 snorkel spots on Oahu video because the fish are plentiful and large in the nature preserve. Plus, the beach is wonderful for families.

With lifeguards on duty and a large reef to protect the kids from the waves, you can play all day here under the sun. Reservations are required. We give tips on how to get reservations in our Oahu Wayfinder Itinerary. 

Note, this is the official site for Hanauma Bay Nature Reserve. It is not a state park so be wary of the other website.

Directions: Haunama Bay Visitor Center Parking Lot

12. Honolulu Museums

A short drive or taxi from Waikiki (how to get around Oahu without a rental car) are many museums to explore with the family. 

The best museum for all ages is the Bishop Museum. The museum showcases Hawaiian and Polynesian natural history plus they have a science center, lawn games, and an observatory with astronomy shows. They have a cafe on the property too. 

Directions: Bishop Museum 1525 Bernice St, Honolulu, HI 96817

Other Honolulu museums worth checking out are Queen Emma’s Summer Palace, Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, and Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA).

13. Historic Downtown Honolulu

For those parents craving more Hawaii history and culture, head down to Historic Downtown Honolulu. The main thing to do is visit the ‘Iolani Palace.

‘Iolani Palace is the only palace in the United States. It had electricity and indoor plumbing before the White House. A docent led tour or the audio tour will take you through the rooms to share the history, traditions, and achievements of the Hawaiian Royal Family. 

Our son visited with us as a toddler. He asked a lot of questions as the palace sparked his interest, like the King’s sacred staff made from a narwhal tusk, but the palace may be best for older family members.

Directions: 364 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813

In Historic Downtown Honolulu you will see the famous statue of King Kamehameha the Great, the old Hawaiian parliament, missionary church, and many more points of interest. A Honolulu historic bike tour is your best way to see and hear the history of Honolulu (departs from Waikiki).

You can also take a guided tour of Pearl Harbor that also includes visiting Punchbowl National Cemetery and Historic Downtown Honolulu.

If you’re visiting during the holidays, then there is a lot of things to do in Hawaii during Christmas, especially in Historic Downtown Honolulu. Explore those things to do and see our tips for planning a Hawaii Christmas vacation.

14. Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

Pearl Harbor National Memorial is one of the most popular sites in Hawaii to visit. It is most likely on your Oahu itinerary, but make sure you take the free shuttle over to the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum (PHAM).

PHAM tells the story of the air raid on Pearl Harbor like no other museum can in America. They showcase planes that were part of the battle, has bullet holes in their hanger from the infamous day, and even Japanese planes and bombers from WWII. The immersive museum is worth a visit from your family. 

Directions: Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum on Ford Island

15. Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Honolulu

Keiki means child in Hawaiian, such as a keiki menu. The restaurants below are some of our favorite kid-friendly for their keiki menu and atmosphere. We share more of our favorite restaurants in the Quick Hits section of our Oahu Wayfinder Itinerary.

• Maui Brewing Company in central Waikiki has a large keiki menu, live music, and is a large venue perfect for family seating.
• Oahu Grill in Honolulu (click for directions) serves up Hawaiian dishes like kalua pig, lau lau, poi, and chicken long rice. If you can’t make it to an Oahu luau, this is a good option to try Hawaiian food.
• Barefoot Beach Cafe – located on the beach in Waikiki, you can walk up, eat outside, watch the sunset, and enjoy the live music.
• Duke’s is a classic located in central Waikiki. They have a breakfast buffet in the morning, create seafood and steak, and is on the ocean. They usually have live music too. Get their Hula Pie for dessert.

For dessert, don’t forget to take the kids for Dole Whip (pineapple soft serve) or shave ice. We share our favorite Honolulu shave ice spot in our 40 Things to Do in Oahu.

Things to Do in Oahu With Kids Across the Island

Let’s leave Waikiki and Honolulu to explore the other things to do on Oahu with kids. Show the family the island paradise that is Oahu with these activities to get them in the jungle.

The Google map below shows you the locations for all these things to do on Oahu with kids.

16. Oahu Family Fishing Pond

Grab a bamboo fishing pole and catch some fish with the family! Ali’i Agriculture Farm located in Central Oahu, on the way to Haleiwa, North Shore, gets your kids fishing in this no frills, laid-back fish pond. 

Rent a fishing pool from the shack and walk to the fishing pond to catch tilapia, grass carp, or catfish. You can catch and release (our preferred method) or catch and watch them cook it up for you!

Directions: 680 Whitmore Ave, Wahiawa, HI 96786

Why we loved it: The other families cheer you on and give you tips making the fishing feel like a team sport.

17. Waterfall Swim at Waimea Valley

If you’re looking for a waterfall swim on Oahu, this is the place to go. With many waterfalls being on private land, hard to reach, or dangerous, the 40 foot Waimea Valley waterfall is the place to go.

Waimea Valley is a botanical garden and Hawaiian cultural immersion area. You can spend half a day here at the arts and crafts booths, walking the valley’s gardens, exploring the Hawaiian villages, and swimming in the waterfall. This is a perfect spot for strollers and kids. It is also home to one of the best luaus in Hawaii.

Reserve your Full Day General Admission to Waimea Valley ticket here. This is a direct booking with Waimea Valley!

Directions: 59-864 Kamehameha Hwy, Haleiwa, HI 96712

If you’re on Oahu frantically searching for things to do or you are starting your Hawaii vacation planning, then check out our Oahu Wayfinder Itinerary. 

Let two professional Hawaii travelers show you the best things to do around Oahu on planned excursion days. Download our itinerary and you’re off! Learn more below.

18. Polynesian Cultural Center Lu’au

For many visitors to Oahu, this is the must-see thing to do in Oahu with kids.

Located near the northern tip of the Oahu in La’ie, the Polynesian Cultural Center is known for its luau dinner but we like it for the Islands of Polynesia. Travel amonst six island nations of Polynesia in an afternoon. Learn about the culture, games, songs, and stories of Samoa, Tonga, Hawaii, Aotearoa, Tahiti and Fuji. 

We recommend you arrive when they open at 12:30 to spend the afternoon there and then go to the Ali’i luau or Gateway Buffet. Stay late for the HA: Breath of Life Show. Book below and save 20% on their luau packages as it is a direct booking link with the Polynesian Cultural Center.

19. Safe Summer Snorkeling

Shark’s Cove made our list of the best snorkeling on Oahu. From May to September, the waves settle down for some epic snorkeling in the lava rock-protected lagoon. 

Lifeguards are on duty and there are restroom and shower facilities. A snorkel rental shop is across the street along with food trucks for lunch. 

We like Shark’s Cove for the clear water and the protected lagoon. Make sure the conditions are good for snorkeling before you go out by talking to the lifeguard and checking lifeguard flags. Grab our favorite reef-safe, mineral-based sunscreens before you head into the water.

Directions: Shark’s Cove at Pupukea Beach Park, Oahu

20. Oahu’s Best Whale Watching

The best locations for whale watching on Oahu are on the North Shore and Waianae. Waianae is my favorite as you can expect better weather and calmer seas during whale seasons. 

The annual humpback whale migration to Hawaii is December through March.

While Maui is our favorite island for whale watching, Oahu has some excellent viewing also. 

Our favorite whale watching tour leaves from Waianae Small Boat Harbor. Head out on a power raft for up-close encounters with majestic humpback whales. We like this tour for the fast rafts increase your chances of seeing them (they don’t chase but cover more ground) and their staff of marine biologists that are full of knowledge. Learn more and book here – Waianae Whale Watching.

21. Best Family-Friendly Lagoons 

Ko Olina Resorts are known as the home of Aulani, a Disney Resort and Spa, but Ko Olina is better known to us for the lagoons. One of the 10 best beaches on Oahu are the lagoons. 

We love these lagoons for the calm waters for our kids, proximity to the resort restaurants for lunch and snacks, and the big, empty beaches. 

The lagoons are man-made. Blasted from the volcanic rock as part of the Ko Olina Resorts development, the lagoons are open to the public and ready for your vacation. Arrive before 9:00 AM for a free, public parking spot. See our Oahu itinerary for details.

Stay in Ko Olina (see our Ultimate Ko Olina Guide) or stay in Waikiki, you can hop over to this dry and sunny side of the island for amazing beaches.

While you are over here, book a tour with our favorite Oahu snorkel tour to see dolphins and sea turtles. Or stay till sunset for their Ko Olina Sunset Sail. 

22. Dolphin and Snorkeling Tour

If you can’t make it to Oahu during whale season then a dolphin excursion is your best option. Located at Waianae Small Boat Harbor, the team from Dolphin Excursions Hawaii will take you out to see Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins, Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, and to epic snorkel spots on the Waianae Coast. 

Click to learn more about their Dolphin Excursion Tour or their Afternoon Snorkel Safari.

Directions: Waianae Small Boat Harbor at 85-491 Farrington Hwy, Waianae, HI 96792

23. Full Itinerary for More Things to Do in Oahu with Kids

Thanks for traveling with me around Oahu with this epic things to do in Oahu with kids list. We find ourselves going back to Oahu multiple times a year because there are so many things to do and places to eat. 

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or don’t have time to plan a trip to Oahu, then learn more about our Oahu Wayfinder Itinerary. The itinerary is structured to grab and go on your mobile device. It has been kid-tested!