Our Favourite Things To Do In Oahu

Welcome to the legendary island of Oahu, Hawaii! The Hawaiian Islands top our list of most popular American travel destinations this month, with more bookings than anywhere else in the US. And Oahu - with the most direct connections to the mainland - is the most popular of all.

We asked five of the local guides in Honolulu and the surrounding areas a question: If you could take a visitor to one special place on your island, where would it be and why? We’re sharing their answers with you today, so you can plan an Oahu itinerary that’s packed with memorable experiences. Warning: the guides all found it hard to pick just one place...

Our Favorite Things to Do in Oahu

Experience the beauty of Oahu while sampling the local food on a culinary journey around the island, suggests foodie guide Marie. Hawaiian history and culture is expressed in the foods of our aina (land). Leonard’s Bakery, a Hawaiian fixture since the 1950s, is one of my favourites, and popular among foodies! Stop here for their famous Portuguese Malasada. The Waialua Sugar Mill is a must-see on the north shore. At its heyday in the 19th century, it was producing 20,000 tons of sugar. Now visitors can stop in for a gelato, sample fresh local coffee, pick coffee and cocoa beans, learn about and observe the cocoa bean drying process, purchase local honey, jams, and fresh papaya salad dressing.Spend a Day on the North Shore

Daniel writes: I love to take people to the North Shore, then you can really enjoy a good day at the beach without buildings around you. Start with Waimea Bay or maybe hike to Waimea Falls. Then visit Sunnet Beach for a relaxing time and then go to Banzai Pipeline to see the pro surfers barrel in front of your nose. Have lunch at the shrimp trucks, and witness Hawaiian green sea turtles in the water. If you feel a little bit more adventurous, I’d love to take you to Haleiwa River to paddle in kayaks or stand up paddle boards - here you really feel like you’re in a rainforest! To finish the day, we can have shave ice or a pineapple ice cream. Life is good in the Hawaiian countryside.See the Pali and Rainforest

When you want to slow down and experience Oahu's natural beauty, take a drive through the rainforest and over the Pali, recommends Donna. Follow the coast road north past an ancient fish pond and sample Hawaiian comfort food at Waiahole Poi Factory. Small towns surrounded by lush foliage yield to North Shore surf beaches and secluded bays - a day you won’t soon forget.Experience Pearl Harbor

Michael shares: While I love exploring the entire island, Pearl Harbor is one of my favorite places to visit. Partially because it was the first tour I was ever trained on about 10 years ago.

Huge fishponds once covered the area, oyster bearing pearls were found in the water and the entire area is huge and has many names, including Wai Momi and Puʻuloa. Mokuʻumeʻume was important for Chiefs and Chiefesses. This beautiful harbor eventually caught the eye of US Military.

While it was devastated on December 7th, 1941, the Harbor still serves as the Headquarters of the United States Pacific-Indonesia Command. It's also home to the souls onboard the USS Arizona and USS Utah, and houses the Pearl Harbor National Memorial.

Today you can pay your respects at the Arizona Memorial and explore the Visitor Center to learn about that fateful day. The other attractions, including the Battleship Missouri, Aviation Museum and Bowfin Submarine are incredible, and people of all ages love visiting them. You may even catch me on the flight simulator in my spare time, and hopefully I can show you around one day.Dolphins, Lava and Cream Pie…

Leonard's famous malasadas always bring a smile to faces, but many can't stop dreaming about the next time they will have a Ted's Bakery Chocolate Haupia Cream Pie or eat garlic shrimp from Big Wave Shrimp Truck, says Mark. Everyone has a favorite beach. Some like Waimea, others like Pipeline. You can’t go wrong with either. For breathtaking views the Pali Lookout always brings expressions of awe as does the Pu'u Ualaka'a lookout overlooking Waikiki and 25 miles of coastline from an elevation of 1100 feet. Who wouldn't want to live in a multi-million dollar home in the Kahala neighborhood or see dolphins swimming in the lagoon at the Kahala Resort then walk on lava and see a cave spitting gushes of water?See humpback whales from Makapu'u lookout

Alex tells us: My favorite place to take visitors is the Makapu'u lookout. When I drive over the saddle of the volcano and reveal the site at this location, I love to hear the reactions of my guests. The views are breathtaking and it is one of the best locations to spot humpback whales and indigenous birds. From here you can get a better view of how the island of Oahu was formed and I teach you about the activity the island had in the past, making it what it looks like today. Not only can you see the amazing seacliffs of the Ko'olau range, but you will also see the bluest water you have ever seen before. Make sure to not pass up this spot on your next trip to Hawaii.

So much to choose from in Oahu! As Mark tell us, “the entire island is unique, as are individuals, so each has their own special place and there are so many unforgettable experiences to choose from.” Good thing you don’t have to pick just one way to spend your time - a local guide can fit all the pieces together into a perfect day’s itinerary customized just for you.