Ep. 191: Top 5 Can’t Miss Things to Do on Oahu, Hawaii

191_Top 5 Can’t Miss Things to Do on Oahu

[00:00:00] Bryan Murphy: There’s a reason why most locals don’t do half the thing visitors pay for on ahu. In this episode, you’ll discover the top five activities that are actually worth your time and money, plus some free alternatives. That might be even better. And we’ll talk about the planning mistake that causes most families to overspend on overcrowded attractions while missing the experiences their families.

[00:00:24] Bryan Murphy: We’ll remember forever.

[00:00:29] Bryan Murphy: Welcome to Hawaii’s Best, the podcast helping you plan an unforgettable trip to Hawaii. And today we’re talking all about the top things to do on the island of Oahu.

[00:00:41] Bryan Murphy: Now most people when planning their trip, you know, they focus on the big stuff you gotta take care of. You know, booking the hotel, finding beaches you want to go to, maybe looking up a lu out and booking that.

[00:00:53] Bryan Murphy: But it’s important to know which activities actually work for your family and are worth your time, your money, and create those memories that you’re hoping to create in this trip to Oahu. So whether you’re on a budget or you’re just ready to spend that cash on Oahu, this list definitely has all of that.

[00:01:11] Bryan Murphy: And we’re just gonna get right into, oh, uh, by the way, I do have a free PDF guide in the show notes below first link that you can follow along or download it. Later for planning has all these details that I talk about in this episode.

[00:01:24] Bryan Murphy: Also, before we get to the list, and it does go along with the list, is we’re gonna talk about Alma Bay and some of the booking changes that just went into effect on November 1st, this past Saturday.

[00:01:36] Bryan Murphy: So if you are visiting or planning the visit, you have two ways to book now. First is the standard city reservation system way. You know, you’ll book online exactly two days in advance at 7:00 AM Hawaii time. So, you know, Monday morning at 7:00 AM for Wednesday, Tuesday morning for Thursday, and so on. You, you get it.

[00:01:58] Bryan Murphy: You’re smart. It’s important to note that it’s $25 per person for non-resident. And kids 12 and under are free and parking is $3 cash only. The second option is new. You can now book up to a month in advance through Roberts, Hawaii. These packages include round trip transportation from Waikiki and Ala Moana on electric tour buses.

[00:02:19] Bryan Murphy: Sounds super fancy, plus your entry tickets. So what’s cool about this option is that you get to watch the required educational video while on the bus. So that means you’re skipping that step when you arrive to Han Bay. So why this matters, the city’s keeping daily attendance around 1400 people total to protect the reef at Alma Bay.

[00:02:41] Bryan Murphy: Uh, so that’s up to 400 tickets per day. Go through the new shuttle system, which leaves fewer spots in the standard two day reservation system. So all that to say, if you want to lock in your date early and you don’t mind the shuttle service, it’s not a far drive from Waikiki to Hanal Bay. That month ahead option through Roberts Hawaii is probably your best bet.

[00:03:03] Bryan Murphy: Plus you get to check the box for that educational video that you are required to watch no matter which option you choose. But if you are planning on driving yourself and want to control your timing, stick with a two day city system. But book right at 7:00 AM when it opens. Hawaii residents still get free entry without reservations, and it’s just $1 parking fee for Hawaii residents.

[00:03:25] Bryan Murphy: And one more thing, this is a trial period. So the city says they’ll adjust things throughout the year based on how it’s working. So to get the updated information from whenever you’re planning on traveling, check the official Han Bay website before your trip for any updates.

[00:03:41] Bryan Murphy: Alright, let’s get to the top things to do on Oahu number one.

[00:03:48] Bryan Murphy: If you’ve seen photos of people snorkeling in a kind of a horseshoe shaped bay with volcanic cliffs, that’s Han Bay. Super popular. Super famous. It’s one of the best snorkeling spots on the island of Oahu, and it’s great for families as well. And like I mentioned, you have those two booking options for how you choose to visit.

[00:04:08] Bryan Murphy: The park is open on Wednesdays through Sunday from 6:45 AM and its last entry is at 1:30 PM and it closes at 4:00 PM so they’re closed on Mondays and Tuesdays to kind of let the reef recover from activity. One tip I didn’t mention in the travel update that is if you are planning on driving yourself, your family, your group arrive at least 45 minutes to an hour before your reserve time.

[00:04:35] Bryan Murphy: That gives you time to park, check in, watch the mandatory educational video. But obviously if you are taking the Roberts, Hawaii. You’ll watch the video on the bus. You can rent snorkel gear on site for about 20 to $25, or bring your own swimming with fish and maybe spotting a sea turtle. That’s just some memories right there that your family is gonna love.

[00:04:58] Bryan Murphy: Number two, this is one of our favorites. We did this last time we were on Oahu maybe. Two times ago, I can’t remember. This is High Honey Farm on the North Shore. This is one of those experiences that is both educational and hands-on. What’s really cool about this is you get to hang out with honeybees, and that might sound kind of weird and honestly it was.

[00:05:20] Bryan Murphy: Weird going there thinking, what are we gonna do? We’re just gonna hang around a bunch of bees. But it was super cool. Stanislav and his family were just so welcoming. For myself, my girls, my in-laws as well. Four of us went out. My wife, our oldest kid, and my father-in-law, we went out and did the whole.

[00:05:39] Bryan Murphy: Beekeeping experience got suited up while the rest of them stayed around and played with their family, which was really cool and welcoming. We’re the only ones there and really got to experience the farm and the amazing history of the honeybee and the importance of it, and especially right there in the North Shore.

[00:05:56] Bryan Murphy: Tours run between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM most days, except for Mondays. You wanna plan about an hour and a half to two and a half hours. Definitely would recommend booking through their website and confirm availability for your dates. It’s completely safe, but if you do have. An allergy to bee stings, I would definitely call.

[00:06:15] Bryan Murphy: I’m not sure exactly how that works. So definitely call and basically the tour. You, you walk through their farm, you learn about beekeeping and why bees matter and get suited up. You, you wear protective beekeeping suits, which is cool, and you get a good photo. But the best part is really the honey tasting.

[00:06:32] Bryan Murphy: There’s over 10 different varieties from classic Hawaiian honey to unique flavors like Hawaiian hot honey sauce. Matcha honey, go on their website. I’ll link it below. I think they offer discounts for Hawaii residents. So if you’re listening and you’re living on the island of ahu, they, I believe they do offer some discounts.

[00:06:50] Bryan Murphy: I was actually talking to, uh, randomly an old realtor of ours. He called, they’re going to Oahu soon, and he was like. You do this Hawaii’s best thing? Well, yeah, I’ve doing it for a little while. Well, tell me about what’s good to do. And this was the first thing I recommended that they go and do because it was great for our younger kids at the time.

[00:07:10] Bryan Murphy: We have teens now, but they have older teens and their early twenties going. And I really think this is one of those tours that kind of gets everyone’s interest and it is just so exciting. So I can’t recommend them enough.

[00:07:22] Bryan Murphy: Number three. Okay, let’s go to number three. And it’s up there on the loop. So.

[00:07:27] Bryan Murphy: Maybe you’ll want to tag this onto your high honey farm. It’d be a busy day if you do, but I think you can do it is go to y MEA Valley. This is a perfect spot for families. It’s not just a hike and it’s not really a hike. It’s pretty level, but it’s a 400 acre botanical garden with over 5,000 plant species, cultural demonstrations and a waterfall at the end.

[00:07:47] Bryan Murphy: And what’s cool about the waterfall is that it’s lifeguarded so you can go and um, still be careful and all that good stuff, but there are lifeguards there, which kinda. Gives another layer of, of safety. The valley is open Tuesday through Sundays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM It’s closed on Mondays and in November, uh, you’re listening to this November in 2025, it’ll be closed on Thanksgiving day.

[00:08:09] Bryan Murphy: Admission is $25 for adults and I believe 20 for seniors and students with ID and 15 or so for kids from four to 12. And Hawaii residents and military do get a discount. Think that is like $10 for adults and six for kids. Parking is free. It’s a little sketch. You gotta kind of find a spot, but you’ll be fine.

[00:08:29] Bryan Murphy: The walk to Y MEA Falls, it’s about almost a mile. It’s paved, so it’s stroller friendly, which is pretty rare for a hike in Hawaii. If it’s hot out, this is a great place to go. Cool off. It’s super shaded and along the way you get to see botanical collections arranged by region Hawaiian plants, African plants south.

[00:08:48] Bryan Murphy: East Asian plants. It’s a great experience. We actually had the executive director of Y MEA Valley on the podcast and I’ll be sure to link that below and you get even more history and more of what to expect. ’cause they’ve, they’ve done some new initiatives this year and I’ll let him be able to explain that.

[00:09:04] Bryan Murphy: So after this episode, you can go ahead and listen to that link below.

[00:09:09] Bryan Murphy: Number four, kayak to the MOA Islands. This is something pretty unique that you might wanna put on your list. So if your family likes adventure and being on the water kayaking to the moca Lua Islands, or known as the Moss, it’s definitely.

[00:09:25] Bryan Murphy: A must. These are the two little islets off of Kailua. If you’re at Lon Kai Beach or Kailua Beach Park or Waimanalo. These are the two little islets out in the distance. The larger island Moi is open to visitors in its perfect spot for snorkeling and exploring. So how this works is you launch from Kailua Beach Park or Lon Kai Beach, and it’s about a 30 to 45 minute paddle from Lon Kai.

[00:09:48] Bryan Murphy: So you’ll need to rent kayaks and prices start around $80 for self-guided rentals. But the, uh, rental company usually includes the required landing permit in your fee. And weather can vary. Sometimes it can be calm, sometimes it can be windy. So book with a rental company that can advise you on the best days to go.

[00:10:07] Bryan Murphy: Companies like Kailua Beach Adventures provide gear, permits and safety tips, but once you’re on Mooi. There are no facilities, no restrooms, no food, nothing. So bring everything in a waterproof bag, water, snacks, sunscreen, snorkel, gear. The snorkeling is just fantastic there. My wife actually did this and she had a kind of a gnarly story coming back out there.

[00:10:30] Bryan Murphy: It was great calm. They went with a guide, actually, but on the way back, the wind picked up and. It was pretty crazy trying to get past the surf and get back up on the kayak to get back over to Lonnie Kay. When you book with the company, they’ll be able to answer a lot of those questions, what current conditions are and all that good stuff.

[00:10:49] Bryan Murphy: And finally, number five, this is probably our family’s, one of our favorite free activities to do is the whole Maia Botanical Garden on the east side of Oahu. This is in Kaeo and is one of. Oahu’s best. I don’t know if it’s a best kept secret anymore, but it’s completely free. This place, it’s 400 acres with plants, tropical regions around the world, and it’s back along the setting of the CO out mountains ish.

[00:11:16] Bryan Murphy: When you drive in. It’s like the best entrance to anything in Hawaii really. You’ve probably seen pictures. I’ll put pictures in the show notes that’ll link to a blog post, but the garden is open daily from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and it’s closed on Christmas day and New Year’s Day. Like I mentioned, parking is free, but starting in 2026, they’re gonna be closed on Thursdays.

[00:11:37] Bryan Murphy: Actually, for this year, November 20, 25 and December, you’re good to go, but they call this a day of rest for the gardens. So Thursdays starting in 2026, and this is just brand new, just announcing October. But here you got hiking trails through different theme gardens, Hawaiian, Polynesian, African Indian, Malaysian.

[00:11:57] Bryan Murphy: There’s actually a fresh water lake there where you can fish on Wednesdays and Saturdays if you have a Hawaii fishing license. Families, a lot of families picnic here. We haven’t picnic here, but we’ve gone here quite a few times and just kind of spent the afternoon and go back into town and grab a bite.

[00:12:12] Bryan Murphy: But you can, you know, do bird watching. Our oldest loves watching for birds or just drive through the scenic loop. Of the gardens. This is one of the most photographed spots on the island of Oahu. You’ll see why, but be mindful of where you’re taking your pictures. And some people just stop. Like, they’ll just stop in the middle of the road and, and take a picture.

[00:12:32] Bryan Murphy: So, one, be aware of that, but two, try to be aware of your surroundings and not just block traffic to get the shot. There’s plenty of opportunities to get amazing, amazing picks. I highly recommend this.

[00:12:45] Bryan Murphy: It’s free, and this kind of goes into our bonus ones, a few more free activities I want to give you. And one of them is kind of obvious, but I wanna give you some spots to go to and that’s catching the sunset.

[00:12:55] Bryan Murphy: You gotta catch the sunset no matter what island you go to, but Oahu, some of the spots that we love, one is out in Coline on the west side. The water’s calm, it’s protected. It’s great for late afternoon swim before sunset. Usually, typically always a great sunset out in Colina. And the other one is Sunset Beach on the North Shore and really lives up to its name.

[00:13:15] Bryan Murphy: You wanna bring a blanket, maybe some snacks, and you get to watch the sky. Just change colors and if you are visiting this wintertime, you know, maybe get there little early and and watch ’em. The big waves. Don’t get in the water, just watch from the big waves. It’s just such a cool, iconic Hawaii experience.

[00:13:31] Bryan Murphy: The other one is. I know it might sound kind of commercial, but as Waikiki Waikiki, the Sunset, a Waikiki and the vibe of Sunset, a Waikiki is something that you gotta experience. You got, you know, diamond head off to the left and then sunset is happening off to the right. It’s just, and you got music happening at Dukes.

[00:13:48] Bryan Murphy: It’s like old Waikiki kind of vibes is so everyone lines up. It’s just a cool moment to see and watch the sunset and experience that in Waikiki at least, at least one time. The other one, our favorite hike. Is the Maka Lighthouse hike. It’s all paved, so if you’ve got strollers, we used to do this when the girls were young and we had strollers, and it was just a way for us to get out as a whole family.

[00:14:13] Bryan Murphy: It’s about a two mile round trip paved hike there. There is a pretty good incline. The trail is open daily from 7:00 AM to 6:45 PM It’s free, no reservations needed. There’s parking. The lot fills up pretty quickly and then it kind of spills out to the road and just. It’s kind of a busy road there, so as you’re, if you need to cross the street, but the hike gains about 500 feet in elevation.

[00:14:36] Bryan Murphy: So it’s a moderate workout, but nothing’s super intense. You plenty of places to stop along the way. During the wintertime, you can do some whale watching from up there, you can see the humpback whales migrate from November through May-ish, and the Mokapu point is one of the best spots on Oahu to spot them.

[00:14:54] Bryan Murphy: So if you’ve got binoculars, bring those. One thing to note though about this hike is that there is no shade. It can be hot, so you want to do this early in the morning. The other bonus activity, this is a incredible drive. It’s one of the best scenic drives, and that’s the H three Highway. It’s one of the most spectacular drives you’ll experience.

[00:15:14] Bryan Murphy: This is a 60 mile stretch of freeway that cuts through the Colau Mountains connecting Pearl Harbor to the Marine Corps bases on the Winward side in Kaneohe, and I know. A freeway. Doesn’t sound that exciting, but trust me, the H three takes you through tunnels over 5,000 feet long and see if you can hold your breath the whole time.

[00:15:33] Bryan Murphy: But when you come out the other side, you’re seeing lush Green Valleys, dramatic Mountain cliffs and Coho Bay. I like going from Kaneohe over towards. Pearl Harbor. So that’s going west. What we like to do, I’m, I’m not giving you an itinerary, but it kinda leads up to what I just mentioned, but you know, if you take H one out to Puu and, and get some sunrise and get a little hike action, and then you go up to the botanical gardens and once you’re done at the Al Lucia Botanical Gardens, then you.

[00:16:04] Bryan Murphy: Take it back towards Pearl Harbor and you get this incredible view. There’s no toll. It’s free. And you get some of the be, especially if you’re going during this time and or the, you may, maybe a wetter season, uh, you get some of the waterfalls coming down the Eola Mountains. So there you go. Those are my top things that you gotta do on the island of Oahu for families.

[00:16:27] Bryan Murphy: Your first time, whatever your case is. Those are my top picks. I could have gone and ended a bit more, but uh, my biggest advice would be book Hanal Bay Early Check Weather Conditions Before Outdoor Activities. And also don’t forget to grab the free PDF in the show notes below. It’s got all the details for this episode plus everything else that I mentioned as far as High Honey Farm to my interview with the executive director of.

[00:16:52] Bryan Murphy: Y Maya Valley, all that can be found in there and in the show notes below. So I hope that this was helpful for you and your planning. And until next time, as always, live with Aloha

[00:17:07] Bryan Murphy: Mahala for listening to this episode of Hawaii’s. Best to stay up to date on future episodes. Hit follow on your podcast app. Hawaii’s Best is a production of Shore Break Media group with editing by easy podcast solutions. And. Music, courtesy of our friends stick figure.