15 Alternative Things To Do In Waikiki Beach That Aren't Sitting on the Beach

There’s so much more to Waikiki Beach than just sitting on the beach (although I will admit it has become one of my favourites beaches around the world!).

But! Sitting on the beach every day can become a tad repetitive, so here are 15 alternative things to do in Waikiki Beach!

Psst! This blog post contains affiliate links in it which sends me a bit of extra money if you use them… at no extra cost to you!

top-things-to-do-in-waikiki-beach-Oahu-Hawaii-Pinterest

1. Hike Diamond Head Crater

Diamond Head makes up the iconic skyline view of Waikiki Beach and O’ahu Island. It’s also not only a top attraction for Waikiki Beach or O’ahu, but for the state of Hawaii.

Diamond Head is both a natural centuries old crater and a historical military landmark. You can hike to the peak with views overlooking the ocean, Waikiki Beach, and Honolulu.

Although it’s such a popular attraction on the Island, the hike is not for the feint of heart. It’s quite steep at times, and includes a lot of switchbacks, and stairs to climb.

a narrow path scales the side of a rocky mountain. There's a barrier for the hikers to hold on to (and not fall) It does a switchback at the end of the mountain and you can see the continuation of the path below. In the distance, the sun has started to light up the valley. Clouds are forming on the horizon. But above the clouds are clear blue skies

On top of that, depending on the time of your ticket, you might be dealing with the beating Hawaiian sun. I recommend booking the earliest ticket possible (usually 6:00 A.M. – 7:00 A.M.), to avoid as much sun and heat as possible.

There are two types of tickets you can book: entry only, or entry with parking. Parking tickets sell out a lot quicker (they have limited spots). So if you’d prefer a specific date and time it’s worth checking the entry only tickets.

You can actually walk to Diamond Head from Waikiki Beach, it takes about an hour, but you can Uber or taxi.

P.S. see more things to do on the island with my printable O’ahu travel guide. Includes checklists for Waikiki Beach and Honolulu, the North Shore, food try eat, and way more!

a woman has her back to the camera has she descends metal stairs on the top of the mountain. She's holding on to both railings on either side. She's wearing a blue floral dress, and has a small backpack hanging off of one shoulder. Her hair is up in a pony tail. beyond the mountain and the stairs is teh valley that leads in to the pcean, and the sun is just coming up above the water on the horizon. Casting a wonderful golden yellow hue to the grass and the sky.

2. Spot Turtles At Turtle Canyon

Although you have to go in the water for this activity, it’s technically not on the beach!

Turtle Canyon is an area just off the shores of Waikiki Beach where sea turtles are known to populate. Book a tour that will take you out there to see wild sea turtles and even snorkel with them.

A nice side bonus of this activity is also seeing Waikiki Beach from an entirely new, hard to get, vantage point.

P.S. If you aren’t interested in snorkelling with turtles, you can also book a glass bottom boat cruise to see the sea life all from the safety of a boat!

a wide rainbow takes over the sky from behind the buildings all the way to the horizon where the ocean meets the sky. You can also almost make out a second, larger, rainbow above the other one. It's even more faint though. The beach is empty, as it's still early in the morning. The water is calm. Employees are started to set up beach chairs. Palm trees are all along the beach opposite the water before you start to see the buildings and hotels of Waikiki beach in the distance.

3. Walk Along The Boardwalk To Find All The Historical Statues

Although it’s nice to walk on the sand, there are some important things to see along the sidewalk next to the beach. There are several statues or art installations of important Hawaiian people and artifacts.

The walk starts along Kalākaua Avenue at the police station with the “Stones of Life” and goes all the way to Kapiʻolani Regional Park with the Queen Kapiʻolani Statue.

But the most iconic statue to see is of course Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Statue, the father of modern day surfing.

Under each statue or art piece is a plaque providing more information about the person or piece.

a bronze statue stands in the middle of a large rock on the beach. The rock is on the sand, palm trees surrounding it, and the ocean in the distance. It's a tall statue of a man in a bathing suit with his arms outstretched. There's an even larger surfboard standing up behind him. Around is neck, on each arm, and on the ground in front of him are purple flower leis that people have left.

4. Go On A Waikiki Beach Walking Tour

Expand your knowledge, walk around, and see all the top places to go on a walking tour of Waikiki Beach. There are actually a few Waikiki Beach walking tours depending on your interests…

This Waikiki walking tour stays in the main area of Waikiki Beach. It takes you to all the top sites and gives you more background and local information.

If you’re interested in learning about Hawaiian history, both human and geological, book the East Waikiki Beach tour instead, it focuses on the area around Diamond Head crater.

Or combine Waikiki Beach with Honolulu and go on a bike tour to cover way more ground. This way you also get to see and learn about important sites in downtown Honolulu, like Iolani Palace!

a larger than life banyan tree takes over the sidewalk and the street underneath it. Cars drive by completely in the shade even though it's a gorgeous sunny day. Buildings and street vendors line the opposite side of the street

5. Shop Along Kalākaua Ave.

Kalākaua Avenue is the main streets running through Waikiki Beach.

If you’ve walked on the beach side seeing all the statues, you’ve already walked along Kalākaua Avenue. But across the street are all the hotels, shops, restaurants, and cafes you can explore.

The most interesting part about Kalākaua Avenue is the shift from local beach stores to luxury brands.

a crosswalk at the foreground crosses a wide street connecting two sidewalks. People are walking on the sidewalks. There are buildings on either side but you can't see what they are because trees are all in front of them. Some buildings do rise above the trees though. On the road, there's only one car, and three motorcycles. One guy on a motorcycle has an attachment to have his surfboard next to him. You know you're in Hawaii when!

Local small shops are great places to pick up an easy Hawaiian souvenir for friends and family, or anything for the beach that you might need for your trip.

Then there are more mainstream stores, like Lululemon and H&M, which are good if you forgot to pack anything (p.s. don’t forget to pack a thing on your vacation to Hawaii with my packing guide and checklist.)!

And then you’ll reach the luxury brand stores like, Hermès and Louis Vuitton to pick up an fancier souvenir for yourself, or just window shop!

I also recommend taking a quick detour off Kalākaua Avenue onto Waikiki Surf Alley (right before The Cheesecake Factory on the same side as the beach). It’s hard to miss because there will most likely be tall surfboards lining the wall. Not only are the surfboards unique to see, but if you continue to the beach, you’ll get one of the best views of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head.

a vertical view of kalakaua avenue from the wide beige stone sidewalk. There are palm trees towering above on the ride, on the left there are shorter but very leafy green trees. People are walking on the sidewalk and cars drive by on the road. You can't really see what the buildings are behind all the trees

6. Admire The Hotels (Moana Surfrider & Outrigger)

I mentioned you also have hotels along Kalākaua Avenue. Well some of these are also attractions, like Miami Beach or the Las Vegas strip.

Even if you aren’t a guest at one of these hotels, you’re encouraged to walk through the lobby, or enjoy one of their restaurants on the beach.

Two hotels on Kalākaua stand out, The Moana Surfrider (a Westin resort hotel), and the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort.

The Moana Surfrider was the first hotel on Kalākaua Avenue, so it’s known as the “First Lady of Waikiki” opening in 1901. This is also one of the only hotels on Waikiki to have a beach front pool, but you’ll have to book a room to take advantage of that amenity.

The Outrigger is nowhere near as beautiful or as historic as the Moana Surfrider. But their lobby offers a historic outrigger to see (a Hawaiian canoe) and a small exhibit on Duke Paoa Kahanamoku.

an epic photo showcasing the moana surfrider hotel. The photo is taken from a lower perspective, so the it looks much taller. Four intricate pillars rise up from the ground to support the awning above the wrap around drive way (you can't see it in the photo, but you can see the rooftops of the cars parked htere). The awning leads into the rest of the hotel. It's all in a white stone. There are two palm trees that stand on either side of the building, covering most of the facade. The sky takes up the top left of the image, it a vibrant clear blue.

7. Waikiki Wall (Views & Fireworks!)

Another main thing to do in Waikiki Beach is to walk out onto the Waikiki Wall.

The Waikiki Wall is a stone wall that goes out into the ocean. It doesn’t go as far out as a pier would, but it still offers a unique vantage point of the beach. One one side you have the hotels along the waterfront, on the other, you have Diamond Head towering above.

If you want a change from sitting on the beach, this is a good spot to sit with a different view. People also come here to boogie board so your much closer to watch them riding the waves (although I wouldn’t recommend this spot to boogie board myself… the waves lead you into a stone wall…).

The Waikiki Wall is also best spot to watch the weekly Hilton Hawaiian Village Fireworks. They’re not very long, only 4 minutes every week, so you’ll want to be sure to be here before they start at 7:45 sharp.

a simple image separated into two parts be the ocean. Above the ocean is completely clear blue skies. Below is a small gazebo at the end of a sand covered path.

8. Taste Traditional Hawaiian Food At The Waikiki Market

Part of a vacation to Hawaii is tasting the local Hawaiian food.

Hawaiian food is a mix of Polynesian food and a blend of several cultural influences over the years.

In Waikiki Beach, you’ll be able to try a lot of local food from the Waikiki Market (a few blocks from the beach).

The Waikiki Market is an upscale grocery store with a take-out restaurant section. You can pick up a lot of local Hawaiian food here to make your own Hawaiian tasting plate.

An outdoor view of the waikiki Market on the street. Cars are driving by, there's even a bright red jeep adding a nice pop of colour to the photo. Palm trees stand in front of the waikiki market. It's on the second story of the building, there are blue reflective windows except for in the middle which is all open air. You can make out some tables, and people are sitting at them.

They have fresh poke bowls, musubi, and even malasadas for dessert. Then head to the actually grocery store section to pick up pineapple wine, and all the Hawaiian snacks! See my full list of food you need to try in Hawaii.

Then bring your new food finds to enjoy a picnic on the beach!

P.S. Check off all the local Hawaiian food with my Oahu travel planner and guide (equipped with a Hawaiian food checklist and even more fun activities in Oahu!).

the ultimate hawaiian snack. a tupperware Macadamia nut package held up by a hand in the centre of the photo. The nuts are from Mauna Loa, in a blue package, this is honey roasted flavour. The photo is taken at golden hour on the beach, adding a shadow to the package but an ambiance to the photo. You can see the sand on the bottom, people walking in the middle and finally the ocean and the setting sun before your eyes are lead to the sky.

9. Sign Up For A Hawaiian Cultural Class

Hawaiian culture is so unique, but did you know it was almost completely lost? Hawaiian language, music, and art were practically non-existent until the Hawaiian Renaissance in 1970.

So take part in some of the traditions while you’re in Hawaii to keep the traditions and culture alive!

If you’re staying in Waikiki Beach, your hotel might actually offer some free cultural classes (well as part if your resort fee). I stayed at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa and they offered different cultural classes everyday from ukulele lessons, hula dancing, to lei making and more!

But if not, there are still a few places in Waikiki Beach that offer Hawaiian cultural classes for free so you can save on that resort fee!

a close up of hawaiian quilting class at the waikiki beach marriott resort and spa. A man and a woman sit across from each other, but you can only see their hands. The woman's is much smaller, even though its closer, and her nails are painted red. They both hold needles and thread. In front of them are several white fabric squares each with a different coloured heart in the middle.

9a. At The Royal Hawaiian Centre

Further along Kalākaua Avenue is the Royal Hawaiian Centre.

At first glance it looks like just another shopping mall, but they offer some unique Waikiki Beach activities.

They have free hula performances, but they also have free Hawaiian cultural classes to enjoy, like flower lei making, ukulele lessons, and even hula lessons for all ages.

a woman and a man sit at a table side by side, both are in deep concentration. The woman, in the front of the image, is looking down at a pile of purple flowers, she's holding a single one upside down in one hand. In her other hand is a large needle. The man is looking straight ahead as he's holding up a purple flower, pulling a string through the bottom to the top.

9b. Beach Walk Plaza Events & Classes

The Beach Walk Plaza (on Lewers Street – not to be confused with Beach Walk street), hosts a few daily and weekly events as well.

Every week they host Kū Haʻaheo, a free live music concert of Hawaiian music. They also have a market to pick up locally made Hawaiian souvenirs.

Similarly to the Royal Hawaiian Centre, they have a hula class. But here, you’ll also learn about Oli Chanting (the Hawaiian welcome chant).

And they also offer free ukulele lessons, but those are at The Ukulele Store (not at the Plaza).

See the times and days for each class on their website.

a classroom setting for ukulele lessons. a man holding a ukulele stands next to a white board with guitar tabs and notes, there are a lot of letters in a row from A to G. These are the chords needed to play Happy Birthday and Twinkle Twinkle Little Star. Behind him is a wall filled with all the ukuleles imaginable.

10. Walk Along Ala Wai BLVD (Maybe See Outrigger Training)

Ala Wai Blvd runs parallel to Waikiki Beach a few blocks away but it offers a completely different view. It’s a great place for a stroll along the Ala Wai Canal to take a break from the beach (and the crowds).

On top of the canal, you also have buildings AND the epic mountains in the background in your view. I love the contrast of the buildings with the larger than life mountains (that often are half covered in clouds, making them even more ominous).

Plus, you might also catch some locals training in an outrigger on the canal.

A stark juxtaposition of modern constructions with nature. Grass lines a canal going straight through the image from left to right. Behind the second level of grass in the back is a line of trees, not tall ones, they look more like bushes from this distance. Then there's a layer of buildings, three that even sore high above the mountains that line the background in the distance. The clouds are taking over the peaks of the mountain and leading your eye to the blue sky behind. They also lead your eye to a small sign peaking out from the corner of the left side of the image, attached to an old timey green lampost. The street sign says Ala Wai Blvd

11. Yoga On The Beach (Sunrise Or Sunset Options)

Is there anything more relaxing on vacation than yoga?

What if I told you, you could do yoga outside, in front of the beach, during sunrise OR sunset? It really doesn’t get better than that now does it?

Book a morning or evening yoga session to fully relax in paradise (p.s. they also offer yoga matt rentals).

12. Sunset On The Ocean Cruise

If you’re interested in the best views of Waikiki Beach, or the perfect romantic evening in paradise, book a sunset cocktail cruise.

This is the vantage point of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head that you can only get from the water. And sunset and cocktails are just icing on the cake.

a shock sunset on the beach of waikiki. Black palm tree shadows creep in to the top of the photo. The sky is filled with a rich purple and pink clouds on top before clearing to see the bright blue sky . The sky seamlessly meets the ocean mirror the image above. People are in shadow enjoy the water and the sunset.

13.Watch A Free Hula Show At Kuhio Beach

Twice a week there’s a free hula show at Kuhio Beach.

It’s so much more than just a hula show though. It’s an hour long performance with several hula dances, live music, singing, and even some comedy and historical information. And it’s different every time!

For a seat in the front, you’ll want to get there early (and I recommend bringing your own beach chair because it is quite long).

If you’re okay standing, there’s always space at the back. Plus people often leave throughout the show so you can keep moving up to get a better spot.

a crowd sits around a stage on the ground. There are two girls in a red dress in front, they are holding hawaiian tambourines. Behind them is a band, dressed in white and playing a ukulele and singing. It's not a completely circular stage, their backdrop is a large banyan tree where the leaves hand above the stage. It's a night time performance

14. Attend A Seasonal / Monthly / Or Weekly Event

Waikiki Beach is also a great hub for local events. They have seasonal, monthly, and weekly events in the area.

I happened to stumble on the monthly market at the Kapiʻolani Regional Park. Vendors were shocked that we were there, it seemed to be for locals to support each other rather than for tourists. But I couldn’t find any information about it online… they had told us it was once a month on Sunday mornings.

Every weekend though, across the street from the Kapiʻolani Regional Park, is Art on the Zoo Fence. This is exactly what it sounds like, local artists selling their art that’s hung up all along the zoo fence. This takes place every Saturday and Sunday.

If you’re visiting during the summer months, you might be there during Southwest Airlines Sunset on the Beach. They host an outdoor movie night once a month from May until October (I just missed it by a week!). They have a large screen set up on the beach with a projector, playing PG movies the whole family can enjoy!

a man in the bottom left corner of the photo looks to be sitting on his motorcycle, but drawing or painting. In front of him is a path before hitting a fence, on the fence there are several art works pinned to it.

15. Visit The Zoo or Aquarium

If you’re travelling with young kids, you might also be interested in visiting the zoo or aquarium in Waikiki Beach.

The Honolulu Zoo is home to many different types of animals, from birds, to reptiles, and large mammals. Visit the zoo to learn more about the Pacific Tropical ecosystem.

The Waikiki Aquarium brings you below the surface to educate you about under water life. It’s actually the second oldest aquarium in the United States (from 1904!).

Iconic Waikiki Beach Activities

You’re on Waikiki Beach after all, you can still take part in some iconic Waikiki Beach activities…

a striking sunset picture of waikiki beach. Facing the ocean, the sun is setting lighting up the sky in a golden yellow and bright blue colours. The palm trees that line the sidewalk are just silhouettes. So are the people walking by, but you can still make out people are carrying their surfboards over their heads.

Relax On The Beach

One of the best things to do in Waikiki Beach is ultimately to relax on the beach. Pick up a new vacation read, and let all your worries go.

If you don’t have chairs from your hotel, there are several places along the beach where you can rent for the day.

Or, depending on the length of your stay, you might want to just buy chairs and an umbrella at one of the many ABC stores along the beach.

two tommy bahamas beach chairs are photographed from behind. They're empty, but the chairs are on the sand looking out into the ocean with the setting sun. There'a warm yellow glow to the image as the sun meets the horizon .People and sailboats are only a silhouette in the background.

Take Advantage Of Being Able To Safely Swim In The Ocean

Most of the beaches in Hawaii will have a life guard. But Waikiki Beach has something I’ve never seen before and it makes swimming on the beach A LOT safer.

The stone wall of the Waikiki Wall continues perpendicular to the beach in the ocean. It creates a barrier from the high waves, giving you and your family a safer place to swim.

And even if you aren’t the biggest beach person, the water in Hawaii might entice you. It ranges between at a consistent 70°F to 80°F (21°C to 26°C) all year round.

a wave crashes into the waikiki wall at sunset. People in the water are just silhouettes and you can see a sailboat on the other side of the wall. The sky is like a painting, the sun creating a cast of deep orange on the horizon, it gets more yellow before turning blue at the top of the sky. The sky colours are reflecting in the water below.

Surf The Waves In Waikiki Beach Hawaii

Although Waikiki Beach doesn’t have the same intensity of waves the North Shore has, that doesn’t mean you can’t still surf here.

And let’s be real, smaller, more moderate waves are much better for beginners. So Waikiki Beach makes a pretty good spot to learn how to surf. Either rent a surf board on the beach or book surf lessons.

an iconic thing to do on waikiki beach is to surf. A tree branch is filled with leaves and takes over the top half of the photo. Below, are two rows of tall surfboards all in a line, locked up as skis would be at the bottom of a ski hill. They're on warm yellow sand though instead of snow. You can see the crisp blue waters behind them. As well as an umbrella set up and people in the water.

Need A Place To Stay On O’ahu

I stayed in Waikiki Beach on O’ahu at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa, and would highly recommend it. It’s centrally located, the hotel offers cultural resort activities, and I was able to upgrade my room to have a Diamond Head View!

I also almost stayed at the Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort, it’s a bit more expensive, but it’s more centrally located and it has an infinity pool!

If you want to stay outside Waikiki Beach, popular destinations on O’ahu are the North Shore or in Kailua on the Windward Coast.

Book a homestay Beach House in Kailua just steps from the picture perfect Lanikai Beach (which there isn’t any real parking for!). This is a a truly home away from home paradise experience in Hawaii.

Or book a luxury stay on the North Shore at the Ritz-Carlton Turtle Bay Resort, if you’re celebrating any special occasion this is the ultimate hotel (or even if you’re not and just want to treat yourself!).

Or see more hotels around O’ahu on Booking.

a hotel room with a king bed perfectly made in the middle of the room with white sheets. Across from the bed is a tv (that's on). Above the bed are some coral decor. It's a very simple room. There's a small couch hidden behind the bed in the far corner. The piece de resistance is the view out of the sliding doors that lead onto a balcony. You can see the mountain perfectly framed in the windows.

Printable O’ahu Travel Guide

Make the most of your first trip to O’ahu with my printable and portable travel guide. Includes 14 pages to plan the perfect trip to Hawaii, and stay organized while you’re there.

I’ve provided tips and advice for travelling on O’ahu, common phrases, and even the weekly market schedule. Plus there’s a checklist for every region on the island, food to try, and souvenirs to buy!

Start planning your perfect O’ahu vacation today, purchase on Etsy.