Why It's Important To Visit O'ahu Your First Time In Hawaii

If you’re debating on which Hawaiian Island to visit your first time in Hawaii, this is your sign to book a trip to O’ahu.

Not only does it have iconic Hawaiian must-dos, but also some unique things that can only be found on O’ahu Hawaii. Most importantly, you’re able to see and learn the true history of Hawaii, which makes it a very important first stop on your Hawaiian adventure.

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!

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Learn The Overlooked History Your First Time In Hawaii

If you didn’t know, Hawaii wasn’t always a part of the United States, and the way it was colonized is not common knowledge… at least it wasn’t to me, and it really should be.

The Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown by the U.S. government in 1893 and five years later made a territory of the United States – without consent of the Hawaiian monarchy or natives.

Hawaii only became an official state in 1959, and in 1993 received an apology from the U.S. acknowledging the wrongful overthrowing of their monarch (with no notion of returning the land of course!).

So why am I telling you this? Well it’s important to learn about the real history of the state your first time in Hawaii, and the best place to do that is actually on O’ahu island!

city hall in downtown honolulu a two story building with a centre tower. There are three palm trees on each side of the tower, almost the same height as it. In the centre, on the ground is a gold and black statue of king kamehahmeha in traditional hawaiian clothes.

On O’ahu you’re able to learn more about Hawaii’s past by visiting the old royal palace, ‘Iolani Palace. This is where the last Queen of Hawaii, Liliuokalani was imprisoned during the overthrow.

I also did a walking tour to learn more about different historical sites throughout downtown Honolulu.

And of course you can still visit Pearl Harbour on O’ahu as it is still a part of history (although I recommend skipping the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial and just visiting the museum, which you don’t even need a ticket for).

A first trip to Hawaii should not ignore the important history of the Islands.

a vertical photo of queen liliuokailani looking powerful and she has old floral leis around her neck, showing how much locals still love here. There's a large banyan tree behind her, and palm trees framing her from above

More Things O’ahu Has, That Other Islands Don’t…

There are a few more things you can only do and see on O’ahu that you won’t get on any other Hawaiian Island…

An Actual City Centre: Honolulu

Honolulu is the capital of of Hawaii, and it happens to be on O’ahu. No other Hawaiian Island has a city, or even a town that even comes close to the size of Honolulu.

I know you might be thinking that you’re not visiting Hawaii to see another American city, and I don’t disagree. But the presence of Honolulu brings a lot to the island, for better… and for worse, but nonetheless you can only find it on O’ahu!

And keep in mind, compared to other American cities, Honolulu is quite small.

the jaw dropping view from the top of diamond head crater, a city skyline line the beach, where the ocean meets the land. Behind the buildings are greenery and the start of large mountains. There are also mountains forming in the distance. Clouds are coming off the mountains on the right of the image, but otherwise the sky is empty and bright blue.

But Honolulu brings a high rise skyline view that’s incredible from all vantage points… especially against the mountains in the background!

There’s also more liveliness and a purpose to the island. It wasn’t simply tourists visiting, but I met people at conferences, on a business trip, or even just visiting family!

The downside though is that can definitely bring a more cut throat nature versus a more laid back vibe you might have been looking for on your Hawaiian vacation. Full honesty, my rental car did get towed on O’ahu, and I was then told I should have visited Maui… And I still think O’ahu is worth visiting!

And it’s not like you can’t also find the laid back, more remote vibes on O’ahu. You just might have to look a bit harder.

Waikiki Beach

Although you can find secluded beaches on every Hawaiian Island, even O’ahu, you can’t find a Waikiki Beach on any other Hawaiian Island, or even too many other places around the world.

Waikiki Beach is not just any beach, it’s compared to the likes of Miami Beach and Tel Aviv Beach. It’s a unique beach strip with high rise hotels, shopping, and restaurants at your finger tips.

If you wanted to, you could spend an entire vacation solely on Waikiki Beach, you never have to go too far for anything.

No only is Waikiki Beach a sight just to see, but it’s also a great beach to enjoy, especially for families. On top of lifeguards, they have a walled off area in the water that breaks the waves much earlier, creating a much calmer, place to swim.

And as I said, if you are looking for that secluded beach… O’ahu still has those!

the safety of waikiki beach, a white life guard tower looks out onto the water, there are palm trees behind it , lining the entire beach. Resting below it on the sand is a surfboard that says rescue on it. Cutting the water through the middle is a large stone wall, it also wraps in front of the beach, cutting all the waves that reach the shore in this area.

The Dole Plantation (But Lacking Production Of Pineapple Wine)

Another top tourist attraction that can only be found on O’ahu Hawaii is the Dole Plantation.

Pineapple is a popular fruit on the Islands, and it was first brought to Hawaii, to the island of O’ahu, by James Dole, the founder of Dole Pineapple.

Today, you can actually visit the Dole Plantation and learn about how pineapples thrive in Hawaii.

But more importantly, you can try Dole Whip, a delicious soft serve pineapple ice cream that’s hard to find anywhere else.

Professional Sports Events

Hawaii is now of course part of the States, so if you wanted to delve a bit into that part of Hawaiian culture, the best place to do that is also on O’ahu.

Hawaii doesn’t have any of the big FOUR professional sports teams (Basketball, Football, Baseball, or Hockey) but they do have College sports teams, including football.

The Rainbow Warriors, and the Rainbow Wahine (women’s team) play at none other than The Aloha Stadium on O’ahu.

Or if you wanted to see a more Hawaiian sports event, O’ahu is also host to several professional surfing competitions throughout the year.

golden hour on oahu at yokohama bay in hawaii. It's a remote part of the island, only a few people are on the beach in the distance. A wave crashes on the baech. There's only a small trip of golden sand on the beach before a rocky dark brown mountain side comes into view. There is still a lifeguard post, almost hidden in the mountainside and behind a single tree on the only patch of grass. There's also a singular surfboard standing on it's side, almost blending into the sand as it has a yellow bottom. It's golden hour, so the sky is a whisp of clouds changing sky colours from a light blue, to a yellow, orange, and pink hues.

An International Airport (Very Easy To Visit O’ahu!)

So O’ahu isn’t technically the only Island that has an international airport, Maui also has one. But it this makes a huge difference when planning your trip to Hawaii.

This means that if you wanted to visit any of the other six Hawaiian Islands, you’d have to first land in O’ahu or Maui from the mainland and then take another flight.

Vacations are meant to be simple and relaxing, especially when you’re visiting a paradise like Hawaii. But depending on where you’re visiting from, the journey to Hawaii is most likely a long one. It took 17 hours just to get to O’ahu from the East Coast, so there was no way I was jumping on a third flight.

Why would I land on O’ahu, a perfectly good island to explore, just to leave within a few hours, or even a few days later?

a beautiful view from the 30th floor of diamond head crater during golden hour. You know the view is from high up because you can just see the top of other high rise buildings. There's a valley between the buildings and the jurassic looking mountain that looks golden brown being lit up by the setting sun.

When I Think of Hawaii, I Actually Picture of O’ahu

I didn’t realize that everything I knew about Hawaii, and everything I pictured, was all on O’ahu.

There were the obvious attractions, like Honolulu, Waikiki Beach, and Pearl Harbour. But even Diamond Head, is a top attraction in all of Hawaii.

And then there are some less popular Hawaiian attractions that I’d seen pictures of and never realized they were also from O’ahu Hawaii. For example, this was the case for the Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden and Kualoa Ranch (or the real life location for Jurassic World).

Then when I researched Maui or other islands, although beautiful locations and things to do came up, none of them were familiar.

an encapsulating scene, a road leads your eye to a red jeep driving ahead. You realize the sheer tiny size of it when you realize the talls trees, and even taller mountains that take over the rest of the photo. It's almost taken over by greenery but the vibrant blue and white sky take over the top third of the photo.

O’ahu Still Has What Other Hawaiian Islands Have

On top of the unique things to do on O’ahu, there’s also no shortage of typical Hawaiian activities on the Island either.

Classic Hawaii: Small Towns, Beaches, & Hikes Galore

You can’t say that O’ahu lacks hikes or beaches if that’s what you’re interested in on your trip to Hawaii.

Leave the hustle and bustle of Honolulu behind for the small town vibes in Haleiwa or Kailua town.

You can also surf, snorkel, or just sit on one of the many beaches around the Island that are bit more hidden. For a completely secluded local beach, head to Yokohama Bay on the Leeward coast.

The hikes are also incredible with a lot of variety from pillbox hikes, to hidden jungle waterfalls, or paved coastal hikes.

I’m not going to list all the traditional Hawaiian activities, you can see a full list in a my O’ahu travel guide though.

a cobble stone areas lays in front of small but cute shops. They are two attached buildings, one is painted yellow and pink, the other is emerald green. There's a picnic bench with a family enjoying their recently bought food. And a large tree overtakes the dirt rea, but it overhands so large, covering the family, and the shops in complete shade. You can't see any sky.

Remote Locations On O’ahu, But Not Too Remote

You can still escape the crowds for quieter pastures on O’ahu. It might not be as remote feeling as the other, smaller, less industrialized islands but for me, that’s a bonus.

I’ve done the completely remote before, and it can sometimes too remote and lonely that it’s dangerous.

I was able to take a photo without hoards of people in the background, but then if I was lost there was always someone to ask for help.

On O’ahu, you’re able to have a bit of both worlds. Escape escape the crowds during the day, visiting a more secluded beach or hike, but at night, head back to the hubs to be surrounded by people and events.

Pro Tip: visit during low season to feel those more remote vibes on O’ahu. I visited in October and attractions never felt too busy or too deserted.

train tracks are in the middle leading your eye up a mountain, of all things. This is the koko crater. There are no trees, it looks like desolate land that's been sun burned. There's yellow grass lining the tracks on the way up. The trees that are in the side, have no leaves but are bare branches. There are a few speckles on the tram in the distance, people attempting the hike further out. It's a cloudy day, but you can still see more than enough blue sky.

Leeward & Windward Coasts For Completely Different Experiences

A common feature of all the Hawaiian islands is a leeward and windward coast, and O’ahu is no exception.

A leeward and windward coast describes how the wind hits the island, and effects the weather and look if your surroundings. You’ll notice that driving from coast to coast on O’ahu the look and feel will drastically change.

The windward side is upwind, getting more rain and humidity in the air, allowing for more growth making it look like a lush green jungle.

The leeward side, on the other hand, is downwind, so it gets less direct wind and less rain and humidity (and greenery!). You feel like you’ve been transported to a completely different country rather than just on another side of the same island. The mountains are barren and rocky, void of any vegetation.

But it’s an incredible part of visiting Hawaii, which you still get to experience when you visit O’ahu.

A beautiful juxtaposition of beautiful and rugged nature. Fresh and bright white and vibrant pink flowers frame the top and left side of the image. They almost perfectly wrap around a mountain range in the distance. But it's rugged, not luscious green but a red rock and bare of any habitation. The mountain range goes all the way to the right side of the image. The right side is half covered by incoming thick clouds.

What’s Lacking On O’ahu Hawaii

I’m not going to be completely in denial, there are a few things that are lacking on O’ahu Hawaii.

The main thing O’ahu is lacking is that completely remote, and laid back paradise vibes, it is home to the largest city of the island after all.

Lacking Local Coffee & and Chocolate (But They Still Have That!)

If you’re a coffee or chocolate snob, Hawaiian coffee is mostly from the Big Island, and more specifically from the Kona region. And 100% Hawaiian chocolate is still pretty new throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

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.

But neither one are non-existent on O’ahu either, you just have to look a bit harder to find it.

There actually is a cacao orchard tour that I’d recommend on O’ahu, from Manoa Chocolate and it just started October 2024 (I was on one of the first tours!). They make not only island, but also region specific chocolate bars to really taste the effect terroir has on the bean.

Coffee on the other hand is a bit harder to come by, but again not impossible on O’ahu. There are two smaller coffee farms on the island: Green World Coffee and Old Sugar Mill Brand Waialua Coffee (I recommend the latter!) offer free coffee farm tours and tasters that are worth a visit.

a closeup of someone showing the inside of a cacao pod. The pod has a yellow exterior, it was nicely sliced to show perfect white (and a bit shiny) cacao beans inside.

Active, Dormant, Or Even Extinct Volcanoes

If you are a risk seeker, lover of hiking active or even dormant volcanoes, then O’ahu will not be for you.

Although O’ahu was formed by two giant volcanoes a millennia ago, there are no active, or even dormant volcanoes on the Island today.

Geologists don’t want to completely rule out the appearance of another volcano, but it’s highly unlikely.

I was, again, quite happy to find this out. I visited Iceland with an actively erupting volcano and it’s honestly quite terrifying and not for me!

Where 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.

Waikiki Beach made a good base for 10 days, there was enough to do in the area but it’s also central enough to easily explore the rest of the island.

I stayed at Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort and Spa mainly because my parents stayed there when they visited. It’s a great location, towards the end of Kalākua Ave, and one block from the beach (but there are very limited hotels actually on the beach in Waikiki).

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.

They also have resort activities at the hotel (which you are paying for with a daily resort fee), but I really enjoyed them. They have standard daily exercise classes, but they also had more cultural experiences, like flower lei making, Hawaiian quilting, and even Oli chanting.

If you book the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, I highly recommend upgrading your room to have a view. I really enjoyed the Diamond Head view (it’s also one of the only hotels that offer this view!), but you can also get an ocean view if you prefer.

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.

the outside entrance of the turlte bay resort ritz cartlon o'ahu. It has an underpass for people to drive under and be in the shade, or out of the rain. The side of the building is grey concrete, but in a darker grey you see the silhouette of three turtles. The shells of the turtles look like palm tree leaves. Palm trees also surround the building, and frame it.

Hawaii Vacation Must-Haves

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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.