10 Places to Visit on Oahu with Kids

Before I get into Oahu, I want to set the scene. The first time I visited Hawaii, I was 16. At the time, I was living in Japan with my parents and sister, and Hawaii was any easy destination to visit over school break. I remember we stayed in a gorgeous little rental on the island of Maui. The house sat on top of a bluff, overlooking a small, uncrowded beach, with a 180-degree view of the Pacific Ocean.

The days were peaceful and re-energizing. If I wasn’t worshipping the sun, with a copy of Nathanial Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter in my hand, I was snorkeling in the water. Each afternoon, as the evening approached, we’d gather outside to watch the whales frolic in the water below. It was magical.

When I moved to California, years later, Hawaii was once again within my grasp. Over the last two decades, I’ve been fortunate to ride horses to waterfalls on Kauai, travel by foot across lava fields on the Big Island, and sail the waters around Oahu. However, it is Oahu that has kept me coming back to Hawaii with my kids. When my boys were young, we stayed on the lower west side of the island. But, as they grew, we explored further afield, in search of new adventures. Each visit, we always seem to find something additional to do.  

With Spring Break just around the corner, I thought now is a good time to share some of our favorite Oahu activities.

Ko Olina

The first time we visited Oahu, we were fortunate to stay at the JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa; thanks to my job at Travelzoo. The hotel has since changed hands and is now a Four Seasons Resort. However, back when it was a Marriott property, it used to have salt water ponds that contained small sharks and sting rays. These entertained my little ones to no end. Yet it was the location of the hotel that proved to be perfect for children.

Located on the West Coast of Oahu, Ko Olina is a stretch of shoreline that boasts four spectacular man-made sandy beach lagoons. Each lagoon has a rock barrier that separates it from the Pacific Ocean, while still allowing water to flow in and out. The end result is a place where the public can swim with no waves or unexpected drop offs. This makes each lagoon perfect for young children. However, with plenty of fish to see, they are also a great place to introduce kids to snorkeling.

The lagoons are linked by a coastal path that takes you past a number of resorts, including Disney’s Aulani. Featuring water slides, a lazy river, and a Rainbow Reef Snorkeling pool, the Aulani was a hit with my family. However, these days, we prefer to keep costs down by renting accommodation at Beach Villas. You still have beach lagoon access, as well as two pools, a gymnasium, and plenty of BBQ areas. Plus, each unit has a fully equipped kitchen, which means you don’t have to eat out every day.

Another great option is Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club, which has one, two, and three bedroom “villas”. And, here’s a tip for you, in case you find yourself staying somewhere else. If your bandwidth allows, consider listening to a timeshare talk at Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club. In return they will give you a day pass to use their pools and water slide!

Aunty’s Breakfast Celebration

You don’t have to be staying at the Aulani to experience Disney magic. You can always book a character breakfast at “Aunty’s Breakfast Celebration”. Located in Aulani’s Makahiki restaurant, your family will receive a photo opp with Mickey Mouse upon arrival. After that, you can eat as much as you want, while Mickey and friends visit with you at your table. There is also a little musical show that the children can participate in. Just be sure to make your reservation well in advance of your trip to Hawaii.

Paradise Cove

My now ten-year-old still remembers his first luau, at age four. It was clearly a significant moment for him. While there are several luau operations on Oahu, the one that we keep coming back to is Paradise Cove. It may seem pricey at upwards of $100 per adult, but you get real value for money.

Your four-hour experience includes local arts and craft making, turns at activities like spear throwing, as well as insight into local ceremonies like the Shower of Flowers, the Imu, and the Hukilau. Afterward, you sit down and feast on traditional Hawaiian food. The grand finale is a fantastic show featuring various songs and dances from the Hawaiian and Polynesian cultures.

For my youngest child, who is a born performer, the highlight is always the moment when kids go on stage to learn traditional Hawaiian dance moves.

Mermaid Cave

So, this recommendation is great for adventurous families. However, I can’t emphasize enough the need for caution. Located near to the Kalaniana’ole Beach Park, is Oahu’s mystical Mermaid Cave. While the origin of its name is unknown, it is easy to imagine beautiful sea-dwelling creatures lounging on the rocks within this cave. But getting into the cave comes with some risk.

First you have to walk across uneven lava rock that is extremely sharp. Make sure you hold your child’s hand so that they don’t fall. This type of rock can leave a nasty abrasion. Once at the cave, you will need to carefully lower yourself through a hole in the ground. Not surprisingly, getting in is easier than getting out. As such, you should have two adults on hand: one to lift kids up from below, and another to pull them out from above. Also do not attempt entry if the tide is starting to come in!

Once inside, kick back, relax and enjoy the serenity.

Waimea Waterfall

If your mini me has never had the opportunity to jump into a natural waterfall, this Oahu activity could be perfect for your family. Located in Waimea Valley, you access the waterfall via a 3-mile winding path. The trip takes you through a beautifully maintained botanical garden, as well as past several cultural sites.  

Once you reach the waterfall, you must wear a complimentary life vest before you can swim. However, you can play as much as you want in the waterfall itself. Best of all lifeguards are on duty and there are changing rooms on site. Just make sure you visit Wednesday through Sunday because there is no swimming on Mondays or Tuesdays.

The cost to enter Waimea Valley is nominal ($20 for adults and $12 for kids). More importantly, it is truly worth a visit. And, because everything is run by a nonprofit organization, you know your money is going to a good place.

Sharks Cove

There is a reason why Scuba Diving Magazine named Sharks Cove one of the best shore dives in the world. Located on the North Shore of Oahu, and part of Pupukea Beach Park, this rocky cove has tons of sea life. You are all but guaranteed to see various kinds of colorful fish, as well as a turtle or two.

Getting into the naturally enclosed bay takes a little bit of effort, because there are a number of rocks you have to climb over. However, once in the water, you won’t want to come out. The bay is normally calm late April onward, thus making it perfect for swimmers age seven and up. For little ones, fun can be had wading in the shallows with mom or dad. Lastly, there are restrooms and showers near the parking lot.

Waikiki Beach & Hans Hedemann Surf School

I’ve always linked Oahu with surfing; particularly the barrel waves of the world-famous Banzai Pipeline on the North Shore. It should therefore come as no surprise that one of the first places I took my kids was Waikiki Beach. The long, gentle, sloping waves are perfect for beginners on longboards.

You can rent surfboards up and down the beach, and there is no need to book in advance. An hourly rental will set you back about $20, with an additional $10 for every hour thereafter.

During our first visit, it took my (then) seven-year-old no time to get up on his board. No lesson was needed; just a little coaching from dad. Since then, Waikiki has been a favorite spot to return to. However, if you want to up your game, I can highly recommend taking a surf lesson with Hans Hedemann Surf School. They are truly AMAZING with kids and will have your child surfing within two hours.

We booked a Ohana Session at Hedemann’s North Shore location in Turtle Bay two years ago. The lesson is perfect for families with three or more participants (of any age). My kids each received their own dedicated instructor, who tailored instruction to meet their individual needs and personality. And, at the end of the lesson, we had the option to purchase some professional photographs from our adventure.

Kualoa Ranch

Have your kids ever watched George of the Jungle, Jurassic World, Jumanji, or Kong: Skull Island? If they have, chances are they are going to love a visit to Kualoa Ranch. This 4,000-acre Oahu ranch is a private nature reserve and working cattle ranch. It is also a very popular film location.

For tourists, Kualoa offers nearly a dozen different tours of the property. You can enjoy everything from horseback riding, to ziplining, to biking and ATV rides. We settled on the Jungle Jeep Expedition Tour, which provided a nice blend of movie set locations and historic sites – like the wahi pana where Ali’I (royalty) once lived.

Koko Head Stairs (Koko Crater Trail)

This one is not for little legs. However, it is a good activity for teenagers and pre-teens with lots of energy, and the ability to climb a mountain. The Koko Stairs is a cool adventure that takes you up an extinct volcano. What makes it unique is the more than 1,000 old railway ties that you use as steps.

When you reach the top, you are rewarded with a panoramic view of Diamond Head and Makapu’u Point. You can also explore further on the backside, by way of a narrow ridgeline path that offers spectacular coastal views.

Give yourself two or more hours for a leisurely roundtrip. Park in the Koko Head District Park parking lot, and pack plenty of water. Also make sure your kids are wearing shoes with a grip. The dirt in this area can be a little slippery.

Pearl Harbor

We’ve had varying success with museums over the years. The younger my boys were, the less time we had to fully enjoy and learn about exhibits. Unless, of course, it was something that they were interested in.

However, it was apparent, early on, that typical museum interactions did not extend to train museums, plane museums, or space museums. Nor did it apply to maritime museums. Both of my kids have always loved touring ships, including those at the Maritime Museum of San Diego and the San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park. Pearl Harbor was no different.

Divided into four historic sites, Pearl Harbor allows you to tailor your visit according to time, interest, and cost. We chose to visit Battleship Missouri (otherwise known as “Mighty Mo”). It was here, on deck, that World War II officially ended on September 2^nd, 1945.

General admission is $13.99 for children under the age of 13, and includes either a guided tour or the ability to explore on your own. We decided to do the latter. This enabled us to spend more time in areas of the ship that interested the kids, including the mess (I’m not kidding).

When we next return to Oahu, we fully intend to go back to Pearl Harbor to see either the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park or the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum. There is also the USS Arizona Memorial, which is free, other than a $1 processing fee. The memorial is built over the remains of the sunken battleship USS Arizona, and is reached by boat. However, you need to reserve tickets well in advance of your trip if you want to see it.

Happy Travels!