10 Best Tours & Excursions on Oʻahu
From private hiking guides to movie tours and so much more, I realize that it can be difficult deciding what tours that you may want to prioritize on Oʻahu.
That being said, I have been fortunate enough to have had both my own personal experiences on many popular excursions, as well as opportunities with some of the best local guides from tours around the island.
Given these experiences, this list is intended to narrow down all the many options into what is truly the best of the best, with a focus on guided tours that visitors generally have the best times with.
Considering this, there are a number of Oʻahu experiences that either require a tour, make the activity more hassle-free, or simply make things safer by booking a local guide.
Therefore, while I love recommending things to do in Hawaiʻi that can be explored on your own, I strongly suggest making reservations for these activities at the very least, as all these options either require or are better experienced with a professional guide.
Why am I Recommending these Oʻahu Tours?
One of my favorite things about booking through Viator is the reserve-now-and-pay-later option. As long as you’re booking more than three days in advance, you have the option to book ahead and cancel in the future if you change your mind.
10 Best Tours on Oʻahu
The following list is written in no particular order of best or worst, as I personally believe that there are amazing tours and activities on all sides of Oʻahu!
1. Oʻahu Helicopter Tour
There’s truly nothing better than seeing the island of Oʻahu from the air!
That being said, I recommend that you don’t book a helicopter tour out of Turtle Bay, being that Turtle Bay helicopter tours are only 20 minutes long.
However, if you’re willing pay a little more, you can fly over Oʻahu for up to an hour out of the Honolulu Airport.
2. Mokoliʻi (Chinaman’s Hat) - Kayak & Hike
Mokoliʻi, more commonly known as Chinaman’s Hat, is a small islet located right offshore from Kualoa Regional Park near the tours on Kualoa Ranch.
That being said, Mokoliʻi is one of the best east Oʻahu islands to kayak to, but there is a lot to know before making trip if it’s your first time!
Therefore, I highly recommend reading my separate article to learn more about how to get to the island, as well as how to rent a kayak to Mokoliʻi.
Read My Separate Post: Mokoliʻi (Chinaman's Hat)
3. Private Oʻahu Hiking Guide
I provide a lot of Hawaiʻi hiking information throughout my blog, but even then, many of these adventures could be more comfortably done with a local guide.
The reason I like these guided options below is because they can be tailored to different levels of experience. If you’d like a guide for an easier adventure near Waikīkī, the first few options would be the right choice for you. However, some of the others are really what you’re looking for when you want a true Hawaiʻi hiking experience, including one on private property that can only be experienced by booking below!
In any case, you should be able to communicate with your guide about what you are looking for, and if you have a specific suggestion, like something from my blog, let them know! They should be able to accurately evaluate your level of experience to find the right fit for you!
4. Pearl Harbor National Memorial Tour
If you’re visiting Oʻahu for the first time, Pearl Harbor is a must-see!
The tours below are a great way to spend half of your day, which is exactly what I recommend. Give Pearl Harbor all of your morning, and plan on spending the rest of the day doing something else.
Note that Pearl Harbor tickets can be very hard to come by, so plan early and book ahead!
5. Private Surfing Lessons
If this is your first time learning how to surf, I highly recommend private surfing lessons.
Waikīkī is the best place on Oʻahu to learn how to surf, and it’s always where I take first-time visitors because the waves in Waikīkī are relatively harmless for beginners.
Generally speaking, 2-3 ft. waves are a perfect size to learn on, but if it’s your first time, I would not recommend going out on your own. Instead, I recommend learning from one of the full-time instructors in Waikīkī.
All things considered, book either of the first two options if you’d like to learn in Waikīkī, or check out the third option if you’re interested in learning at a much more local beginner surf break on the North Shore.
6. North Shore Shark Diving
Out of all the islands, Oʻahu has the best shark tours!
I have a good friend who works for the most popular Oʻahu shark tour company, and this is how he describes the difference between a cage and cageless experience.
In terms of safety, there is no difference between a cage and cageless tour. It’s purely about your comfort level. From what my friend has said, the sharks get a lot closer to you during a tour with the cage than without. Without the cage, they tend to circle at a deeper depth below your feet.
In any case, choose a time for the first boat of the morning. Compared to later in the day, the morning is typically when the water is the most glassy, and the winds are the calmest. This is to say that you have less of a chance at getting seasick if you go early.
I hope this helps with making your decision!
7. Kayaking to the Mokulua Islands
The Mokulua Islands are the two neighboring small islands that you can see from the beautiful Lanikai Pillbox hike, located just off of Lanikai Beach, and they are accessible to the public by kayak only!
If you’re interested, I recommend booking one of the options below, so you don’t have to worry about transporting a kayak from elsewhere to the beach!
8. Kualoa Ranch
Kualoa Ranch is one of those places that simply can’t be seen without booking one of the tours below.
This is because everything that makes Kualoa Ranch so popular is located entirely on private property, meaning it’s not a place that you have the option of exploring on your own.
All being said, the Kualoa Ranch movie and jungle tours are a great way to spend part of your day, but if you want the best of both worlds, including roundtrip transportation from your hotel in Waikīkī, the last option is the best choice for you!
Read My Separate Post: What are the Best Kualoa Ranch Tours?
9. Kāneʻohe Bay Sandbar Tour
Of all the tours on this list, the Kāneʻohe Bay Sandbar is easily one of the best, and surprisingly, very few visitors choose to make the journey!
I say this because the sandbar is such a beautiful place to swim around in the shallow water, while looking back at the stunning mountain backdrop that spans across east Oʻahu.
Moreover, the easiest and most hassle-free way to visit the sandbar in Kāneʻohe Bay is by booking the tour below, as the Kāneʻohe Sandbar is not nearly as close to shore compared to Mokoliʻi or the Mokulua Islands.
10. Dolphin Snorkeling (North & West)
Since whales in Hawaiʻi are seasonal to the winter only, they are not always a guarantee when you may be visiting.
However, dolphins in Hawaiʻi can be seen at all times throughout the year, which in my opinion, are best enjoyed on the West Side of Oʻahu.
I say this largely because the beautiful mountain backdrop as you swim with the dolphins in the crystal-clear blue water is second to none!
As you consider which tour will be best for your group, I highly encourage you to read my separate article about the time I went out with Aloha Ocean. I think you’ll quickly see why they have the best tour operating out of West Oʻahu, which is the last tour of the three linked below.
Read My Separate Post: Aloha Ocean Tour
