Four Best Days on Oahu | One for Every Kind of Family

The best day on Oahu looks different depending on who you ask. We found this out firsthand when we asked each member of our family to plan their own version during the pandemic, with one rule: stay on the island. What came back were four very different days including windward snorkeling, North Shore beaches, horseback riding at sunset, and one plan that skipped the beach entirely. All four hold up. We’re sharing them in case you find yourself with a beautiful day on Oahu to fill.

Plan 1: Snorkeling Windward Oahu

My personal best day starts early with a drive to Heeia Pier in Kaneohe. The pier isn’t that fascinating itself, but it’s a great launch point for the Kaneohe sandbar, one of my favorites places on the island. From there kayak or paddle your way across the bay while scouting for sea turtles, fish and rays. Bring snorkel gear and a leash so you can jump in and snorkel around the colorful coral heads while connected to your boat

This plan is highly weather dependent. Not so much the sunshine (although that’s a definite plus), but the wind. It’s a long paddle and requires a low wind day for a 9 and 11-year-old to muscle their way across the bay. Plus, snorkeling isn’t as much fun on a windy day.

Ideally the trip coincides with low tide, which exposes the sandbar so you can rest on solid ground and lounge in the sun between bouts of snorkeling. After eating all your snacks, head back toward shore. Traveling in this direction is much easier and you can float along with the current.

The next stop is the Waiahole Poi Factory to pick up a Hawaiian plate lunch. So good, but you can’t dig in just yet. Take your food to go and drive to Kualoa Regional Park at the north end of Kaneohe Bay. Here, you’ll make your way to Secret Island Beach where perfectly spaced palm trees await your hammocks. Enjoy your meal with a view.

If energy remains after dining and lounging, paddle out toward Mokolii Island or explore the bay until sunset. Pick up poke bowls from Tamura’s on the way home.

Plan 2: North Shore Summer Day

My husband and I independently came up with very similar versions of the best day, just at different parts of the island. I’m a big fan of both. His day beings early with excess amounts of coffee before the long drive to the North Shore. Keep in mind that the north shore is a chameleon with massive waves in the winter months and calm, deep blues in the summer. This is definitely a summer plan.

Arrive early enough to beat the crowds and heat and park at Waimea Bay or nearby Three Tables if that’s full already. The clear blue water and the massive expanse of white sand make it idyllic. With cliffs and a botanical garden hugging the bay you feel isolated and far removed from reality. However, all that sun and sand means it gets brutally hot by mid-morning. Bring a canopy, snorkel gear, cool drinks and a maybe a paddle board or floats for an epic beach morning.

When you overheat, over-snorkel, or simply run out of snacks, make the drive along the north shore to Turtle Bay for an early dinner at Roy’s Beach House. Afterward, grab your hammocks and follow the path along the beach east of the hotel in search of a small, protected pool against a tree-lined shore. Give the kids fishing nets and goggles and explore until the sun sets.

Plan 3: Mauka to Makai

Mila, who was 9 at the time, had decidedly more expensive taste. She struggled with how to fit horseback riding, zip-lining, snorkeling, and a sunset beach into a single day. She was just shy of the size limit for the zip-line and horseback riding combination at Kualoa Ranch at the time, so I modified her plan slightly.

Her perfect day starts with breakfast in Kailua at Moke’s Bread and Breakfast. She would go specifically for the lilikoi pancakes. With full bellies, begin the long drive to the North Shore making stops randomly when it feels right, say for a tree swing spotted from the road or Punalu’u Store for candy. Arrive at Shark’s Cove for a lat morning snorkel. If conditions are calm enough (and you’re an experienced snorkeler), snorkel out of the cove and around to Three Tables. Lunch is an easy trip across the street to the food trucks so everyone can get exactly what they like.

Now, you will backtrack to Gunstock Ranch with a stop for chocolate haupia cream pie at Ted’s Bakery. At the ranch, saddle up for a private sunset dinner ride that ends with s’mores around a campfire. If you have younger kids, swap the sunset dinner ride for the Horsemanship Experience at Gunstock for ages 2 and up. They can groom and ride hand led, full-size horses, and they’ll decorate them as unicorns if you ask nicely.

No surprise, there is a lot of sugar in this plan.

Plan 4: A Break From the Beach

Micah, who was 11 at the time, was harder to engage with the best day ever concept. He couldn’t think beyond friends, food, and ice-skating.

His day starts with breakfast at Over Easy in Kailua – fresh, local and highly recommended. From here drive over the pali to the Ice Palace – an ice skating rink in Salt Lake. Arrive as it’s opening for fewer crowds and clean ice, but check the schedule first as opening times and days change throughout the year.

His plan is to stay until his feet are raw alternating between skating, playing video games, and noshing on musubi and li hing gummies. Only when he is physically unable to skate any more can we leave the noise of the ice rink for a late lunch of spicy ramen at Golden Pork.

He lost interest at this point in our conversation but I would add one final stop. He had been to the Polynesian Cultural Center with school and summer camp and talked about it often. In my opinion, the Toa Luau at Waimea Valley is even better. It’s a smaller, more intimate show with hands on activities in a gorgeous setting. Knowing him, his best day should end with a buffet and fire dancers.

Before You Go

A few things worth knowing regardless of which plan you choose.

Start early. Every one of these days is better before 10am. Parking fills, heat builds, and crowds arrive. Getting out the door by 7am isn’t punishing when the reward is an empty beach or sandbar.

Traffic on the North Shore in summer can be genuinely painful. Kamehameha Highway is one lane in each direction and backs up badly on weekends, particularly between Haleiwa and Turtle Bay. If Plan 1 or Plan 2 is the goal, leave before the traffic builds or plan to stay until it clears.

Don’t leave valuables in the car. Car break-ins happen on Oahu, including at popular trailheads and beach parking lots. Leave what you don’t need at home and keep everything else with you.

Reef-safe sunscreen. Not a suggestion as Hawaii has banned several chemical sunscreen ingredients and your reef will thank you. Skip the aerosol entirely on a windy day.

Your Version

These were our four best days with a 9 and 11 year old, planned by four very different people. Your family’s version will look different. If you want a starting point, the adventurous families guide has more ideas, and the windward Oahu guide covers the windward side from sunrise to sunset if Plan 1 sparked something. Have fun!

Family Photos on Oahu

If your idea of a best day involves exploring with your family rather than checking things off a list, a morning adventure session is worth knowing about.

You can see what that looks like here, here, and here. And if it looks like something your family would be into, here’s where to start.