Off The Beaten Path Oahu Adventures – How To Explore Like A Local

UPDATED MAR 2020. If you have done a lot of the popular things to do on Oahu and are looking for new adventures, this post is for you. Today I’m sharing a guide to some of the off the beaten path Oahu adventures. With the culture in Hawaii of ‘post pictures not locations’ it’s a tricky line to balance sharing adventures and preserving the locations. I’m trying my best to share enough information for you to go exploring on your own without giving every detail. I hope it can help you experience some new adventures on the island.

Off The Beaten Path Oahu Adventures – How To Explore Like A Local

If you want to get started on the more popular adventures first, check out my ultimate tourist bucket list for Oahu. It’s a huge guide with lots of things to do.

Hawaii has had such an ‘Instagram’ boom in recent years and it feels like there’s not much that is off the beaten path. When I moved there, you had to really search and talk to people to find information for hikes and adventures.

Now it is all on Google. It’s so crazy to see how much it has changed and how much it has affected the areas. The things in this post were off the beaten path when I was there, though they may not be anymore.

I’ve linked my guides to these spots, so for more information just check out my full guides.

Hikes with amazing views

There is no shortage of hikes on the island with vast, incredible views.

My favorite off the beaten path hikes with a view are:

• Kapaa Quarry trail
• Upper Makua Cave
• Kealia Trail

For an off the beaten path Oahu adventure with a view, try the Makua cave.

Waterfall hikes on Oahu

There are a number of waterfall hikes on Oahu, but my favorite to get off the beaten path are:

• Hamama Falls
• Likeke Falls
• Kalihi Ice Ponds

The Nakoa Trail isn’t a waterfall but it has a fun swimming spot in the jungle and is another one of my favorites.

More information: Waterfall Hikes On Oahu – 12 Incredible Hikes That Will Blow Your Mind

Jungle hikes on Oahu

As I mentioned above, the Nakoa Trail is one of my favorite off the beaten path jungle hikes.

I also recommend:

• Maunawili Demonstration Trail
• Judd Trail

Off the beaten path snorkeling spots

If you are looking to take your snorkeling experience away from the crowds and off the beaten path then try:

• Electric Beach
• Makaha Beach

Both have dangerous swells in winter so avoid them during those months so always check the conditions before venturing in.

Places to watch the sunset

Cruise down the west coast of the island and pretty much anywhere along that stretch offers incredible sunsets.

My favorite spots are:

• Makua Beach
• Yokohama Bay
• The tree bench in Portlock

On the North Shore, I always enjoyed the sunsets on Papa‘Iloa Beach. I have seen a lot of turtles napping on the beach here too which is always a treat to see.

Places to watch sunrise

One of my favorite places to watch the sunrise is at Spitting Caves which is also good to watch the whales cruise by if it’s whale season).

My other favorites are:

• Chinaman’s Hat at the Kualoa Beach Park
• Makai Pier
• Makapuu Tide Pools (sketchy in the dark)
• Sandy’s Beach

The abandoned mansion by the ocean

The Kaiser Mansion in Hawaii Kai is a pretty cool off the beaten path place to see.

It’s also a cool area to hang out and I’ve even seen a big seal sleeping on the rocks there before.

You have to park in Kokee Place and walk down the path to get to the water.

Caves on Oahu

If you have a little bit of an explorer in you then why not pay a visit to the Mermaid Caves or this other secret Cave in a different area of the island.

Beach swings on Oahu

For beach swings, I recommend driving up the Kamehameha Highway from the Kaneohe end and having someone keeping a looking on the beach.

You can see them from the road so once you spot one, you can stop at the next parking area and walk back to them.

There are also swings on Waimanalo Beach that you’ll be able to see if you walk along the beach.

The tire swing in the Kahana Valley state park is also cool.

The King’s Palace in the jungle

The Kaniakapupu Ruins – the King’s Summer Palace, are hidden away in the Nu’uanu Pali are.

They are quite easy to get to requiring just a short walk in the jungle setting.

 After your visit to the ruins, you can also see the Luakaha Waterfall during the same adventure because it is close by.

Safety Precautions

If you are venturing to any of these off the beaten path locations or any others for that matter, make sure you take your safety seriously. Here are some safety tips I have for adventuring on Oahu.

Always stick to the trails. Too many people fall off the unstable ground or need to be airlifted out of hikes after going off the trails.

It’s an easy problem to avoid by simply staying on the trail. It also helps avoid erosion in the area so it can be enjoyed by others in the future.

Car break-ins can be common on the island. To protect yourself as much as possible against this kind of damage, do not leave anything visible in your car. Keep it as clean and empty as possible and park in areas around other cars.

Do your research and use your best judgment as far as your hiking and swimming limitations. Always check the weather conditions before venturing out. Take what you need to be prepared for the weather – water, hat, sunscreen, etc.

If you are not confident exploring on your own, hit up Dan at The Real Hawaii Tours. He offers customized jeep adventure tours and can create a whole day of off the beaten path adventures for you.

If you found this post useful, return the favor by sharing it or following me on Instagram!