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:
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:
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:
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.
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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.
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Definitely have to visit the caves on this stay! Thanks for this great guide!
Hope you get to them, there is something magical about ocean caves! Thanks for checking out my blog!
I love the part where you can watch the sunset from your hammack. The island really looks very pretty, lot’s of diversity in nature. And the food also seems to be a great reason to visit.
So much diversity, it is truly a piece of paradise!
Wow! Hawaii is such a gorgeous paradise. I went to the Big Island and Maui as a kid but I’d love to visit the other islands like Oahu as well. Pinned for future trip planning!
It really is paradise, I just loved my time there. Thanks for checking out my post!
And here I thought that Oahu is all about the beach, beach bars and a cocktail in hand. I always forget how big the island is and that there could be a lot of other things that you can do here. I think hiking with waterfalls is more my kind of thing. 🙂
Yes, so much to do! Hiking to the waterfalls is pretty spectacular! And so quiet compared to the well known hikes.
Thanks so much for this helpful guide. Our family will be staying 11/17-11/25 at the Hale Koa Hotel. Looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with our Marine and enjoying the island. There are so many different places that offer Luau’s, do you have any recommendations?
Thanks Again
Michelle
Hi Michelle, Wow! I think you will have a great time. As far as luau’s go, my personal favorite was at the Polynesian Cultural Center (you can search it in my website to get more info and photos). It is on the North Shore though, so a bit of a drive from where you are staying. You may have to look into their shuttle options if you don’t have a car, but if you can get there it is well worth the drive. They have a park to explore during the day where you can learn about Polynesian culture, then the luau and after the luau there is a really impressive show! Now I’m rambling, just got a lot of good things to say about it! Have a great trip and if you have any other questions, let me know.
Hi Katie
Thanks for sharing!
I was wondering: Where is the swing you are standing on exactly on Oahu?
Thank you so much and have a wonderful day.
Driving along the Kam Highway from the Kaneohe end, just keep an eye on the side of the road. That is just one of them but there are a few along that stretch of beach. Sorry I don’t have the exact address.
Hi Katie,
Planning on joining a snorkling tour that stops at turtle beach in early November. Do you think the water that time of the year will be too rough to swim as I really want to swim with the turtles?
Hi Sue, it might be a little rough to swim with them but you might still be able to see them sleeping on the beach. If it’s a bit rough on the north shore when you visit, see if you can get to some other areas (I have a post here on best places to swim with turtles if you want some ideas). I’ve swam with them at just about every beach on Oahu so there’s a good chance you will be able to see one!
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