21 Things To Do In Oahu With Kids
By Sapana Bishwakarma | 21 September 2023 11:00 AM

Are you considering a trip to Hawaii? Your family will find the ideal balance of exciting activities and wonderful beach relaxation on the island of Oahu. Oahu offers so many entertaining activities, that your kids won't ever become bored!
If you haven't been to Oahu, you're really losing out. On Oahu, there is certainly no shortage of family-friendly activities. Discover the following listed 21 family-friendly activities on Oahu by reading the remaining portions of this article:
1. Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach is located on the south shore of Hislands of O'ahu in the United States state of Hawaii. It is regarded as one of the most recognized O'ahu beaches and spots in the world.
The coast consists of different sections that make up this two-mile stretch of white sand. If you're looking forward to canoe paddling, surfing, boogie boarding, swimming, sand combing, and marveling at a few beautiful Waikiki sunsets, it adds more valuable memories for you and your families.
2. Polynesian Cultural Center
A family-friendly cultural tourist attraction and living museum Polynesian Cultural Center is situated in Laie on the northern shore of Oahu, Hawaii. Founded on October 12, 1963, PCC covers 42 acres (17 hectares) of land belonging to nearby Brigham Young University-Hawaii (BYU-Hawaii).
Around 70 percent of students worked at BYU-Hawaii which revenue also used for daily operations and to support education. So, are planning a trip to O'ahu and searching for kid-friendly activities, it is the most recommended place to visit. Your children will learn about the different Polynesian Cultures and enjoy live performances, hands-on activities, and love the Polynesian village areas.
3. Kualoa Ranch
Founded in 1850, Kualoa Ranch is a private nature reserve on a 4,000 acre (1,600 hectares) that works as a cattle ranch as well as a popular visitor attraction and filming location on the windward coast of O'ahu in Hawaii. It is open for guided tours and tours on horseback.
In this location, numerous TV shows including Jurassic Park, Paradise, Jurassic World, Jumanji, and around 79 shows have been filmed. Children above 3 years are allowed on all of the above tours as well as the Jungle. It is home to many award-winning guided tours for people of all ages.
4. Bishop Museum
Bishop Museum founded by Charles Bishop in 1889 is a museum of history and science in the historic Kalihi district of Honolulu on the Hawaiian island of O'ahu. The museum is the largest museum in Hawaii and has the world's largest collection of Polynesian cultural artifacts and natural history specimens.
The gallery inspires the community and visitors through the celebration, exploration, and perpetuation of the extraordinary culture, history, and environment of Hawaii and the Pacific which opens from 9 am to 5 pm regularly. If you are interested in visiting the museum, your kids will explore extensive collections of books and more than 24 million specimens.
5. Hanauma Bay Nature
One of the best locations for snorkeling with kids in the United States is Hanauma Bay Nature which is located along the southeast coast of O'ahu. Nature provides calm and shallow waters perfect for families.
While moving to Hanauma Bay Nature, you are requested to explore and learn at the Marine Education Center and enjoy and eat lunch on the Beach. The popular tourist destination welcomes around 720 guests each day and 120 guests are allowed in per hour. They will charge a $12 entry fee however kids under 12 are free.
6. Diamond Head
A volcanic tuff cone Diamond Head located on the Hawaii island of O'ahu is the most remote archipelago on earth. in 1825, British sailors invented sparkling volcanic calcite crystals in the sand and mistook them for diamonds so the mountain was given the name Diamond Hill.
It is a 300,000-year-old remnant of an ancient volcano from where your family can enjoy the wonderful views of the ocean, Waikiki, and the surrounding area. Thus, if you're looking for a fun hike to do with your children while in Hawaii, search no further than Diamond Head.
7. Waikiki Aquarium
An aquarium situated in Honolulu, Hawaii, United States was established in 1904. Waikiki Aquarium is the second-oldest still-opening public aquarium in the United States after the New York Aquarium.
It includes over 3,500 organisms of 500 species of marine plants and animals which more than 320,000 tourists visit annually and more than 30,000 schoolchildren participate in the aquarium's education activities and programs. The aquarium will cost for senior citizens and juniors ages four to twelve and $8 for local residents. It is totally free for children who are under the age of three.
8. Lanikai Beach
Located near the town of Kailua and on the windward coast of Oahu, Hawaii, Lanikai Beach was invented in the 1920s by the developer Charles Frazier. The kids and pet-friendly beach consists of calm waters.
If you are visiting Lanikai Beach, the coast has no public parking area and the area lacks facilities showers, restrooms, and lifeguards as well. It is highly crowded during the vacation seasons such as summer and winter. The kids will have a unique experience if they go snorkeling in Lanikai Beach.
9. Manoa Falls
Manoa Falls is popular for swimming in the pool below the waterfall and includes a 150-foot tall. It is an hour's hike to the waterfall which has attracted many tourists. You will experience rainfall almost every day and flash floods on the waterfall and its surrounding area.
Located on the island of Oahu in Honolulu, Hawaii, in Manoa Valley, the most spectacular waterfalls will seem more like 1000 feet as you stare up at the endless water falling down the rocks. The short drive away from Waikiki is a favorite for all children as they have a beautiful tropical feel the whole way up.
10. Honolulu Zoo
Honolulu Zoo is the only zoo in the United States that was founded in the King's grant of royal lands. A 42-acre zoo located in Queen Kapiolani Park in Honolulu, Hawaii features more than 1,230 animals in specially designed habitats.
Annually, more than 601,510 tourists visit the zoo where you can gain a wealth of knowledge about different animals and the environments in which they live. They also provide hands-on lessons with bio-artifacts, crafts, interactive activities, and games.
11. Dole Plantation
Dole Plantation was developed as a fruit stand in 1950 and opened publicly as Hawaii's Pineapple Experience in 1989. It is well-known for its most popular visitor attractions and welcomes more than one million tourists a year.
The place offers enjoyable activities for the entire family, such as the Pineapple Express Train Tour, the Pineapple Garden Maze, and the Plantation Garden Tour. The different stores of Dole Plantation offer a variety of local favorites, Plantation gifts, and foods and refreshments. The visitors have access to purchase fresh pineapple to take home as well.
12. Shark's Cove
A popular Oahu attraction on the North Shore for Shark's Cove's amazing snorkeling experience. It features a large array of fish with the 80-acre marine life conservation park and plenty of crevices, caves, places, and tunnels to hide that makes this beach cove quite the playground for tropical fish.
Unfortunately, the cove has no lifeguard on duty so you must be careful while going outside the cove. Besides that, the beach and park include amenities including a drinking fountain and restrooms. You and your family will experience the plenties of sea turtles and colorful fish.
13. Ala Moana Beach Park
A free public park Ala Moana Beach Park is located on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, between Waikiki and downtown Honolulu. It covers 100 acres of land and has a wide gold-sand beach where around 4 million tourists come to visit annually.
Regularly, the beach is closed from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m. and includes lifeguards, restrooms, showers, tennis courts, phones, and picnic tables. It offers a very family-friendly and accommodating environment for the kids with calm ocean water, sandy beaches, multiple food concessions stands, and a lot of shade to lay under in the grassy areas.
14. Sunset Beach Park
Sunset Beach Park is located on the North Shore of Oahu in Hawaii and is also regarded for ware surfing during the winter season. It is another best-of-Oahu highlight and a beautiful surfing mecca not to miss after making your rounds at Waimea Bay and the Banzai Pipeline.
The coast is one of the few long stretches of sand however it is necessary to check in with the lifeguard if you're familiar with this beach and you should get advice on entering the water especially when eaves are present. Overall, this place is a beautiful spot to bring the family for some relaxation, snorkeling, and beachcombing.
15. Wet 'n' Wild Hawaii
Officially known as Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, Wet 'n' Wild Hawaii is located in Kapolei, Hawaii, United States. It is a Hawaiian water park that covers 29 acres of land and includes over 25 rides and attractions.
In the global, Hawaiian Waters is one of six water parks running under the Wet'n'Wild brand. EPR Properties founded the park in May 1999 with features of tipping buckets, slides, thousands of gallons of water per minute, and 60 additional keiki fun activities for children. It will cost around $55 for entry charges.
16. Children's Discovery Center
Children's Discovery Center offers an environment that inspires children to use their senses of sight, touch, smell, and hearing to learn a better understanding of the world around them. The main aim to invent the museum is to support kids in developing positive self-concepts and an understanding of others in Hawaii's multicultural community.
In general, the exhibition encourages learning through exploration and supports the family within a creative, nurturing, and Christian environment. It will cost $12 for general admission, $10 for local residents and military, $7 for senior citizens, and children ages under one will get free entry.
17. Pearl Harbor National Museum
Pearl Harbor National Museum is a place where you can learn and connect with your World War II story reflecting on the conflict and recognizing the peace. With an area of 21.3 acres, the site is located on the island of Oahu halfway between Japan and the mainland United States.
It is a place where people from far-flung corners of the world can come together in peace to honor the memory of the fallen and celebrate the ultimate triumph of the human spirit. This historic site is the largest natural harbor in the State of Hawaii and the number one visitor destination on Oahu.
18. Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden
Ho'omaluhia Botanical Garden is a botanical garden that opens regularly without charge and closes on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Established in 1982, the garden is full of plantings from major tropical regions around the world and is located at 45-680 Liliku Road, Kaneohe, Oahu, Hawaii.
It was designed by the United States Army Corps of Engineers for flood protection which also includes a lake (32 acre) and walking trails as well as campgrounds and a visitor center with an exhibition hall, lecture room, botanical library, and workshop. It will be an amazing natural experience for individuals, families, and groups.
19. Byodo-In Temple
People might be searching for a budget-friendly attraction where they can explore nature with their whole families. If you become that one, Byodo-In Temple is a great option for you. It is a Buddhist temple situated on the island of O'ahu in Hawaii in the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park.
Byodo-In Temple is a 950-year-old Buddhist temple at Uji where thousands of worshippers visited from around the world. The place welcomes visitors of all faiths to participate in its traditions. The grounds of the temple are also used for office meetings and weddings. The ideal spot for families looking to learn about different cultures while enjoying the nature will cost around $3 for adult, $2 for kids and $1 for senior citizen for entry.
20. Ala Moana Center
Ala Moana Center consists of more than 350 shops and restaurants to experience with multiple stores, more than 160 dining options, and first-class boutiques. It is located in Ala Moana, Honolulu, Hawaii, and is the most valuable shopping mall with $5.74 billion in assets in the United States.
The shopping center is the eighth-largest shopping mall in the United States and the largest open-air shopping center in the world that is developed by Brookfield Properties. You will experience more gathering experiences that offer brands a place to grow, shoppers a place to explore, and communities a place to connect. Overall, they offer an engaging environment and experiences for their consumers and retailers.
21. Sea Life Park Hawaii
Sea Park Life Hawaii is a place to enjoy the company of dolphins, rays, sea lions, sharks, native fish, and others. The park especially focuses on educational and interactive programs. It is small but enough to enjoy on foot but diverse enough to be a full-day destination.
Situated in Waimanalo near Makapu'u Point, north of Hanauma Bay on the island of Oahu in Hawaii, United States, it has been dedicated to marine conservation and education about wonderful fish, mammals, reptiles, and all other animals for over 50 years. It includes more than 16,000 green sea turtles and 4,000 seabirds. In the park, over 45 million people visit from all over the world.
Next: 22 Things To Do In London With Kids