Oahu Hawaii is a great place to vacation, whether you bring your kids or not. If you’re looking for family-friendly activities, Oahu has a lot to offer! As nice as it is to hang out on the beach, you’ll be happy to know that Oahu has a lot to offer vacationing families. We compiled a list of 23 family-friendly activities that are worth checking out!
1. How does an annual sandcastle building competition sound? That’s exactly what the University of Hawaii at Manoa School of Architecture puts on for their student designers every February. If your visit doesn’t fall to that month, you can always make your own competition!
2. If your children are still at the age where they get up at the crack of dawn, you can always take them down to the early morning Honolulu Fish Auction at Kewalo Basin. Meet Hawaii’s local fishermen and watch them display and auction off their catch to chefs and merchants. The early morning fish auction happens daily at 5:00 a.m.
3. Gather up towels, buckets and beach totes and head to Waimanalo Beach for the day.
4. Discover Waikiki Beach’s four Wizard Stones and learn the thrilling legend behind them.
5. Pack food and drinks for a picnic at Kapiolani Park in Waikiki. When you finish your food you can take a walk through the park and watch everything from soccer games to live entertainment. If you’re lucky you might even stumble onto a craft fair!
6. Ala Moana Center’s Centerstage sees over 500 performances each year. You can see everything from street dancing and Keiki (children) hula to rock and chorale music.
7. The Children’s Discovery Center in Kakaako.
8. If nobody is afraid of fireworks, Friday evenings on the beachfront of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is a must.
9. Matsumoto’s famous shave ice on the North Shore might just be your family’s favorite stop.
10. Lantern Floating Hawaii Ceremony is held at Ala Moana Beach Park, every Memorial Day. There you can dedicate and float a paper lantern for a special cause or in the memory of a loved one.
11. Rent a kayak, for a paddle
12. Downtown Honolulu and Waikiki is the place to be during Chinese New Year celebrations, the Honolulu Festival, the Aloha Festival, and the King Kamehameha Celebration. Enjoy the music, food, and the colorful parades floating down the streets.
13. “Sunset on the Beach”, Queen’s surf in Waikiki offers live music, food booths, free Hollywood movies, and an outdoor movie theater.
14. Kapiolani Community College Farmers’ Market on Saturday mornings offers beautiful flowers, local food, as well as produce and meats.
15. Turtle beach in North Shore.
16. Fly kites at Sandy Beach Park.
17. Ala Moana Beach Park is perfect for a sunset picnic.
18. The month-long holiday celebration in Honolulu City. Don’t miss the Electric Light Parade and the annual lighting of the City Christmas Tree.
19. Beautiful Waikiki Beach. What most people come to Hawaii for.
20. Iolani Palace is the only royal residency in the United States and offers guided tours.
21. The Waikiki Aquarium, a no-brainer if you have kids.
22. The Honolulu Zoo has a great selection of animals and is another must-see attraction for families.
23. The Halona Blowhole is easily accessible from a viewing platform at a turnout in the highway. Just the drive from Honolulu along the coast is easily worth the trip.
