Last Updated: October 27, 2021
Hidden Gems In Oahu (Avoid Those Crowds)
Oahu is there third biggest island of Hawaii and is home to both the capital Honolulu and Pearl Harbor. If you’re going on a trip to Hawaii then chances are that you’ll land on Oahu and spend most of your time there.
Oahu is the most populated island in Hawaii and the regular touristy areas can get very busy with both tourists and locals which is why we decided to write this article about the hidden gems in Oahu, so you can get off the beaten track a little bit and away from the crowds.
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Hiking In Oahu’s Ko’olau Mountain Range
Another hidden gem on Oahu is hiking in the Ko’olau Mountain Range which stretches all the north-central side of the island. The Ko’olau Mountain Range runs for 35 miles and although it’s easily accessible from pretty much anywhere on Oahu, it’s a place where you can escape to nature and get away from the crowds as not many people spend their time there, they usually can’t bear to leave the beach.
While hiking around the Ko’olau Mountain Range you’ll see stunning waterfalls, amazing views of the rest of Oahu, and of course, some of Hawaii’s famous flora and fauna, a lot of which are critically endangered. You tend to find the more endemic plants in the higher altitude areas of the Ko’olau Mountain Range and there are some rare birds you should keep your eyes peeled for too, such as the red apapane and the brown endangered elepaio.
Finding a hiking trail to access can be a little tricky as some are hidden inside gated communities and others are banned for public use. The stairway to heaven, aka the Haiku Stairs, is a 4000 step ridge trail across the Ko’olau Mountain Range that was put in during World War Two. It’s been banned from public use since 1987 and is now being removed as people continue to use it and trespass on private land.
The best trail to take is the Mānana Ridge Trail which is labeled on Google Maps and sit’s just outside of Pearl City. The trail follows a ridgeline for amazing views and takes you almost all the way across the range and past Waimano Falls.
Koko Kai Mini Beach Park
The Koko Kai Mini Beach Park sits on the southeastern tip of Oahu and is one of the hidden gems on Oahu worth visiting. While it’s called a beach a park, the Koko Kai Mini Beach Park isn’t actually home to any sand what so ever and it’s more of a grassy patch that leads to a rocky shoreline.
What makes the Koko Kai Mini Beach Park such a fun place to visit is China Walls, which is just to the north of the grassy patch. China Walls was named by surfer Richard Okita as when he first surfed the wave it went on for so long that he thought it looked like the Great Wall of China.
When there is no swell, the waters around the Koko Kai Mini Beach Park are very calm and clear making it a great place to go for a snorkel, swim, or paddleboard. You can also have a lot of fun jumping off the cliffs at China Walls into the pretty blue seas below and then climb the rocks back out.
Be careful when doing this as there are no lifeguards in the area so be sure to only jump off the rocks if you’re confident and when the waters are calm.
On rough days or when the swell is big, the waves follow the cliff line and make jumping into the sea a very dangerous sport as you can be washed away. If the waves aren’t too big and you know how to surf, hop in and enjoy the amazing wave, but when it’s huge leave it well alone for the local pros.
You’ll find China Walls and Koko Kai Mini Beach Park on google maps so it’s easy to get to. It’s in a chilled neighborhood called Portlock and there is plenty of parking around. It’s a great place to watch the sunset from too.
Kailua Beach Park
On the northeastern side of Oahu a little away from the more populated areas of the island you’ll find Kailua Beach Park. Kailua is known as one of the best beaches in all of Hawaii and this is thanks to the bright white sands, crystal blue waters, and calmer conditions it generally experiences.
Kailua Beach is sheltered from any swell during the summertime as it’s on the north shore which is what makes this beach perfect for lounging on and enjoying a swim, kayak, snorkel, and some stand-up paddleboarding too. You can rent all the gear you need for a day of beach time just by the sand and spend some time away from the big waves enjoying a peaceful ocean.
While at Kailua beach you’ll also be close to the beaches of Lanikai and Kalama which can be even calmer depending on the way the swell is operating on the day.
If you have kids, spending time on these beaches is a must. You’ll get away from the crowds, find ample parking, there are picnic benches in the shade, and the sea is safe for your kids to play around in the small waves all day long.
You’ll also get a great view out to Makupu’u Lighthouse which sits on the cliffs in the distance.
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
The Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden sits just outside of the city of Kaneohe on the northern side of Oahu just along the border of the Ko’olau Mountain Range. It’s a huge botanical garden that spans over 400 acres and has a freshwater lake with amazing views across the island.
Ho’omaluhia translated means peaceful refuge and these botanical gardens are just that. They were created in the 1980s by the US Army Corps and are made up of plants from 7 different tropical regions across the world and the diversity of the plants and the well-kept landscapes are simply mind-blowing.
You have the option to drive through the park on a kind of safari which takes around 15 minutes to one end and then 15 minutes back. It’s a great thing to do when you arrive to get a sense of the sheer scale of the botanical gardens before hopping out and going onto one of the many hiking trails.
You find a good range of hiking trails to suit all ages. There is a shorter 1.5-mile trail around the lakes for young kids, a 2.2-mile trail that showcases the gardens really well, and a longer 5.8-mile loop that features waterfalls too.
Whichever trail you choose, you’ll be walking through stunning jungles and past some great water features. Be sure to look out for any plaques around the trees and plants which will tell you what they are and a lot about the different species in the gardens.
If you’re there with kids, you can hop to the visitor center to rent some bamboo poles and do some catch & release fishing in the lake, just bring your own bait – bread is a winner. The visitor center is open from 9 am to 1 pm and they have limited poles so get there early if you want to fish.
You can also camp in the botanical garden on the weekends which is something worth doing. It does take some organizing though as there are limited spots so be sure to reserve well in advance.
Byodo-In Temple
Another hidden gem in Oahu that will take into the mountains is a visit to the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park to see the Byodo-In Temple.
The area is simply beautiful as the Valley of the Temples Memorial Park sits along the edge of the Ko’olau Mountain Range and is thus surrounded by huge jungle-covered peaks and the site itself is also stunning.
Take a walk around the well-kept gardens with peacocks and spend some time contemplating life by watching koi carp swim around the ponds. You also find a large reflecting pond, meditation niches, and small waterfalls as you wander around the site.
The Byodo-In Temple is a Buddhist temple but it’s not an active temple where Buddhists go to worship. It was built as a replica of the Byodo-In Temple in Japan which is 950 years old for the first 100-year anniversary of Japanese migrants arriving in Hawaii and was named one of the top 20 of the world’s most beautiful Buddhist temples.
You can visit the temple any day of the week from 8:30 am to 5 pm and entry costs a maximum of $5 and less for kids or seniors. If you want a guide to tour around the temple to learn a bit more about its history, this is easily arranged.
Moku‘Auia Islet Seabird Sanctuary
Moku‘Auia Islet Seabird Sanctuary is the official name for this hidden gem on Oahu but it’s referred to by the locals as goat island, and this is because it looks like a goat, there are no actual goats on the island.
You’ll find Moku‘Auia Islet Seabird Sanctuary just off the shores of Mālaekahana State Recreation Area and Moku‘Auia Beach on the north shore of Oahu.
The island is just a few hundred feet away from the shores of the mainland and it’s really easy to access on a paddleboard, kayak, or by walking at low tide. When the tide drops you’ll see a piece of reef that connects to the island which you can wade across, just make sure you are wearing some solid shoes and don’t go barefoot as the coral is sharp.
Once on the island, you can do a little bit of exploring and see all the nesting seabirds and hang out on the almost deserted beaches. You also find a lot of endemic plants and lithified dunes on the islands, just be sure to stick to the public trails around the outside of the island and not to go walking in the bird sanctuary which is protected and closed to the public.
You’ll find free parking and everything else you need from picnic benches and bathrooms at Malaekahana State Recreation Area and you can also hang out at the Malaekahana Beach which usually has calm waters and is great for swimming.
Snorkel At Electric Beach
The Hawaiian Electric Beach Park is as unglamorous as it sounds as it’s literally the beach that sits right next to the power plant on Oahu, so probably not the picture of a stunning setting you’re looking for when visiting Hawaii.
But, the power plant actually has something special to it. The water used for cooling the power plant, which is clean, pure, and has no pollutants in it, is pumped into the sea right off the shore.
The water pipe’s outlet is around 100 meters offshore from the beach and the warm water coming out of it attracts marine life and is actually one of the best snorkeling spots on the island especially when combined with the artificial reefs that have also been placed there.
You’ll find an abundance of marine life including eagle rays, tropical fish, turtles, octopus, eels, and sometimes the odd white tip reef shark.
Make sure to arrive with your snorkeling gear and be prepared to follow the pipe out about 100 meters, which can be a little bit of a long swim for some people, especially young kids, so towing a bodyboard or having life jackets might be a good idea. ‘
The current being pushed out from the pipe is also quite strong, so don’t swim right around the outlet as it can take you out to sea a bit and will be a scary experience if you’re not totally comfortable in the water.
The beach is actually quite pretty too (just don’t look back at the power station) and it’s pretty uncrowded as well. There are also small waves for kids to play in.
Sharks Cove
Sharks Cove is our final hidden gem of Oahu and you’ll find it on the north shore near Waimea Bay. Sharks Cove is made up of volcanic rock with a small beach that meets the pacific ocean very close to shore and it’s an awesome place for snorkeling and it’s usually uncrowded too.
The features and water clarity at Sharks Cove are something special as it’s pretty much a natural swimming pool that consists of numerous tide pools and is full of small tropical fish. It’s the perfect place to take young kids snorkeling for the first time as it’s very much protected from the swell and waves during the summertime.
Strong swimmers can venture outside of the tidal pools and snorkel around the outer edges of Shark Cove where the reef drops away from the volcanic rock edge. You will have the chance of seeing some awesome marine life including turtles, rays, and even the occasional dolphin plus tonnes of beautiful coral and tropical fish.
The facilities around Sharks Cove are excellent. You’ll find bathrooms and showers on the beach and also be able to rent all the gear you need to explore the amazing underwater world. Parking can be a little tricky though so be sure to get there early or you might have to work hard to find a spot.
There are also the beautiful beaches of Ke Iki to the north and Waimea Bay to the south which are just a few minutes away. So once you’re done with snorkeling and fancy playing in some small summer waves and chilling on the beach, you don’t have too far to go.
Ka’ena Point State Park
If you want to spend some time on Oahu that reminds you more of being on a volcanic island in the middle of the Pacific than any other part, you should head to the rugged volcanic coastline of Ka’ena Point State Park.
It’s probably one of the most stunning parts of the entire island and where you can hike all along the coastal path which is right next to where the waves crash into the volcanic coves. As you follow this coastal trail be sure to keep an eye out to sea as your chances of seeing turtles and dolphins as you go are very real.
At the end of the trail, you’ll find the Ka’ena Point Natural Area Reserve which sits on the most northwestern point of Oahu. The views from here are spectacular and you really do feel like you’re on the edge of the world.
If you love fishing, then this is one of the best places in Oahu to do it from the shore. The water gets deep quite quickly off the rocks and with the right casting rods you can have a whale of a time, just be sure to get a license first.
Keawaula Beach also leads up into the Ka’ena Point State Park and is a great place to hang out before or after hiking one of the many trails in the park. It’s pretty uncrowded with no development and is a great place for chilled surfing waves, bodyboard, and swimming.
About the Author Roger Timbrook
Roger is a little obsessed with travel. He has been to over 40 countries, broken 3 suitcases and owned over 10 backpacks in 12 months. What he doesn't know about travel, ain't worth knowing!
