Most lists of things to do in Oahu Hawaii stop at Waikiki. We were there in June 2026 across two properties, Grand Islander on club points and Outrigger Reef on Amex The Hotel Collection credits. The best day of the trip was the one our son planned on the East Side and the North Shore. The Hawaii Visitors & Convention Bureau has the standard itinerary; this is the version with a local in the car.
Our Oahu, Hawaii Travel Guide Posts
These posts come out of our June stay in Waikiki- what the two hotel stays actually cost, the Turo car we ended up needing, and the flight over from the Big Island.
- Rental Car vs Turo in Hawaii: We Used Both on the Same Trip
- Flying Between the Hawaiian Islands: Which Airline, Which Points, What It Actually Costs
- Outrigger Reef Waikiki: What Amex Platinum THC Actually Gets You at a Beach Hotel
- Grand Islander Waikiki by HGVC: Another HGV Stay, Different Ecosystem
- Hale Koa Waikiki: The Military Resort Most Retirees Don’t Know They Can Book (And Its Luau)
Things to do in Oahu Hawaii: common questions
Do you need a rental car on Oahu?
We planned not to and changed our minds. Everything in Waikiki is walkable, so if the beach and Kalakaua are the trip you can skip it. We ended up booking through Turo, because the day that made the trip was the East Side and the North Shore, and that needs a car.
Where should you stay in Waikiki?
We split the stay across two properties and booked each a different way: Grand Islander on Hilton Grand Vacations Club Points, and Outrigger Reef on Amex Platinum The Hotel Collection credits across two cards. Splitting is more work than it sounds. If you are optimizing for points rather than convenience, it is worth it.
Can you do the North Shore without a tour?
Yes, and we would again. Our son lives in Honolulu and planned the day himself: the East Side first, then up to the North Shore. It is the drive and the stops along it, not a fixed itinerary, and a rental or a Turo car is all it takes.
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