Oahu, HI Vacation Packages

Best time to take a trip to Oahu

While mainlanders shovel snow or bake in oven-hot summers, Oahu enjoys a year-round balmy climate with natural air-conditioning from trade winds. Waikiki soaks up the sun most days, while valleys and the lush Windward Coast dazzle with tropical showers and rainbows.

Oahu travel is at its best when crowds and prices cool: September through November. Or, time your trip for an event like the century-old King Kamehameha Day Parade in June, or Aloha Festivals in September. In November and December, the North Shore heats up with the Triple Crown of Surfing. December also rocks the Honolulu Marathon, one of the world's largest.

Insider tips for Oahu travel

Antique Alley

Why not bring home a hula-dancer lamp, a netted glass fishing float or vintage kimono? Shop real Hawaii here in living color.

Things to do in Oahu

Bishop Museum

Come for the dog-tooth-edged weapons and royal feather capes, and stay for the spewing replica volcano at Hawaii's most prominent museum.

Byodo-In Temple

Inner peace begins by ringing the bell at this hidden Buddhist sanctuary, modeled after an ancient Kyoto temple. Feed the koi and visit the giant Lotus Buddha.

Chinatown

Visit the grittier side of Old Honolulu with antiquated storefronts, flower lei stands and war-era bars, plus trendy new art galleries, shops and cafés.

Diamond Head Summit Trail

Wind up the interior of an extinct volcanic crater to stellar views on this urban military trail. Funky en-route features include a tunnel, pillbox and spiral staircase.

Hanauma Bay

Snorkel with the fish at this partly submerged volcanic crater, a nature preserve and the centerpiece setting in Elvis Presley's film Blue Hawaii.

Iolani Palace

Explore the same royal Hawaiian palace that featured electric lights and phones before the White House and Buckingham Palace, with a history equally rich in intrigue.

Manoa Falls Trail

Express your inner Tarzan (or Jane) on this family-friendly, vine-drenched jungle hike to the delicate Manoa Falls, just a few miles outside of Waikiki.

North Shore / Haleiwa

North Shore beaches rage in winter and host the biggest stars of surfing. Check out the scene in any season, topping it off with a shave ice treat and shopping in Haleiwa.

Pearl Harbor

Get lost on a giant battleship; defend Pacific skies in a combat flight simulator and more at four historic sites rolled into one powerful WWII experience.

Waikiki Beach

Bask in golden-era glamour at one of the world's most celebrated beaches, with Diamond Head as a perfect backdrop. Rent a surfboard right on the sand.

La Mariana

Drop by Oahu's authentic tiki bar from yesteryear, peppered with sea captains from the neighboring harbor.

Le Bistro

Dine at one of Oahu's best restaurants, hidden in a shopping center on the way to Hanauma Bay. French cuisine pairs with a casual-yet-elegant atmosphere for a perfect evening out.

Malaekahana Beach

Play the castaway on a secluded, forest-lined Windward Coast beach with an exotic offshore islet, all within easy reach of a hot shower and steak dinner.