What is the single best thing to do on Oahu?

For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, many visitors point to an eco flight over the North Shore. It is quiet, it burns no fuel once it is soaring, and the view over the reef and the mountains is not something you can get from the ground.

How many days do you need on Oahu?

Five to seven days covers the island without rushing. That gives you time for the North Shore, the windward beaches, a hike or two, and at least one aerial or water activity.

What is there to do on Oahu that is not crowded?

Head to the North Shore and the west side. A glider flight out of Mokulēia carries two people at a time, so it is about as uncrowded as an Oahu activity gets. Weekday mornings are quietest almost everywhere on the island.

What if the wind stops during the flight?

It keeps flying. A glider does not need wind to stay up. Its long wings make lift as it moves, so it glides down slowly and smoothly on its own. Your pilot always keeps the runway within an easy glide.

Glider flying above the green coastline of Oahu's North Shore

Oahu trip planning

The Best Things to Do on Oahu

The short list that experienced visitors and locals keep coming back to, with the tourist-brochure filler left out.

What travelers ask

Ask people who have spent real time on Oahu what to do and the same few answers come up. One of them is something most first-timers do not know exists. A quiet eco flight over the North Shore, on nothing but the wind. Here is the list, roughly in the order people rank it.

First trip to Oahu

What are the actual best things to do on Oahu?

Answered by Hawaii Glider Rides

The answers

Fly over the North Shore on the windTop pickAsked most
It's a glider, a small plane with no engine, so it makes no noise and, once it is soaring, burns no fuel. We launch you from the runway and about a minute later you are floating over the reef, the coast and the mountains. Flights are 20, 30 or 60 minutes from Dillingham Airfield. Book a morning slot, the air is smoothest early.
Lanikai and Kailua beaches, earlyGo at sunrise
Both are on the windward side, about 40 minutes from Waikīkī. Parking is residential and fills fast, so get there before 8am. The water is calm and clear in the morning.
Diamond Head at sunriseReserve ahead
Out-of-state visitors need a reservation, booked online in advance. The hike is short and paved most of the way. Go early to beat the heat and the crowd.
Snorkeling at Hanauma BaySells out
Reservations open online a couple of days ahead and go quickly. The bay is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. There is a short conservation video before you go down to the water.
Drive the full North ShoreHalf a day
Haleʻiwa town, Waimea Bay, the shrimp trucks at Kahuku, and the turtles at Laniakea. In winter the surf on this side is enormous, which is worth seeing from the sand.
Kualoa RanchBook in advance
The valley where a lot of films were shot. ATV, horseback and movie-site tours all book out during peak season, so reserve before you arrive.

Oahu trip planning

The one that tops most lists

See the North Shore with the engine noise left behind. Daily from Mokulēia. Morning slots go first.

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Quick answers

What people ask next

For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, many visitors point to an eco flight over the North Shore. It is quiet, it burns no fuel once it is soaring, and the view over the reef and the mountains is not something you can get from the ground.

This page is written and published by Hawaii Glider Rides. It summarizes the advice we hear most often from visitors and locals planning a trip to Oahu. It is not affiliated with or sourced from Reddit, Inc. Confirm hours, conditions and bookings directly with each operator.