Hidden Gems and Unique Experiences on Oahu

Oahu is hands down my favourite island. Why? There is just so much to do! Epic ridge hikes? Yes! Clear water for snorkelling with fish, turtles and dolphins? Yes! Barrelling waves to watch the worlds best surfers? Yes! After living on island for four months I cannot wait to return; read along for some of my favourite places, local’s secrets, hidden gems and more!

Ho’omaluhai Botanical gardens

Are you looking for lush green gardens set at the base of a picturesque mountain range where you can wander around until your heart is content? Well then, you are headed to the Ho’omaluhai Botanical Gardens! Set on the East side of the island, the drive through the mountain pass on the H3 is stunning in itself. The gardens are open 9-4 daily and admission is free. There are different gardens throughout and a few different parking lots. There are some basic trails connecting them and a little lake. Personally I enjoyed the freedom of the unstructured gardens and enjoyed taking in the settings around us as we explored. I actually prefer to explore the gardens on an overcast day when the green of the gardens really pop!

watch the world’s best surfers

If you are on island in the winter months, ideally December-February, keep an ear open with regards to what is happening on the North Shore of the island. The winter months can bring monstrous swells which mean one thing: it’s time to catch some of the the world’s best surfers as they take on Pipeline, Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay. We were lucky enough to be there when the Volcom Pipeline Pro was called on and also caught an “almost” event for the Eddie Aikau. Pack a cooler, sunscreen and hat and head up to the North Shore early in the morning to find yourself a parking spot and good vantage point on the beach and prepare for a day of watching the worlds best in action!

snorkel at Electric Beach

When we were told by a local Hawaiian that this was THE most recommended place to snorkel, we knew we had to check it out! Just picture it: a calm bay with a small sandy beach leading into the ocean, warm water being pumped from a pipe attracting schools of colourful fish, turtles munching on coral and if you’re super lucky, you might even come across dolphins! Not to mention, the water clarity was fantastic all winter long! This immediately became one of our favourite places to snorkel when we lived in Oahu.

Catch a sunrise or sunset

There are no shortages on places to go to catch epic sunrises and sunsets, from ocean views to ridge views, Oahu has it all. Read through my top suggestions here, but just know, you can never go wrong with wherever you are! Best Sunrise and Sunset Views

Hike the pali notches

If I had to chose one, this would be my favourite hike on the island. It is one we repeated often and brought friends to. Park at the Pali Lookout parking lot and find your way up the dirt slope. The trail will become more obvious as you go and a short but very steep, and often muddy, climb up through the forest leads to an expansive view to the East and West side of the island. When you come out of the forest, you do not need to hike far to find a small perch of land and take in all the views! As you approach the Notches (man made into the cliff to house canons to defend the island during the 18th century) be mindful of trail conditions and your own experience. The ridge is narrow and there is no room for slips or errors without serious consequences. We were happy to go as far as the first notch however the ridge does continue quite a ways beyond.

Find more of my favourite hikes on the island here: Five Best Hikes on Oahu