Places to Visit on Oʻahu
Most locals never step foot in Waikīkī. There are exceptions, like me, but for the most part Waikīkī is a neighborhood built for tourists. Except for Ko ʻOlina, another gorgeous visitor enclave, we live, eat, play and gather everywhere else on the island. This is great news for you dear traveler, because this means there is so much to explore outside of the hotel districts. Honolulu, what we call “Town,” comprises several neighborhoods, all with their own personality. Waikīkī is one of those neighborhoods, but so is Chinatown, Downtown, Kaimukī, Kakaʻako and Mānoa, just to name a few. These are all neighborhoods full of culture and history that can easily be reached from Waikīkī by bus or rideshare to explore restaurants, museums, galleries, markets, shops, bars and street murals. Outside of Town, there is Kailua, Kaneohe and Waimānalo on the Windward Side with beautiful beaches, hikes and more eating and shopping. Wahiawa — often mistakenly considered just “a town on the way to the North Shore” — with its coffee shops, meadery, restaurants and artisan shops could fill a day on its own. And there is an entire coast of beautiful beaches and hikes, not to mention Oʻahu’s two largest organic farms, on the West Side to be explored. Again, this is just to name a few! If you are a return visitor or want to get out of the tourist neighborhoods, I recommend renting a car, enduring the traffic (it’s not going anywhere, sorry), and venturing out to the rest of the island to see what awaits.
SBOʻahu neighborhoods by character
Kaimukī
Kaimukī is one of the best neighborhoods on Oʻahu for food, coffee shops and bars. Here, you can find a wide variety of cuisines in a range of price points from modern Vietnamese to Himalayan. There is also great shopping here in the form of small mom-and-pop boutiques and curated gift shops. Kaimukī is a big residential neighborhood with Wai’alae Avenue acting as its main thoroughfare. Everything to see and do is on this street or at most a block or two off. It’s about a 10-15 minute drive from Waikīkī and accessible by TheBus, BIKI and rideshare. Come any day of the week. Coffee shops open as early as 7 a.m. and restaurants stay open until around 9:30 p.m. If you love shopping, eating and drinking youʻll love Kaimukī. If you are looking for beach action or museums, skip it.
Kakaʻako
There are two sides to Kakaʻako. SALT at our Kakaʻako is a shopping complex that includes restaurants, bars, coffee shops and boutiques surrounded by blocks of street art and breweries. Ward Village is home to luxury condos, high-end restaurants, Whole Foods and South Shore Market — a shopping center with local brands and eateries — walking distance to Ala Moana Beach Park. Both are fantastic dining destinations and fun areas to hang out in, especially for young adults. You can get to this neighborhood in about 20 minutes by car or take TheBus, BIKI or a rideshare. Public parking lots are free in Ward Village, you’ll have to pay at SALT. If you are on a tight budget, I’d skip this neighborhood, or just come to walk around and look at the murals.
Chinatown
Chinatown is the best neighborhood on O’ahu for dining and nightlife. There are dozens of places to eat from Asian markets, street food stalls and bakeries to trendy coffee shops and award-winning restaurants. If you’re into vintage clothing, this is a fun neighborhood to shop in. Local brands like Sig Zane and Roberta Oaks also have shops here. There is tons to see if you are into art or want to learn about the various cultures that make up Hawai’i. Don’t be afraid of its grungy exterior, Chinatown is a gem of a neighborhood. It’s about a 20-30 minute drive from Waikīkī depending on traffic. All parking is paid here. Municipal lots are the most affordable. Your best bet is to arrive via TheBus, BIKI or a rideshare. Weekend evenings are particularly festive and attract a younger crowd who often start lining up for bars around 10 p.m. If you would rather hang out at the beach, this is not the neighborhood for you.
Kailua
Kailua has become a popular destination for visitors over the past decade. Besides the beach there is boutique shopping, restaurants, coffee shops and great options for ice cream or a shave ice. Since Kailua is spread out more than the other neighborhoods on this list, the best way to visit is by car. It takes about 30 minutes to get here via the Pali Highway. Some parking like the lots at Whole Foods, Foodland and Longs are free for shoppers, but the rest of Kailua Town is metered. Weekends are the busiest, so try to come during the week if possible. Kailua is a great option for travelers of all ages. If you want to learn more about culture and history, visit Chinatown and Downtown instead. Kailua is a beach town.
Haleʻiwa Town
Haleʻiwa is the North Shore’s beach town, known for shave ice, food trucks and surf shops close to world famous beaches. Although definitely catering to tourists, Hale’iwa is also home to locals so you’ll find a good mix of both. This is one of the farthest neighborhoods from Waikīkī, so definitely rent a car. It takes at least an hour to reach, more during high traffic hours. Aim to arrive in the morning and leave by no later than 3 p.m., otherwise youʻll be stuck in traffic for sure. Or, wait the traffic out with dinner and sunset on the beach. Haleʻiwa is for beach lovers who like to shop and don’t mind sitting in traffic. If you are light on patience or want to avoid crowds, I’d skip it.
Best neighborhood by type of visitor
This section offers neighborhood recommendations based on what kind of traveler you are. Find the archetype that best describes you.
- Best for first-time Oʻahu visitors: For first-time visitors, you should definitely explore Waikīkī. It may be the most touristy neighborhood on the island, but it’s also one of the most fun. Since you are likely staying here — this is where most of the hotels are — you’ll be walking-distance to everything, making it convenient and low stress to get around. There are lots of people out on the streets, shopping, stopping for poke and acai bowls, going to the beach — doing exactly what you are doing. It’s basically one big party, seven days a week.
- Best for repeat visitors wanting something less touristy: Kaimukī is a great place to spend the day if you are looking to get out of the tourist district. It’s only about a 10 minute drive or 15 minute bus trip from Waikīkī and the weather is just as nice. This is an opportunity for you to see how some people live on Oʻahu. Surrounded by homes, Waiʻalae Avenue is the main hub for which life revolves around. This is where youʻll find locals playing basketball or pickleball in the park, working or congregating at coffee shops, dining and shopping. My recommendation is to start at The Curb (a neighborhood coffee shop) on Waiʻalae and 8th Avenues and work your way down the street, ending with lunch or dinner at the Pig and The Lady on Waiʻalae and Wilhelmina Rise.
- Best for history buffs: For an exciting day learning about Hawaiian history, visit downtown Honolulu. This is where you are going to find the most things to see consolidated in one area, including ʻIolani Palace, Capital Modern Art Museum, Honolulu Hale and the King Kamehameha I statue. Book a tour guide (required for ʻIolani Palace) or take your own walking tour. Parking can be difficult here, so I recommend taking the bus or a rideshare. Come early, bring your camera and be prepared to do some walking. Youʻll be amazed at how different downtown is from Waikīkī.
- Best for art lovers: If you want to see the most street art consolidated in one area, come to Kakaʻako. This is where World Wide Walls (formerly POW! WOW! Worldwide) — a global network of artists — has been painting colorful murals on almost every street since 2011. It’s a 20-30 minute drive or bus from Waikīkī to SALT at our Kakaʻako — most of the murals are located in and around this area. There are coffee shops, restaurants, bars and breweries nearby to make an afternoon of it.
- Best for food lovers: Chinatown is the best neighborhood on Oʻahu for food. Not only do you have a diverse selection of cuisines here, but also some of the best restaurants on the island. On and around Hotel Street have the high profile and newer restaurants. On and around Maunakea Street have markets, smoothie shops and dim sum. Keep walking, there are fun Irish pubs, dive bars and eateries around every corner from Nimitz to Beretania between River and Bethel. Chinatown is one of the best neighborhoods for shopping too. Something to do in between all those meals and cocktails!
- Best for beer drinkers: Kakaʻako is the best Oʻahu neighborhood for beer lovers with the highest concentration of breweries. Take the bus or a rideshare from Waikīkī — about 20-30 minutes away — and walk from brewery to brewery. There are several to visit including Honolulu Beerworks, Hana Koa Brewing, Aloha Beer Co. and Howzit Brewing. There are plenty of restaurants and eateries in between to help you soak up those suds.
Getting there from Waikīkī
I suggest renting a car to go to Haleʻiwa on the North Shore or Kailua on the Windward Side. You’ll experience the least amount of traffic getting there on the weekends, although the destinations themselves will be more crowded on Saturday and Sunday. Ordering a rideshare is a fairly affordable option if you are going to Kaimukī, Kakaʻako or Chinatown, and preferable due to the lack of free parking options. If those are out of your budget, all of these neighborhoods can be reached by taking TheBus.
- Kaimukī: About 15 minutes by car. Parking is not free and can be difficult to find. Taking TheBus (13 or 7) or rideshare are the best options.
- Kakaʻako: About 20-30 minutes by car, depending on traffic. A 30 minute walk from Ala Moana Center. Parking is not free and can be difficult to find. Taking TheBus (42) or rideshare are the best options.
- Chinatown: About 20-30 minutes by car, depending on traffic. Parking is not free and can be difficult to find. Taking TheBus (2, 2L or 13) or rideshare are the best options.
- Kailua: About 30 min by car via the Pali Highway. Parking in town is not free and can be difficult to find. Parking near beaches is also difficult. Taking TheBus is also an option, but can take over an hour (E, then transfer to 66 or 67).
- Haleʻiwa: About 60–75 minutes by car, depending on traffic. Parking is free, but difficult to find. TheBus takes at least two hours and requires a transfer (2, 2L or E, then transfer to 52)
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Sarah Burchard
Editor · Oʻahu
Sarah Burchard has called Oʻahu home since 2017. A Honolulu-based freelance writer and editor, she covers food, culture and travel for publications including Hawaii.com, Hana Hou, FLUX Hawaiʻi, Forbes, Hawaiʻi Magazine and Honolulu Magazine. What keeps her rooted here goes beyond the balance of city life and sunny beaches — it is the people, the values and the culture of aloha that make her stay. Sarah is also a devout yogi and regularly volunteers with ʻāina-based organizations across the island. Read more of her work at sarahburchard.com.
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