Note: The islands of Hawai‘i are heavily impacted and ravaged by overtourism and gentrification. Many indigenous-led organizations have called for tourists and wannabe residents to stop coming altogether. We urge you to heed this call.
That said, we know that the harmful effects of tourism won’t end overnight, and so have done our best to sum up our learnings and follow the lead of native communities upon whose land we visit, as well as ways we try to practice antiracism during our travels. Our hope is that this will help us be more responsible and respectful visitors. We’d love to hear your thoughts.
During a visit to O‘ahu when our child was three years old, my partner and I would often turn to each other and say, “That kid is living her best life.” Who wouldn’t be, when enjoying visits to the beach multiple times a week, warm weather, lush scenery, diverse culture, delicious food and treats, and the beautiful outdoors?
O‘ahu is a wonderful destination for the whole family, for all these reasons. For us, visiting O‘ahu with our toddler in tow was a way to gain fresh perspective about the island; pre-parenthood we’d had the privilege of visiting the island a handful of times each, so we’d already covered many of the must-sees on our list. Everything we now do with our toddler is the cherry on top!
Check out our top family-friendly recommendations on O‘ahu, below:
O‘ahu and the Kingdom of Hawai‘i are stolen and occupied lands of the Native Hawaiian people.
Our Values
When traveling we tend to avoid kid-centered activities, like the zoo or children’s museums, unless the adults are REALLY excited about those particular places. We’ve tried to prioritize spaces and destinations that are one-of-a-kind and which we feel are truly unique to the area.
That said, here’s what we suggest to keep you and your littles occupied on O‘ahu:
Top Recommended Activities for Young Families
Beach, beach, beach!
There are so many beautiful beaches on O‘ahu, and most are free to visit! Below are our favorite kid-friendly beaches.
- Free
- 2+ hours
Ala Moana Beach Park & Magic Island
This is one of our go-to beaches on the island. It is much less-crowded than Waikiki (which we typically avoid at all costs) but still has awesome views and is in close proximity to shops and restaurants. The waters are perfectly gentle for little ones. Take out your stand up paddleboard and say hi to the turtles swimming in the reef!
Ko Olina
We love the Ko Olina lagoons. These public lagoons on the west/Leeward side of the island are protected from the surf, so they are perfect spots for letting your toddler run loose to wade in the water or play in the sand.
There are four lagoons, each numbered and flanked by a resort (Disney’s Aulani–see our recommendation and parking pro-tip below–is adjacent to Lagoon 1). These are technically public beaches, with some free (albeit sparse) parking available; on multiple occasions we waited upwards of 30 minutes to get a spot. Lagoon 4 is the furthest from the Ko Olina gated entrance but has the largest parking lot and some additional open green space.
There are also plenty of shops and eateries located in the nearby Ko Olina resorts. You may even catch a glimpse of a passing Hawaiian Railway train!
The only downside is that the lagoons can be quite a trek from Honolulu. We recommend staying at one of the resorts in Ko Olina or in a nearby town, or having a car. From Waikiki, the one-way Lyft ride costs ~$70+ (we know from experience!).
Disney's Aulani
- 20+
- 2+ hours
If your kids and family are even remotely into Disney, visiting the empire’s Aulani Resort & Spa can be a magical experience. Even if you don’t stay at the $500++/night resort or attend a pricey character breakfast, you can still get a taste of resort-life by eating at one of the hotel restaurants or simply walking through the hotel on your way to the public Ko Olina lagoons.
Our friend’s pro tip: You can avail of free or discounted self-parking in the Aulani garage when you make a single purchase at the resort. So buy some food or cocktails from one of Aulani’s restaurants or snack shacks to get your parking validated, then beach it up!
On your way through the resort you’ll pass by statues and regalia that are all part of the Disney experience and may even catch a sighting of Mickey Mouse!
Hawaiian Railway Society & Museum ($10-$15/person ages 2+)
- $10-$15/person, ages 2+
- 3-4 hours
On Wednesdays and weekends the Hawaiian Railway Society’s open-air train takes riders on a scenic and guided ride from Ewa Beach to Electric Beach Park and back. The ticketed ride on the historic railway (established in the late 1800s) takes less than a couple hours total, and a little longer on Saturdays when the train makes a pit stop at Ko Olina where you can purchase ice cream, coffee, or snacks from one of the nearby shops.
If you have a moment, check out Hawai‘i’s only operating railroad museum. Our kiddo enjoyed checking out the large locomotives on display and watching the miniature trains whiz past.
Much as we had fun riding and checking out the miniature trains, we were even MORE excited to watch the train passing by when we were in Ko Olina later that day!
Hiking
Nānākuli Overlook
This 2.2-mile loop trail was a doable hike for our three-year-old, with a view of the overlook to greet us when we reached the top. We visited with friends and their one-year-old, who they hiked with in a baby carrier. Contact Camp Palehua in advance to reserve your visit.
Makapuʻu Lighthouse
This 2.5-mile hike is completely paved, but at-times steep and windy as you stroll up the hill. Our three-year-old did a decent job walking for a spell to look out at the ocean, but we also didn’t mind rolling her along in her stroller. Along the trail you’ll catch glimpses of the lighthouse and the Windward coast. If you’re lucky, you might even see some whales.
Hanauma Bay
Great for snorkeling and calm waters on the shore
- $25/person, ages 13+; $3 parking
- 3+ hours
I love Hanauma Bay State Park and historic preserve for the beautiful array of sea creatures that frequent its shores. I recommend it for families with kids who are comfortable swimming and snorkeling, or if you have multiple caregivers on-hand to take turns snorkeling and watching your littles.
When we visited last, our then-three-year-old was not a fan of dunking her head into the water, but could still make out some fish as she rode on her dad’s back while he snorkeled. Even if our kid didn’t get the “full” experience of snorkeling with the fish, my partner and I were content to simply hang out on the beach with her while we took turns snorkeling.
Be sure to book tickets in advance, as the park is only open Wednesdays-Sundays and the total number of guests per day is limited. Seriously–set an alarm for this one! Tickets go on sale at 7 a.m. two days in advance of your desired visit date, and you must choose a slot between the entry period (6:45 a.m.-1:30 p.m.). Bring your own snorkeling gear or rent some on the beach.
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden
Great for plant- and nature-lovers
- Free
- 3+ hours
Our visit to the botanical gardens in Kaneohe was as wondrous for me as it was for our little one. All around us was lush greenery, waterfalls flowing down the mountainsides, cool mist enveloping the mountains, and a plethora of flowers and trees.
We had fun having our own mini photo session on a hill from which we could see the hillsides and multiple mini-waterfalls behind us. Plus, the drive down the H3 is one of my favorites, ever, so be sure not to miss it!
Farmers Markets
Great for locally made treats and wares
- Free
- 1+ hours
I always love visiting farmers markets on our travels, as it’s a great way to buy local all in one place! Most markets that we’ve visited on O‘ahu have similar wares and vendors, but there are some that are unique to each market.
We’ve enjoyed the markets at Kapiolani Community College, Kaka’ako, and Windward Mall, as well as the Kailua Night Market. Find one that fits your schedule and location!
Aloha Stadium Swap Meet
Great for buying trinkets, aloha shirts and dresses, and snacks
- $2/person ages 12+
- 2+ hours
In another category of markets is the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet and flea market. Open Wednesdays and weekends until 3 p.m., the market provides affordable options for shopping and souvenirs.
We always come away with snacks and sweets from Ono Giant Shrimp Chips and Lin’s Hawaiian Snacks; aloha shirts; and matching bright colored island-print dresses.
I recognize that many of the wares sold at the flea market are imported from China and the Philippines. So while I understand the desire for cheap goods, I also want to acknowledge that most offerings are not locally made. Just something to keep in mind, but I’ll spare you my lectures and thoughts on globalization, for now.
Enjoy live music
Great for chill vibes and naptimes 😉
There are so many amazing artists and musicians that perform on O‘ahu. Check the schedule at Duke’s and Hula Grill at the Outrigger Waikiki or Halekulani’s House Without a Key to catch some tunes during a meal with beach views. We’ve also enjoyed going to Maui Brewing Co. for the live music and the coconut porter.
For a more upscale adults-night-out, catch a show at Blue Note Hawaii.
Dole Plantation
Great for the train ride and seeing pineapple fields
- Free+
- 3+ hours
This is a tourist-trap if you ever did see one, but if you steer clear of the shops you should be good.
We enjoyed getting Dole whip ice cream, riding the train through the pineapple fields ($11-$13/person for ages 4+), and walking through the native plant gardens.
Fun fact: each person can fly to the mainland U.S. with Hawaiian pineapples in tow. If you’re so inclined, you can purchase a pineapple in a travel safe box at the Dole Plantation to fly home with you.
Places You Can Skip
- The activities at Kualoa Ranch are not very kid-friendly, particularly for kids under 5. The one toddler-friendly option is to spend the day at Kualoa Ranch’s “Secret Beach,” though at $50 per person for admission, it doesn’t seem worth it in our book. What with all the other beaches there are to visit on the island…
- Maili Pillbox Hike (we’ll tell you why in another post…!)
Wishlist for our Next Visit
- Would love to try camping at the Botanical Gardens or one of the other campsites on the island
- Visit Waimea Valley
- Visit Polynesian Cultural Center
- Go to a luau
- Catch some turtle sightings
What are your favorite toddler-friendly activities on O‘ahu? Be sure to also check out our favorite eats on the island!
Angelica (she/her) is of Cebuano(Pilipinx)-descent and was born and raised in Huchiun Ohlone territory (the East Bay Area--pay your Shuumi Land Tax!), where she also now resides with her partner and their toddler. She loves to spend her time sipping on boba and dirty chai lattes (sometimes together), and eating pescetarian goodies at BIPOC-owned cafes and restaurants.
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