The Most Unforgettable Things You Can Do in Hawaii Before You Fly Home
When you’ve gotta narrow it down to the five best things to do in Hawaii, there’s usually a reason: time. Maybe you’ve got 5 days. Maybe only 3. Maybe you’ve somehow managed to squeeze Hawaii into a long weekend—which is slightly insane, but hey, people do it.
Either way, you don’t want to get home and have your mom, best friend, or annoyingly well-traveled coworker say, “Wait…you went all the way to Hawaii and you didn’t do that?”
Shucks.
The Good News?
The 5 best things to do in Hawaii—especially the ones that won’t require taking out a second mortgage—aren’t exactly state secrets. Stop 3 locals and ask them what a visitor absolutely has to do. Then stop 2 tourists who’ve been there for 48 hours. I’d bet there’s an 80%–90% chance their lists overlap with this one, perhaps minus 1 thing and plus another.
1. Deluxe Snorkeling & Cruise by Living Ocean Tours
Living Ocean Tours’ Deluxe Waikiki Snorkeling and Wildlife Cruise is good for 20-somethings, teenagers, families, couples—pretty much everyone. It’s one of those tours where all ages can have a good time for different reasons.
There’s snorkeling at Rainbow Reef, but there’s also a waterslide, water trampoline, and floating lily pad.
The boat cruises along the Waikiki coastline toward Diamond Head before stopping for around 90 minutes in the water. Some people snorkel and look for tropical fish and Hawaiian green sea turtles, some head straight for the slide, and others are perfectly happy staying on the boat and watching everything from there.
That’s probably what makes this one such an easy choice for a mixed group. Nobody has to be a strong swimmer, nobody has to snorkel the whole time, and there’s enough going on that a 16-year-old, a couple in their 20s, and parents with younger kids can all come back saying, “That was fun.”
If seeing as many turtles as possible is the main goal, Living Ocean’s Turtle Canyon tour would be the better pick. But for an exciting snorkeling trip with a bit more going on, I’d choose the Deluxe Waikiki Snorkeling and Wildlife Cruise.
2. Go to a Luau: Toa Luau
A big part of any place is its food—its cuisine. Bacon tastes different in Italy. Rice somehow tastes different in China. And food in Hawaii? Well, for most visitors, it tastes different too.
Partly because you’re eating things you probably don’t eat every Tuesday night at home. Partly because Hawaii has its own mix of Polynesian, Asian, American, and local influences. And partly because, let’s face it, food just seems to taste better when you’re on vacation.
Which brings us to one of the most popular—and surprisingly affordable—things you can do in Hawaii: go to a luau.
You can book one for lunch or dinner.
You arrive, walk inside, and somewhere along the way a beautiful Hawaiian girl places a lei around your neck.
You need this to happen at least once while you’re in Hawaii. I’m pretty sure it’s tourist law.
3. Turtle Canyon Snorkel by Living Ocean Tours
There are certain things that become unofficial symbols of a destination.
Italy? The Colosseum.
Paris? Eiffel Tower.
Hawaii?
Well…if we’re talking wildlife, I’d put the honu very, very high on the list.
You don’t have to see a Hawaiian green sea turtle while you’re there. But you should at least try.
Hawaii welcomed about 9.64 million visitors in 2025, and snorkeling remains one of its major vacation activities. Around 43% of U.S. West visitors and 40% of U.S. East visitors reported snorkeling in a recent state survey. In other words: this isn’t some niche little thing 2% of adventurous tourists do. Millions of people are putting on masks and looking beneath Hawaii’s surface every year.
And plenty of them are hoping for one particular silhouette.
The honu.
They’re the most commonly encountered sea turtle in Hawaiian waters, and they can become seriously impressive animals—up to about 4 feet long, more than 350 pounds, with lifespans estimated at 70+ years.
So when you see turtle shapes on local artwork, jewelry, signs, shirts, and surf-inspired designs, there’s more behind the image than “Turtles are cute.”
4. Food and Shopping on Kalakaua Avenue
When you visit somewhere new, you want to walk where everybody walks. Look in the shops. Hear the music coming from somewhere down the street. Buy something you absolutely did not need because, well…“I’m in Hawaii.”
Think about walking down Via del Corso in Rome. There’s an atmosphere there that you can’t really get from driving past it with the windows up. People are shopping, eating, talking, stopping, moving. Waikiki has the same energy along Kalakaua Avenue.
And the nice thing is, you don’t need $400 to enjoy it. Give yourself $20 or $30 and you can still have fun. Grab a cheap shave ice. Pick up a small souvenir. Buy something from one of the little stands or kiosks. Stop to watch a street performer for 5 minutes. Wander into an ABC Store and somehow emerge $17 poorer with snacks, sunscreen, and something with a turtle on it.
And when you’ve had enough shopping?
Cross over, take your shoes off, and plop yourself down on Waikiki Beach.
That part is free.
5. The North Shore by The Surf Bus
You’ve seen Hawaii surfing in movies.
You’ve seen the posters—the surfer, the enormous blue wall of water, somebody standing on the beach thinking, “There is absolutely no chance I’d get into that.”
But seeing it in person is different.
Especially on Oahu’s North Shore in winter.
Big-wave season generally runs from November through February, and this is when famous breaks such as Pipeline, Sunset Beach, and Waimea Bay can become wild. Waimea Bay helped establish big-wave surfing back in the 1950s, while Pipeline is still considered one of the world’s most dangerous surf breaks.
Fortunately, nobody says you have to participate.
There is a perfectly respectable surfing activity called:
Sitting down and watching somebody else do it.
That’s actually one reason I like The Surf Bus. Its North Shore Tour lasts around 9 hours and visits Sunset Beach, Pipeline, Waimea Bay, Haleiwa, and Turtle Beach. You can choose active things—kayaking, biking, snorkeling—or pick their beach option and relax and watch the surf.
When should you go?
For ordinary sightseeing, anytime.
For “Whoa! Look at THAT wave!” sightseeing, go between November and February. I’d personally go in December or January if the purpose of the tour is specifically to see Hawaii’s famous winter surf. Surf competitions tend to cluster around early winter too.
Best Things to Do in the Hawaiian Islands FAQs
What are kid-friendly things to do in Honolulu, Waikiki?
Family things to do in Honolulu usually include snorkeling, visiting the Honolulu zoo, a sunset cruise, and exploring the Kualoa Ranch.
Are there free things to do in Honolulu, Waikiki?
Yes. Some of the best things to do in Honolulu cost nothing at all. You can relax on Waikiki Beach, watch the sunset over the Pacific, hike Diamond Head (small entry fee for non-residents), or explore Kuhio Beach and its evening hula shows.
What are the best evening activities in Honolulu?
Popular evening things to do in Waikiki include beachfront dining, live music along the strip, and the Friday night fireworks display. Likewise, fun family things to do in Honolulu include sunset cruises and luaus, which are traditional Hawaiian feasts.
Do you need a car for things to do in Waikiki?
Not necessarily. Many things to do in Waikiki are within walking distance of major hotels. For activities outside the immediate area—like North Shore tours or Pearl Harbor—shuttles are widely available.
What outdoor activities are popular for families in Honolulu?
Outdoor family things to do in Honolulu include surfing lessons, snorkeling tours, stand-up paddleboarding, hiking Diamond Head, and boat cruises along the coastline.
