Who Decides What the Most Popular Excursions in Hawaii Are?
The people who actually go there.
Hawaii welcomed about 9.6 million visitors in 2025, including around 5.7 million to Oahu. That is an enormous number of vacations—and an enormous number of choices being made about what is worth spending a morning, an afternoon, or $100 on.
Watch what those visitors do and a pretty clear top group starts to form.
One of the places coming up in this list welcomes roughly 1.2 million people a year. Another has recorded around 800,000 visitors annually. And snorkeling? Depending on where visitors come from, roughly 4 out of every 10 mainland U.S. tourists get into the water and do it during their Hawaii vacation.
HAWAII’S WATER IS WARM
The water here is a balmy around 76–81°F, so there’s no surprise that snorkeling comes in at #1.
In Hawaii, the ocean stays inviting enough to swim in throughout the year, and that means people snorkel in July, November, even January. Yes, the water cools a little in winter and warms up again in summer, but people are still getting in with snorkel masks and fins 12 months of the year.
1. Turtle Canyon Snorkel by Living Ocean Tours
If you’re new to Hawaii, ask somebody who has been there for 4 or 5 days longer than you, “What have you enjoyed most so far?” and there’s a very good chance somebody pipes up with:
“Snorkeling with the turtles!”
Usually one of the kids says it first.
But this Living Ocean’s snorkeling cruise isn’t one of those activities that only kids like. Adults love it too. I did.
What surprised me most wasn’t even the turtles at first. It was the water. It was warm. I’m used to getting into the ocean and having that little “Oooh!” moment while your body adjusts. In Hawaii, I got in and thought, “Wait…this is actually comfortable.”
Then I looked down.
That was surprise #2.
I could actually see everything—the reef, the fish, the bottom…and, yes, the turtles. The water was so clear that when a honu moved below me, I wasn’t squinting through murky water trying to work out whether I was looking at a rock.
Once you’ve spent a few days in Hawaii, you realize how much the honu is part of the islands. You see turtles on jewelry, signs, artwork, shirts, and souvenirs. Then you finally see the real animal swimming underneath you.
That’s why turtle snorkeling gets my #1 spot.
2. Whale Watching Waikiki by Living Ocean Tours
Whale watching in Hawaii felt very different to me from seeing whales anywhere else. Maybe we just got lucky—and, to be fair, I think we did—but there seemed to be something happening all the time.
By the end, my friend and I had counted 17 whales. And we’re pretty sure they were 17 different ones. More impressive were the breaches: 4 in one trip. One came from a calf, which instantly became my favorite.
“Did you SEE that?”
Yes. Everybody saw that.
There is an important rule with humpbacks in Hawaii: boats have to stay at least 100 yards away. You can’t chase one down because you want a better photo or to position the boat in its path. But whales don’t know—or care—about your 100-yard rule. If they swim toward the boat, the boat has to give them space and let them pass. Two came surprisingly close to ours.
We went with Living Ocean Tours’ Whale Watching Waikiki Tour, which gives you a whale-sighting guarantee: see no whales and you can return for another trip during the same season.
Their Waikiki whale watch is 1.5 hours, leaves from Kewalo Basin Harbor, runs from January 2 through March 31, and currently starts at $49 per person.
I certainly didn’t need the guarantee.
17 whales. 4 breaches. 1 baby breach.
I’d call that a very good 90 minutes.
3. Hanauma Bay Guided Snorkel Tour by Pure Aloha Adventures
National Geographic puts Hanauma Bay snorkeling on its list of things worth doing on Oahu.
That said, you have 2 choices if you want to go there. You can make your own Hanauma Bay reservation, rent or bring snorkel gear, and find your own way around once you’re in the water. Or you can book somebody who has snorkeled that reef far more times than you ever will.
I’d choose the second.
Pure Aloha Adventures’ Hanauma Bay Guided Snorkel Tour keeps the group small—only 5 people maximum—and the guide actually gets into the water with you. You get the gear, a quick lesson if you need one, and about 60 minutes snorkeling with somebody who knows where to look.
Then, when the tour is finished, you can stay at Hanauma Bay and carry on snorkeling or lie on the beach for another 2 or 3 hours if you feel like it.
That’s why I’d pay for the tour. You’re not paying somebody just to hand you a mask. You’re paying for their knowledge of the bay.
4. Hike Diamond Head
Diamond Head is the enormous volcanic crater at the eastern end of Waikiki—the mountain-shaped landmark you see behind the beach in so many photographs of Honolulu. Its Hawaiian name is Lēʻahi, and it was formed roughly 300,000 years ago during a volcanic eruption. So when you climb Diamond Head, you’re climbing the rim of an old volcanic crater.
That’s a big part of why it belongs on an Oahu trip.
It’s also tied to Hawaii’s more recent history. The U.S. military built defensive positions here in the early 1900s because the summit gave such a wide view over the ocean. Parts of the trail you use today—including tunnels and stairs—were created as part of that military system.
And then there’s the view.
You climb about 560 feet from the crater floor. At the top, Waikiki sits below you with the Pacific stretching behind it.
The hike is only about 1.6 miles round trip, and most people spend around 1½–2 hours doing it. You don’t need to be a serious hiker, but you do need to be comfortable with an uphill walk, stairs, and heat. If steep steps or uneven ground are difficult for you, this probably isn’t the excursion to choose.
5. Visit Pearl Harbor
Everyone who visits Oahu should go to Pearl Harbor once.
December 7, 1941, changed the course of American—and world—history. More than 2,400 Americans were killed in the attack; the United States entered World War II the following day; and 80+ years later, you can stand in the exact place where much of that history happened.
The USS Arizona Memorial is the part I’d consider essential. You travel by boat across the harbor to the white memorial built over the sunken battleship, where more than 900 crewmen remain entombed.
For a first visit, I’d allow around 2–4 hours. That gives you time for the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center, exhibits, and USS Arizona Memorial program. History enthusiasts can easily spend 6–8 hours by adding places such as the Battleship Missouri, Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum, and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum.
Who should go? Almost everyone: couples, families with older children, seniors, and history lovers.
Who might not enjoy it? Very young children may struggle with several hours of exhibits and historical context.
Pearl Harbor isn’t “fun” in the normal vacation sense. That’s exactly why it belongs on a Hawaii trip. You’ll probably visit 10 beautiful beaches and forget the names of 7 of them. Pearl Harbor? You’re unlikely to forget that.
Best Waikiki Excursions 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.
