Hiking is one of the best ways to explore Oʻahu’s diverse terrain. The island boasts miles of trails, including hikes to waterfalls, across ridges and to the top of summits. Here are the 5 best hikes on Oʻahu, according to HAWAIʻI Magazine’s 2026 Readers’ Choice Awards. 1. Diamond Head Summit Trail Leading to the summit […]
The Pan-Pacific Festival returns to Oʻahu for another year of cultural celebrations. From June 12 to 14, events will take place at various locations from Ala Moana to Waikīkī. More than 1,000 visitors from Japan are expected to participate in the festival, along with more than 2,500 local performers and participants. The free event attracted more
I’ve never fished in my life, so I’m a little nervous as I drive up to a fish farm on a Monday afternoon. It’s a holiday, so kids are out of school, and cars pull up one after another. Families line a pond that’s 20 yards wide, 70 yards long and 7 feet deep, with
Whether it’s at the spa, fitness center or through place-based activities, resorts across Hawaiʻi are expanding their offerings to help guests explore unique wellness practices. From utilizing state-of-the-art technology to tapping into traditional wisdom, guests can discover new ways to reconnect with themselves and the island’s natural surroundings. 1. Vibroacoustic Experience at SpaHalekūlani Spa guests are invited to explore the art of renewal at SpaHalekūlani. Tucked in a
It may have seemed like your typical lū‘au—except, maybe, for the horses. But if you know the history of O‘ahu’s North Shore, where the Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay is perched, it all makes sense. The North Shore was once home to cattle ranches, where paniolo, or Hawaiian cowboys, worked the land on horseback. In fact, the hotel
Tucked on Oʻahu’s Windward Side, the once-sleepy town of Kailua often charms visitors and locals with its go-with-the-flow vibe and sandy coastlines. Just one look at Kailua Beach and Lanikai, and you’ll be enamored, and you might even be tempted to wake up before dawn to watch the sunrise from the top of Kaʻiwa Ridge.
The soft glow of the string lights shines down on groups of customers, some seated at a high top while others play giant Jenga around a picnic table, and a few dance to a local funk band called The New Salts. This place, “it’s about bringing the sugar mill back to life,” says Nate Sisler,
In Hawaiʻi, we’re decking the halls across the Islands at holiday parades, light shows and pop-up events. On Oʻahu, you don’t want to miss ’Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice, a spectacular 56,0000-square-foot wonderland. Held at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center, ’Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice, presented by American Savings Bank, is
Just in time for the winter surf season, The Ritz-Carlton Oʻahu, Turtle Bay is bringing back its iconic bar. After a five-year closure, Surfer, The Bar returns as a pop-up from Dec. 5 to 13, welcoming kamaʻāina and resort guests to kick off surf season on the North Shore. While at the resort, it seems
It may be hard to believe, but there are certainly signs winter has arrived in Hawaiʻi. On Oʻahu, you know it’s the holiday season when a jolly 21-foot Santa Clause is throwing a shaka outside of Honolulu Hale. The annual Honolulu City Lights is one of the most anticipated festivals every year. Residents and visitors
ʻIolani Palace invites guests to walk its halls during its Queen Kapiʻolani Evening Tours in late December. The experience celebrates the queen’s birthday, with tours available only on Dec. 27 and Dec. 28. Tickets are available now. “In the evening light, you feel the presence of our aliʻi in these halls,” said Paula Akana, president
While growing up on Maui, it was always a treat to visit Oʻahu. Here, the energy is electric, from the crazy shorebreak at Sandy Beach and the bustling nightlife of Waikīkī to the trailblazing adventures of Kualoa Ranch. Oʻahu is the third-largest Hawaiian Island. However, it’s also “the Gathering Place,” home to about 1 million
