Travel Guide For The South Shore Of Oahu

One of the things that I love so much about Oahu is that even though we live there, it’s still a huge tourist destination. I can’t even begin to count the number of times someone has reached out to me on Facebook and said “Hey Kait, I’m coming to Oahu Hawaii in a couple months and know that you live there, so I wanted to reach out and see if you had any recommendations for things to do?” OH YES, YES I DO! Particularly when it comes to the area of Waikiki (and beyond) which is referred to as Oahu’s South Shore. 

 

The hard part for me is always breaking down what I recommend into digestible portions. Do you like hiking? Do you want to shop? Sight see? Swim? You see where this is going. Today I’m sharing 5 must see places on Oahu’s South Shore — think in and around Honolulu. Of course, Honolulu is a really big place, so these are some of the more off-the-beaten path recommendations. If that’s what you’re interested in, then today’s post on South Shore Oahu is for you!

Kakaako is a community that has a lot to offer in terms of restaurants, bars, shops…and painted wall murals. This colorful wall is one of many planted amongst the otherwise ordinary buildings. They are all so well done and re-done frequently, so it’s always worth visiting over and over!

 

Whether you like to hike, explore nature or sight see — Diamond Head State Monument is for you. It’s (in my opinion) the easiest hike on Oahu and offers some spectacular views of Honolulu. I promise, you will not be disappointed.

 

The beaches of Waikiki are famous for a reason — turquoise water, powder-like sand and lots of supremely awesome people watching. Not to mention, you can stroll right up to Duke’s for a world-famous Mai Tai and if it’s a Sunday, listen to the incredible live music! Don’t miss my top 10 things to do in Waikiki! While you’re there, peek inside the basement of the Royal Hawaiian Hotel to see a mini museum for FREE!

 

This is a popular surfing spot on the island, but I am not nearly skilled enough to take on the swells in this particular area. We prefer to take our coffee down and enjoy the peaceful rolling of the ocean waves….from the safe watching zone of the rocks above.

 

Okay, I’m just going to preface this by saying that anytime I can get in a good workout AND see some amazing views — I’M IN. That being said, if physical fitness isn’t your forté, this might not be for you. But I really, really encourage you to try. They say it’s nature’s stair master and I don’t disagree, but the views are SO worth it.

 

Have you ever traveled to Oahu? What was your favorite spot? If you liked this post, you might also enjoy 19 Amazing Brunch Spots On Oahu, The Insider’s Guide to Oahu or The Ultimate Hotel Guide To Oahu.