Oahu is famous for places like Waikiki, Lanikai Beach, and the North Shore, but some of our favorite spots on the island are the ones most visitors completely miss.

From hidden beaches and jungle waterfalls to sea caves, quiet coves, and unforgettable wildlife experiences, these are the lesser-known places that made us fall even more in love with Oahu.

If you’re looking for the best hidden gems in Oahu and want to add a few unique stops beyond the usual tourist itinerary, these are the secret spots we genuinely think are worth your time!

Mermaid Caves (One of the Best Hidden Gems on Oahu)

Near Kalanianaʻole Beach on Oahu’s west side, Mermaid Caves is one of the most unique natural spots on the island. Just a short walk across the lava rock from the beach, you’ll find an opening in the rock that leads down into a hidden cave and small beach below.

Inside, the cave is even prettier than it looks from above. The waves come rushing in through the opening and the sunlight coming through the holes above lights up the water below. It was one of our favorite spots for photos because the water looked so bright and blue.

The climb down is a little awkward, but there is a rock below that helps make it easier. The ceiling inside is pretty low, so just be prepared to crouch once you’re inside.

Good To Know: It’s important to only enter during low tide, as strong waves can rush in quite far at high tide, making it too dangerous. Otherwise, this is such a gorgeous and special place to chill out and take a dip in the water.

Waimano Falls: Rope Swing Waterfall Hike on Oahu

Oahu has surprisingly few waterfalls with pools deep enough to swim in, but Waimano Falls is our favorite, especially with the rope swing at the lower Falls. If you’re looking for one of the best waterfall hikes on Oahu, this one is definitely worth adding to your itinerary.

The hike is just under 3 miles round trip and starts on a paved path, but it gets a bit trickier as you go with steep descents, tree roots, and muddy sections. We found it to be the kind of hike that feels adventurous without being too long, and the scenery along the way is beautiful with lush greenery and occasional views out over the hills.

At the end of the trail, you’re rewarded with a beautiful two-tier waterfall surrounded by lush greenery. The lower falls has a deep swimming hole and the rope swing, which makes it such a fun spot to spend some time. The upper falls is a bit larger and gets more sunlight, which gives the water a beautiful turquoise color.

The trail can get very muddy after rain, so we’d definitely recommend wearing shoes with good grip.

Swim with Wild Dolphins on Oahu’s West Coast

Some of the most spectacular sights in Oahu are in the water just off its shore, and the various species of dolphins that swim there are a must-see. Booking a boat tour is the best way to get reliable, close-up views of dolphins, while also adhering to the strict guidelines for dolphin interactions.

During our time living on Oahu, dolphin tours were one of our absolute favorite experiences on the island. We ended up going multiple times with different companies and had an amazing time every single trip.

As you ride out on the water, pods of spinner dolphins will often approach the boat and swim and jump alongside you, which is still one of the coolest things to see. Watching them leap out of the water and spin was one of our favorite parts of the tour. While you are not allowed to get in the water to observe spinner dolphins, many tours head farther offshore where you may have the chance to get in the water to observe spotted or bottlenose dolphins if they are seen that day.

The west coast of Oahu has calm water and an abundance of marine life, so most tours depart from here. This side of the island is incredibly scenic when viewed from the ocean, so be sure to take a moment to appreciate it.

You may get the chance to see other wildlife on your tour in addition to dolphins, such as monk seals, turtles, or humpback whales during winter.

If this is something you’re thinking about adding to your Oahu itinerary, it’s absolutely one of the experiences we recommend most. Since we’ve gone multiple times with different companies, I’ve listed the three tours we personally had the best experiences with below to help make choosing one easier.

If you want a full breakdown of the best companies, what each tour includes, and which one we personally recommend most, you can read our full guide to the best dolphin tours in Oahu here.

Kawela Bay Beach: A Hidden North Shore Beach in Oahu

One of our favorite hidden beaches on Oahu is Kawela Bay, located on the North Shore just minutes from the famous Turtle Bay Resort. The beach is narrow and stretches for about 1.5 miles with a thick cluster of coconut and banyan trees lining the back of the beach, which provides some shade and protects from the wind.

The bay offers shelter from the large waves found elsewhere on the North Shore, which is why it’s one of our favorite calm beaches on Oahu when we want a more peaceful spot away from the crowds.

If you do want to get in the water, be sure to swim on the left side of the bay as there is fewer rocks there. This is a great beach for spotting sea turtles and in the winter, this beach is good area to spot whales from.

What makes this beach even more special is that the area has been featured in many movies and tv shows. The famous bayan tree on the trail leading to the beach was featured in movies such as The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, Pirates of the Caribbean, and Lost.

To get here, you can park at Turtle Bay Resort for free and walk over or you can park up the road near Kahuku Farms fruit stand where the path to the beach can be found across the road.

Swim with Sharks on Oahu’s North Shore

The north shore of Oahu is a haven for a number of shark species (particularly Galapagos) and getting in the water to see them up close in their natural habitat is a riveting experience.

There are companies that offer the chance to swim with or without a cage, as well as scuba dive or, if you’re not scuba certified, snorkel with the sharks. The crew that takes you out are very well versed in sharks, so they won’t just show you them, but they’ll teach you loads about them too on this once in a lifetime excursion.

The boat will take you out on what can be choppy waters, so if you’re prone to sea sickness, we recommend taking Dramamine beforehand. The views you will get of the north shore coastline and the Wai’anae Mountain range are gorgeous and you may spot dolphins or whales as you ride the water if you’re lucky. When we finally got to swim in the open water alongside the sharks, it was one of the most thrilling and surreal things we have done. We felt comfortable and safe the entire time and left with so much knowledge on sharks that dispelled the common myths that many people have about these majestic creatures.

Alan Davis Beach: A Secluded Cove Near Makapuʻu

Just a few minutes from our favorite coastal hike on Oahu, The Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail, is Alan Davis Beach, a secluded cove that offers a spacious beach to relax as well as superb water to swim in. To get to the beach, you’ll park in the same parking lot as the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail. At the very start of the trail, you’ll see the paved trail branch off into a dirt path. This is the path you’ll take to Alan Davis Beach.

The walk is rocky and takes about 10 minutes to get there, but you’ll be greatly rewarded with a beautiful beach nestled in a cove. In our experience, we have always had plenty of room to ourselves and found some shaded areas to set up on the edges of the beach. The water is shallow and sheltered from large waves, making it perfect for a refreshing dip. The left-hand side of the beach features a small trail that takes you up to a series of rocks where you will often find people jumping off into the water below. The deeper water here and the schools of fish swimming around make it a good snorkel spot, but it can be a bit choppier out here as opposed to closer to the beach.

Byodo-In Temple: One of Oahu’s Most Peaceful Hidden Gems

Byodo-In is a beautiful Buddhist temple that will make you feel as though you have set foot in Japan when you visit. Located at the foot of the Ko’olau mountain range and circled by trees, the beauty and tranquility of the temple’s natural surroundings was the first thing we noticed.

The temple’s architecture and intricate design is really impressive inside and out. It’s also surrounded by a lush garden featuring meditation areas and a reflecting pond that is home to swans, doves, peacocks, and hundreds of Koi fish.

Byodo-In temple is a non-practicing Buddhist temple that welcomes visitors of all faiths for an afternoon of peace and to enjoy the beauty of the grounds. It is so serene here and just walking the grounds around the temple is an uplifting experience. Parking is available at the grounds, and tickets to enter the temple are $5 for adults and $2 for children.

Turtle Canyon Snorkeling Tour

One of Hawaii’s greatest attractions is the aquatic paradise off its coasts and Turtle Canyon is the perfect place to see this for yourself. Located about a mile off Waikiki Beach, the reef offers superb snorkeling with its crystal-clear and calm water, as well as its abundant marine life. As the name suggests, you will find plenty of Hawaiian green sea turtles in these waters, where the rest on the sea floor but will periodically swim to the surface for air. You will be treated to an amazing view of the turtles, in addition to many species of tropical fish and beautiful coral.

Given that it’s quite far from shore, Turtle Canyon is accessed via a boat tour, of which there are many you can book in Honolulu. The ride out to sea gives you a scenic view of the city skyline with the surrounding hills and mountains. When we went, the crew was very knowledgeable and helpful in ensuring we made the most of our time snorkeling.

Kahuku Farms Tour on Oahu’s North Shore

Agriculture has been and remains an important pillar of Hawaiian culture, and Kahuku Farms welcomes you to learn about how it intertwines with the local community.

The farm, located on the north side of Oahu, was founded by two families and it produces delicious apple bananas, papayas, chocolate, and acai berries. Today, it’s the 4th generation of these families who operate the farm and all the passion and knowledge they have for what they do is quickly apparent upon arrival.

We recommend signing up for the guided tour, where you will travel in a tractor-pulled wagon and see the process of bringing goods from farm to table. To get a greater sense of the high quality, flavorful products from Kahuku Farms, visit the on-site cafe. Here, you can try the fruity smoothies, paninis, warm banana bread, and refreshing acai bowls, all made with the freshest ingredients on the island.

Paradise Cove Beach and Snorkeling Spot

When it comes to beaches that are small in size yet exceptionally beautiful, Paradise Cove takes the cake. This public beach is found on the west coast and features shallow water that’s sheltered from waves, which makes it perfect for snorkeling with young families.

Hawaiian green sea turtles frequently make their way into these waters, along with various beautiful species of fish. Monk seals also often swim into this cove and make their way onto the sand to bathe in the sun. It’s important to remain 50 feet (15 meters) from them at all times.

Parking is very limited here as there arej only 10 spots (plus 1 handicap spot), so if you get here on the earlier side of the morning it would be ideal. A couple of times, we arrived to find a row of cars queuing up for a parking spot and ended up waiting for 30+ minutes before we could hit the beach. However, it’s so picturesque and peaceful at Paradise Cove that the wait is always worth it. There are no bathrooms or showers available here, nor are there shops or restaurants particularly close so pack drinks and snacks.

Upper Makua Cave Hike on Oahu’s West Side

Makua Cave (also Kaneana Cave) is a charming, elevated cave on the island’s north-west side that provides great scenery of the western coastline. The hike is not terribly long at less than a mile round trip (20-30 minutes each way) and pairs really nicely with a hike to Kaena Point, just up the road. The cave is a couple hundred feet deep and it’s worth exploring with the flashlight on your phone.

You will park on a dirt car park on the ocean side of Farrington Highway, next to the Ka’ena Point State Park sign, then cross the road where the trail begins. Firstly, you will make your way across the grass until the trail becomes steeper and takes you up the side of the mountain, there are some loose rocks here so be mindful. Once you’re about 500 feet up, the path will veer to the right and will take you to the upper Makua Cave and the gorgeous views that come with it.

Kaʻena Point: One of the Most Scenic Hikes in Oahu

Ka’ena Point State Park is the westernmost point of Oahu and offers beautiful coastal views and a remote nature reserve, which is a sanctuary for seabirds and monk seals. This reserve is fenced off and is critical in shielding the birds from predators and provides a vital nesting place for Laysan Albatross’.

We observed the birds flying around and doing mating dances, which was an amazing reward for making the hike there. There are two trails you can hike to reach Ka’ena Point, the Mokule’ia section (from the north shore), and the Keawa’ula section (from the west). Neither trail has major elevation but there is no shade so plenty of water and sunscreen is a must.

Hiking on the trail from the west side is about 5-mile round trip to the nature reserve and back, and along the way, you will enjoy sights such as sandy coves, a sea arch and waves crashing over the rocks. The trail is well defined and sturdy, but some areas may be rocky and be sure to keep an eye out for the remains of an old train track that was damaged in a tsunami in 1946. The trail from the north shore is approximately an 8-mile round trip and a bit sandier and rocker than the west side, with stunning views of the Wai’anae Mountain range as well as the coast, where there are some swimmable tide pools.

Mokuleʻia Beach (Lost Beach): A Quiet Hidden Beach in Oahu

The secluded Mokuleia Beach on the north shore is a stark contrast to the crowded beaches next to the resorts and towns, elsewhere on Oahu. The serene, undisturbed beach stretches for miles and, when we spent an afternoon here, it felt as though we had stepped back in time to when tourism and large scale development was absent on the island. In fact, this beach is so remote, that it’s where a lot of season 1 of the Lost TV series was filmed.

At certain times in the year the water is quite choppy but it’s normally a good place to swim, but keep in mind that there’s no lifeguard here. Lava rock is quite prevalent by the shoreline so take care getting in and out of the water. There’s some trees and bushes at the back of the beach that may give you some shade, however we recommend bringing an umbrella to limit time spent in the sun. There is plenty of parking by the park, right next to the beach, and there was also a porta potty when we were there but no permanent bathrooms.

Greenworld Coffee Farms Tour

Visit this local coffee farm in the center of the island and learn all about the process of producing and processing coffee beans, while getting some taste tests of the finished product along the way.

Greenworld Farms offers free guided tours, and no fee or reservation is required; it’s simply on a first-come, first-served basis. The 7-acre farms used to grow pineapples but through careful planning and a love for coffee, the owners improved the soil conditions and built up the farm to what it is today.

The farm and all of its dedicated staff do a nice job of creating a whole experience around their coffee, from walking around the garden admiring the coffee plants, to seeing first-hand how they roast their beans.

You can buy bags of coffee beans to take home, which make great gifts for any coffee lovers in your life. The farm shop also sells tea, souvenirs, and high-quality self-care products made from natural resources on the island.

Waikiki Friday Night Fireworks Boat Cruise

A great feature in Waikiki is the weekly fireworks show that takes place on Friday evenings and watching the show on a boat cruise is by far the best way to enjoy it. You will set off in time to watch the sunset from the water while having some snacks and drinks as the party atmosphere builds. Your boat will then position itself so that you have an amazing, unobstructed view of the fireworks with the Honolulu skyline in the background, the perfect way to kickstart your weekend.

The Most Scenic McDonald’s on Oahu

Everyone likes to eat some fast-food from time to time and Oahu is home to arguably the most scenic McDonalds restaurant in the world. Located in Kane’ohe (45-480 Kaneohe Bay Dr), on the east side of the island, as you place your order at the drive thru, you will enjoy a gorgeous backdrop of the lush Ko’olau Mountains along with tropical palm trees in the foreground. This will be the only time where you won’t mind your order taking a little longer to prepare, allowing you an extra few minutes to soak in the stunning views.