Many people inevitably had to cancel their Hawaii trips due to Covid-19 but now that restrictions have let up, there is no better time to visit Hawaii Honolulu. The current requirements to travel to Oahu are that you have to have a negative Covid-19 test from one of their trusted partners. If your test is not negative upon arrival, you’ll be subject to a mandatory 14 day quarantine. The trusted partners aspect of the test was the most challenging because there were only so many free testing locations in San Diego where I live and they only have so many appointments. We were able to get an appointment at Walgreens but then we had to wait the nerve-wrecking 24-72 hours for our results to come back. The night before our trip we still had not gotten our results. If we happened to be positive then we would have had to spend 14 days in Hawaii, which we certainly could not do. For peace of mind, we ended up getting a rapid test just to see if we were positive or not. Luckily, our test results were negative and we were on our way to Oahu, Hawaii. For some other travelers, they weren’t so lucky. We spoke with other people on the island and heard horror stories about how they had to quarantine at their hotel for 3 out of the 5 days of their entire trip while they waited for their test. When traveling to Hawaii during this time, it is important to be mindful and flexible to the fact that these things can happen. Get your test EARLY so that you can avoid all the havoc. You can certainly see Oahu in 4 days. I wouldn’t recommend staying longer unless you were going to island hop. In this post I’ll share some of the best things to do in Oahu, where to stay and how to find cheap flights to Hawaii.
THINGS TO DO IN HONOLULU
Typically when you visit Hawaii, you’ll want to check out some of the other beautiful island with Kauai and Maui being my favorites. However, the other islands are not as open as Oahu is. Also, you’ll need an additional Covid-19 test in order to hop from island to island. Don’t fret as there are plenty of things to do in Oahu. Oahu Hawaii has the largest population of all the islands. Many restaurants were open for dine-in. Some of the state national parks are closed which was a bummer. We wanted to hike Diamond Head but it was closed. We also missed out on a luau but we made the most of all the beautiful nature activities. Here are some other amazing activities:
Turtle Beach
TURTLE BEACH OAHU
You can actually see turtles on the beach. There’s no need to pay for an excursion to see the turtles. Rent a car and drive up to North shore to see these beauties resting on the shore. Whatever you do – don’t touch them!
SUNSET AT WAIKIKI BEACH
After spending time walking around Waikiki, catch some breathtaking views overlooking the ocean and the sunset. The water is always packed with surfers and it is amazing how far out into the ocean they park their boards to watch the sun go down.
LANA KAI HIKE & BEACH
My personal favorite beach on Oahu. The hike is short but mighty and has spectacular views. After the hike, walk down to the beach and get your toes in the sand.
Waimanalo Beach
WAIMANALO BEACH
Maunawili Falls Hike
A chiller, less crowded beach than Waikiki. The only thing is that there are many people experiencing homelessness camped out in tents along the parking lot.
HIKE MAUNAWILI FALLS TRAILHEAD
A beautiful hike with an even prettier waterfall at the end. This hike is an in and out trail. Be prepared to get muddy if it rained the night before. Speaking from personal experience. We went with a local who did the entire hike barefoot! If only I was half as outdoorsy as that.
HIKE KOKO CRATER HEAD – IF YOU DARE!
A level expert hike. This hike is mostly vertical where you actually have to climb up old railroad tracks.
Kayak to the Mokes
Kayak to the Mokes
SNORKEL HANAUMA BEACH OR TURTLE CANYON
You could purchase your own snorkel gear or embark on an excursion. All outdoor activities are open during the pandemic.
Cream Pot Restaurant – Amazing pancakes!
Cream Pot Restaurant – Amazing pancakes!
SNEAK INTO SOME FANCY POOLS
When I was younger, my dad always used to bring me to the fancy pools. If you buy a drink or eat at the restaurant, they usually won’t mind. There are two Hilton pools within a few miles of each other which have incredible pools – The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort and the Hilton Grand. The Hilton Grand has a private lagoon where you can rent paddleboards. Also, the Sheraton hands down has the best pool on the island, it even has a waterslide! However, you have to be super sneaky to get into this pool because they require wristbands hehe. The shops in the Sheraton are fun to walk around so I recommend just taking a peek at their pool mid-shop.
ZIPLINING – KUALOA
If you have some money to spend then check out the ziplining. Can’t go wrong with ziplining through the gorgeous terrain.
KAYAK THE MOKES
Rent a kayak and have them strap the kayaks to the roof of your car. The Mokes are two islands located just off of Wailea Point. Sometimes as you’re paddling you’ll see some turtles in the water. Paddling out to the Mokes will take you about 30-45 minutes. Once you arrive you can hang out and enjoy the island life.
FARMER’S MARKET
Indulge in the incredible Hawaiian food. From the poke, loco moco, Dole Whip, pancakes, Hawaiian coffee and even some of the tastiest pineapple you’ll ever bite into. The farmer’s markets are such an outstanding way to eat your way through Hawaii.
WHERE TO STAY IN OAHU NEAR THE WAIKIKI BEACHES
There are plenty of gorgeous, affordable hotels in Honolulu Hawaii that are walking distance from the beach. You could stay near the main Waikiki Beach area where the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort and the Sheraton are located. If you’re looking to save some money, the Waikiki Sand Villa Hotel is great. It has a wine bar, pool and hot tub. If you’re looking to save even more money and perhaps are on a solo journey to Oahu then stay at the Polynesian Hostel Beach Club! Book your hotels using Hotels.com.
HOW TO FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS TO THE HONOLULU
The Honolulu airport is the main hub for Hawaii. Typically if you wanted to hop around to other islands, you would stop in Honolulu before your final destination. Honolulu flights don’t have to break your bank. I scored a round trip flight from San Diego to Hawaii for only $220! I flew with Hawaiian airlines to Honolulu and then flew Southwest back. Southwest has amazing nonstop flights to Honolulu. Check out the Southwest deals here:
What are your favorite places to visit in Hawaii? Comment below!