I have family in Hawaii, so I’ve been fortunate to visit a couple dozen times (seriously). I have the benefit of staying with locals, so I’m going to tell you 5 secret Oahu locations I’ve learned over time.
And if your Hawaii trip brings you to the island of Maui too, make sure check out my list of six secret Maui locations! But for now, let’s talk about secret beaches and other locals-only hot spots on Oahu, home of Honolulu and Waikiki…
1. Mokule’ia Beach
Mokule’ia Beach is a true secret beach. I’m not sure why it’s not more well-known, but it’s a locals-only spot. There’s a long narrow strip of white sand and some amazing snorkeling, and I’ve visited a couple times when my partner and I were literally the only people around.
Aside from the sand and snorkeling, Mokule’ia is a great surf spot. Nearby is Kaena Point, which is a great low-impact hiking spot. Tip: Go at low tide to see the really neat tide pools!
2. Turtle Bay
Another secret Oahu destination is Turtle Bay. It’s much less well-known than Waikiki Beach – and that’s a good thing. We stayed at the actual Turtle Bay Resort, which I reviewed and on which I have some strong opinions, but you don’t have to stay there to visit and enjoy the great area.
Speaking of the area, Turtle Bay boasts a beautiful public beach. One great thing about Hawaii is that ALL beaches are actually public. So you don’t have to stay at the hotel to enjoy the same white-sand beach as paying hotel guests.
Turtle Bay is on Oahu’s North Shore, which has a huge array of fun stuff to see and do. Check out the Kahuku food trucks, which were around before food trucks were cool. Giovanni’s is one of the originals; we love the garlic shrimp.
3. Ihilani Resort Lagoons
On the Southwestern side of Oahu are the Ihilani, aka Ko Olina, lagoons. This is a solid hour away from Waikiki, which is why many tourists never come here. But it’s amazing! The beaches are beautifully groomed, and there are four man-made lagoons that are extremely easy to snorkel. It’s a great spot for small children or weak swimmers due to the gentle (non-existent) surf.
This area is home to Disney’s Aulani Resort and the Marriott Ko Olina too. If you’re staying on those resorts, it’s really easy to swim in the lagoons. But if you’re driving from somewhere else, I highly recommend getting there early (like 8a) to snag a parking spot in one of the public lots.
Within walking distance of the beach, there are some great restaurant options in Ko Olina. One of my favorites is the Coco Ichibanya, a hole-in-the-wall Japanese curry shop that rivals curry in Japan (no joke). Monkeypod Kitchen is another mainstay for local Hawaiian food.
A short drive away are the Waikele Premium Outlets, an outdoor mall with some pretty cool outlet shops – Cole Haan, Tory Burch, etc. I’ve found some amazing deals on winter coats and winter gear at Waikele, which always makes me laugh because you’d never need that stuff in Hawaii. I bring it home to Chicago every trip though.
4. Chinatown
This isn’t a beach, but it is a secret Oahu location nonetheless. About a 20-minute drive (or Uber) from Waikiki, you should come here for the food and drink. Hawaii is home to the now-trendy poke bowl, among other seafood-Asian-fusion dishes that are a byproduct of Hawaii’s diverse history.
Some of my favorite places in Chinatown include:
- The Pig and the Lady – This place is happening. Reservations strongly recommended, unless you want to be quoted a wait time of “two and a half hours” (my experience sans reservation). I absolutely loved my “Pho French Dip” sandwich at lunch, but I’ve never had a bad dish here.
- Maguro Brothers – This is a hole-in-the-wall seafood takeout place. There are some seats, but trust me, you don’t come here for the atmosphere. You come for the fresh, truly authentic poke bowls. The fish is amazingly fresh and it always amazes me how great the pricing is relative to fish on the Mainland.
- Lucky Belly – Ramen, ramen, ramen. This is a mostly takeout joint with a late-night window. There’s limited seating inside too.
- Bar Leather Apron – Legit, high-end, handcrafted cocktails here. Expect esoteric ingredients and well-versed bartenders. This is THE place to go for a well-made cocktail, and I highly recommend reservations due to the personalized service you get. Be aware that each cocktail averages about $16, but I thought it was worth every drop.
Chinatown on Oahu isn’t particularly beautiful, but that’s exactly what qualifies it as a secret Oahu destination. Go there to avoid the crowds and the touristy, overpriced restaurants on Waikiki.
5. Kahala Hotel
Last but not least on my list of 5 secret Oahu locations is the Kahala Hotel. Ok, it’s not as secret as the other destinations, but the free dolphin experience IS a secret.
This is part of the Waikiki area, and it’s a large resort with easy access to a nice beach. The highlight for me is the dolphin pool. Just for walking around the hotel grounds, you can see dolphins swimming and literally jumping up in the air. For an additional cost (approx $200-$350/person), you can book time to swim with the dolphins. Personally, I thought just standing on the grounds and watching them swim was awesome – and free.
One of my favorite restaurants on Oahu is Hoku’s, which is on the Kahala property. It’s a bit of a splurge, but worth it for modern Hawaiian cuisine. There are lovely beachside tables from which you can watch the sunset.
I hope you enjoyed my list of secret locations of Oahu! What are some of yours? I’ll walk through The Big Island and Maui soon too!
