Anne-Charlotte PasseraOf course you can travel to O’ahu with kids, there is no reason why you shouldn’t aside from cost but plenty more reasons why you should.
Listen, I probably don’t have to sell you on the idea of visiting Hawaii so I will cut to the chase.
The island of O’ahu is often mistakenly referred to as Honolulu. It’s not the same thing. Honolulu is the main city located on the island of O’ahu.
When you desire to travel to O’ahu with kids, you have to realize that it won’t be a cheap vacation. The state of Hawaii is as expensive or more than mainland U.S. The biggest cost components of your trip after airfare will be lodging, car rental and food.
If you are looking for tips on how to plan a trip, you will find my article on Trip Planning useful.
I never thought that I’d actually be coming to O’ahu Hawaii, but I ain’t complaining, my credit card on the other hand, well that’s another story.
Visiting Hawaii was never really on my bucket list. Probably because going to an island for a vacation sounds a bit boring to me. Admittedly, I was wrong. O’ahu was far from boring, it was sensational. However, we preferred the more laid-back vibe of Big Island which you can read about HERE.
How to get to the island of O’ahu
Don’t be surprised when I tell you that the easiest and pretty much the only practical way to get to O’ahu is by plane.
Of course, you could get there by boat but that’s entirely for another type of traveling.
We (Blondie Bear, Big Boss and I) started our journey in Hawaii on the island of O’ahu.
Airfare to Hawaii is less expensive when you travel during the Summer or Fall months. Our airfare cost us $800 (CAD) roundtrip per person when we flew there in July 2016 from Montreal. We noticed that we had a layover in San Francisco. For $100 (CAD) more we could actually do a real planned layover in San Francisco which we did.
All together, we spent 9 days in the state of Hawaii.
At first, we were in O’ahu for half a day as we had booked an early flight for the next morning to go to Hilo on Big Island.
Inter-island flights
The inter island flights aren’t too expensive, less than $100 one way and fly in and out regularly every day. It adds an extra cost to your budget, but if you plan carefully, you’ll see that it’s worth it.
However, I suggest visiting only 2 islands if you are spending less than 10 days in the state of Hawaii. You’ll be able to truly enjoy it and not waste time going back and forth to the airport, packing and unpacking. This is particularly true if you travel to Hawaii with kids whether it be to O’ahu, Big Island or Maui. After all, how often do you get a chance to swim in pristine waters with turtles, dolphins. Your kids would rather do that than spend time at airport security.
How to get around O’ahu
You’re going to need a car in O’ahu, that’s a fact, especially if you are travelling with kids and not staying on a resort.
Since our first day on O’ahu was super short as we were flying out the next morning, we didn’t rent a car then.
We stayed in an Airbnb close to the airport which was practical and not too pricy for Hawaii. Unfortunately, there is no free Wifi at Honolulu’s airport so we couldn’t order a Uber.
A Uber would have cost us between $10-12 instead of the $20 cab fare, and that was for only 15 minutes away from the airport. However, our Airbnb host offered to give us a lift for $15, so we used him to go back to the airport and paid in cash.
Cost of a rental car
To save money for gas, consider filling your tank at Costco, as they tend to have better prices than regular gas stations.
The cost of a car rental will depend on the type of car, duration and if you are visiting during peak times or not. Plan on spending at least $300 (CAD) per week for a small car rental in July. If you have young children with you, by bringing your own car seat, you can save money that way. Usually, airlines don’t charge you extra to bring a car seat onto the plane.
If you are staying in Honolulu in the vicinity of the beach, you won’t need a car as you can rely on the bus or just walk. However, for anything else, I recommend renting a car to get around.
Usually, you don’t have to pay for parking wherever you go and it gives you more freedom to explore off the beaten paths. This is particularly great when you want to stop at peaceful spots, away from the hordes of tourists or when you need a quick peepee break on the side of the road.
The wheels on the bus
O’ahu does have a bus system but it can be time consuming even in Honolulu.
As a family, you’ll more than make up for the cost of a rental car by saving on everything else.
Nonetheless, the Honolulu bus is not expensive. For the three of us, one way cost us $6.25. However, it did take us 1h30 to get to the beach from our first Airbnb rental located close to the airport. We passed through Honolulu’s Chinatown and city center and then got dropped off at the Convention Centre. The ride took 45 minutes. Then, we walked all the way to a beach in Waikiki: Kuhio Beach Park, that was another 45 minutes.
Although it was a long ride, we enjoyed it. It allowed us to really travel with locals and see how the other half lives.
As a comparison, the cost of a Uber for the same distance would have been between $48-$52 one way.
Where to sleep on O’ahu
We stayed in two different places on O’ahu. The first one was for practical reasons and the other one was for vacation.
When you have a very early flight in the morning, it’s easier, especially with kids, to sleep as close to the airport as possible. That’s what I did when I had a layover in Paris on my way to Vietnam.
We slept in an Airbnb which pretty much consisted of two sofa beds in someone’s living room. It was worth the cost , it was only for one night and 15 minutes away from the airport.
It was located in a purely residential area where people like to keep their front doors open, so we heard everything! We didn’t mind. Since it was very local, it was far away from all the high-end tourists.
Kailua
We traded our Avocado Tree House on Big Island to settle in our Beach Bungalow in Kailua.
Once again, we booked our lodging through Airbnb. Actually, we were supposed to do some camping but that fell through. Since it rained every night while we were there, it was probably a good thing.
Kailua is located on the other side of the island from Honolulu, less than half hour away. It’s more laid back than Honolulu and doesn’t have big and tall ugly buildings. It’s a great place to use as a base camp with kids when you travel to O’ahu and if you are not too keen on surfing.
Where to eat with kids when you travel to O’ahu
Food prices are higher in Hawaii compared to mainland U.S. I mean it’s obvious as most of the items have to be shipped in.
Eating out will cost a huge chunk of your budget. That’s why you should consider renting a place that comes with a kitchen. This is especially true if you are traveling with kids. It’s easier to stick to their routines when you can prepare your own meals, at least breakfast and dinner.
One way of saving money on your grocery bill while staying in Hawaii is by shopping at Safeway. However, in order to get the special rates you need the store’s card. We applied for it. It takes 5 minutes to sign up and all you need is an address in the States (we used our bungalow’s address).
Another way to save money for food is to eat at Whole Foods, just like we did while we were in San Francisco. There is one located in Kailua and it even has a bar!
Grocery shopping at Whole Foods is not inexpensive but they do offer prepared cold and hot meals and that is worth it. You can pick and choose whatever you want and pay by weight. As a family, it will cost you less than eating in a restaurant and you don’t have to prepare it either. It’s a win-win.
We opted for that option one day when we didn’t want to cook. When we went into town to grab something to eat, we saw Hurley from Lost leaving on foot from a flea market. Sadly, that was the only “Rich & Famous” spotting. We missed out on Spears and Bieber who were in the area around the same time as us. So disappointing. JUST KIDDING!
Dim Sum in Chinatown
I love eating Dim Sum. Big Boss and I don’t pass up a chance to eating Dim Sum when we travel now. After doing so in New York and in San Francisco, it was time to try it in Honolulu’s Chinatown.
Also, it’s usually an inexpensive meal where you can pick and chose what ever you want to eat. It’s a great option to eat at when you have kids as well as they get to decide what to eat just by looking at it from a cart.
For some Dim Sum, we went to Honolulu and ate at Mei Sum. It’s conveniently located less than 10 minutes away from the Bishop Museum which I tell you more about down below.
What is great about the restaurant aside from the food is that they serve it until 3:30 pm. The food is decently priced but just be aware that you pick from a menu and not from a cart. The plates you do order are to share and not individual portions.
Shaved Ice on the North Shore
We quenched our thirst/bellies at Matsumoto’s Shave Ice up on the North Shore.
It’s totally not my thing but I had some anyway. The shaved ice was FANTASTIC! Even Big Boss had some!
There was a line when we got there which was to be expected as it is the most popular spot for shaved ice on O’ahu. This is a great family pit stop.
However, for some reason, they have an option for the ice to be served with beans. Be warned that they are not jelly beans but actual beans. Blondie Bear was very disappointed but ate the whole thing anyways.
Puerto Rican on the Waianae Coast
We had lunch at Coquitos, a Puerto Rican restaurant which was not too bad, reasonably priced, and had good service. It was a pleasant spot to grab lunch and get away from the scorching sun.
In that area, there aren’t that many options to pick from aside from some fast food franchises. Coquitos is a great option without emptying your wallet. Blondie Bear and I shared a chicken sandwich in avocado sauce and Big Boss had the sautéed chicken breast. It doesn’t sound like a whole lot but that’s because we had some peeled veggies in the car to snack on as well.
Things to do on O’ahu with kids
When you travel with kids to O’ahu in Hawaii you have to keep them busy. I personally can’t spend every single day at the beach and like to mix things up. If you travel as far as Hawaii, you can’t just spend the whole time there on the beach because the islands have so much more to offer.
Educational Places
Wherever you travel, with or without kids, you should learn a little about the place you are visiting. It doesn’t have to be boring either.
Bishop Museum
We had planned on spending an afternoon at the Bishop Museum since it was supposed to rain. Since we arrived on O’ahu with a ray of beautiful sunshine, we opted for the Waikiki Beach instead. It ended up being a better option because we wanted to spend time at the museum, not be rushed and 2 hours to visit was not enough.
We visited the Bishop Museum before heading out to our new dwelling in Kailua when we came back from Big Island.
First of all the prices went up 22,95 $/adult and 14,95$/child plus 5$ for parking (it used to be free). Aside from the steep price and us grunting because of it, you should really put this on your to do list.
Where else on O’ahu will you get to:
- see lava actually being made;
- a king’s coat made up of golden feathers from 60 000 different birds (for real);
- or learn about sailing using only stars and wind to navigate across the ocean?
This place is interesting for the entire family and helps you learn and understand more about the diverse culture on the Hawaiian Islands and its geology as well.
We spent 4 hours there.
The Valley of the Temples
My college friend Dana who had lived in Hawaii mentioned a temple to visit on the island.
It turns out there is one close to Kailua less than 30 minutes away in the Valley of Temples. Byodo-InTemple has a whopping entry fee of 3$/adult and 1$/child. Best entrance fee ever!
This temple is a complete replica of a 900-year-old temple in Uji, Japan. So we pretended we were in Japan for a bit, rang the brass bell at the entrance, said a prayer inside the temple and lit some incense in memory of Tango, my father.
We arrived there once again relatively early and had the place to ourselves before the crowds arrived.
The place is absolutely beautiful and a must see. This is was one of my favorite places we saw on the island and the gift shop is actually pretty. I got myself some pretty chopsticks that I still use today.
Pearl Harbor
You can’t visit the island of O’ahu and not visit the national site of Pearl Harbor. Why? Because it was crucial to convince America to join the Allied forces during World War II. It’s something that you studied in school and that your children will study as well.
For more information about visiting Pearl Harbor with kids, read about HERE.
Beaches
Of course, while in Hawaii you need to set aside some beach time to relax and swim in pristine waters and there are plenty options to choose from.
Waikiki: Kuhio Beach Park
On our walk to Waikiki, we saw A LOT of Japanese and Koreans tourists and very high-end stores.
Please explain to me what is the point of selling a ‘Prada’ coat in 90 degrees weather. I’m sure it would be as overly priced in which ever country you come from. Besides, you are on a tropical island. There isn’t much use nor sense to wear nice and expensive clothing. People are idiots!
Anyhoo, it was a very long and humid walk yet the open entryways to the high-end shopping centers are air-conditioned. Yes, that makes total sense to air condition your sidewalks. Very earth friendly. I not only salute the person who came up with this brilliant idea but say BRAVO as well…dumb ass. Ok I admit it, it did feel good as we were passing by……but it is still a BAD IDEA.
Kuhio Beach
Blondie Bear was over the moon at this beach. It was overcrowded with surfers and body surfers but we were too tired to walk any further.
We were greeted by the bronze statue of Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern surfing.
The breakwater (wall) in the section of Kuhio Beach makes it extremely safe for kids and toddlers to swim and play in the water. You don’t have to be as concerned with waves and being taken out to sea because of the wall.
The beach is very beautiful and colourful with the palm trees and the surfboards but I’m glad that we were only there for a couple hours. Too many people, tourists actually, tall buildings in the background and the sand isn’t smooth. It’s like it hasn’t been grinded enough and there are quite a few rocks in the water. So I guess I would say it is nice for a pit stop and then move on unless you plan on leaving all of your life’s savings there.
Kalama Beach Park Kailua
We set out for the beach as we had noticed a boat load of people walking around in beach gear while we were driving into Kailua.
Sure enough, less than a 10 minutes walk away from our beach bungalow was Kalama Beach Park.
It’s a pretty decent beach, long, good for walks, dogs allowed, but the water was a little rough while we were there. It had rained during the night which was a recurrent theme during our stay.
We didn’t stay there too long as it started raining. That’s ok. We went back to the bungalow where we discussed what our options were in terms of activity for the afternoon despite the weather.
Kailua Beach Park
On our final day on O’ahu we decided to hit the beach. We started off with Kailua Beach Park. As it was close to our bungalow.
It has a great beach, sand, and the waves are good. Of course, it rained while we were there but only for a very short while.
You can rent kayaks and go check out a tiny island nearby.
White Sands Beach
On our back from Manoa Falls, we took a different route to head back to Kailua along the coast line.
We stopped at what is called White Sands Beach . You can’t swim there but surf you can. Oh how fun it is to watch.
Blondie Bear had fun playing in the sand and water, which pretty much is all you can do there aside from surfing. The sand has an orange tint and is pleasant to walk on.
Waterfalls and Snorkeling
O’ahu has its fair share of waterfalls. We only visited one, the most popular one.
Manoa Falls
We opted for Manoa Falls as an afternoon activity, taking our chances with the weather.
It’s located close to Waikiki and is arguably one of the most magnificent waterfalls on Oahu from what I’ve read.
Nestled in the back of the lush Manoa Valley, Manoa Falls are a short 45-60 minute hike through bamboo forests and patches of tropical wildflowers.
Yes, I wore a dress to hike this 1,6 km roundtrip hike. Listen, I needed to be comfortable…So to hell with being practical and hello comfy MOI.
The drive to the parking lot is pleasant and it cost $5 to park. There are restrooms and souvenir shops at the bottom of the trail. I would put this on your to-do list (not the bathroom or souvenir shop!).
The walk is gorgeous but bring insect repellant and wear pants or high knee socks (hence my attire). Although the hike up is not too harsh, it was muddy while we were there since it had rained and it started drizzling as we were walking up. The falls are OK but the walk is GREAT.
Hanauma Bay
Since it was finally going to be a day of good weather close to our area, we opted for some snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. Apparently, this is THE snorkeling spot and is not too far from Honolulu.
If you want to be able to park, you need to arrive early (like before noon). We got there at 9:15 am and it was full.
We took the first left into a residential area close by (towards Honolulu) and parked there. It gave us more walking to do but by then we were total Pros in terms of walking.
The bay is quite beautiful and you will definitely easily see loads of different fishes of all shapes and forms. Unfortunately, we didn’t see any turtles this time (Big Island). However, it’s not a place you go to actually swim. It is more for snorkeling, sunbathing and relaxing in the water as there is a lot of coral, so mind your steps (Blondie Bear cut himself).
The cost
There was a long line to get in but it went fast. The entrance fee is $7.50/person, $1 to park if you can get access to the parking lot. It is better to arrive early in the morning because there are fewer people and the water is clearer. Then you have to watch a movie on the Bay, as in you have no choice but to watch it or else you can’t get in.
Either bring your picnic or eat up at the little food stand before going down to the bay. It isn’t a steep walk. But really after going down, no way I was going to go up to grab food and go back down. There is a little shuttle that runs up and down, $1 do go down, $1.25 to go up and $2 roundtrip.
If you don’t have gear, it costs around $12 for a whole day without the palms, $20$ for the full set. Just keep in mind that Hanauma Bay is closed on Tuesdays. This really ought to be on your to-do list if you are looking for a water activity that doesn’t cost a fortune.
Windward Coast
We decided to explore the island a bit and drove up the Windward Coast.
The drive along the coast is a very pleasant one except we had Kailua’s bad weather following us all the way.
We stopped to eat in La’ie at the Polynesian Cultural Centre. It wasn’t a pre-established pit stop but we quite enjoyed it.
At the entrance to the cultural park, there is a restaurant with good food, not overly priced. There are also some souvenir stores where we shopped around a bit. The coconut bra was very popular with Blondie Bear and Big Boss.
To access the actual park, there is a fee of $40 +, pending on what you want to see and do. It wasn’t on our to-do list and we had spent enough money as is. It is supposed to be the best on the island though as far as cultural activities go.
The Windward Coast has plenty of small beaches that you can stop at with the kids and relax.
The North Shore
The North Shore. If you want to hit the waves or learn how to do so this is the spot.
You know you have arrived at the North Shore when you start hitting traffic along the coast.
We stopped by Sunset Beach to watch some surfers and at Pupukea Beach Park. We were a bit disappointed with the spot, the beach more exactly. There was a lot of natural crap in the sand, didn’t know what it was. Throughout the park, there are good snorkeling spots though.
Along the road, in front of the main access to the park, there are a lot of food trucks and snorkeling rental vans. I guess it just wasn’t for us that day. We continued on and stopped at a local beach a couple miles up the road and watched people learn how to surf, played in the water and just chilled.
Diamond Head
The Diamond Head hike is roughly a 1.1km loop. You sort of need to be in shape but kids can do it so hey, why not you? (just bring water).
I believe to park it costs $5 per car. You can access it on foot or on a bike and leave your car in the residential area close by. I don’t know how many extra km you would have to add on though.
It’s a fun walk and you’ll definitely get your exercise out of it (99 steps upwards). However, it’s best to wear normal shoes, at least not flip flops. You’ll be more comfortable and it will be less dangerous.
We were lucky as it was a beautiful day when we went there even though we still couldn’t quite see those emerald mountains. The view is a panoramic one. You get to see what was once the crater of a volcano and the cities of Waikiki and Honolulu in the far distance.
Waianae Coast
For our final day, we decided to hit the beach. It made total sense to go home with wet sandy clothes!!! Our flight home was in the evening and we had the car until 5:30pm. Our original plan was to spend it at Pearl Harbor. However, I didn’t feel at ease leaving our stuff in the car all day since we couldn’t carry any bags with us on site. We opted for the beach instead.
We headed towards the Waianae Coast to check out the Poka’i Bay Beach Park. I’mnot sure we actually made it there as there were no signs.
It was alright. The water was very clear but the bathrooms were really disgusting, worse than McDonald’s!
Blondie Bear and Big Boss changed in the bathrooms. I, on the other hand, half did that thinking the parking lot was a better option. You see, the bathrooms doors didn’t even lock and well, something exploded in there, very very nasty.
It was a long day, got sunburnt, which made the plane ride a little uncomfortable but we left with so many beautiful memories.
Our trip to Hawaii was truly an AMAZING one. I would definitely like to go back, relax more on the North Shore while learning how to surf, go back to Big Island and our Avocado Tree House, and check out the other islands. Maybe someday. I think my soul is somewhere in Hawaii.
Aloha always!
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