8 Best Family Things to Do in Honolulu

Arguably the best-known beach in all of Hawaii, Waikiki Beach stuns with its clean, sandy shore bordering the azure waters of the Pacific. Most of Oahu’s great hotels call this beach home. If you’re a family travelling with kids and staying in a top-floor room with a balcony, you’ll be able to take in the beauty of Waikiki Bay, which the little ones will find irresistible.

Down on the sand and in the waves there’s plenty to do besides basking and bathing. Stand-up paddle boarding is especially popular and fun.

If swimming with dolphins at Sea Life Park seems too mild for you, North Shore Shark Adventures offers an open water experience that might bring your thrills up a notch. It provides special shark cage diving tours on specially rigged boats that sail about 3 miles (4.8 km) out from the docks of Haleiwa harbour in Waialua Bay.

North Shore Shark Adventures fully guarantees shark sightings, with occasional bonuses of dolphins, green sea turtles and even humpback whales that often migrate through these waters between November and May.

Families on Oahu can enjoy a hands-on and multisensory cultural experience at the vibrant Polynesian Cultural Center site near the island’s northern tip. Designed as a cluster of several traditional Hawaiian villages, the Polynesian Cultural Center lets you explore, observe and participate in various cultural activities.

Traditional cooking demos invite you to cook up your own Hawaiian dishes. Younger kids can enjoy crafts-making while older ones can pick up some hula moves. Plenty of audience participation sections keep you busy for hours. A festive luau and fire dances complete your memorable visit. 

Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, located on the southeastern tip of Oahu, about a half-hour drive east from Honolulu, is a true snorkelling paradise. This curved bay boasts shallow waters with exceptional visibility, allowing visitors to explore a pristine reef ecosystem directly from the beach. Even the youngest family members can delight in observing vibrant marine life close to the shore, with occasional sightings of colourful fish and green sea turtles.

It’s important to note that all non-Hawai‘i residents are required to make a reservation in advance to visit the nature preserve. This ensures the preservation of the bay’s natural beauty.

Take your whole family to Wet 'n' Wild Hawaii to Honolulu’s neighbouring sister town of Kapolei, around 50 minutes’ drive east past Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Wet 'n' Wild is Hawaii’s only waterpark. The park features over 25 different slides and attractions that are spread over 29 acres (12 hectares) of lush tropical cliffside.

The waterpark has a few extreme, high-altitude and high-speed rides for thrill-seekers, but families with young kids can enjoy the fun Hawaiian Waters Wave Pool, the kids’ playground or the Kapolei Kooler lazy river.

Kids will have a blast visiting the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park, aweing over the torpedoes and the very sight of the sub on display. The memorial is one in the collection of Pearl Harbor’s historical sites, overlooking the tranquil waves of the bay.

Upon entering, you’ll often be greeted by a guide who can help show you the warship’s inner workings and significant naval history. A fun spot on the deck where you can strike a pose is by the anti-aircraft gun.

Enjoy an intriguing tour of the night sky and deepen your understanding of the solar system at the J. Watumull Planetarium. It’s one among the many great exhibits at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum near Downtown Honolulu.

Separate shows are held throughout the day, with tickets sold separately. The main 60-minute show, The Stars Tonight, is held monthly on the third Friday of the month. Bishop Museum itself has an extensive gallery of heirlooms and artefacts from Pacific Island cultures.

Children's Discovery Center is a kids’ hands-on learning centre that also offers fun times for accompanying mums and dads. Inside, the 6 permanent exhibits emphasise the use of the senses for better learning.

The Tot Spot is for 5 years and under and filled with stimulating toys. Fantastic You lets kids learn about the human body, while Your Town teaches about community. Hawaiian Rainbows introduces kids to Hawaiian history, Rainbow World teaches about world cultures, and  Rainforest Adventures teaches about nature and ecosystems.