Oahu, Hawaii is a bucket-list destination for many people around the world. Whether you are looking for amazing mountain views, incredible white sand beaches, or laid back surfing towns, Oahu really does have it all.
In this blog post we have compiled a list of some of the most picturesque places on the Island for your Instagram worthy shots! Most of these are not the usual touristy spots, we are letting you in on some of our hidden gems!
Let’s get started!
Ho’omaluhia Botanical Gardens
This place is a must visit spot in Oahu. The most famous photo spot is the initial palm tree lined road on the way into the Gardens.
Due to the recent rise in its popularity, we did notice that they have no placed “No Photography” signs along the side of the road. We asked the security guard if we could take a photo and after some hesitation he finally let us. Definitely make sure to get there early before there is a lot of traffic like we did and hopefully the security guard will let you grab a photo here.
Secret Dock
We are sharing one of our favorite hidden gems on the Island. You have probably seen a photo of this spot hundreds of times on Instagram. Before our visit to Oahu we spent quite a bit of time on the internet searching for this location. It is part of the Kualoa Ranch complex, located at their Secret Island Beach! You can book activities on their website here, however we just walked in and took some photos!
Crouching Lion Hike
This is a relatively quick hike that offers some of the most incredible views on the Island. This is hands down one of our favorite hikes in Oahu and has so many incredible photo opportunities. You can read more about this hike, including where to find the trailhead, on our blog host here!
Stairway To Heaven
Also known as the Haiku Stairs, this is one of the most iconic locations in Oahu. With over 3900 stairs, it is definitely a workout but worth the trip. Hiking the Stairway to Heaven is illegal. We took the legal back way up to the stairs, you can check out that hike on our blog post here!
Lanikai Pillbox
There are many Pillbox hikes around the Island, but Lanikai Pillbox is one of the most popular ones to do and offers some of the most incredible views. It is only 30 minutes round trip to get to the Pillbox and back so it is definitely one of the easiest hikes in the Island! You can read about the hike on our blog post here!
Lanikai Beach
This beach is definitely one of the most incredible places on the Island of Oahu. From white sand, to leaning palm trees and the Mokes (two small islands) in the distance, there are so many Instagram photo opportunities here!
Beach Side “Hot Tub”
We searched high and low on the internet for this spot and had to ask one of our friends who is a local on the approximate location. After wandering Ala Moana Beach Park in Waikiki we finally found it!
The Sunrise Shack
This little coffee shop is located on the North Shore. It is a cute yellow shack right off the side of the road and it offers many photo opportunities. You can also grab some delicious smoothie bowls and “Bullet” Coffee while you are there!
Makua Beach Tide Pools
Located on the west side of Oahu, this beach was stunning. The West Side of Oahu tends to be less busy than the North Shore or the East Side of Oahu. The beach was empty when we got there. We explored some of the tide pools found on the left side of the beach. There are tons of cool sea creatures to see and little pools to wade in.
Ehukai Pillbox
Located on the North Shore, we found this was the least busy Pillbox Hike we did. This spot overlooks the Banzai Pipeline and Ehukai beach which is absolutely stunning to see. You can read more about the hike, including where to find the trailhead, here!
The Mermaid Caves
Located on the west side of Oahu, you will find these caves at Kalaniana’ole Beach Park. To get there you will head right down to the rocks at the shoreline and take a left. In just a few minutes you will see a big cave opening down to the “Mermaid Caves” below. Make sure to check the tide before heading there as they are not safe to access during high tide.
Kuliouou Ridge Trail
This is a moderately difficult 6.4km out and back trail that is popular among locals. This trail has some of the most incredible views of Oahu and there is a secret ledge that is totally Instagram worthy. To get to the ledge, look for a hidden trail at the back of the lookout. Hike for about 8-10 minutes and you will come to the secret lookout spot pictured here!
Pink Pill Box
This Pink Pillbox sits on the West Side of Oahu. This popular out and back hike starts on Kaukama Rd and offers some incredible photo opportunities! There are actually 3 pillboxes on this hike. The pink pillbox is the second one you will come across!
Final Thoughts
Oahu is one of the most picturesque places in the world. There is no shortage of incredible photo opportunities around the Island! Have you been to Oahu? We would love to know if you have visited any of these spots or if you would add any to this list!
Until next time!
Jake + Kaylee 🙂
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