Let’s be honest.
Vacationing in Hawaii is not cheap. Luckily, airfare is getting cheaper and there are actually a few affordable places to stay on Oahu if you know where (and when) to look.
I’m not rich by any means, but I want to see and do all the best things regardless! In order to make it happen, I will pinch pennies on accommodation so that I can instead invest that same money on unforgettable experiences. Additionally, I had the amazing opportunity to live on Oahu as a local for three years and figure out which excursions are actually worth the investment.
It was actually really hard to narrow it down to five, so below you’ll find my top 8 Oahu excursions under $200 (in no particular order)! I’ve been recommending these activities to close friends and family for years, and now I’m even more stoked to share them with you too!
Disclaimer: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, designed to allow The Unremarkable Climber (me) to earn a small commission if you choose to book through them, at no extra cost to you. This really helps support the site and lets me know you find this information valuable! That being said, all of the experiences I recommend, commission based or not, are genuine recommendations for some of my favorite activities, so I hope you enjoy them as much as I have! Feel free to drop any questions in the message box below.
Explore the Kaneohe Bay Sandbar + Patch Reefs
As much as I love the other Oahu excursions, this one holds a special place in my heart. Kaneohe was my home for three years. I spent my days on a research vessel on the turquoise waters of Kaneohe Bay, and I could even admire Mokoli’i from the corner of my apartment balcony!
Kaneohe Bay is home to a ton of isolated patch reefs which rise from the depths, a massive sandbar, and an adorable little island called Mokoli’i at the far north end. I can almost guarantee wildlife sightings because I usually find massive sea turtles napping in the patch reefs and patrolling the edge of the sandbar. You can even find conspicuous sea cucumbers which are VERY weird and very harmless. All of this fun stuff is protected from the open ocean by a barrier reef, so you won’t even have to battle crazy swell.
There are a few ways to explore this unique stretch of coastline, but these are the three I’d recommend:
Option 1: Sandbar Snorkeling Excursion
This is the perfect tour for those uncomfortable with hours of kayaking. You’ll take a power boat to the sandbar where you’ll spend two hours exploring. Additionally, most everything is provided for you except lunch. The main caveat is your other boat companions, but privacy and seclusion is often a fair trade for comfort and safety.
Option 2: Kayak South Kaneohe Bay + Sandbar
Your second option for exploring Kaneohe Bay is a half-day kayak rental. Though this option is much cheaper and more private, it is a fair bit more work. It doesn’t take long to reach the nearest patch reefs and find some turtle friends, but it will take about an hour of paddling to reach the sandbar itself. However, I’d still fully recommend this option because you will have so much freedom to explore every nook and cranny and patch reef along the way!
Option 3: Kayak North Kaneohe Bay + Mokoli'i
Your third option will forego the sandbar entirely and instead focus your adventure on the tiny island of Mokoli’i. On this self-guided tour, you’ll be able to explore north Kaneohe Bay and even hike around the precarious trails of Mokoli’i. For less adventurous hikers, stick to the perimeter of the island. This tour will be a totally different but equally fun experience.
West Side Snorkel Tour with Dolphins + Turtles!
Even though I love the east side, I personally think the water on the west side of Oahu is some of the clearest I’ve ever seen which is one of the many reasons I HAD to include this snorkel tour on the list. The sheer abundance of wildlife helps out too!
You could potentially swim with green sea turtles, bottlenose dolphins, thousands of fish and other sea creatures! Obviously dolphins are wild animals who are out doing their own thing and you can’t guarantee seeing them 100%, but they’re pretty dang reliable on this tour!
If you’re lucky, you might even catch a glimpse of a pod of the protected Hawaiian spinner dolphins or a humpback whale (at a respectful distance of course)! I’d personally recommend visiting between December and April for a chance to see a humpback whale and even HEAR them sing underwater!
If You've Never Had a Surf Lesson, This is the Place!
You can’t spend time on Oahu without paddling out for a surf! For avid surfers, there are almost unlimited opportunities to catch a wave. For beginners, there are a couple great spots to learn!
The two most notable beginner breaks are in Waikiki on the south shore and Haleiwa on the north shore. Depending on sea conditions and time of year, one might be better than the other, but both spots were awesome while I was learning!
These two surf lessons will show you the ropes on beginner waves. I even stood up my first try, though I was only twelve at the time. Regardless, there’s nothing quite like riding your first wave with the backdrop of a tropical paradise in the background!
** Pro Tip: Make sure to slather on the reef safe sunscreen and, if you’re prone to motion sickness, I’d recommend taking something for it before paddling out.
Hike to a Jungle Waterfall + East Side Beach Day
This waterfall hike is one of my favorites on the island!
Explore a tropical rainforest on foot as you weave through the bamboo on this moderate hike and end at a spectacular waterfall! You can wash off the mud in the swimming hole or wait to jump in at one of the prettiest beaches on the island (your next stop).
The best part of this Oahu excursion is letting someone else worry about directions and parking while you can relax and take it all in.
If waterfalls are your vibe, you can even RAPPEL one, though it doesn’t quite fit the $200 budget.
Free Dive with Sharks WITHOUT a Cage
This was on my bucket list for YEARS.
As a marine biology student on Oahu, free diving with sharks was one of the coolest things you could do! The best part about One Ocean Diving is that they’re huge in the shark conservation world, so you’ll learn about the animals around you from top experts who know their behavior better than anyone. I can’t recommend this tour enough!
Sail to the Mokes on a Polynesian Wa'a
The Mokuluas, or Mokes to locals, are a top kayaking destination on Oahu due to the bright turquoise water, abundance of sea life, and the isolated nature of the islands!
However, it’s quite a long paddle and conditions can be hazardous at times, so my favorite way to explore this offshore seabird sanctuary and its surrounding waters is via wa’a. Although there might still be some paddling involved, your guides know how to use the wind to their advantage and will give you a tour of the Mokes the Polynesian way!
After making landfall at Mokulua Nui, you’ll even get to hike around some tidepools and take a dip in the Queen’s Bath!
Kualoa Ranch 14-Zipline Tour
Ziplining can be either a huge adrenaline rush or a calm float through the rainforest. Whichever category you align with, the 14-zipline-long course at Kualoa Ranch is my favorite on Oahu!
The view of the Ko’olau Mountains as you soar over the canopy is absolutely unbeatable! You’ll feel like you’re flying through Jurassic Park, because you are! Well, the movie set anyway.
Play Tourist and See a Little Bit of Everything!
This Oahu excursion is last on my list because I usually wouldn’t recommend bus tours, and to be completely honest I haven’t personally taken this tour since I’ve always found my own transportation (which I HIGHLY recommend).
However, if you’ve never visited Oahu before, you have no access to a vehicle, you are only on island for a quick layover, and you want to see a little bit of everything, a circle island tour is the way to do it!
The reason I chose this tour after combing through a plethora of options was because it includes many of my favorite stops that I’d recommend to friends. Other similar tours skipped over some of the best spots.
On this tour in particular, you’ll make 14 quick stops over the course of 9ish hours where you’ll see most of the east and north shores of Oahu and do all the touristy things before returning to Waikiki.
I’m not sure how you’re going to decide between all these awesome activities, but these are all my favorites and any one of them will be totally worth it! If you decide you want to spend a hardcore week doing them ALL, it’ll only set you back about $1200 (aka two nights at Aulani or Turtle Bay Resort).
That being said, even if you can only enjoy one of these excursions, I’ll need you to do two things. First, tip your guide (especially in this economy!!) and then come share your stories with me in the message box below. I’d love to hear all about your adventures!
