How To Get off the Beaten Path on Oahu

Located on the windward side of Oahu is the 400-acre (162-hectare) Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens. Plantings from the world's major tropical regions fill the garden, aptly named “a peaceful refuge.” It’s a quiet spot to enjoy hiking, biking, or a picnic among flowers and on weekends, you can take advantage of catch-and-release fishing.

Oahu offers many enjoyable activities to do in the daytime, such as hiking and going to the beach, but what about exploring the island at night? If you’re looking for an after-dark activity that’ll show you a different side to the island, opt for a haunted history walking tour in Honolulu. During which, you’ll visit some off-the-beaten-path spooky sites—including Iolani Palace and the Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives—while you hear ghostly stories and encounters.

Explore one of the largest collections of Islamic and South Asian art in the United States at Shangri La, the former Oahu home of American tobacco heiress Doris Duke. Visit the opulent oceanfront estate on a guided tour and view some of the more than 2,500 objects collected by Duke over a period of nearly 60 years.

Visit Maunakea Marketplace with a grumbling stomach. This bustling open-air market has affordable food and snacks galore. But just because the marketplace is located in Chinatown doesn’t mean you can only choose from Chinese food—look out for everything from Thai and Filipino to Vietnamese and Latin-Asian fusion eateries and more. Just make sure to bring cash.

Related: An Insider’s Guide to Honolulu’s Chinatown

Tucked away in the Valley of the Temples, at the foot of the Ko’olau mountains, the Byodo-In Temple is a smaller scale replica of a temple of the same name in Kyoto, Japan. Built to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the arrival of Japanese immigrants to Hawaii, the temple is surrounded by landscaped grounds that feature various structures, a koi pond, and a large wooden Buddha.

Ever heard of the Hawaiian cowboy? Paniolos have led a unique lifestyle in the islands since the 1800s when King Kamehameha II sent some Hawaiians to California to learn how to wrangle cattle. These days, ranches along the countryside of the North Shore offer visitors a peek inside their heritage. Book a tour and explore the natural beauty of the North Shore by horseback, to live—briefly—how the paniolos do.

Immerse yourself in lush, tropical foliage at Foster Botanical Garden, Honolulu’s oldest botanical garden. Traverse the 14-acre (5.7-hectare) space, including the outdoor butterfly garden and the palm garden. Make sure to stop by the 23 historic trees, too, which are protected thanks to their cultural or historical significance.

Fun fact: Those trees are known, rather grandly, as Exceptional Trees.

Oahu’s craft beer scene is exploding, thanks to creative brewmasters who draw inspiration from the island’s unique flavors. Expect delicious beer infused with local ingredients such as passionfruit, coconut, pineapple, and more. And if no one in your party feels like being the designated driver, you can always book a tour that includes transportation to and from your hotel.

Head to the small town of Waimanalo, on the eastern side of Oahu, for a real escape from the Oahu crowds. Tucked between the Ko’olau mountain range, the area is full of small farms, ranches, and nurseries. Catch a rodeo, play a round of golf, or watch a game of polo while you’re there. Or, just enjoy a quiet, white-sand beach and snorkeling among Hawaiian green sea turtles.