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Oahu

Oahu travel guide

Third largest island in Hawaii

Flights from$1,275 round trip
Things to do47 experiences
Best time to visitFebruary to March, June to July, September and November to December
Nearest airportHNL · 11 mi from centre
Time zoneUTC−10
Population976,372

About Oahu

Oʻahu, sometimes written Oahu, is the third-largest and most populated island of the Hawaiian Islands and of the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital, Honolulu, is on Oʻahu's southeastern coast. The island of Oʻahu and the uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands constitute the City and County of Honolulu. In 2025, Oʻahu had a population of 988,703, a decline of 27,791 from 1,016,494 in 2020.

Cheap flights to Oahu

The lowest round-trip fare found by Destina Holidays travellers in the last 30 days was $1,275 from Glasgow, travelling 1 Nov – 30 Nov. These are the cheapest fares from the most searched cities.

Cheapest month to fly

$1,584 Oct $1,275 Nov $1,505 Dec $1,374 Jan $1,566 Feb $1,696 Mar $1,510 Apr $1,622 May $1,758 Jun $2,043 Jul $2,463 Aug $2,036 Sep

Airlines travellers compared most often: Aer Lingus, Finnair.

Prices are per adult in US dollars, taken from searches between 20 Sep and 20 Oct 2026. Fares change often, so search your dates for live prices.

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Things to do in Oahu by type

47 tours, tickets and experiences across 11 categories. Pick a type to see what is available for your dates.

How long
  • 3-6 hours 10
  • 1-3 hours 9
  • Up to 1 hour 7
  • Over 6 hours 6
  • Flexible 3
Good for
  • Couples 3
  • Families 3
  • Youth 3
  • Senior 2
Ways to go
  • Shore excursions 22
  • Private 6
  • Small group 3
Browse all things to do in Oahu

Top experiences in Oahu

Tours, tickets and experiences you can book with Destina Holidays, from 47 available.

See all things to do in Oahu

Best time to visit Oahu

Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Oahu is February to March, June to July, September and November to December, when average daytime highs are around 78–86°F and rain falls on about 8 days a month.

MonthTemperature (°F)Rain days
Jan 66° – 78° 13
Feb 66° – 78° 8
Mar 68° – 79° 10
Apr 69° – 80° 18
May 70° – 81° 17
Jun 72° – 83° 7
Jul 73° – 84° 7
Aug 74° – 85° 8
Sep 73° – 86° 6
Oct 73° – 84° 9
Nov 71° – 82° 10
Dec 69° – 80° 8

Average daily low and high temperatures and days with at least 1 mm of rain, from recent weather records. Highlighted months are the most comfortable for sightseeing.

Know before you go

Currency
United States dollar (USD)
Language
English
Calling code
+1
Driving
On the right
Time zone
Pacific/HonoluluUTC−10
Capital
Washington, D.C.

Upcoming public holidays in United States

  • Thanksgiving Day
  • Christmas Day
  • New Year's Day
  • Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
  • Presidents DayWashington's Birthday
  • Memorial Day

Banks, offices and some attractions may close on public holidays, and flights and hotels often fill up early around them.

Getting to Oahu

These are the airports closest to central Oahu. Compare fares into each one, as a slightly longer transfer can sometimes mean a much cheaper flight.

  • HNL Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam11 mi (18 km) from the city centre
  • JRF Kalaeloa Airport14 mi (23 km) from the city centre
  • MKK Molokai Airport63 mi (101 km) from the city centre
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Getting around Oahu

Bike sharing services are available to visitors via Biki. Visitors can pick up a bicycle from one Biki station and drop it off at a different station. A one-way ride with Biki costs $4. Biki also offers subscription plans starting from $15 per month.

Major highways

The following are some of the more important major highways on Oahu. Both the common name and the state route number are given here. With the exception of H-1, H-2, and H-3 locals refer to most state highways by name, rather than route number.

Interstate highways

A common question that mainland visitors ask is why Oahu has Interstate highways when they don't cross state lines (or even county lines for that matter). The answer lies in the full name of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways. Each of the Interstates has a current or former military base at or close to its terminus, and all of them run close to Joint Base Pearl Harbor Hickam. (In any event, there are a number of Interstates on the mainland that also run entirely in one state.)

Oahu travel FAQ

When is the best time to visit Oahu?

Based on recent weather records, the most comfortable time to visit Oahu is February to March, June to July, September and November to December, when average daytime highs are around 78–86°F and rain falls on about 8 days a month.

What is the weather like in Oahu?

September is usually the warmest month in Oahu, with average highs of 86°F (30°C). February is the coolest, with average lows of 66°F (19°C). The wettest month is typically January, with about 123 mm of rain.

Which airport is closest to Oahu?

Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (HNL) is the closest airport, about 11 miles (18 km) from the centre of Oahu. Other nearby airports include Kalaeloa Airport (JRF, 14 mi) and Molokai Airport (MKK, 63 mi).

How much are flights to Oahu?

The cheapest round-trip fare Destina Holidays travellers found to Oahu in the last 30 days was $1,275 from Glasgow, travelling 1 Nov – 30 Nov. November is currently the cheapest month to fly, with fares from $1,275.

What time zone is Oahu in?

Oahu uses the Pacific/Honolulu time zone (currently UTC−10). Remember to check for daylight saving changes when planning connecting flights.

How do I get around Oahu?

Bike sharing services are available to visitors via Biki. Visitors can pick up a bicycle from one Biki station and drop it off at a different station. A one-way ride with Biki costs $4. Biki also offers subscription plans starting from $15 per month.

What are the top things to do in Oahu?

Popular experiences you can book in Oahu include Pearl Harbor, Arizona Memorial, Honolulu, and Diamond Head Lookout or Punchbowl - Small Group, Arizona Memorial, Missouri Battleship and Honolulu City Tour and Explore Royal Crown of Oahu - Helicopter Tour. Destina Holidays offers 47 tours and activities here.

What kinds of tours and activities can I book in Oahu?

The most popular types of experiences in Oahu are outdoor activities & adventure (12), city tours (8), air, helicopter & balloon tours (7) and zoo, aquarium & nature (6). Filter by type when you search to compare prices and availability for your dates.