Experience the real Hawaii in Oahu. Enjoy authentic, hands-on adventures that reveal the deeply rooted cultural values, heritage, and history of Hawaii. Kayak a special bay, explore a hidden valley, visit a farmers’ market, and more.
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"Only place in the world…"


The Battleship Missouri Memorial is the only place in the world that you can see the beginning and end of a war. Beginning with the attack on the Hawaiian Islands on December 7, 1941 and America’s entry into the deadliest war of our time, and ending with the formal surrender on the decks of the Mighty Mo in 1945. It is a unique place for all ages to enjoy. Relive the glory for yourself, a very significant place that let freedom ring.

Purchase your tickets at www.ussmissouri.org/buy-tickets

35% Off Ultimate Family Getaway at Trump Waikiki

Experience Trump International Hotel Waikiki, the only Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Hotel on the island of Oahu. Enjoy 35% off beautifully appointed, residential-style two and three-bedroom suites plus a $300 resort credit and complimentary parking. Less than a 2-minute walk to the beach, the ultra-luxurious hotel offers spacious accommodations that sleep up to eight guests, and feature floor-to-ceiling windows, gourmet kitchens, Italian marble baths with deep-soaking tubs, and in-suite washer dryers for the ultimate convenience. 
To book, visit Trump International Hotel Waikiki Ultimate Hawaiian Family Getaway Offer

Another Day in Paradise - 5th Night Free at Hilton Hawaiian Village


Stay 5 nights and get the 5th night free. Spend another day in paradise enjoying all the fun things to do — including five unique pools, water slides, Waikiki's widest stretch of beach, daily cultural activities, Friday night fireworks and nightly live entertainment.

To book: visit www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com/specials-and-packages or call 1-800-HILTONS
Package code: Plan Code "PBADP4" or "DY4"
Perfect for kids + Book in advance and save 10% at Polynesian Cultural Center

There's something for the whole family when you "Go Native"! Live and experience the culture of six island nations and "do as natives do" by actively participating in games, crafts, cooking and ceremonies. Jump on a canoe and ride around our beautiful lagoon, try your hand at throwing a spear or learn how to cook in an umu. Finish off your day with a traditional Hawaiian Luau and the award-winning show Ha: Breath of Life.
https://www.polynesia.com/
There are so many reasons why Oahu is the ideal travel destination for your ohana (family). Not only is Oahu the only Hawaiian Island offering the urban vibe of Waikiki and Honolulu, you'll also enjoy the breathtaking beauty of emerald mountains, hidden valleys, gorgeous beaches, and tropical rainforests, plus extraordinary attractions and activities that showcase Hawaii's unique culture, heritage, and history. On Oahu, even surfing is a cultural activity!



Oahu Spotlight: Learn to Surf on the North Shore
A family vacation to Oahu means surfing. And what could be better than a family surf lesson? Your kids will be fascinated to learn that surfing actually was born in Hawaii. Hawaiian alii (royalty) rode the waves and that's why surfing is often called "The Sport of Kings." Oahu's legendary North Shore is home to big wave surfing championships – the Vans Triple Crown – every November and December when the world's best come to compete on epic waves at Sunset Beach, Waimea Bay, and Banzai Pipeline.

Your family can learn to surf on the North Shore year-round with Suzy Stewart of Sunset Suzy (sunsetsuzy.com). A former life guard and expert surfer who has taught surfing for over 25 years, Suzy believes the North Shore is a special place for first time surfers. "It's quiet and calm here away from the crowds at Waikiki. The beaches are just so beautiful and scenic."

Most families opt for two-hour family lessons which parents and kids take together. Safety and fun are paramount for Suzy. "We start on the beach with 15-20 minutes dedicated to safety and surf techniques," explains Suzy. "Then we spend the rest of the time in the water. We always have several instructors for a family group. I'll have an instructor on the board with really young children."

Suzy gives lessons year-round because she knows the special places with calm surf even in winter. "We go to Puaena Point, a cove near Haleiwa Beach that's perfectly protected from the big waves. I've had small kids having a blast surfing in the winter. You'll also experience wonderful Hawaiian sea turtles which provide a huge thrill for families. In summer, when the surf is calm, we go to Chun's Reef Beach."

Kids also love surfing with Suzy and her friendly golden retrievers Kaya and Coco. "They are there on the beach with me every day as we are getting ready for the lessons. The kids just love the dogs who make everyone feel right at home."

Ultimately, surfing on Oahu's North Shore with Suzy and her team is the bonding and memory-making experience that families seek on vacation.



Hawaiian Heritage & Culture
There are always new ways for your family to experience Oahu's rich outdoor and cultural riches.

Experience Virtual Reality at Pearl Harbor Visitor Center
Taking your kids to Pearl Harbor (pacifichistoricparks.org) so they can learn about the events of December 7, 1941 and tour the USS Arizona Memorial is always a meaningful experience. The moving documentary, the ride aboard the Navy vessel to the Memorial, and time at the Memorial bring to life that fateful morning where so many were lost. Pacific Historic Parks has recently added a new Virtual Reality component to the USS Arizona Memorial tour, providing a greatly enhanced visitor experience. You can visit the Virtual Reality Center, located in Pearl Harbor Visitor Center Courtyard. The VR experience enables you to walk the Arizona decks before the attack, witness the attack on Battleship Row, and experience the Memorial in even greater detail. Log on to the website for new ticket options that include the Virtual Reality Tours plus the USS Arizona Memorial tour and other Pearl Harbor attractions including the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park, Battleship Missouri, and Pacific Aviation Museum.

Hula With Aloha at Ala Moana Center
Nothing says Hawaii like hula. Now you can shop and learn this native Hawaiian art form at Ala Moana Shopping Center (alamoanacenter.com), the world's largest open-air retail center. The recently unveiled Hula with Aloha (alamoanacenter.com) is an authentic Hawaiian cultural experience where locals and visitors can network, practice, and learn the art of hula with award winning kumu hula (hula teachers). Enjoy beginning, intermediate, and advanced hula classes, lei making, and more. Ala Moana Center also offers a free, 20-minute show featuring both traditional and modern hula every day at 1 pm at Centerstage. On Sundays, catch the Ala Moana Keiki Hula Show featuring children. 

Travel Back in Time at Waimea Valley
Long before contact with the West, Hawaiians lived in ahupuaas: self-sustaining, mountain-to-sea land divisions. Today, you can visit beautiful Waimea Valley (waimeavalley.net) on the North Shore, a partially intact ahupuaa. This lush oasis is filled with adventures and learning. Walk through the recreated village and see how ancient Hawaiians lived and worshipped. Enjoy the lush botanical gardens and forests that surround you as walk through the verdant property. Cool off under 45-foot Waimea Falls and swim in the fresh water pool flowing beneath it. "Talk story" and learn traditional arts such as hula, lei stringing, lauhala weaving, and stone carving from Hawaiian cultural practitioners. On Thursdays, the weekly Haleiwa Farmers' Market comes to Waimea Valley from 2 to 6 pm, providing an opportunity for you and your family to experience the natural bounty of Oahu's farmers, fishermen, and artisans. 



Cultural Oahu Outdoor Adventures
Kualoa eBike Adventure and Farm to Table Tours
Kualoa Private Nature Preserve (kualoa.com) offers outstanding outdoor and cultural activities on a working ranch that stretches across 4,000 acres of pristine mountains, valleys, and shoreline. Much of this unspoiled landscape will look familiar to you as Kualoa is a popular movie and TV location site. The new eBike Adventure is a guided tour on electric bikes that enables guests to see Kualoa's most popular landmarks. You'll enjoy a leisurely 90-minute trek through magnificent Kaaawa Valley while seeing movie sites for Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, 50 First Dates, LOST, and more. The state of the art electric bikes are equipped with quiet engines that provide power whenever the rider needs some extra assistance. The eBike Adventure is a beginner level tour for those without the confidence or fitness level for a more strenuous mountain bike tour. On the new Farm to Table Tour, you'll be able to enjoy products grown and harvested right at Kualoa. The tour showcases ranch operations for cattle, sheep, pigs, and chickens as well as rich agricultural lands where cacao, bananas, papayas and other fruits are grown. You'll also visit oyster and shrimp farms. Finally, you'll enjoy a farm to fork meal prepared by chefs inspired by Kualoa ingredients.

Holokino Hawaii Sailing Canoe Adventure
How about an adventure that combines sailing with ancient Hawaiian history? Hawaii was settled thousands of years ago by Polynesian voyagers who traveled across the Pacific in outrigger canoes navigating by the stars, the wind, and the waves. Recently, Pacific Voyaging Society sponsored Malama Honua, the three-year, round the trip voyage of the Hokulea, a traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe. One of the Hokulea's apprentice navigators, Austin Kino, a young Oahu native, recently launched, Holokino Hawaii (holokinohawaii.com), a sailing canoe adventure at beautiful Kahala Hotel & Resort. Your family will enjoy a one-hour adventure with a two-man crew aboard the Uluwehi (gentle breeze in Hawaiian), a 30-foot traditional sailing canoe. While sailing, listen to the stories of the ahupuaas (traditional land divisions) of the South Shore of Oahu and learn the basic principles of celestial navigation as practiced by ancient Polynesians and Hawaiians. You and the kids will love paddling the canoe and assist the crew with sailing. Enjoy beautiful on shore views of Oahu and sightings of green sea turtles and come away with an understanding of how integral outrigger canoes were to ancient Hawaiians in their everyday lives.

Holokai Kayak and Snorkel Adventures
Up on Oahu's Windward Coast, Holokai Kayak and Snorkel Adventures (holokaiadventures.com) offers kayaking, sailing, and snorkeling adventures at Heeia State Park on Kaneohe Bay, home to Oahu's only barrier reef. All proceeds support Heeia State Park and non-profit Kamaaina Kids which provides summer outdoor adventures for local Oahu youngsters. The three-hour Guided Kayak and Snorkeling adventure on Kaneohe Bay is ideal for families with children. Enjoy an instructional eco tour with the friendly staff of certified instructors and then kayak journey to Coconut Island, the location of the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology. Along the way, explore and snorkel at various patch reefs and observe sea turtles, rays, and tropical fish in their natural habitat. The guide will point out cultural sites like Heeia Fishpond and will explain some of the challenges facing Kaneohe Bay's ecosystem.
The "Holo Moana: Generations of Voyaging" exhibition at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum celebrates the resurgence of the centuries-old, ancestral practice of long-distance ocean voyaging. Closely following the Hawaiian sailing canoe, Hokulea, and its return to Hawaiian waters, the exhibit is based on a collaboration between Bishop Museum and the Polynesian Voyaging Society (PVS) and is on display in the J. M. Long Gallery through June 24, 2018. Cultural objects from Hokulea's voyages are on display along with a variety of interactive stations. Visitors can step into a wind-based immersive experience that uses digital sensors and electronics to bring to life the winds used by voyagers and told of in Hawaiian cultural stories. Visitors can also enter a full-dome projection theater with audio narrated by PVS president Nainoa Thompson, master of the traditional Polynesian art of non-instrument navigation. BishopMuseum.org

On-going, First Friday of every month from 6-9 p.m.
Hawaii State Art Museum
View contemporary Hawaii art and enjoy live musical performances. Exhibition galleries are free and open to the public during this time.
www.sfca.hawaii.gov

On-going, Last Friday of every month from 4-9 p.m.
Eat The Street
Celebrate Hawaii's food trucks with over 40 food trucks and vendors. This event attracts over 7,000 people eager to sample the best street food Hawaii has to offer. www.eatthestreethawaii.com

On-going, On the third Saturday of every month
Honolulu Night Market
Kakaako comes alive with an evening event that combines fashion, live music, art, shopping and local food. Held under the Honolulu city lights, this monthly night market celebrates the best of urban island culture featuring local artists, designers, musicians and chefs.
www.honolulunightmarket.com

On-going, Every last Thursday of the month
Art + Flea
Discover a unique monthly shopping experience for Hawaii's talented creatives to showcase their goods and talents. Over 60 independent artists, vintage collectors, food trucks, handmade aficionados and fashion designers are featured at each event, drawing an eclectic crowd of shoppers, music and art lovers alike.
www.artandflea.com

On-going, third Friday and Saturday of the month
Paakai Marketplace
Discover unique local products and Hawaiian culture at SALT at Our Kakaako. The monthly event, held in in collaboration with PAʻI Foundation, features live music and is a free, family and pet-friendly event, starting at 5 p.m.
SaltAtKakaako.com

March 1 – 4, 2018
Wanderlust Yoga Festival
Turtle Bay Resort welcomes this ultimate mind, body, soul, and wellness festival featuring yoga and meditation instructors, musical performers, top chefs, and wellness speakers and leaders. Inspiration and rejuvenation await at this multiday outdoor retreat in paradise.
https://wanderlust.com/festivals/oahu/

March 9-11, 2018
24th Annual Honolulu Festival
The annual Honolulu Festival celebrates cultures from across the Pacific. This three-day celebration of art, music, dance, and crafts is filled with spectacular sights and sounds, including aboriginal dance performances, cultural demonstrations and a vibrant parade through Waikiki.
www.honolulufestival.com

April – June, 2018
Mele Mei 2018
The 8th Annual Mele Mei Celebration is going to be the biggest year yet! Music and hula events are held from April through June at various hotels, venues, on the beach and statewide. From ukulele to steel guitar, traditional Hawaiian music to slack key, island reggae to rock-and everything in between-Mele Mei has something for everyone.
www.melemei.com

April 8, 2018
Hapalua Honolulu Marathon Half Marathon
Sponsored by Honolulu Marathon Association, the event is expected to draw more than 5,000 runners. The start of the Hapalua is by The Duke Kahanamoku statue in Waikiki and finishes in Kapiolani Park. Both walkers and runners are welcome.
www.thehapalua.com

April 28, 2018
Waikiki SPAM Jam
The Waikiki SPAM® Jam is an exciting annual street festival that takes place on Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki. The event celebrates the unusually high consumption of SPAM® in Hawaii and features a variety of Honolulu's finest restaurants serving up SPAM®-inspired creations. Two entertainment stages provide non-stop entertainment consisting of several of Honolulu's finest restaurants which will be serving up Spam in many different ways, so you can experience the enormous variety of its applications. A variety of Hawaiian craft booths will also be set up on the street.
http://spamjamhawaii.com

April 29, 2018
Haleiwa Metric Century Ride
The annual John B. Kelley Haleiwa Metric Century Ride begins and ends in Kaiaka Bay Beach Park on the Northshore of Oahu. The course takes riders through Haleiwa Town, out towards Kaena Point, then back along the shores past Waimea Valley, Sunset Beach, Kahuku, and Kaaawa. All skill levels and ages are welcome.
www.hbl.org

May 1, 2018
91st Annual Lei Day Celebration
Don't miss this special Hawaiian celebration of lei including entertainment, food booths and a lei making contest takes place at the beautiful Queen Kapiolani Park and Bandstand in Waikiki. 
FB, TRIP https://www.honolulu.gov/parks/program/ 182-site-dpr-cat/1685-lei-day.html

May 13, 2018
Honolulu Triathlon

Triathletes from around the world visit Oahu each May to compete in the Honolulu Triathlon. The Honolulu Triathlon offers several sporting events and features the famous Olympic and Sprint Triathlon. People of all ages and skill levels are welcome to join our race and compete against fellow triathletes from around the world. http://www.HonoluluTriathlon.com

May 28, 2018 - Memorial Day
Annual Lantern Floating Ceremony
Every year on Memorial Day, thousands of people gather together at Magic Island at Ala Moana Beach Park to honor ancestors and loved ones who have passed away. More than 1,100 candle-lit lanterns are set afloat on the ocean, a traditional Buddhist rite originating in Japan. The ceremony also combines the local culture of hula with the Japanese Shomyo Choir and Taiko drums.
www.lanternfloatinghawaii.com

June 8-10, 2018
Pan Pacific Festival-Matsuri in Hawaii
This special three-day celebration begins with Hawaiian festivities on Friday evening, including a block party where last year, more than 40,000 people enjoyed the entertainment and food. The celebration includes a hula festival held at Ala Moana Center, where spectators have the rare opportunity to see hula groups from Japan perform with Hawaiian hula halau. The event culminates with a grand parade along Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki.
http://www.pan-pacific-festival.com

July 4, 2018
Ala Moana Center Fireworks
For the 27th consecutive year, Ala Moana Center will present locals and visitors with one of the largest and most spectacular fireworks shows in the country. In addition to the fireworks, Ala Moana Center will offer a weekend's worth of live entertainment and a mall-wide shopping savings pass. www.alamoanacenter.com

July 15, 2018
10:30 am – 5:00 pm- Kapiolani Park Bandstand
48th Annual Roy Sakuma Ukulele Festival Hawaii
Local ukulele legend Roy Sakuma and his sponsors are helping to keep the ukulele alive with the largest festival of its kind in the world, attracting audiences of thousands. The free two-hour concerts showcase the finest ukulele players, along with national celebrities, Hawaii's top entertainers, and an ukulele orchestra of more than 800 students, mostly children. The festival benefits Ukulele Festival Hawaii, a charitable non-profit organization.
http://www.ukulelefestivalhawaii.org/en/

July 21 & 22, 2018
41st Prince Lot Hula Festival
This two-day festival showcases the best of non-competitive hula and is immersed in Native Hawaiian culture and features crafts, kapa making, lauhala weaving, lomilomi massage, traditional Hawaiian games, and more.
http://www.moanaluagardensfoundation.org/

August 17-19 2018
Made in Hawaii Festival
Enjoy this three-day celebration highlighting the unique products of Hawaii. More than 400 exhibitors offer everything made in Hawaii from art, clothing, food, home furnishings, jewelry, toys, fresh produce, and plants, to authentic Hawaiian handicrafts.
http://www.madeinhawaiifestival.com
FB, TRIP

August 18-26, 2018
Duke's OceanFest
This weeklong festival features a variety of exciting water sports competitions including longboard surfing, surf polo, swimming, standup paddling and other events paying tribute to Hawai‘i's Ambassador of Aloha, Duke Kahanamoku and Hawai‘i's local waterman.
DukesOceanFest.com  

August 25-26, 2018
Greek Festival
The 37th Annual Greek Festival, held at McCoy Pavilion at Ala Moana Beach Park, celebrates Greek culture with ethnic food, live entertainment, cultural booths and more. The popular annual festival is sponsored by the Saints Constantine and Helen Greek Orthodox Cathedral. www.greekfestivalhawaii.com

August 25 – 26, 2018
Reebok Spartan Race Hawaii Trifecta Weekend
The Reebok Spartan Race Hawai`i Trifecta Weekend is Hawaii's largest premier Obstacle Course Racing Event. The obstacles include but not limited to 4-8 foot walls, barbed wire crawls, monkey bars, heavy objects pull and carry, fire jump and a 30 foot tall signature rope climb. The race is designed to test participants' physical and mental toughness and entitle them to the sense of accomplishment when they cross the finish line.
https://www.spartan.com/en/race/detail/3653/ overview

October 24 – 28, 2018
8th Annual Hawaii Food & Wine Festival
Join more than 100 of the world's biggest culinary superstars for this culinary adventure. Experience the natural abundance of Oahu this fall. Featuring world renowned culinary masters, winemakers and mixologists. Highlights include beachside dinners, fireworks, and popular Urban Luau with celebrity chefs from the hottest restaurants from coast to coast.  
HawaiiFoodandWineFestival.com

December 2, 2018
XTERRA Trail Run World Championship
Crown jewel of the XTERRA Trail Run Series. The 21-kilometer half-marathon course is considered the world championship course, and it takes runners through some of the most diverse – and scenic – terrain on the planet winding through Kualoa Ranch on Oahu's northeastern shore. Also includes trail runs, a children's race, and other family events.
www.xterraplanet.com/trailrun/worlds

December 7, 2018
Pearl Harbor Memorial Parade
Decorated F-104 Starfighter join bands and floats, to parade down Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki, to honor and pay respect to the Pearl Harbor survivors, our veterans, active duty military and their families. The parade takes place on the anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attack. Parade starts at 7pm at Fort DeRussy in Waikiki and proceeds down Kalakaua Avenue, to Kapiolani Park.

December 9, 2018
Honolulu Marathon
Thousands of runners from around the world participate in the Honolulu Marathon, a 26.2-mile course with spectacular views of Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head.
www.honolulumarathon.org
To find MORE UPCOMING EVENTS on Oahu follow us on Facebook or go to www.visit-oahu.com to check out the events calendar


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