ALOHA!

Some of the most popular things to do on Oahu do require a bit of advance planning. There are some things that it’s a VERY good idea (if not totally necessary) to book in advance.

But as long as you know that, then your chances of not missing out go way up!

Now, here are the Oahu experiences you’ll want to be ready for! All of these activities are known to get completely booked up, especially during busy season.

 

oahu things you should book in advance

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1. Hanauma Bay

 

Hanauma Bay is one of Oahu’s most famous snorkeling spots, and there are a limited number of tickets each day. Tickets go on sale 2 days in advance, and you need to be quick about it. There are also a limited number of same-day tickets available.

 

yes, you should book hanauma bay in advance

 

How urgent?

It’s urgent. If you want to make reservations for Hanauma Bay, you need to be ready to book your tickets 2 days before you want to go at exactly 7am. Tickets can sell out fast.

 

Can you show up without tickets?

Yes, it is possible to get same-day tickets by showing up. If you want to show up without tickets, you need to get to Hanauma Bay early. There are limited walk-in tickets available starting at 6:45am, for same-day admission.

 

My experience: How I made my Hanauma Bay reservation in 1 minute

 

 

2. Pearl Harbor (USS Arizona Memorial)

 

Pearl Harbor is one of the most significant sites in US history, as it was the location of the surprise attack that made the United States enter World War II. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial is managed by the National Park Service.

The USS Arizona Memorial is the most famous part of Pearl Harbor, and it requires a boat ride and ticket to go to. These tickets do sell out. There are also a limited number of stand-by tickets if you show up to Pearl Harbor without tickets.

Even with tickets, you want to give yourself plenty of time to check-in. Parking can take longer than you think and/or there might be a long line at check-in. If you’re arriving by bus, you’ll need to give time to do luggage storage since no bags are allowed. (Or come empty handed!) Your reservation is for a specific boat time, and if you are late, you’ll be put on stand-by.

 

yes, you should book pearl harbor in advance

 

How urgent?

It’s urgent. If you want to book USS Arizona memorial tickets, you need to be ready to book your tickets the day before you want to go to Pearl Harbor at exactly 3pm. Tickets can sell out fast.

It used to be possible to book tickets 2 months in advance, but as of mid-July 2025, that has been put on pause. You can visit the reservation page to check for current updates.

 

Can you show up without tickets?

Yes, it is possible to get same-day tickets to USS Arizona Memorial, but this is not guaranteed. There are a limited number of stand-by tickets available.

 

Is it worth going to Pearl Harbor without USS Arizona Memorial tickets?

While the USS Arizona Memorial is the icon of Pearl Harbor that everyone recognizes, this is not all there is to Pearl Harbor.

Even if you aren’t able to get USS Arizona tickets, there are things to do at Pearl Harbor for free. You can go to the Pearl Harbor visitor center and walk around the grounds for free. There are 2 free mini-museums and the outside commemorative circle to walk around, so you can learn about the tragedy and the events leading up it.

You can see the USS Arizona Memorial off in the distance from the commemorative circle.

There are also paid museums you can go to, which are the USS Missouri (recognized as place of Japan’s formal surrender and end of WWII), the aviation museum (flight simulator fun for kids and adults), and the Bowfin submarine.

So yes, it can be worth going to Pearl Harbor even without tickets to better understand and appreciate the global tragedy that significantly affected the course of world history. You will be standing at the very place of the event that prompted the US to get involved in WWII.

 

Another Pearl Harbor site with limited tickets

Lesser known (and less visited) at Pearl Harbor are the USS Oklahoma Memorial and USS Utah Memorial.

It’s only possible to go to these memorials with a Ford Island bus tour. These are also very limited tickets. There are tours 3 times a week. If you wait until the week before to book, you may be out of luck.

I didn’t know about this until my most recent Pearl Harbor visit when I saw a long line for something, and it turns out it was for people checking in for the Ford Island bus tour. I looked it up later, and now it’s on my list to go next time!

 

My experience: How I booked my USS Arizona ticket in 5 minutes

 

 

3. Diamond Head hike

 

Hiking up to the Diamond Head summit to see Waikiki from above is one of the most classic Oahu experiences. Tickets go on sale 30 days in advance, and you won’t be able to do the Diamond Head hike if don’t have a reservation.

 

yes, you should book diamond head hike in advance

 

How urgent?

It’s not that urgent, but don’t wait until the last minute. Booking a Diamond Head reservation isn’t as difficult as Hanauma Bay or Pearl Harbor.

You don’t need to be ready to book as soon as tickets are available to book (30 days out), but you also don’t want to wait until the day before to buy tickets. It’s very possible that the tickets will be sold out.

If you are driving to Diamond Head, you’ll also need to get a parking reservation, and those go even more quickly, with even less available. So in that case it’s a bit more urgent to book ahead.

 

I looked at Diamond Head tickets 3 days before the day I was thinking of going as a walk-in, and there was no availability. The following day still had some time slots available, although there was not a lot of choice in the time slots that were left.

So, as your trip to Oahu approaches, you’ll want to keep an eye on it to see if it looks like tickets are becoming less and less available. You can determine that way to know whether you should book soon or if you can wait.

 

Can you show up without tickets?

As an out-of-state visitor, you NEED to book your Diamond Head ticket before you go. You will be turned away if you show up without a reservation.

 

 

4. Kualoa Ranch

 

Kualoa Ranch is one of Oahu’s most popular outdoor adventure spots, with things you can do like UTV tour, movie sites tour, and horseback riding… all with the backdrop of the lush mountain valley.

While it is sometimes possible to show up and buy tickets if there’s availability, this is not guaranteed.

Because it’s so popular, tours DO sell out in advance.

The movie sites tour, where you can see the filming location of tons of movies, has the most tours going out so you have a better chance of still being able to book it the day before, but even then, it often sells out.

If you want to do the more adventurous tours that have more limited availability, like ziplining, horseback riding, or the UTV tour, you should definitely book in advance.

Even with tickets, be sure to show up with plenty of time because you have to check-in and there may be a long line.

 

yes, you should book kualoa ranch in advance

 

Can you show up without tickets?

If you don’t book a Kualoa Ranch tour in advance, then it is possible to book same-day tickets if you show up… if there is still tour availability! It’s not guaranteed.

That said, it’s best to expect that tours could very well be sold out, though. I showed up without tickets and it did work out for me (I did the movie sites tour), but that was because I only needed one ticket. The movie sites tour wasn’t available if you were 2 people. There were more tours like that, where it was available for 1 person, but not 2.

If you’re visiting with a group or want a specific tour, you should really book ahead.

 

Is it worth going to Kualoa Ranch without a tour?

Certainly, there are some people who have enjoyed stopping by Kualoa Ranch and not doing any tours, because they liked shopping for the Jurassic Park souvenirs in the gift shop. Parking is free and tickets aren’t needed for parking, so you can do that.

But generally speaking, there isn’t much point in going to Kualoa Ranch if you aren’t going to be doing a tour. If you are just curious about it, it is possible to go and walk around a bit. In addition to the gift shop, there’s a cafe, a fresh produce market, and just the general waiting area that anyone is free to roam. (You can get a picture with a Jurassic World dinosaur!)

You can still go to the area and go to places like Kualoa Regional Park right nearby and Yummy Huli Huli Chicken just down the road, and that can make going to the Kualoa area worth it! If you do that, I guess you might as well stop by Kualoa Ranch to get your picture with the dinosaur! (It’s out back. You’ll pass through the gift shop to get there.)

 

How to get there:

 

 

5. Hawaiian luau

 

Luaus are one of the most popular evening activities on Oahu, where you’ll get Hawaiian food, music, and cultural performances.

It’s a classic Hawaii experience you need to have as a first-time visitor to Hawaii!

While last minute tickets may be possible, they are known to sell out in advance so you want to make sure to book a luau before you fly to Hawaii too.

 

yes, you should book luau in advance

 

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WHERE TO STAY > Beachfront hotels | Near Fort DeRussy Beach | Near Kuhio Beach | Near Queens Beach | Vacation rentals

OAHU ITINERARY IDEAS > Hanauma Bay | Diamond Head | Pearl Harbor
>> Oahu hikes | Oahu mountains | Waikiki luau
>> Best Oahu tours
> Atlantis submarine from Hilton pier | Oahu grand circle island tour

HAWAII PACKING LIST > What to wear snorkeling | Hiking shoes