We have compiled a list of recommended sightseeing spots on the East Shore that we especially want to introduce to you.
This area is full of nature spots centering on the beautiful beaches and the Koolau Mountains, which offer some of the best scenery in Hawaii!
It is full of places where you can enjoy scenery that is typically Hawaiian, so the atmosphere is perfect for those who want to get away from the city and be healed.
We introduce them in alphabetical order, so please search according to where you want to go or what you want to do.
→Complete Guide to Popular Spots on Oahu’s East Shore
East Shore Sightseeing Spots
We have summarized the sightseeing spots mainly in the Kailua, Kaneohe, and Hawaii Kai areas.
If there is a place that interests you, please use the link to the detailed article under each heading.
Kualoa Ranch
Kualoa Ranch is one of Hawaii’s leading tourist destinations, famous as a filming location for Jurassic Park.
It was once a very sacred place where only royalty could enter, and it is also one of the strongest spiritual power spots on Oahu!
In the vast ranch, you can experience various activities such as horseback riding and zip-lining.
However, even if you do not participate in activities, there are plenty of ways to enjoy yourself, such as taking photos in the great outdoors, visiting power spots, and a mini zoo where you can interact with tortoises and ponies!
It is one of the top three sightseeing spots in Hawaii, so it is well worth spending a day visiting.
Koko Crater Botanical Garden
Koko Crater Botanical Garden is a hidden power spot in Hawaii where you can enjoy various types of flowers from all over the world!
The Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island, which is still actively erupting, is famous, but Diamond Head and Koko Crater on Oahu were also volcanically active more than 100,000 years ago.
The crater is the vent, and it is said to have taken its current shape about 40,000 years ago.
Koko Crater Botanical Garden is a power spot where you can feel the power of the earth firsthand. Although it boasts the second largest scale among botanical gardens on Oahu, you can enter for free.
It is a recommended spot where you can fully enjoy Hawaiian flowers such as plumeria, bougainvillea, and hibiscus, as well as plants and cacti that can only be seen here!
→See more about Koko Crater Botanical Garden
Koko Head
Koko Head is one of the toughest hiking trails in Hawaii.
It is officially called the Koko Crater Railway Trail.
It is sometimes said to be the most difficult trail on Oahu because it is a course where you walk endlessly on the ties of a trolley track that stretches straight up the mountain.
There is no shade or rest spots, the slope is steep like climbing a ladder, and the altitude is quite high. Haha.
But the sense of accomplishment when you reach the top and the super superb view spreading out before your eyes are beyond words.
It is tough, but it is definitely worth the climb, so if you are confident, please try it while being careful of accidents and injuries.
Sea Life Park
Sea Life Park is a sightseeing spot where Hawaii’s sea creatures are gathered.
It is a facility where you can enjoy activities for a day, such as observing various marine life inhabiting Hawaii, enjoying dolphin and sea lion shows, and interacting with stingrays and sea turtles.
You should be able to enjoy it more than you imagine, with various hands-on events, colorful tropical fish, sharks, Hawaiian monk seals, penguins, a bird cage where you can feed birds, and a touch pool where you can touch marine life.
Many people think it is a boring place just for children, but it is actually a place where adults find it interesting!
It is a tourist destination where satisfaction is guaranteed even if you are not a family, so please go and meet the creatures of Hawaii.
Halona Blowhole
Halona Blowhole is a classic tourist destination representing the East Shore.
It is a popular spot visited by many tourists every day as it is an easily accessible natural blowhole in Hawaii.
Depending on the day, the tide blows up from the gap in the rocks to a height of over 10 meters, so you will definitely be overwhelmed by its power!
By the way, on days when the tide is blowing big, it is good to watch from in front of the parking lot, but we also recommend moving to the nearby Sandy Beach because you can see a nice blow from the side.
It is a sightseeing spot you can easily stop by, so please visit when driving along the East Shore.
→See more about Halona Blowhole
Puu Maelieli Pillbox
Puu Maelieli Pillbox is a hidden superb view spot in Hawaii.
It is also called Kaneohe Pillbox or Sandbar Pillbox because you can overlook the Kaneohe Sandbar.
The greatest feature is the overwhelming panoramic view that allows you to see more than 180 degrees, not only the Sandbar but also up to Kualoa and Lanikai!
Compared to other pillboxes, it is a little longer, has steep slopes, and places that easily get muddy, so the difficulty level might be a bit higher.
However, it is a moving scenery that cannot be conveyed in photos, so it is a pillbox we personally highly recommend.
→See more about Puu Maelieli Pillbox
Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden
Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden is Hawaii’s largest scenic botanical garden.
Located at the northern foot of the Koolau Mountains, it covers a very vast area of 1.6 square kilometers!
You can see many plants not only from Hawaii but also from the Philippines, Africa, Sri Lanka, India, Polynesia, Melanesia, Malaysia, and tropical America.
By the way, Hoomaluhia means “to cause protection” or “to make peace” in Hawaiian, and as the name suggests, it is a spot where you will definitely feel a peaceful atmosphere protected by majestic nature.
Since it is a facility managed by the City of Honolulu, almost all activities are free.
It is a hidden gem, but you can enjoy superb views, go fishing or camping, and enjoy various things!
→See more about Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden
Makapuu Trail
Makapuu Trail is a very popular hiking course on the East Shore.
The path is paved all the way to the observation deck at the summit, so even beginners can climb with peace of mind!
The slope is relatively gentle, so there are various people such as those going back and forth by bicycle, running up, and walking dogs.
It is also very popular with locals, and on weekends it gets so crowded that the parking lot fills up.
The superb view you see after working hard to climb is the best, and you can even see whales swimming in the winter!
It is a trail that anyone can enjoy easily, so please go and enjoy nature and scenery that is typically Hawaiian.
Makapuu Lookout
Makapuu Lookout is a symbolic scenic spot on Oahu’s East Shore.
It is an observation deck where you can enjoy views of both the beautiful ocean and the magnificent Koolau Mountains.
Off the coast to the front, there is a notably large uninhabited island named Rabbit Island because the shape of the island looks like a rabbit facing sideways or lying down.
You can also see the Makapuu Lighthouse deep on the mountain side to the right, and Makapuu Beach, where big waves rush in throughout the year, under the cliff to the left.
This area is also famous as a spot where you can see humpback whales coming from Alaska during the winter season (around November to March)!
It is a spot where you can easily enjoy superb views in about 15 minutes, so please stop by when you pass through.
→See more about Makapuu Lookout
Lanikai Trail
Lanikai Trail is the most popular scenic pillbox in Hawaii where you can overlook the heavenly sea.
It is the spark of the pillbox boom that became popular for being able to enjoy the superb view of the No. 1 beach in the US!
By the way, Lanikai Trail is a common name, and the official name is Kaiwa Ridge Trail.
It is generally often called the Pillbox Hike, and it is a hiking course that is a favorite among locals.
It is a tourist destination where you can feel Hawaii with your whole body, so please stop by when you come to play at Kailua Beach or Lanikai Beach.
Waimanalo Country Farms
Waimanalo Country Farms is a farm where many people gather for sunflower fields and lemonade.
Speaking of sunflowers, they are a summer tradition, but in Hawaii, you can see them twice a year: during the summer season from mid-May to mid-July and the autumn season from early October to mid-November!
It has gradually become popular since starting sunflower cultivation in 2010, and now it has become a tourist spot where many people gather.
The exquisite lemonade made with fresh lemons original to the farm is worth visiting just to drink.
It is a recommended spot that is a bit of a hidden gem where they sell various things such as corn, honey, vegetables, and grilled sunflowers (flower parts sprinkled with parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper)!
→See more about Waimanalo Country Farms
Access to East Shore
The East Shore is a relatively close area, about 30 minutes to 1 hour from Waikiki.
As for access methods, “Tours” are recommended for peace of mind, comfort, and efficiency, “TheBus” for cost performance, “Taxi or Uber” for travel time, and “Rental Car or Turo” for freedom.
Recommended Transportation to East Shore
TheBus Complete Guide [Cheapest Public Transport to Move Around Hawaii]
Taxi & Uber Complete Guide [Ride-hailing Services for Easy Travel in Hawaii]
Rental Car & Turo Complete Guide [Private Cars for Free Exploration in Hawaii]