We have compiled a list of recommended sightseeing spots on the East Shore that we particularly want to introduce to you.
This area is filled with nature spots, centered around the beautiful beaches and the Koolau Mountain Range, which offers the number one scenic view in Hawaii!
Every location allows you to fully enjoy typical Hawaiian scenery, creating the perfect atmosphere for those who want to escape the city and relax.
We are introducing 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 – Permanent Edition
Recommended Sightseeing Spots on the East Shore
We have mainly compiled sightseeing spots in the Kailua, Kaneohe, and Hawaii Kai areas.
If there is a place you are interested in, please use the link to the detailed article under each heading.
Kualoa Ranch
Kualoa Ranch is one of Hawaii’s premier tourist destinations, famous as a filming location for Jurassic Park.
It is a very sacred place where only royalty could enter in the past, and it is also the strongest spiritual spot on Oahu!
Within the vast ranch covering approximately 4,000 acres, you can experience various activities such as horseback riding and ziplining.
However, even if you do not participate in activities, there are plenty of ways to enjoy it, such as taking photos in the great outdoors, visiting spiritual spots, and checking out the mini zoo where you can interact with tortoises and ponies!
As one of the top three tourist destinations in Hawaii, it is highly worth spending a full day to visit.
Koko Crater Botanical Garden
Koko Crater Botanical Garden is a hidden spiritual spot in Hawaii where you can enjoy various types of flowers from around the world!
While the Kilauea Volcano on the Big Island, which is still actively erupting today, is famous, originally both Diamond Head and Koko Crater on Oahu were also volcanically active over 100,000 years ago.
Their eruption vents turned into craters, and it is said that they took their current form about 40,000 years ago.
Koko Crater Botanical Garden is a spiritual spot where you can feel the power of the earth firsthand. While it boasts the second largest scale among botanical gardens on Oahu, you can amazingly enter for free!
It is a highly recommended spot where you can fully enjoy typical 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 most challenging trail courses in Hawaii.
It is officially known as the Koko Crater Railway Trail.
It is sometimes called the most difficult trail on Oahu because it is a course where you walk endlessly on the wooden ties of an old tramway track that stretches straight up towards the mountain.
There is absolutely no shade or rest spots, the incline is as steep as climbing a ladder, and the elevation is quite high!
However, the sense of accomplishment when you reach the top and the breathtaking view that spreads out before your eyes cannot be described in words.
Although it is tough, it is definitely worth climbing, so if you are confident, please give it a try while being careful to avoid accidents or injuries.
Sea Life Park
Sea Life Park is a tourist spot where a wide variety of Hawaiian marine life is gathered.
It is a facility where you can enjoy a full day of activities, from observing various marine animals native to Hawaii to enjoying dolphin and sea lion shows, and interacting with stingrays and sea turtles.
In addition to various hands-on events, you can observe colorful tropical fish, sharks, Hawaiian monk seals, and penguins. There is also a birdcage where you can feed birds and a touch pool where you can interact with marine life, so you will surely enjoy it more than you can imagine!
Many people think it might be a boring place just for kids, but actually, it is a place where adults can truly feel the excitement!
It is a highly satisfying tourist destination even if you are not with a family, so please go and meet the living creatures of Hawaii.
Halona Blowhole
Halona Blowhole is a classic tourist destination representing the East Shore.
Because it is an easily accessible natural blowhole in Hawaii, it has become a popular spot visited by many tourists every day.
Depending on the day, seawater shoots up more than 10 meters high from the gaps in the rocks, so you will definitely be overwhelmed by its power!
By the way, on days when the water is blowing high, it is nice to watch from right in front of the parking lot, but we recommend moving to the nearby Sandy Beach, as you can get a great view of the blowhole from the side.
It is a tourist destination you can casually drop by, so please be sure to stop there when driving along the East Shore.
→See more about Halona Blowhole
Puu Maelieli Pillbox
Puu Maelieli Pillbox is a hidden gem with breathtaking views in Hawaii.
Because you can overlook the Kaneohe Sandbar, it is also known as the Kaneohe Pillbox or Sandbar Pillbox.
Its greatest feature is the overwhelming panoramic view that allows you to see more than 180 degrees, covering not only the Sandbar but also the Kualoa and Lanikai areas!
Compared to other pillbox trails, it is a bit longer, and there are steep slopes and muddy areas, so the difficulty level might be slightly higher.
However, the moving scenery cannot be fully captured in photos, so it is a highly recommended pillbox personally.
→See more about Puu Maelieli Pillbox
Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden
Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden is the largest scenic botanical garden in Hawaii.
Located at the northern foot of the Koolau Mountain Range, it covers a remarkably vast area of 1.6 square kilometers!
You can view many plants, including native Hawaiian plants, as well as plants originally from the Philippines, Africa, Sri Lanka, India, Polynesia, Melanesia, Malaysia, and various parts of Tropical America.
By the way, Hoomaluhia means “to make a place of peace and protection” in Hawaiian, and true to its name, it is a spot where you will undoubtedly feel a peaceful atmosphere protected by magnificent nature.
Since it is a facility managed by the City of Honolulu, most of the activities are free of charge.
It is a hidden gem, but you can enjoy spectacular views, go fishing, camp, and have fun doing various things!
→See more about Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden
Makapuu Trail
Makapuu Trail is a highly popular hiking course on the East Shore.
The path is paved all the way to the observation deck at the top, so even beginners can hike with peace of mind!
The incline is relatively gentle, so you will see various people, such as those cycling back and forth, those running up, and people walking their dogs.
It is also very popular with locals, and on weekends, it gets so crowded that the parking lot fills up completely.
The spectacular view you see after hiking hard is the best, and in winter, you might even see whales swimming!
It is a trail that anyone can enjoy casually, so please go and fully experience the typical Hawaiian nature and scenery.
Makapuu Lookout
Makapuu Lookout is an iconic 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 Mountain Range.
Offshore in front, there is a prominent uninhabited island named Rabbit Island, because its shape resembles a “rabbit facing sideways” or a “rabbit lying down.”
You can see Makapuu Lighthouse deep on the mountain side to your right, and Makapuu Beach, where large waves crash year-round, at the bottom of the cliff to your left.
This area is also a famous spot where you can see humpback whales that migrate from Alaska during the winter season (around November to March)!
It is a spot where you can easily enjoy spectacular views in about 15 minutes, so please be sure to drop by when you pass through.
→See more about Makapuu Lookout
Lanikai Trail
Lanikai Trail is the most popular scenic pillbox in Hawaii, offering a panoramic view of the heavenly ocean.
It is the spark that ignited the pillbox boom, becoming popular for its breathtaking views of America’s No. 1 beach!
By the way, Lanikai Trail is a common name, and its official name is the Kaiwa Ridge Trail.
Generally, it is often called the Pillbox Hike and is a favorite hiking course among locals.
Since it is a tourist destination where you can deeply feel Hawaii with your whole body, please stop by when you visit Kailua Beach or Lanikai Beach.
Waimanalo Country Farms
Waimanalo Country Farms is a farm where many people gather for the sunflower fields and lemonade.
Sunflowers are known as a symbol of summer, 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!
Since it started growing sunflowers in 2010, it has gradually become popular, and now it is a tourist spot where many people gather.
The exquisite lemonade made with the farm’s original fresh lemons is worth visiting and drinking just for this.
It is a highly recommended hidden gem where they sell various other items such as corn, honey, vegetables, and grilled sunflowers (the flower part sprinkled with parmesan cheese, salt, and pepper)!
→See more about Waimanalo Country Farms
How to Access the East Shore
The East Shore is a relatively close area, taking about 30 minutes to an hour from Waikiki.
For access methods, we recommend taking a “Tour” if you value safety, comfort, and efficiency; “TheBus” if you prioritize cost performance; “Taxi or Uber” if travel time is your priority; and “Rental Car or Turo” if you value flexibility.
Recommended Transportation to the East Shore
Complete Guide to TheBus – The Cheapest Public Transportation to Travel Across Hawaii
Complete Guide to Taxis & Uber – Easy Ride-Hailing Services to Travel in Hawaii
Complete Guide to Rental Cars & Turo – Private Vehicles for Freely Exploring Hawaii