Destination Guide: Hawaii (Oahu)

This post is based on our experience visiting Hawaii when Hayden was 13 months and ~3 years old. If you have any questions, let me know via DM on IG (@seejessicago). 

This document contains some affiliate links, where I will get paid a small commission if you purchase through the link. Thanks for your support! 

Hawaii, specifically Honolulu, is a very special place for us – it’s where we got engaged and celebrated our wedding with our closest friends and family, so we were so excited to share it with Hayden now that he’s a little older. We just got back from an amazing trip so I wanted to share some of what we love to do when we visit. 

As city people who like being near water, Oahu is always our island of choice since Honolulu has so much to do and if you want to get away, North Shore and other parts are only a short drive away. We found everything very kid-friendly and of course there were lots of other vacationing families. 

I included a sample itinerary for our most recent trip (4 days, 3 nights) at the end!

GETTING THERE

  • Flight

    • From California, it’s a 5-hour flight which is relatively easy. We have flown Southwest each time using our companion pass for a free ticket. 

    • Hayden doesn’t nap on flights anymore (he’s too excited), but here are some things we have used before when he used to sleep:

      • inflatable footrest so that the seat + footrest became a bed. Then made a canopy with airplane blankets above. 

      • seat hammock. This gives him room to stretch his legs and prevents toys from falling down as much. 

    • Bring some diapers, wipes, clothes, sleep sack and other essentials with you on the plane in case needed during the flight or worst case, luggage is delayed/lost. Also remember to bring clothes for yourself. I learned the hard way because Hayden threw up on me during our most recent flight and I only brought extra clothes for him.  

    • Random tip: If you need to dispose of a diaper, you’re supposed to use the barf bag or throw it away in the bathroom (we didn’t know and got lectured). 

  • Renting a car

    • We always rent a car in Oahu in order to drive to North Shore, Kualoa Ranch, Lanikai beach area. Car seats from the rental car companies have been fine. 

    • Hotel valet parking is expensive and slow, but still worth it so you can load/unload directly without worrying about street parking (which is not easy in most parts of Waikiki). 

WHERE TO STAY

  • We always stay in Waikiki so that we can be within walking distance of the beach and food when near the hotel. Here are some places we have stayed before. 

  • Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach and Spa

    • I saw on IG recently that there is a Hyatt family program where you can call them directly to get 50% off a second room for your kids. Haven’t tried this yet since we only needed 1 room this time. Please let me know if you do and if it works! Seems like only at participating hotels. 

    • Across the street from the beach and good location mid-strip. 

  • Laylow

    • We stayed here for a week during COVID when I was pregnant. Love the restaurant downstairs (The Hideout) – has live music, fire pits. Have had friends with kids stay there and also heard good things.

    • It’s a Marriott Bonvoy hotel if you have points. 1 block from the beach so a bit further, but it’s very close to Kona Coffee / b. patisserie =)

  • The Twin Fin (used to be another name when we stayed there)

    • We visited once for 10 days with us (fam of 3) plus 3 grandparents and booked a 3 bedroom suite here. It’s a little further down the Waikiki strip but the room configuration worked out for us and we had beautiful ocean views. 

    • Across the street from the beach, closer to HNL zoo. 

  • Hotel setup

    • The rooms we’ve had in Hawaii tend to be pretty large so we’ve been able to stick with our usual setup with crib + slumberpod tent

    • Guava Lotus Travel Crib – I don’t like to gamble with airbnb/hotel cribs, so we just always bring our own, even though it’s a little bit of a hassle. 

    • Slumperpod – This was a game changer for us in hotels where we had to share a room with Hayden. He sleeps longer in it too since it’s completely blackout and lets us have a babysitter that he doesn’t see. 

GEAR

  • Joolz Aer+ Stroller – This is our travel stroller / full-time stroller. Has fit in all overhead bins except one flight in Europe. 

  • Rain cover for stroller

  • Eating out

  • Potty

    • We started potty training Hayden 1 month before the most recent Hawaii trip and he did pretty ok. This OXO portable toilet saved us so many times – he had many outdoor pees and poops and I used these in public restrooms too because suddenly he became anti-big toilets…

    • We also have these toilet covers a friend recommended and he used them a ton in SF but refused to on vacation. 

  • Sun protection - I spent a lot of time trying to figure out sun protection for him (and me). I still ended up with some darker sun spots, but Hayden didn’t burn at all (YAY). 

    • Toddler rash guard with zipper – so much easier to take on/off than a shirt

    • Pipette spray on mineral sunblock - used this for Hayden and us.. I noticed Jing got burned because I think he jumped into water too quickly after putting it on. I used it and was ok. Hayden used and didn’t get burned. 

    • Project Reef Sun Stick - used this on myself and Hayden for reapplication (both face and body). It’s mineral but doesn’t come out super white. I really like this one and keep it in my purse always. 

    • Elta MD Mineral Tinted Sunscreen - this is the one Jing and I use daily on our face. It’s mineral but tinted so it doesn’t have white cast. 

    • Toddler Hat - wish Hayden would keep this on more… 

    • De La Heart Visor - I bought this for Hawaii but it didn’t arrive in time. It looks super nice and I wish it did (ugh). 

WHAT TO DO

  • Beaches

    • Waikiki Beach - so convenient, warm, but always a little crowded. 

    • Kaimana Beach - super shallow and smooth entrance so it was easy enough for Hayden to get in/out of the water. There’s a wall so it’s like an enclosed water area if that makes sense. Super kid friendly. 

    • Lanikai Beach - our favorite beach but no facilities/bathrooms. You have to access in between homes through marked paths. 

    • Turtle Beach at Turtle Bay Resort - there are umbrellas and chairs for resort guests (which we have used before and have not been asked to move). You can also bring your own gear/sit on the sand if you don’t want to risk getting asked to move. North shore tends to be slightly cooler. The restaurant right next to the beach is convenient for lunch after a morning swim.

  • Activities

    • Kualoa Ranch: Love this place! This is where they filmed Jurassic Park and other movies. We visit every time and can be paired with a visit to a beach before/after. 

      • UTV Tour: Drive your own ATV, but only for kids 5+

      • Jungle Jeep Tour (90 mins): Took Hayden this time (kids need tobe 3+) and he loved it! 

      • Horseback riding: One day when Hayden is old enough (10+ I believe), I want to do this!

      • Before your tour, you can pet horses, eat some snacks, take photos with fake dinosaurs, etc. 

    • Waimea Valley: Supposed to be a nice paved walk through botanical garden setting to beautiful waterfalls. I think I have tried to go 3x now, but every time the weather isn’t cooperative or we decide to skip it. 

    • Surfing Lesson: We did lessons with Micah before (just adults) and he said he can also bring kids on his board for lessons to expose them to surfing. Tried to on this trip with Hayden but he had to travel for a family emergency. 

    • Waikiki Aquarium: small but can entertain a kid for ~1 hour if you want some shade. 

    • Honolulu Zoo: Actually haven’t successfully gotten in because lines are crazy! But heard it’s nice. 

    • Fireworks Friday Nights: 750pm in winter, 8pm summer. Need to be closer to the harbor side (more western part of Waikiki). We tried to watch from the Sheraton hotel and it was blocked by buildings. 

    • Take Family Photos

      • We have used Flytographer (link to my personal referral code) before for our engagement photos in Oahu and also in other locations we visited.  

      • Last time we did family photos in Hawaii with grandparents with our wedding photographer: Christie Pham. 

    • Shopping

      • Kith - love this store. There is also a Kith Treats at this location. 

      • Royal Hawaiian Mall has lots of stores. Stussy is very popular and has a special Stussy Honolulu t-shirt everyone was lining up to buy. 

      • Ala Moana Mall is like South Coast Plaza in OC and has all the stores you can imagine, plus boba/coffee/dessert shops and restaurants. 

    • Yoga

WHAT TO EAT

  • When we took the grandparents to Hawaii with us, we did a lot of sit down lunches and dinners. This most recent trip, we did very casual food and mostly fed Hayden dinners in our hotel room because he was pretty tired from swimming/beach time. Then we went out for food on our own after he slept for dinner and was with the babysitter. Here is a list of some places we have eaten at separated by our must haves every time we visit, sit down or casual. 

  • Favorites

    • Helena’s Hawaiian

      • So good, we get it every time we visit. Also had it for our wedding party welcome dinner. 

      • Tip: order ahead on their website and take it to go. Restaurant is not much to see. We have eaten it at our hotel room or if you want to picnic, this viewpoint is nice! 

      • What we ordered for 2 adults + Hayden (who eats a lot of meat) and ended up with some leftovers:

        • Combo set B (1 large ribs, kalua pork, 2 scoops rice), 2 small ribs, Mac salad, 2x Fried butterfish collar, Cabbage & kalua pork, Long rice chicken (a little gingery if that’s ok with you) + 2 coconut waters

    • Da Cove Health Bar

      • Take out acai bowl / smoothie spot with some seating inside and out. Love the Hapa bowl (half dragonfruit and half acai) and you can add custom toppings in addition to the standard. Also like their green juice and smoothies! 

    • Kona Coffee Purveyors / b. patisserie

      • Even though the pastries are by b. Patisserie, which is from SF, we come every time in Honolulu. I heard some other ppl in line who are also from SF but were also there haha. 

      • Kouign ammans are AMAZING (black sesame, mango lychee, etc.) but last time they had pain suisse which is like croissant dough with cream cheese / chocolate chips inside and I was in love. 

      • Lines out the door in the mornings.. Last time, we waited 45 mins before we ordered. Be mentally prepared! 

    • Hideout at the Laylow

      • Love the vibes at this restaurant/bar and love coming here for happy hour or early dinner. They usually have a live musician. Make reservations if you don’t want to be disappointed during primetime hours. 

      • Seems very kid friendly since Hayden peed all over the floor here and they were so nice cleaning it up. 

  • Sit Down

    • Tonkatsu Tamafuji

      • Best tonkatsu in Honolulu I think. Have hot iron pots where you can get the egg tonkatsu over rice. 

      • You need to make res in advance or go at opening/early to wait. We didn’t go last time bc we weren’t prepared and didn’t want to wait. 

      • Other tonkatsu place that is also very good but much easier to get res Tonkatsu Ginza Bairin

    • Izakaya UOSAN

      • Went for date night on this last trip and really enjoyed it. Ordered their uni/egg yolk/truffle soy rice and special sashimi combo, fried chicken cartilage. Loved it all. 

    • Pho Old Saigon

      • I haven’t been myself but my Vietnamese friend said they loved this place so much they went 2x in one visit. 

    • Hau Tree

      • Restaurant overlooking Kaimana’s Beach. Had brunch here with grandparents and also happy hour with friends before. Love the vibe and food and drinks!

      • I think it can get pretty busy so book res if you have a large group 

    • Tsurutontan Udon

      • Chain udon restaurant that is family friendly and in the Royal Hawaiian Mall

    • Arancino de Mare 

      • Italian restaurant. Went with grandparents for dinner here and it was better than expected for a Waikiki on-strip restaurant. 

  • Casual

    • Musubi Cafe Iyasume - great to take out and eat on the beach! Though maybe not with a toddler bc you end up with sand everywhere. There are a few locations! This was closest to our hotel so just find yours. 

    • Poke

  • Desserts

  • Bars / Nightlife

    • I’m not the nightlife expert but here are some casual bars we’ve visited. 

    • The Beach Bar at Moana Surfrider - love the banyan tree there. 

    • Bar Leather Apron - in downtown and in an office building but loved the drinks there and I think they’ve won some awards since I went. Super small and def need res. 

    • Nightclubs are all behind Ala Moana mall. 

    • We recently went to a Ronny Chieng comedy show at Hawaiian Theater Center and it turns out they were filming it for Netflix and we saw Andrew Yang in the audience too! Jing found it randomly looking for events in Honolulu. 

  • Coffee Shops

  • Future Places I want to visit

OTHER

  • Childcare

    • We hired a babysitter every night of our trip this last time so that we had time to wander around Waikiki alone and have date nights. It was so worth it! After a full day of wrangling a toddler, it was a relief to have some alone time together. We had her come every night right after he went to bed in his slumperpod so she didn’t interact with him much, though one night he was going down late and she said hi to him and sat in the room while we got him ready for bed. She charged $25/hour, 3 hour minimum, and we provided gratuity. We got her an uber one night when we got back after midnight. Let me know if you want a referral. My friend also used this person so I got a referral from her. 

    • Aloha Sitters is an agency that can also refer a babysitter. They charge a $45 placement fee. 

  • Jetlag

    • 3 hour time different for us wasn’t too bad. Hayden was pretty tired early on each day since he mostly skipped naps and slept by 7pm. He acted pretty wild around 5pm everyday because of overtiredness from jetlag/exercise. Made the babysitter even more worth it. 

    • Slumberpod got him to sleep longer in the mornings given the sensory deprivation. Some days he woke up at 5am but would play on his own and then sleep again until 7am-ish. 

Sample Itinerary (4 days / 3 nights)

Our 4 day/3 night itinerary in Oahu with our 3-year old toddler.
Travel, Destination GuideJessica Chen