Recommendations on where to stay on Oʻahu
I had a friend recently ask where to stay on Oʻahu. She asked if I had any suggestions and what time of year is best. Yes, I definitely have some suggestions, but I also had some questions before making a recommendation.
What time of year will you be visiting? Even though Oʻahu has a pretty stable tropical climate year round, there are some pretty significant weather and swell changes that can affect when and where you might want to stay on Oʻahu. Winter - is whale season and my favorite time of year. We live on the south shore of Oʻahu and winter brings little to no swell, more rain and cooler days. The north shore has HUGE swell this time of year and is very, very busy as surfers from all over the world come to enjoy the epic North Shore surf. Summer - is the busiest time of year in Hawaii. Itʻs about 10 degrees warmer and the sun is much stronger (make sure to cover up!), but it is still very comfortable here compared to most of the mainland US in the summer months. The south shore surf picks up and we have our big wave season in the summer and the North Shore flattens out and the vibe chills. There are some epic snorkel spots on the North Shore to check out in the summer months. We do have hurricane season in Hawaii and the storms are usually the most intense toward the end of the season in September/October. The weather can be beautiful this time of year, but the storms can be nasty if they materialize. Its something to be aware of and consider.
Do you like it hot and sunny or lush and rainy or somewhere in between? Even though Oʻahu is a small island, we have 4 distinct climates. The east side or the windward side of the island is much rainier year round, but it is always lush and beautiful. Kaneohe Bay, Kailua, Lanikai Beach, Waimanalo are all fun spots to explore on the east side. The west side or the leeward side of the island is much drier. Ko Olina, Makaha, Kaʻena Point, Electric Beach are all fun spots to check out. South Shore is wetter in the winter and drier in the summer. Honolulu has some fantastic hiking right in town. Diamond Head and Koko Head are just a couple you might want to visit. The North Shore has a similar weather pattern on land to the South Shore. Haleiwa, Wailua, Turtle Bay, Sunset Beach/Pipeline are all great north spots to consider exploring.
Do you like to be in a walkable area or is peace and quiet a priority? Honolulu is the population center and Oʻahu is definitely the busiest island in the island chain. There are some real benefits that come with city life. Of the 1.4MM people living in the state of Hawaiʻi, about 1MM of them live on Oʻahu and most of the population of Oʻahu is on the south shore in Honolulu. While Oʻahu is busy, it also has the infrastructure to handle A LOT of people. Honolulu is filled with wonderful restaurants, excellent grocery stores, many vibrant farmers markets, local food delivery services, premier hotels, theater, opera, public transportation, an international airport with flights to pretty much anywhere in the world, hospitals, museums, a royal palace, etc. Itʻs a world class city in the most remote island chain in the world. Oʻahu is also home to world class surf breaks, excellent hiking, beautiful beaches, etc. You can still get out into nature and away from all the people. If you stay in the city, itʻs very walkable and there is an excellent public transit system and you really donʻt need a car. There is an excellent car share on island, Hui Car Share should you need a vehicle. If you stay somewhere else on island, you can get out of the city, but then you will definitely need a rental car and will likely find yourself driving more to see the sights.
Do you like to stay in hotels or Airbnb style rentals? Oʻahu has had a serious housing crisis for some time now and the state has really limited legal Airbnb and VRBO rentals. Waikiki, Turtle Bay and Ko Olina are the 3 main resort zones on island where it is legal to rent Airbnb and VRBO units for stays that are less than 30 days. Most of the hotels are located in the same 3 resort zones on island. If you like the convenience of a city, stay in Waikiki. If you like the feel of a planned community, Ko Olina is your jam and if you like the resort feel, head north to Turtle Bay.
Do you like to eat your meals at home or eat out? This might be one of the biggest factors on where you choose to stay on island. The North Shore is much more limited in restaurant and grocery options. There are local food delivery services on island like Farm Link that delivery island wide. But if you really want to experience the unique Hawaii fusion cuisine, staying in Honolulu is the best option. If you plan to stay outside of the city, be sure to stock up on groceries while in a more urban area or order local food and have it delivered next day.
