Oahu Hawaii with a Toddler: Itinerary and Tips

This was our family’s first far-away vacation, and by far my husband’s and my favorite. Oahu scratches all aspects of our travel-itch: it has culture, foreign history, beaches, mountains, food. And most of the activities we did were baby-friendly. Did I say that Oahu is simply an eye candy for a photographer?

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However, there were some mistakes we made traveling with a toddler, and I am ready to spill the tea on traveling around the island effortlessly.

1. Keep hotel switching to a minimum
   
   Packing, unpacking, loading, unloading, especially with a baby added to the equation, is painful. We made an unnecessary switch from Ala Moana to Waikiki hotel, and it certainly took away from the “vacation” and added to the “travel” vibe. While I am all for exploring the island, as opposed to staying at the same neighborhood the whole time, try not to switch hotels too much.
   

2. Pack lightly
It always amazed me how such tiny humans require So. Much. Stuff. Yes, you can check in you luggage and stroller/car seat, but to get to and from the airport, as well as between hotels, will make you regret packing these few couple extras. Leave the unnecessary things at home.

3. Rental Car is worth it
We took a few Ubers and it is 0/10 do not recommend: the kid, the car seat, all of our stuff, it was just too much. Keep in mind, rental car is pricey, and if you stay in Honolulu you will have to add parking fees to the bill. But in our case, with all the baby stuff we had to haul, it saved our sanity.

4. Take turns
Our 15 month old required constant supervision and/or entertainment. It was hard to absorb everything you need to learn about Hawaiian royal history at the Bishop museum while the baby wants to run around. Or to see the abundance of marine life 600 ft from the shore of Electric beach. So husband and I had to take turns. It did not take away from our fun.

Our itinerary looked as follows: 2 days at Ala Moana -> 2 days at Waikiki (this was an unnecessary hotel switch) -> 3 days on the North Shore -> 3 days at Waikiki again. We had our car starting with the North Shore part of the trip.

Food places we tried and loved:

• Ala Moana: YogurStory for breakfast, restaurants at Ala Moana mall (we tried several and loved them all), including lanai (food-court)
• Waikiki/Honolulu: Diamond Head Market, Cuckoo Coconuts for music and drinks, Island Vintage coffee (local chain), Momosan, Off the Hook Poke (the best poke I’ve ever had)
• North Shore: Haleiwa Joe’s, Ted’s Bakery, Giovanni’s Shrimp (make sure to bring cash), Seven Brothers at The Mill,

Baby friendly beaches: Ala Moana, Waikiki (Kūhiō Beach especially), Turtle Bay (not to be confused with Turtle Beach)

Baby friendly activities: Dole Plantation, Beach time, Hiking, Touring Byodo-In Temple

Snorkeling locations: Electric Beach, Sharks Cove, Turtle Beach. We highly recommend all three. Make sure to bring your water shoes.

Hiking:

Diamond Head, Manoa Falls. Both hikes were short and sweet. Manoa Falls gives you the whole tropical rainforest experience with the cherry on top of the 150-foot waterfall. Diamond Head gives you breathtaking views overlooking the island, as well as the crater summit and long strip of beaches. For Diamond Head make sure to reserve your spot a little in advance. We used soft-structured baby carrier for our baby Everett, although he enjoyed walking by himself here and there

Cultural Experiences: Sightsee Honolulu and the Royal Palace, Bishop Museum, stroll Haleiwa Village, Byodo-In Temple. Although we decided to skip Polynesian Cultural Center in favor of Bishop Museum, families with kids generally LOVE it.

Overall, traveling with a baby in Oahu was a fun and enjoyable experience. The island offers a wide variety of activities that are suitable for families with young children. With a little planning and preparation, you can create lasting memories and have a stress-free trip. The little one will probably not remember it, but we sure will!

Have you been to Hawaii? What’s you dream vacation?