Your Complete Guide to an Oahu Honeymoon
An Oahu honeymoon is the perfect mix of relaxation and exploration, making it one of the top honeymoon spots you and your new spouse will love. While many travelers might gravitate towards Maui for its well-deserved romantic reputation, Oahu offers low-key alternatives with more affordable pricing.
Here, tranquility and luxury meet adventure, introducing you to some of the most beautiful ocean life in the world. Beyond a beach destination, Oahu boasts a wealth of activities for honeymooners. From the vibrant streets of Honolulu to the serene beauty of Waikiki Beach and hikes up Diamond Head, this Hawaiian island caters to every type of couple.
Indulge in world-class cuisine, explore lush rainforests or simply unwind on the island's stunning beaches. With its combination of cultural experiences, natural wonders and relaxing beach days, an Oahu honeymoon offers an unforgettable start to married life. Use this as your guide to start planning a romantic getaway in Hawaii.
Oahu Honeymoon Tips in this Article:
- Best Time to Visit Oahu
- Oahu Honeymoon Planning Tips
- Best Oahu Honeymoon Hotels & Resorts
- Things to Do in Oahu for Couples
- What to Pack for a Oahu Honeymoon
Best Time to Visit Oahu
The best time to visit the island of Oahu in Hawaii is during the months of April, May, September and early October to get the most out of the weather. That said, there really isn't a bad time to visit the island. Oahu and Hawaii generally experiences beautiful weather, year-round.
Best weather: April, May, September, October.
Festival highlights: The Aloha Festivals are a series of cultural events celebrating Hawaiian heritage, held annually in September. The Honolulu Festival is a weekend-long event in March that promotes cultural understanding and economic cooperation between the people of Hawaii and the Pacific Rim region. The King Kamehameha Celebration takes place on June 11 each year to honor King Kamehameha the Great, who united the Hawaiian Islands.
Oahu Honeymoon Planning Tips
In addition to honeymoon packages, Oahu is the perfect place to unwind and find adventure as newlyweds. Many people traveling all the way to Hawaii, because it takes some time to get there, will often island hop. This is a great way to see some different sites, but it definitely involves a lot of airports, re-checking bags, going through security, and beyond, so staying put and renting a car is a great way to discover different areas of the island without having to worry about airports.
Keep in mind that more often than not, you are flying to Honolulu. Be prepared for the crowds and Honolulu's size. It's chaotic, busy and just not what travelers would probably be expecting right off the plane in Hawaii.
If you're coming from the West Coast, flights aren't too detrimental (about 6 hours from Seattle). Coming from the East Coast it will take a bit of time. You're looking at about 11 hours of travel time from New York City. If you're checking bags, make sure that the bag is going to your final destination. If your flights are split between two airlines, they might require you to recheck your bag with that airline, too.
That said, renting a car and getting away from the chaos leads to plenty of calm, beautiful and relaxing spots throughout the island of Oahu. Here are a few more things to keep in mind before buying plane tickets.
Entry requirements: As a part of the US, citizens do not need a passport or visa for travel to Oahu, Hawaii. However, it's advisable to carry a government-issued photo ID. Starting in May 2025, you may be required to have a REAL ID.
Language: English, Hawaiian.
Location: Oahu is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and is home to the state capital, Honolulu. It's located in the central Pacific Ocean, northwest of the Big Island and southeast of Kauai.
Currency: USD.
Flight time to Destination: Flight times to Honolulu (on Oahu) vary depending on your departure point within the U.S. From the West Coast, direct flights typically take about 5 to 6 hours. From the East Coast, flights can take 10 to 12 hours or more, often with a layover.
Getting around: Renting a car can provide the most flexibility for exploring the island, especially for visiting more remote beaches or hiking trails. Oahu also has a public transportation system known as The Bus, which services Honolulu and other key areas of the island. For certain attractions, like Pearl Harbor, shuttle services are also available. Cycling and walking are great options, too, depending on what it is you want to do.
Pro tip: Invite a honeymoon planning expert to join your vendor team. Browse travel agents near you on The Knot Marketplace for Oahu honeymoon advice.
Best Oahu Honeymoon Hotels & Resorts
In Oahu, there are special packages for honeymooners on the island. The Four Seasons Ko Olina Resort has amazing honeymoon packages for newlyweds, like lagoons, pools with private butlers, and luxury amenities. The Hilton Hawaiian Village + Turtle Bay Resort near Waikiki Beach is a spot where honeymooners can take in beautiful beach views.
Couples can enjoy the massive pool, hula lessons and ukulele sessions each evening, among other special amenities. Couples can also craft their own Oahu honeymoon package by using services like TripAdvisor and Viator.
Turtle Bay Resort
Turtle Bay Resort is the definition of luxury. The hotel has private beach access, beautiful pools, and an open air concept with a bar overlooking the shore and a lounge area where you can relax and listen to the waves crashing in the background. The hotel has luxury amenities and activities for guests to sign up for like surf lessons and horseback riding. The entire property is absolutely remarkable.
4.5 Star Rating | Read Reviews
Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort
To settle into the island after your arrival flights or before your departure flight, Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort is a fantastic option in Honolulu. Honolulu can be busy, combining an urban, big city with beach vibes. On one side, you have surfers walking around with their boards in their bathing suits through the busy streets of Honolulu, on the other side you have businessmen wrapped in suits hustling to work. It's an interesting environment, but the food scene is great in the city, you're walking distance from a lot of shopping and restaurants, and you have beach access right at the hotel where you can dive in and snorkel, in addition to pools.
4.5 Star Rating | Read Reviews
Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina
On the western coast of the island of Oahu is the Four Seasons at Ko Olina. The beachfront island has a resort that offers beautiful pools and lagoons, access to clear teal waters and soft, sand beaches. There's an incredible spa where couples can relax and indulge in treatments at the Naupaka Spa & Wellness Center along with the Ko Olina Golf Club to play a round.
4.5 Star Rating | Read Reviews
Pro tip: If you're looking for Oahu honeymoon accommodations that'll provide you more privacy or lower prices, you might also want to consider staying at a romantic Airbnb or VRBO.
Things to Do in Oahu for Couples
Oahu has a bunch of different attractions available past just laying on the beach. You can go on wildlife water safaris to view anything from whales to sea turtles. You can swim with sharks, work with the local farmers to learn about sustainability and even ride UTVs through where they filmed Jurassic Park (we love a set-jetting moment).
Wild Side Specialty Tours
Wild Side Specialty Tours creates experiences between humans and wildlife in the ocean in an ethical way. You start on the boat ride out into the water, and see what you discover along the way. On any given day, dolphins, whales, sea turtles, whale sharks, etc., could peak above the water. The captain will then judge if it's safe for passengers to get into the water to view the wildlife. It was so amazing to see a sea turtle swimming peacefully through the water and to hear dolphins underwater in the distance communicating with each other through echolocation.
One Ocean Diving
If you and your new spouse are looking to have a truly unique experience together, go shark diving with One Ocean Diving. They have a great safety record and are known for their ethical dives, viewing sharks from a safe distance and teaching you how to coexist with these beautiful animals. Depending on the time of the year, guests can see a variety of sharks like Galapagos, black tip, tiger sharks, and more.
Mālama Hawaiʻi experience at Kualoa Ranch
Hawaii is known for their sustainability, having a skilled ability to live off the land. Visitors can experience Mālama Hawaiʻi where they learn about farming practices, caring for the land, and medicinal plants, assisting with various projects that the locals need help with. This can include anything from picking vegetables and fruits, cleaning, or planting to learn about local practices.
Guided UTV Adventure at Kualoa Ranch
Nearby, on the same ranch, visitors can take a UTV tour through the stunning valleys, taking in gorgeous views to see where different movies have been filmed like George of the Jungle, Jurassic Park, Jurassic World, and more that you'll learn about during the tour.
Visit the Bishop Museum
Even if you're not big into museums, the Bishop Museum should be on your list while visiting Oahu. It holds so many heirlooms, information about the local culture, and artifacts that explain Polynesian culture and traditions to visitors.
Try Local Eats
While on the island, be sure to look out for roadside huts and trucks cutting up fresh coconuts and mangoes. Stop by Waiahole Poi Factory to try a little of everything on the Kanaka Nui platter including Kalua Pig, Laulau, Chicken Long Rice, Poi, Lūʻau, Lomi Salmon, and Haupia for dessert.
Definitely sign up for a luau or the Paniolo Pāʻina at Turtle Bay Resort. At the party, there are fire dancers, delicious cocktails, and plenty of food like a roasted pig.
Pro tip: Add Hawaii honeymoon experiences to your gift registry so that loved ones can give you one of these memorable couples activities. Don't forget to post some cute honeymoon photos to your wedding website and social feed for your guests to see.
What to Pack for a Oahu Honeymoon
What guests should pack in their honeymoon luggage definitely depends on the time of year that they're traveling to Oahu. Assuming the weather will be warm, it's never a bad idea to add a wetsuit to your packing checklist, if you have one.
There's plenty of great hiking in Oahu, so pack sneakers and workout clothes, a raincoat, and an umbrella for unforeseen misty showers. In addition to some specialty items like that, make sure you have sandals, your swimsuit or trunks, towels, a cover-up, a nice outfit or two, and plenty of sundresses, T-shirts and shorts.
Brittany Barber contributed to this article.