With azure waters washing up on the pure white sands, it's easy to see why Lanikai is consistently voted Oahu's "most beautiful" beach and one of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Still, it has its drawbacks. Being extremely popular, you might have trouble finding a parking space. There are also no bathrooms or changing facilities. Watch where you park! Laws are strictly enforced here.

Also known as the Pillbox Trail, this short, sometimes narrow hike features two military bunkers decorated in colorful graffiti and a panoramic view of Lanikai Beach. Intermediate. Read parking signs carefully and bring wai a.k.a. water.

The lush Kualoa Valley on Oahu’s windward coast was sacred land to ancient Oahuans. Today, it’s one of Oahu’s premiere attractions. The valley is now home to the Kualoa Ranch, a working cattle ranch that also offers a variety of exciting tour packages for the public. Take a tour of the picturesque valley on horseback or ATV, and if you choose the movie site tour, you’ll visit film locations used in such movies and TV shows as Jurassic Park, Lost, 50 First Dates, Hawaii Five-O, and more.

As expected, this lookout offers you a terrific view of the islands of Lanai and Molokai (and even Maui if the skies are especially clear) as well as panoramic views of the wave-battered rocky coastline. It’s also a favorite spot among whale watchers from December to March, so if you come during these months make sure to bring a pair of binoculars in the highly like event that a few whales decide to make an appearance.

Hanauma Bay is considered the best place to start for beginning scuba divers and snorkelers. As a protected marine life conservation area, you’re sure to see an abundance of fascinating marine life within the cove’s massive coral reef, including green sea turtles and colorful parrot fish. Advanced snorkelers and divers can venture out into deeper waters where the reef also extends. There’s also a crescent-shaped beach for sunbathers and picnickers.

Enjoy one of the very best views of Oahu’s beautiful windward coast from the Nuuanu Pali lookout. From this 1200-foot high vantage point, you’ll see an expansive view of Kaneohe Bay and Kailua, as well as Mokolii island (a.k.a. Chinaman’s Hat) in the distance. Also visible is the Kaneohe Marine Corps Base and the Hawaii Pacific University Windward campus.

This gorgeous Buddhist temple in Oahu’s Valley of the Temples Memorial Park is a smaller-sized replica of an 11th Century temple in Kyoto, Japan. Fans of the TV show Lost may recognize this location as the “South Korean” home of Sun’s father. Of interest on these beautifully landscaped grounds are the 9-foot gold leaf Amida Buddha, the three-ton Bon-sho, a meditation pavilion, koi pond, and an authentic Japanese tea house which now functions as a gift shop.

World-famous Waikiki Beach is Oahu’s premiere resort beach with a string of hotels lining its busy shore. Needless to say, it’s not the place to be if you’re looking to escape crowds of vacationers. However, if you favor happening spots with plenty of restaurants, shopping, rentals, etc. at your disposal, Waikiki is the beach for you.

The memory of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, the “father of modern surfing” will forever live on in Hawaiian legend. For his record-breaking freestyle swimming, he took home multiple Olympic medals—three gold and two silver between 1912 and 1924. He is most beloved, however, for his surfing skills and for popularizing surfing in the U.S. and Australia through his appearances in several Hollywood movies.