Things to do in Oahu & Honolulu for a Birthday

What’s your idea of a memorable birthday? If it involves explosive volcano hikes, technicolor sunsets, multiple mai tais, and moonlit stargazing experiences – not to mention eating your own bodyweight in coconut cake – you’ve come to the right place. There are stacks of great things to do in Oahu and Honolulu for your birthday and we’ve rounded up some of the very best to help you get the party started, including:

• Traditional luau shows
• Haupia cake
• Honolulu Zoo
• Cocktails at sunset
• Oahu stargazing
• Diamond Head hikes
• Waimea Valley botanical gardens
• Catamaran sailing tours
• Honolulu nightlife

Cake, Glorious Cake

A birthday without a cake is no birthday at all, so start your special day the right way with Oahu’s finest: the delectable treat that is haupia. Admittedly more pudding than cake in its traditional form, it’s kind of like a coconut jelly. Combined with the sweet flavors of Oahu’s North Shore pineapples, however, it’s like pure sunshine in your mouth, the closest it’s possible to get to a genuine pina colada in cake form. But hey, it’s your birthday, so why stop there? Follow up with great slabs of guava chiffon cake and chocolate chantilly cake as the day progresses. Yum.

Set Sail Aboard a Catamaran

For many, the whole point of a birthday is putting your feet up and behaving like some sort of A-list celeb while everyone else does the heavy lifting. If that sounds appealing, a catamaran tour of Oahu’s Insta-perfect coastline is likely to be just the birthday treat for you. Cruising past soaring, jungle-clad mountains and over submerged volcanic craters, you’ll be well positioned to spot some of the local wildlife: playful dolphins, flying fish, maybe even the occasional migrating whale! Pull out all the stops on your special day with a decadent bells-and-whistles experience that includes lunch on deck, snorkeling stops, and chilled glasses of bubbly.

Say it with Flowers

There are a whopping 52 themed zones in the 1,875-acre oasis that is the Waimea Valley botanical gardens. Here’s where you can ogle, snap and sniff some 5,000 tropical and subtropical plants, including endangered species and native Hawaiian beauties like loulou palms and the delicate white Koki'o ke'oke'o flower – the world’s only scented hibiscus. Follow paved trails through the themed gardens, breathing in the fresh scents of flora from Fiji, Guam, the Americas and beyond. The shady groves and cooler climate in this lush botanical paradise make it a great place to wander while the tropical sun is at its most punishing. But if the heat does get too much, you can always cool off with a dip in the pools beneath the mighty Waimea Falls, the focal point of this huge natural park.

Hawaii’s Hottest Hike

Hawaii ain’t short of a fine hiking opportunity or two. But if you only do one, make it Diamond Head, the iconic volcanic crater at the eastern end of Waikiki Beach. It’s a relatively unchallenging walk that takes you 760 feet up to the crater’s forested rim, affording splendid views of Honolulu, Waikiki Beach and beyond. You need to book a slot to be permitted entry, and early risers are likely to enjoy the best of the climb, thanks to cooler temperatures, smaller crowds, and those glorious Hawaiian sunrise skies – gates open at 6AM. Shuttle trips to/from the trail from any Waikiki hotel are included with a Go City Oahu attraction pass, which can save you money when taking in several tours, attractions and activities on the island. Find out more about the Oahu pass here. 

Honolulu Zoo

First opened way back in 1877 to house King David Kalakaua’s burgeoning bird collection, Honolulu Zoo is now home to some 1,000+ cute critters. Pop by on your birthday to say ‘aloha’ to some of the residents. We’re talking vibrant Fiji banded iguanas, ferociously cute fennec foxes, and chatty golden lion tamarins, as well as indigenous species including Hawaiian hawks, colorful Kamehameha butterflies and the nene (or Hawaiian goose), official state bird of Hawaii. It’s a great Oahu birthday day out for kids and adults alike. You can even host a kids’ party at the zoo; find out more here.

Birthday Sundowners!

Oahu sunsets are among the best in the world, a surefire way to fill your birthday Insta feed with #humblebrag shots of burnished-copper and rust-red skies. Complete the effect with a colorful cocktail – blue Hawaiian or mai tai, with its citrusy blend of lime, sweet orgeat syrup, orange curaçao and mule’s kick of rum for the win. The legendary Duke’s on Waikiki Beach is the connoisseur's choice for the best views of Diamond Head and the bay, but there are countless fun tiki bars down here for birthday boys and girls to choose from.

Take in a Traditional Luau

Another popular birthday activity in Oahu is the classic Polynesian luau. Some of the best and most authentic of these are small, family-run affairs, where the aloha spirit is abundant and you’re invited to take an active role in the colorful traditions: dancing, dining and dressing up. The Hawaii mega resorts offer slicker, bigger-budget takes on the luau, promising lavish banquets, fireworks, bombastic music and more, and you’ll find some of these included with the Go City Oahu attractions pass.

Hit the Honolulu Pubs and Clubs

Honolulu positively heaves with great places to party, from rocking rooftop joints like Mai Tai’s atop the Ala Moana Mall to classy cocktails at Lewers Lounge in the upscale Halekulani Hotel. Get your boogie on at some of the city’s hottest nightclubs, even if you should be old enough to know better! Follow the hip crowd to Chinatown's lively Manifest, get down to superstar DJ-spun tunes on Nextdoor’s massive dance floors, or dance yourself dizzy at Sky Waikiki, atop the towering Waikiki Business Plaza.

Birthday Stargazing

For something a little more… sedate, spend your birthday evening on Oahu contemplating life, the universe and everything as you stare up at the tapestry of stars that hangs high above the islands. Some of the best spots for this particular birthday treat include the iconic Halona Blowhole, Ka’ena Point, and the North Shore’s stunning surf beaches. Anywhere, in other words, where you’re some way from the city lights. Go it alone or join one of the island’s regular guided stargazing sessions. Or, if you want to go really stratospheric for your Hawaiian birthday experience, hop over to Big Island where the Mauna Kea mountain has a dedicated astronomy center with stargazing telescopes about halfway up, and tours all the way to the top, for unparalleled Milky Way views, can be arranged.

Save on birthday activities, tours and attractions in Oahu

Save on admission to Oahu attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.