Things to do in Oahu and Hawaii in June

Balmy beach weather, calm turquoise waters and a glut of summer festivities make June a fine time to visit the Hawaiian islands. Add some deliciously summery snacks, choice birdwatching opportunities and perfect sunsets and you have all the ingredients for a memorable summer vacation. Read on for our pick of the best things to do in Oahu and Hawaii in June.

UPDATED JANUARY 2025By <a href="#author-bio">Stuart Bak</a>
By Stuart Bak
Woman eating colorful shave ice

Visiting Oahu and Hawaii in June

Woman hiking on Oahu

Temperature: 73-88°F • Average Rainfall: 8 days/month • Average Sunshine: 11 hours/day • Sea Temperature: 79°F

June in Hawaii hits more or less the same sweet spot as May: temperatures are in the balmy 70s and 80s, sea conditions are comfortable, and your chances of encountering a cloudburst are vanishingly slim. Better yet, we ain’t yet into the school holidays, meaning you get all the perks of a tropical Hawaiian summer without the crowds. Sure, the rising temperatures are met with rising hotel prices. But as it’s not high season quite yet, savvy travelers may still be able to bag the kind of bargain that will seem unthinkable come July and August.

Longer sunshine hours mean more time to enjoy Hawaii’s many attractions, from pristine sandy beaches and lush botanical gardens to hiking hotspots, snorkeling sites and sightseeing must-dos including the Pearl Harbor museums, Iolani Palace, Polynesian Culture Center and other essential Oahu attractions.

Best of the Beaches

Mokolii Island off Oahu in Hawaii

There is a staggering variety of activities in which to indulge on Hawaii’s many beaches. And no better time to do so than in June when the weather is fine and technicolor sunrises and sunsets are pretty much tailor-made for beach yoga and filter-free Insta-perfect photography.

Play ping-pong at Secret Island Beach on Oahu’s windward coast, where you can also kayak out to Mokoliʻi island, also known as the Chinaman’s Hat for its distinctive conical shape. Sip mai tais and people-watch at popular Waikiki. Say hey to the colony of native green sea turtles basking on the sands of Laniakea Beach on Oahu’s North Shore. Go wild for the emerald-green mountain backdrop at Kauai’s Hanalei Bay. Or snorkel the alien underwater world of lava tubes and weird coral formations at Tunnels Beach on Kauai. We could go on, but you probably get the general idea by now: June! Hawaii! BEACHES!

June Festivals in Hawaii

Lei-making in Hawaii

Hawaii’s summer festival season is in full swing by June, with several events worthy of your attention. King Kamehameha Day is an annual celebration of the first ruler of the Kingdom of Hawaii. Statewide events like hula shows and lei-making workshops take place across the islands either side of the big day, but it’s the June 11 floral parade from Iolani Palace to Kapiolani Park in Honolulu – complete with colorful floats and lei-clad revelers – that draws the biggest crowds.

Hot on its heels, the Pan Pacific Festival is a three-day event that takes place mid-June in Waikiki, bringing Japanese food, music and cultural traditions to the people of Oahu.

Held at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum on Honolulu’s historic Ford Island, the Biggest Little Airshow is a family-friendly fun-fest that features spectacular flying displays, plus remote-controlled mini jets, candy airdrops over the runway, and plenty more funfair rides, food stalls and live music to keep the punters entertained all day long.

Botanical Beauties

Waimea Valley

Hawaii’s lush landscapes are jaw-dropping at the best of times, but perhaps never more so than in early summer when the colors are at their most vibrant, and so many tropical and subtropical plant species are in bloom. Hit up Oahu’s Waimea Valley and you’ll soon see what we mean. The valley’s 1,875 verdant acres comprises a sprawling botanical garden with 50+ themed zones and flora than runs the gamut from prickly cacti to sweetly-scented hibiscus, as well as some picture-perfect waterfalls in which to cool off in the midday heat.

Pro-tip: admission to the Waimea Valley is included with an Oahu pass from Go City, which could save you up to 50% on your Oahu and Hawaii sightseeing, and features top attractions like the Polynesian Cultural Center, Ka Moana Luau and access to the Secret Island Beach.

Other popular botanical gardens include Oahu’s serene and oh-so-green Hoomaluhia Botanical Garden, set against the backdrop of the Koolau mountain range, and the network of National Tropical Botanical Gardens over on neighboring Kauai.

Sample a Summer Lunch Favorite

Fresh pineapple at a Honolulu farmers' market

Al fresco dining is de rigueur year-round in the Hawaiian islands, but there’s no more satisfying time to enjoy your park poke picnic than in the sultry June sunshine. Indeed, such is poke’s popularity here that it could lay legitimate claim to being Hawaii’s ‘national’ dish, its fresh raw fish, crunchy greens and umami soy flavors making it ideal for a quick and satisfying lunch. Try the popular plate lunch for something a little more hearty: a bit like a bento box, it includes traditional Hawaiian kalua pork and creamy macaroni salad with a portion of steamed rice.

Be sure to plunder the farmers’ markets – including Hilo Market on Big Island and the KCC Market in Honolulu – for summer-sweet tropical fruits: Hawaii’s pineapples, melons and mangoes are at their ripest, juiciest best at this time of year. And don’t miss an opportunity (or six) to cool off with a classic Hawaiian shave ice, liberally doused with your syrup flavor of choice. Try stalwart North Shore shave ice purveyor Matsumoto’s for the win.

Bird is the Word

Hawaiian goose in the wild

The lush natural landscapes of the Hawaiian islands are alive to the sound of birdsong year-round, but nesting season (generally in and around June) is one of the best times to spot Hawaii’s feathered friends in their natural habitats.

The climate is also still cool enough in June to pack a field guide and eyeglasses and set out to discover the state’s birdwatching hotspots. The Kauai wetlands are one of the best places to eyeball the endemic nene – aka the Hawaiian goose – as well as other wading birds including herons, plovers and Hawaiian ducks. Spot swallows and shearwaters on the beaches and hit up densely forested areas like Honolulu’s Round Top Reserve for Hawaiian hawks, short-eared owls and colorful honeycreepers. There are marked trails and bird hides in most reserves. 

Looking for more things to do in Oahu and Hawaii in June? The Oahu pass from Go City can save you up to 50% on entry to around 40 attractions, including Iolani Palace, the Polynesian Cultural Center and the Pearl Harbor museums. Hit the buttons below to bag yours!

Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Freelance travel writer

Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.

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Hiker in the mountains of Oahu island, Hawaii.
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Day Trips from Oahu

There’s a reason Oahu is the most popular of Hawaii’s ‘big four’ islands, drawing in nearly twice the number of annual visitors as its next-nearest competitor. Sure Maui and the Big Island have their own allure – volcanic peaks, crashing waterfalls and pure white sands among them – but for sheer variety, Oahu is tough to beat. Our expert guide to the best day trips from Oahu includes household-name historic sites, awe-inspiring hikes, world-class snorkeling and pineapples so sweet you might never want to leave the plantation. No list of this island’s many attractions can ever be truly exhaustive, but our pick of some of the finest Oahu day trips are as good a place to start as any. Dive in! Historic Tour of Pearl Harbor and Honolulu What better way to understand the culture, heritage and psyche of America’s 50th state than on a day tour of its most historically significant sites. This immersive five-hour guided trip takes in the visitor center at Pearl Harbor and includes a moving film at the Pearl Harbor Memorial Theater documenting the 1941 attack that killed over 1,000 sailors and marines, thrusting the US into the Second World War. A US Navy shuttle boat will speed you out to the memorial that marks the resting place of the sunken USS Arizona battleship and you’ll also visit the National Cemetery of the Pacific in the extraordinary Punchbowl Crater on top of an extinct volcano. A drive through downtown Honolulu and its historic Chinatown district includes a stop for selfies at the highly popular 18-foot bronze statue of the legendary King Kamehameha. Makapu'u Lighthouse and Hālona Blowhole An island like Oahu practically begs to be hiked, and among its embarrassment of excellent trails Makapu’u Lighthouse is a perennial highlight. The gleaming white lighthouse with its distinctive red cap is an icon of Oahu’s windward coast, and you’ll see it on postcards and souvenirs – Makapu’u Lighthouse fridge magnet anyone? – in stores across the island. Take a stroll along the paved track and climb to the top of this 46-foot landmark, taking in unparalleled views of the Pacific, Koko Head, Koko Crater, Oahu’s entire southern coastline and perhaps even the odd migrating humpback whale or two. And, while you’re in the vicinity, don’t miss the spectacular Hālona Blowhole, a natural geyser that jets seawater up to 20 feet in the air. Hanauma Bay State Park Fine golden sands, balmy turquoise waters and some of the US’s most spectacular sealife make Hanauma Bay on the island’s southeastern tip a must-visit Oahu attraction. There’s a fee to enter the park and you’re advised to book well in advance, but boy is it worth it. Day trippers can expect to spot all manner of critters at this pristine marine ecosystem in the cone of an extinct volcano. Follow colorful yellow tangs and saddle wrasse as they dart among the reef’s many corals and keep your eyes peeled for eagle rays, green sea turtles and flamboyant spinner dolphins. You can rent snorkeling equipment for the day at the beach and in multiple other outlets nearby. Diamond Head Here’s another bucket-list biggie for all you happy hikers out there! Diamond Head is 760 feet of forested volcanic crater. Hike to its remarkable rim where views across its 3,500-foot diameter reveal panoramic vistas across Honolulu, Waikiki Beach and beyond. Named Diamond Head because bungling British sailors mistook sparkling calcite crystals in the lava rocks for something more precious, the volcano is known locally as Lē‘ahi. The name is said to have been bestowed by Hi'iaka, sister of the fire goddess Pele, thanks to the summit’s resemblance to the forehead of the ‘ahi fish. Which sounds like a Moana sequel just waiting to happen. Return shuttle trips to Diamond Head are included with the Oahu Go City attraction pass. North Shore and Dole Pineapple Plantation Think you’ve tasted pineapple? Think again. This tour of Oahu’s popular North Shore takes in photo stops at some of the island’s top beaches, offers another chance to visit our old pal King Kamehameha and gives you the opportunity to sample some of Hawaii’s finest homegrown coffee, shaved ice and macadamia nuts. But the main event on any North Shore day trip is always going to be the world-famous pineapple plantation founded by James Dole back in 1899. You’ll discover how the pineapples are planted and harvested, sample their oh-so-sweet flesh and even get one to take home with you. Commandeer a Catamaran! Boating day trips off Oahu’s Insta-perfect coastline are a great way to see a bit more of the island and maybe even spot the occasional dolphin, humpback whale or flying fish! Options range from short catamaran trips like this one to bells-and-whistles experiences aboard luxury yachts, with stops for snorkeling and lunch on deck. Make like a celeb and don your most dazzlingly white swimwear and massive morning-after sunglasses for holiday snaps that’ll be the talk of all your z-list pals back home. Waimea Valley Do you like flowers? Of course you do! Unless of course you’re allergic. In which case, you can skip this section and – achoo! – move on to the next one. Waimea Valley is a botanist’s technicolor dream come true; a sprawling 1,875-acre oasis comprised of botanical gardens, archaeological sites and a whopping great waterfall. Follow the paved trails through 35 themed gardens, marveling at more than 5,000 different tropical plant species, from delicate yellow hibiscus to towering cacti. Then cool off with a dip beneath the glorious Waimea Falls, the crowning glory of this huge natural park. More Day Trips from Oahu Finally, if you absolutely must leave this beautiful island, there are oodles of options for day trips from Oahu to neighboring Maui, Kauai and Big Island. Hit up Big Island for kayaking and swimming on the peaceful Umauma River and trips to the awesome Volcanoes National Park and towering Rainbow Falls. Maui is the place for sunset dinners accompanied by traditional music and fire dancers. Or brave the Hanapepe Swinging Bridge and go ziplining over the sugar plantations on Kauai. Save on activities 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.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Honolulu panorama with Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head peak.
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Is Oahu Safe?

Of the 137 islands that make up the Aloha State, Oahu is by far the most popular, pulling in as many tourists annually as the rest of the islands combined. No surprise perhaps, when you consider that it’s home to some of Hawaii’s biggest attractions – Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor and the state capital of Honolulu among them. But is Oahu safe? We went undercover in Ray-Bans and our most eye-catching Hawaiian shirts to find out... How Safe is Oahu? Hawaii is among the safest places to visit in the United States, ranking in the lowest 25% for violent crime, well below other tourism hotspots like California, Florida, New York and Nevada. That Honolulu is frequently ranked as one of the planet’s safest big cities – as evidenced by independent studies like this one and this one – is also testament to Oahu’s low crime rate. None of which means you shouldn’t still keep your wits about you when visiting this remote Pacific archipelago, where data suggests that annual tourists outnumber residents by a factor of around six to one. That makes Oahu as much a paradise for petty thieves as it is for wide-eyed, sun-starved visitors fresh off the plane. Indeed, most of Oahu’s crime is theft-related, with pickpocketing, bag-snatching and car crime making up the majority of offenses. And, as inevitably as night follows day, it is you, the humble tourist, who is most likely to be on the receiving end, particularly around tourist hotspots where distracted punters and the anonymity of crowds provide easy pickings for modern-day Artful Dodgers. Even the very well-patrolled Waikiki Beach occasionally falls foul of opportunistic crooks. However, keeping your wits about you, understanding the warning signs and not brandishing cash, jewelry and expensive electronic gadgets wherever you go – you know, just like you wouldn’t back home – should make for a problem-free vacation. Here are a few common sense tips that will stand you in good stead for keeping yourself and your belongings safe in Oahu: Don’t carry large sums of cash around with you. Don’t leave valuable devices where they can be snatched easily – think restaurant/café tables, beach bags, jacket pockets, etc. Keep bags zipped and credit cards secured in tight pockets. Park your car in designated areas, lock it and make sure no valuables are left in sight. If you’re unfortunate enough to have your possessions nabbed, don’t give chase; instead report the incident to local police and let your insurance take care of the rest. Finally, in Oahu you’re probably more at risk from a nasty sunburn or riptide than a thief. Read on for our tips on avoiding Oahu’s natural dangers... Staying Safe in the Hawaiian Sun Hawaii’s string of volcanic islands are manna for nature lovers, all soaring peaks dense with tropical vegetation (and wildlife), sparkling blue seas, spectacular blowholes, craters and canyons, and glorious, glorious sunshine. It’s warm and sunny year-round in Hawaii, with average highs in the 80s and lows that rarely drop below the 70s. And hot sunny weather means one thing: sunscreen! Our advice? Stay out of the sun between 11AM and 2PM (great time for a long, lazy lunch in the shade, right?) and slather yourself liberally with a skin-suitable SPF at all other times. The last thing you want to bring back as a souvenir of your trip is a brick-red sunburn, a ‘hilarious’ anecdote about how you had to be treated for sunstroke – or worse. Respect the sun and you’ll have no such issues. Rather than stuffing your beach bag with thief-attracting electronic gadgets, pack plenty of factor 50, UV sunglasses and a great big floppy Audrey Hepburn sunhat. Who needs screentime with those epic ocean views anyway? Don’t forget to carry water, and plenty of it, to keep you hydrated. And yes, the occasional refreshing mai tai is also fine (and perhaps essential), as long as consumed in moderation during the hottest parts of the day. The sea here commands just as much respect, thanks to its potentially dangerous combination of inviting, balmy waters and pull-the-rug-from-under-your-feet riptides. Many Oahu beaches have lifeguards on patrol from morning to late afternoon. This includes Waikiki Beach where unexpected rips have been known to carry swimmers out to sea. Exercise caution and follow local guidance on swimming and surfing in risk-prone areas. Don’t swim alone, don’t turn your back on the sea and finally, don’t forget to reapply that all-important sunscreen after a dip. A common-sense approach is also advised when it comes to Oahu’s other natural attractions, including hiking trails and blowholes. There are dozens of spectacular hiking routes across the island, including the epic Moanalua Valley Trail with its sweeping panoramas of Honolulu and iconic ‘Stairway to Heaven’, and the family friendly east coast Pu'u Ma'eli'eli Trail with its lush rainforest and awe-inspiring views across Kāneʻohe Bay and the Koʻolau Mountain Range. Dress sensibly and pack plenty of water, snacks and sunscreen, and plan to be home well before sundown. And always make sure to let someone know where you’re going, especially if you’re heading off the beaten path. Last but by no means least, Hawaii’s extraordinary blowholes – of which Oahu’s Hālona Blowhole is the most famous – are as impressive as they are dangerous. Sure, get close, but not that close. The waters here are turbulent and unpredictable and you wouldn’t be the first selfie-taker to fall fatally foul of a rogue sea surge or particularly violent geyser. Oahu Nights Solo travelers and seekers of lively nightlife will find much to enjoy in the Waikiki tiki bars and lively Honolulu club scene. Again, Honolulu is safer than most cities, but use judgment and caution, especially when meeting new people. Buy your own drinks while you gauge the trustworthiness of new companions and stick to busy, well-lit areas rather than drifting to dive bars down dark alleys. Just like any other big city anywhere else on the planet, you probably don’t want to be staggering drunkenly around unfamiliar downtown streets at two o’clock in the morning. And especially not alone – it only serves to make you an easy moving target for even the laziest of criminals. That’s not to say you shouldn’t have fun; you absolutely should – and will – have buckets of fun! Remember: friendly locals and a solid police presence around downtown Honolulu and Waikiki Beach makes these areas largely very safe for tourists at night. All you need do to enjoy a worry-free experience is keep your wits about you, exercise caution and common sense and, ideally, get a cab home at the end of the night. Save on activities 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.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Hula dancers in Honolulu
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Things to do in Oahu and Hawaii in April

April is a fine time to visit Hawaii thanks to warm, dry weather, affordable accommodation and a glut of excellent festivals that includes the Laupāhoehoe Music Festival, the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival and more! Check out our guide to the best things to do in Oahu and Hawaii in April below...
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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