Thanksgiving in Hawaii - Things to Do in Oahu in November & More

By Katie Sagal

If you’re lucky enough to be spending Thanksgiving in Hawaii, you probably don’t need too many ideas about how to spend your time. That said, if you’re looking for something a little more seasonal than luxuriating on the beach, we've got you covered. Check out these suggestions for local activities and more seasonal things to do in Oahu in November. There are plenty of fun activities to do during Thanksgiving in Oahu, including...

  • Polynesian Cultural Center
  • Hanauma Bay Snorkel
  • Pearl Harbor Historic Sites
  • Oahu Museums
  • Waikiki Holiday Parade
  • Holiday Kick-Off
  • Annual Turkey Trot
  • and more!

Consider adding a few of these attractions and events to your Thanksgiving in Oahu itinerary.

Save on Attraction Admission

Regular admission to a number of these Oahu attractions is included on the Go Oahu® pass. Choose as you go from dozens of top attractions and save up to 55% on combined admission vs. paying at the gate. See all available Oahu passes, attractions & prices. Please note, some of these special November events may be separately ticketed and not included on the Go Oahu® pass.

Polynesian Cultural Center

palm-trees-polynesian-cultural-center

Polynesian Cultural Center

Explore the many cultures of Polynesia and the Pacific Islands with a visit to the one-of-a-kind Polynesian Cultural Center. This fantastic attraction features unique cultural artifacts, practices, and clothing. There are also recreated dwelling and working spaces in six different cultures. A visit here is the perfect way to introduce the kids to Hawaiian culture and heritage. Adults will love their phenomenal dancing, amazing food, and great shopping. Getting In: Polynesian Cultural Center tickets are included with the Go Oahu® pass.

Hanauma Bay Snorkel

snorkeling-paradise-hanauma-bay-oahu-hawaii

Hanauma Bay Snorkel

This time of year is a great time to go snorkeling. The Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is filled with a wide variety of critters, from a rainbow of tropical fish to sea turtles and beyond. Even better, since fall is one of the off seasons for Hawaii, you'll be able to enjoy this tropical paradise without the press of too many crowds. Amateurs and experienced snorkelers alike welcome on this adventure! Getting In: Hanauma Bay Snorkel equipment is included with the Go Oahu® pass.

Pearl Harbor Historic Sites

aerial-view-pearl-harbor-hawaii

Pearl Harbor Historic Sites

Honor our veterans and fallen soldiers during a time of year when remembrance and giving thanks is at the forefront of everyone's mind. The Pearl Harbor Historic Sites have much to offer visitors. A day spent at these inspiring institutions is perfect for everyone. Take the USS Arizona Memorial narrated tour for a chance to learn more about the tragic events of December 7. Step aboard the "Mighty Mo" and see the last battleship ever constructed in all her rebuilt glory. Explore the exhibits at the USS Bowfin Submarine and Museum. Getting In: Admission to many Pearl Harbor Attractions is included with the Go Oahu® pass.

Oahu Museums

iolani-palace-oahu-hawaii

Oahu Museums

For families who love exploring museums and historic homes, Oahu has plenty to offer. The Iolani Palace is the beautifully preserved residence of the last two monarchs of Hawaii. The palace is complete with historic furniture and decor. They're in the process of collecting some of the art and objects once part of the palace. So you can see what the palace looked like when it was the royal home. For science and culture fans, then the Bishop Museum is another must. Come here to see multiple galleries of Polynesian art, artifacts, and historical information. There's even an "active" volcano display! Getting In: Iolani Palace tickets and Bishop Museum tickets are both included with the Go Oahu® pass.

Waikiki Holiday Parade

Kalakaua Avenue November

This energetic parade is a great way to start the holiday season with a bang. Expect thousands of marchers ranging from musical and dance performances to local organizations and groups. It was originally designed to commemorate the survivors of the Pearl Harbor attacks, but now combines this great cause with tons of holiday fun. It has a wide variety of styles and presentations, too. For example, you’ll get to enjoy performances by 38 different bands from Oahu, the mainland, and more! The parade terminates in Queen Kapiolani Park and is free for all to watch. Getting In: Admission to the Waikiki Holiday Parade is free.

Holiday Kick-Off

The Royal Hawaiian Center, Royal Grove Date TBA

Each year the Royal Hawaiian Center hosts a marvelous collection of events and appearances to “kick-off” the holiday season. From festive musical performances to a visit with Santa and the official tree-lighting ceremony – this is the place to celebrate the holidays in Oahu. The kids will love the special seasonal activities designed just for them, and adults will enjoy the high energy and colorful decor. Getting In: Admission to the Holiday Kickoff is free.

44th Annual Turkey Trot

Kapiolani Park Bandstand November

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Kapiolani Park Bandstand November

We don’t usually include Turkey Trots in our Thanksgiving round-ups. We aren’t always in a position to run very far on Thanksgiving morning. That said, this ambitious ten-mile race just had to make it on to the list for sheer craziness and awesomeness all rolled into one. Predict your time accurately and you might win a prize! Registration is open for those of you who want to preemptively burn off your turkey day calories. It totally works that way... Right? Getting In: The Turkey Trot is free to watch, but runners require advance registration. More info about registration can be found on the event website.

Christmas Sand Sculptures

Sheraton Waikiki November - December

There are few things as Hawaiian as a surfing Santa Claus made out of sand. Pay a visit to the Sheraton Waikiki to see their impressive collection of holiday-themed sand sculptures. They usually star a model of the big man himself. These sculptures are free to view even if you aren’t a guest at the hotel. Don’t be shy about popping in! Getting In: Sand sculpture viewing is free.

Vans Triple Crown of Surfing

North Shore November – December

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North Shore November – December

This event will have been going on for a while by the time Thanksgiving rolls around. But the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing is still a must-see attraction this holiday season. This prestigious event is for competitive surfers and aspiring surf stars. It is an integral part of the professional surfing circuit. If you want to see the world’s best surfing on the world’s most impressive waves, head to the North Shore! Getting In: It's free to watch participating surfers, but those interested in surfing themselves will need to register. For more information about the event and to register, visit the event website.

Remember to Save on Attraction Admission

We listed just a few fun suggestions for things to do on Oahu in November and Thanksgiving in Hawaii. Of course, there are plenty of other activities to help fill your plans. Remember, many of these great options are included on the Go Oahu® pass. You can save up to 55% on combined admission vs. paying at the gate. Please note, the November and Thanksgiving events taking place at some of these attractions may be separately ticketed and not included with the Go Oahu® pass. Consider adding a few of these fun options to your November weekend itineraries.

Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

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Relaxing Things to do in Oahu

How do you like to relax? For some, volcano boarding is absolutely the most mindful activity available. For others, bungee jumping from a helicopter barely troubles the heart rate. But for most normal folks, relaxation means vacations! Golden beaches! Cocktails! Stunning tropical sunsets! In other words: the good life! You’ll find all this and then some on Oahu, which remains the Aloha State’s most popular island thanks to world-class natural attractions including Waikiki Beach, the Diamond Head Crater and Hanauma Bay. So, throw on your loudest Hawaiian shirt, fix yourself a Mai Tai, and dive in for our guide to all the most relaxing things to do in Hawaii. Hit the Beach This one’s a no-brainer. After all nothing screams ‘relaxation’ quite like lying spreadeagled on sunkissed sands, slathered in factor 50; paperback in one hand and pina colada in the other. Am I right? So here’s the good news: Oahu boasts some 100 miles of coastline, with a wide variety of secluded (and not-so-secluded) beaches, coves and bays to choose from. Here’s are three of the best: Waikiki Beach Oahu’s best known and most popular beach is a Hawaii bucket-lister. Can you even say you’ve been to Hawaii if you haven’t sipped fruity, rum-laced Mai Tai from a Waikiki Beach tiki bar, while taking endless selfies against that stunning Diamond Head backdrop? No, dear reader, you cannot. The legendary Duke’s is the connoisseur's choice for classy cocktails with a view. Or don Jackie O-sized sunglasses and bag yourself a choice sandy spot for seafront people-watching: wannabe Kardashians, lobster-colored Europeans and novice surfers wiping out in the shallows are the order of the day here.  Hanauma Bay Soft golden sand, an appealingly curvaceous shoreline, emerald-green hills and crystal-clear waters: Hanauma Bay has it all. The marine ecosystem here is home to some 400+ species: we’re talking green sea turtles, box jellyfish, tinselly Christmas wrasses and the reef triggerfish (or ‘humuhumunukunukuapuaa’ – try saying that after a couple of pina coladas) making it great for snorkeling. Note that access to this stunning sheltered cove is limited in order to protect the reef and wildlife here, so be sure to book your slot well in advance. Mokoli'i Island Make like Moses and stroll across the isthmus to Mokoli'i Island (aka the Chinaman’s Hat) at low tide. This cone-shaped lava formation is accessible from Kualoa Regional Park and promises cute coves, clear waters and kaleidoscopes of marine critters. Note that you can still get there at high tide, but may require a kayak. Check out our guide to becoming a fully fledged Oahu beach bum here. Life on the Ocean Wave Relaxing on the deck of an Oahu catamaran is as much a Hawaii rite of passage as guzzling shave ice, catching a traditional luau show or wearing a floral lei to dinner. There are plenty of catamaran and yacht tours available, from straightforward excursions to snorkeling hotspots like Turtle Canyon and Shark’s Cove to decadent bells-and-whistles experiences fit for a king (or queen): think gourmet seafood lunches, bottomless bubbly, on-board massage and the like (sounds awful, right?). You can access several such sea-faring options and save up to 50% with an Oahu pass from Go City. Perhaps you also find surfing relaxing? Paddle boarding? Kayaking? Water parks? Well, each to their own, we say. In which case you’ll find you can also make merry with the Oahu pass, with many equipment rental options and even lessons available.  Find out more and get your pass here. Rather more relaxing than all that (if you ask us) is the opportunity to enjoy live Hawaiian music and dancing as you dine lavishly on steak and seafood (with cocktails, natch) on a sunset cruise around the bay. It’s a fine way to kick off your Waikiki night out, with those fiery twilight skies (and bonus fireworks on Fridays) providing the best backdrop for all those #humblebrag vacation selfies.  Lace up your Boots Whaddya mean hiking up a mountain in 90-degree heat isn’t your idea of relaxation? Here’s your chance to escape the tanned tourist hordes at Waikiki Beach and instead switch off, commune with nature and generally enjoy some ‘you’ time. Oahu is a tropical volcanic island so it stands to reason that there are all manner of great hikes to be had, from gentle waterfall wanders to mildly more challenging volcano climbs. Here are three you might fancy trying: Diamond Head If you only tick off one Oahu hike, make it the iconic Diamond Head, the dormant volcanic cone whose gentle green slopes dominate the eastern end of Waikiki Beach. Good news: the walk isn’t particularly taxing, and the rewards upon reaching the rim of its 3,500-foot-diameter crater are immense, with panoramic views along the island’s southeastern shores, from Koko Head to Wai'anae. Take a good set of binoculars during the winter months and you might even spot a migrating humpback whale or two in the waters far below. Note that as with Hanauma Bay, there’s a slot-booking system aimed at preventing overcrowding and preserving the ecosystem. Shoot for the earliest slots of the day for superb sunrise views and more comfortable temperatures.  Makapu’u Lighthouse The trail that leads along the windward coast, taking in both the spectacular Hālona Blowhole and the gleaming Oahu icon that is the Makapu’u Lighthouse, is another perennial Oahu favorite. A gentle stroll along the paved track reveals extraordinary panoramas of Koko Head, Koko Crater and indeed the entire southern coastline of Oahu. At the summit: an opportunity to climb the 46-foot landmark with its distinctive red cap and far-reaching Pacific views. Waimea Valley Here’s one for the botany buffs. The North Shore’s Waimea Valley is 1,875 acres of picture-perfect parkland, with walking trails that take in wildflower meadows, grassy knolls and archaeological sites galore. At the heart of all this is an epic botanical garden that contains around 5,000 species of plants and flowers across 50-or-so themed zones. Ogle everything from delicate hibiscus to gnarly sky-high cacti before following the trail to the mighty Waimea Falls for a cooling and oh-so-relaxing dip. The monthly full moon tour of the garden and falls, accompanied by a specialist guide, is particularly enchanting. Feeling Relaxed? Now you’ve got a feel for some of the most relaxing things to do in Oahu, take the stress out of your sightseeing plans with an Oahu attraction pass from Go City. Choose from All-Inclusive or Explorer options for savings of up to 50% on catamaran cruises, snorkeling trips, guided hikes, island tours, and much more, including many of the activities and attractions mentioned above. Find out more about the Go Oahu pass and get yours here.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak
Waikiki skyline at night
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Oahu Most Popular Tourist Attractions - Top 10

Oahu may not be the biggest of the Hawaiian islands (that’d be the aptly nicknamed Big Island), but it sure packs a heck of a punch for its relatively diminutive size. We’re talking world-class snorkeling, awesome mountain hikes, historic monuments and over 200 miles of beautiful coastline to explore. And that’s just for starters. No wonder then, that the Gathering Place (as it’s known) pulls in as many annual visitors as the other big three islands (Kauai, Maui and Hawaii) combined. You could spend a lifetime here and still not have time to experience all of the pleasures this Pacific gem has to offer. With that in mind, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 Oahu attractions that should be top of your vacation hit list, including: Pearl Harbor Waikiki Beach The Polynesian Cultural Center Waimea Falls Hanauma Bay State Park Shave ice …and more! Waikiki Beach Golden sands, rolling surf, high-end tiki bars, and some of the best shopping on the island: Waikiki pretty much has it all. But it’s the two-mile stretch of beach that pops up most frequently on Honolulu bucket lists. Sink your toes into the warm sand, sip a rum-laced Mai Tai, and take endless #humblebrag selfies against the gorgeous backdrop of the Diamond Head volcano. Waikiki Beach is also a fine spot for surfing, snorkeling and scuba diving – join a boat trip out Waikiki Turtle Canyon for close encounters with the region’s native green sea turtles, plus all manner of other tropical marine life. Pearl Harbor The best way to get a comprehensive overview of this collection of moving historic sites is on a guided tour. You’ll learn how the Japanese air attack here in 1941 catapulted the US into World War Two and take a boat trip out to the memorial marking the sunken USS Arizona battleship. You can access many of Pearl Harbor’s attractions and museums, including Battleship Missouri and the Aviation Museum, with an Oahu attraction pass from Go City. The pass also includes the option of a full Pearl Harbor and Honolulu tour, plus entry to many more top Oahu attractions, tours and activities. Find out more and get yours here. Polynesian Cultural Center No top 10 of Oahu’s most popular attractions would be complete without a visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Sure, its six themed ‘villages’ are touristy, but as a one-stop-shop for experiencing the cultural traditions of the Pacific Islands, it’s second-to-none. Sample aromatic Tahitian coconut bread or try Hawaiian staple poi, made from taro. Take a hula class or learn how to make lei, the traditional Hawaiian flower garland. You can also learn the Samoan art of fire-knife-twirling, watch powerful New Zealand Haka performances, and learn to dance sitting down, Tonga style. Top tip: entry to the Polynesian Cultural Center is also included with the Go City Oahu attraction pass. Honolulu Zoo Honolulu Zoo is home to some 1,200+ critters, running the gamut from ferociously cute fennec foxes to crocodile monitor lizards (the longest lizards in the world, no less), indigenous Hawaiian hawks and pompous, preening golden lion tamarins. It’s all a far cry from the zoo’s 19th-century origins as – effectively – an aviary for King David Kalakaua’s increasingly unmanageable bird collection. Pop by with the fam to say aloha to the park’s many residents and picnic in the lush tropical gardens. Diamond Head It’s practically illegal not to hike Hawaii’s iconic Diamond Head when in Oahu. Good news: it’s a relatively unchallenging walk and the rewards of reaching the summit – epic, sweeping views across the crater’s 3,500-foot diameter to Honolulu, Waikiki Beach and beyond – more than justify the effort required to get there! Overtourism in recent years means you now need to book a slot to guarantee entry – we recommend a sunrise hike for minimal crowds and more comfortable temperatures. Shuttle trips to/from the trail from any Waikiki hotel are included with the Go City Oahu attraction pass. Makapuu Lighthouse Another standout trail in this hikers’ paradise is the paved path that winds up to Makapuu Lighthouse, a gleaming white icon of Oahu’s windward coast, topped with an eye-catching red cap. Spot native tropical plants along the way and keep your peepers peeled for migrating humpback whales between December and April. En route to the lighthouse you’ll pass the natural wonder that is Hālona Blowhole, capable of blasting plumes of seawater up to 20 feet in the air under the right conditions. Cap your climb by ascending the century-old lighthouse for extraordinary views of Koko Head, Koko Crater, and Oahu’s stunning southern coastline. Hanauma Bay State Park As with Diamond Head, daily visitors to Hanauma Bay are limited. This gorgeous wineglass-shaped cove, tucked into Koko Head’s sheltered side, is one of Oahu’s most popular tourist attractions, so be sure to book your slot well in advance if you want to experience its soft golden sands, lush green hills, and gin-clear waters. Don’t forget your snorkel – the bay is home to over 400 different species of fish, including ornately patterned butterflyfish, colorful tangs and the tinselly Christmas wrasse. Waimea Valley Escape the hustle and bustle of Waikiki and Honolulu with a day trip to Waimea Valley. This vast expanse of North Shore parkland (all 1,875 acres of it) encompasses verdant grassy meadows, archaeological sites, and a botanical garden that’s home to more than 5,000 plant species and offers many peaceful shaded groves for lunching on the lawn. Suitably fortified by your picnic of poke and poi, hike the trail to the mighty Waimea Falls, a 45-foot wonder that’s perfect for swimming and sunbathing. Mokoli'i Island Centuries of erosion have separated this cone-shaped lava formation from Oahu proper, but you can still reach Mokoli’i Island’s secluded coves either by walking from Kualoa Regional Park during low tide, or by kayak at all other times. Once there, dip your toes in the clear, balmy waters and marvel at the kaleidoscope of colorful marine life (including green sea turtles, natch) just beneath the surface. Shave Ice! Shave ice is as essential a part of the Oahu experience as hula skirts, tiki bars and Mai Tais. No wonder then that North Shore icon Matsumoto’s is one of Oahu’s most popular tourist attractions. Brave the queues for your refreshing fix of ice topped with tastebud-tingling fruit syrup. Choose from lychee, passion fruit, peach, guava and more. Heck, why not just try them all?  Save on Oahu's Top Activities, Tours and Attractions 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
Fireworks over Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head
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Things to do on New Year’s Eve in Oahu and Honolulu

The balmy ‘winter’ climate makes for some fine outdoorsy ways to spend New Year’s Eve in Oahu and Honolulu. Diamond Head hike? Check. Swim and a siesta? Also check. Pineapple drop? Sure, why not! And that’s before you even get close to the epic fireworks display that lights up Waikiki Beach at midnight. Read on for our guide to having a ‘hau'oli makahiki hou’ (happy new year) in Oahu and Honolulu…
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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