With kids · 12 places in all
Oʻahu with keiki
Calm water, animals, and rooms full of things to press.
Oʻahu is one of the easiest places in the islands to travel with small children: short drives, lots of calm water, and a city with good museums for the rainy days.
These lists are built around what works with kids: mornings, shade, and water that stays flat.
2 ways to do it
EThe editorsHonolulu with keikiA day of easy wins in town: animals, a lagoon with no waves, and a museum made for touching.7 placesA full day3 freeWaikīkī & Diamond HeadHonoluluUse this list →
EThe editorsCalm beaches for small kidsLagoons and sheltered coves where the water stays flat, chosen with a local family guide.7 placesTwo or three days6 freeHonoluluWaikīkī & Diamond HeadWest sideUse this list →Questions people ask
What’s the calmest beach on Oʻahu for toddlers?
Magic Island lagoon at Ala Moana Beach Park and the Ko Olina lagoons are the calmest; both are enclosed by rock walls. Kuilima Cove is the calmest on the North Shore.
Is Hanauma Bay good for kids?
Yes, if they can float with a mask. Kids 12 and under get in free, but you still need a reservation for the group, and it is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
What can we do with kids when it rains?
Bishop Museum, the Hawaiʻi Children’s Discovery Center and the Waikīkī Aquarium are all indoors and in Honolulu.