Even before you set foot on The Island of Oahu for your elopement, you’ll want to be prepared and know where you should stay! Each city and town in Oahu is unique, and offers various different experiences and vibes. Let’s take a tour to figure out where you’ll be staying during your Oahu elopement adventure.
The beauty of Oahu is that you can stay closer to the city of Honolulu if night life, finer dining, and a variety of different bars, events, and museums are your vibes! If you want something more relaxing, slower paced, or simply less crowds, then the east-side or north shore are probably more for you!
Waimanalo or Waianae or Ewa Beach (higher levels of theft in these areas if you are visiting). Millilani (center of the island, surrounded by military bases, there is really nothing to do or see here).
Where not to stay
Airport code: HNL
If high-rise hotels, and lots of cute shopping and stores are your thing, Waikiki and Honolulu will be for you! Waikiki is situated in Honolulu. Honolulu is Oahu’s biggest city, and where you will fly into when you begin your elopement visit to the Hawaiian Islands.
Waikiki is where you will find most hotels and condos, and you are right by a ton of popular beach and surfing spots. If you want to take surfing lessons, you will probably do so here. Keep in mind that this area of Oahu can be crowded. If you rent a car when you are in Oahu, parking near Waikiki can be hard to find and usually costs money. Some hotels include this in their fee while others have a daily parking charge.
Don’t let that deter you, though! There is a reason why Waikiki is so popular: you get the essence of Hawaiian luxury and Oahu life in this slice of the island. There is so much to do in Waikiki. From surfing, paddle boarding, canoeing, and sunset catamarans…you'll never be bored!
The main street of Waikiki is called Kalakaua Avenue, which is where you will find most of the luxury hotels and stores to shop in!
If you want somewhere to stay that’s just outside Waikiki, but slightly smaller hotel, and slightly less crowded, shift your search to Diamond Head and stay at one of the beach front hotels such as:
Towns on the east side of the island of Oahu will be a lot more chill compared to the hustle and bustle like what you’ll find in Honolulu. Think of it like going from the city to the suburbs.
Kailua is a must-visit, and staying at an Airbnb in this quaint town with its pristine beaches is bliss. Other nearby towns on the east side of Oahu include Lanikai. Lanikai is right next to Kailua but has more of the luxury homes and airbnbs. The beach access here, however, is absolutely pristine, with soft white sand beaches, and views of the “The Mokes” twin islands.
Those with an interest in Hawaiian country living will absolutely want to check out the North Shore of Oahu. The North Shore is very laid back and a surfer’s paradise. If you are visiting in the winter, there will only be a handful of safe places to enter the water here because the waves get huge…this is where all the professional surfing competitions take places.
There can potentially be a lot more traffic in this area of Oahu during the afternoon/evening, because it is a small road, not a highway so watch out for congestion. There are a couple of resorts, such as Turtle Bay Resort in Kahuku, but which is AMAZING!! If you want a quaint hideaway, you will want to take to Airbnb. Towns worth staying in on Oahu’s North Shore include Haleiwa and Pupukea.
The West Side of Oahu is an interesting place! Unfortunately, many areas have a high crime rate. For this reason, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend Airbnbs here but the resorts are great. Even still, Oahu’s West Side is still worth visiting! You’ll want to exclusively take day trips around here if you want to check out some of the incredible west side beaches, my favorite being Keawaula Beach, just be sure to lock your car and take your valuables!
click each city below for more details on where to stay!
The earlier you book, the more options you have as reservations can fill up quickly.
Most of the beaches in Waikiki are accessible through resorts and hotels.
The East Side of Oahu is more lush and green, and known as the Windward side.
The West Side of Oahu can be dry and sunny, and known as the Leeward side.
Things to Remember When Booking Your Stay in Oahu:
And on that note...
No matter where you decide to stay in Oahu during your elopement trip, I just know you’ll pick the perfect place based on what is important to you and your partner.
