Things to do on Oahu's west side
The west side does not have a strip of activity kiosks, and that is exactly why the things that are here are worth doing properly. This is a real list of what's actually near Waianae and Makaha — the beaches, the hike, the charters people have been running for decades, and the handful of day trips worth the extra drive. Nothing on this page is paid placement; it's what we'd tell a friend staying with us.
Beaches beyond Papaoneone
Our own guests stay steps from Papaoneone Beach, but there are two more worth knowing about a short drive away.
Makaha Beach Park is the famous one — a legendary big-wave surf break with real history in the sport, plus a wide sandy shoulder that's genuinely pleasant for a walk or a swim on calmer summer days. It has lifeguards, restrooms, showers and parking, but the surf here can be serious; if you're not an experienced surfer, this is a watch-not-swim beach in winter.
Poka‘i Bay Beach Park, a few minutes further south in Waianae town, is the calmer, more family-friendly option — a small, mostly reef-protected bay that's one of the safer swimming spots on this whole coast, with a lifeguard tower and shade trees right at the sand.
Ka‘ena Point: the wild tip of the island
At the very end of Farrington Highway, past Makaha, the road simply stops and becomes a trail. Ka‘ena Point State Park is a roughly 5-mile round-trip walk (about 2.5 miles each way) along a rugged, undeveloped coastline to the westernmost tip of Oahu — no cars, no development, just lava coastline, sand dunes and ocean on three sides.
It's also one of the best places on the island to see Hawaiian monk seals hauled out on the sand and, in season, Laysan albatross nesting in the dunes near the point. There is no shade at all and the terrain is hot, dry and rocky — bring more water than you think you need, wear real shoes, and start early to avoid the worst of the afternoon heat. Keep at least 50 feet from any monk seal you see; they're endangered and protected by federal law.
On the water: fishing charters and dolphin tours
Wai‘anae Boat Harbor, a few minutes from Makaha, is a genuine working harbor and the launch point for most of the west side's ocean trips.
Sport fishing charters run half and full days out of the harbor — Live Bait Sport Fishing has been operating here since 1985 and is a good example of the kind of long-running local outfit this coast is known for. Expect to book ahead, especially for a full boat.
Spinner dolphin and snorkel tours also leave from Wai‘anae Harbor — operators like Dolphin Excursions Hawaii have been running these trips for over 20 years, taking small groups out to snorkel with sea turtles and watch (not swim with) wild spinner dolphins. Worth knowing before you book: it's been federal law since 2021 that boats and swimmers keep their distance from spinner dolphins in shallow water, so any operator advertising a guaranteed in-water swim with dolphins isn't describing something you can legally do here — the honest trips are snorkel-and-watch, and they're genuinely special anyway.
History at Poka‘i Bay
On the point at Poka‘i Bay sits Kū‘īlioloa Heiau, an ancient Hawaiian temple dating back centuries, believed to have trained navigators and fishermen. It's a quiet, respectful site — a short walk, free to visit, and a genuinely good way to spend twenty minutes understanding this coast's history rather than only its beaches. Treat it as you would any sacred site: stay on the path, don't climb on the stone platforms, and keep voices down.
Golf
Makaha Valley sits inland from the beach in a dramatic amphitheater of mountains and has long been home to a golf course with some of the most scenic mountain views on Oahu. Worth calling ahead to confirm current operating status and tee times before you plan a round.
Family day trips: Ko Olina and Wet'n'Wild
Ko Olina's four man-made lagoons, about 12 miles south of Makaha, are the easiest guaranteed-calm swimming on this side of the island — genuinely useful if you have young kids and want flat water on demand rather than the natural, seasonal surf at Papaoneone or Makaha Beach. Lagoon 4 has the most public parking and access; the other three sit mostly along the resort frontage. Public parking is free, first-come first-served, sunrise to sunset — go early on weekends.
Wet'n'Wild Hawaii in Kapolei, on the way toward Ko Olina, is Oahu's water park — slides, a wave pool, a lazy river. It's worth double-checking their hours before you drive out, since as of this writing it operates a limited schedule (typically Thursday through Sunday, not open daily) rather than every day of the week.
Worth the longer drive
A few things sit far enough from Makaha that they're a proper day trip rather than an afternoon, but come up often enough to mention.
Pearl Harbor is on the way into town, roughly 30–40 minutes from Makaha, and is worth planning as its own half-day with tickets booked ahead. Dillingham Airfield, out past the North Shore in Mokuleia, is where Oahu's tandem skydiving and glider rides operate from — it's over an hour from Makaha, but it's the only place on the island to do either, and the glider rides in particular are a quiet, spectacular way to see the North Shore from the air. Honolulu, Waikiki and Diamond Head are all roughly an hour out and make sense as one full day rather than a quick stop.
Food and practicalities
Restaurant options thin out fast once you're past Kapolei, so most visitors cook more than they eat out — both of our properties have full kitchens for exactly this reason. Our Makaha & Waianae area guide covers groceries, driving times and what to expect day to day in more detail, and our free downloadable guide has 51 specific spots organized the way we'd tell a friend, if you'd rather have it all in one printable list.