3 Essential Reservations to Book for the Perfect Oahu Vacation 🌺📆💻

Some of Oahu’s most popular activities now require a reservation. What to know before you go!

For my money, there’s no better all-around destination than Hawaii’s magnificent island of Oahu.

Of course, I might be a little bit biased because I live on Oahu!

For many visitors to Hawaii, Oahu is either the primary destination or a stopover on the way to one of Hawaii’s other lovely islands like Maui, Kauai, or the Big Island.

If you’re going to fly all the way across the ocean to visit Hawaii, spending at least a few days on Oahu is a must! Because Oahu is home to some of Hawaii’s most significant cultural and historic sights.

Note: This post may contain affiliate links. If you choose to book through these links, I receive a small commission, which I will likely blow on mai tais, poke, and shave ice.  All of this internet voodoo takes place at no additional cost to you. 

But if this is your first visit to Oahu – or it’s been a few years since your last visit – you might be surprised to learn that some of the island’s most popular places and experiences now require an advance reservation.

And it’s not just Oahu. All of the main Hawaiian islands now have reservation systems in place to avoid overcrowding at top state parks and popular attractions.

Read More: Headed to Maui? Here are 3 Reservations You Need to Make Now 🌺📆💻

So if you’re planning a visit to Oahu soon, there are a few things you’ll want to book before you get on that plane.

Tip: For most of these, you’ll want to have your own wheels:

There are 3 main activities on Oahu that require a reservation in advance.

If you plan to do any of the following, mark your calendar to make those reservations as soon as they’re available.

Let’s cover all three now:

1. Arizona Memorial, Pearl Harbor

In the early morning hours of December 7, 1941, as the 185 vessels of the U.S. Pacific Fleet lay calm and serene, the first wave of Japanese aircraft entered Hawaiian airspace and began what would be the U.S. Navy’s greatest defeat.

It was a “day that will live in infamy.” 

Decades later, the USS Arizona Memorial was established at Pearl Harbor to honor those who died in the attack.

Like the beaches of Normandy or the concentration camps of Auschwitz, a visit to Pearl Harbor is an important but somber glimpse into World World II history.

It’s also Oahu’s #1 attraction.

You can visit Pearl Harbor any day you’d like. But if you want to take the boat trip to see the Arizona Memorial, you’ll need a reservation.

When is Pearl Harbor open?

The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is open daily from 7:00am-5:00pm and admission is free.

Tickets to visit the Arizona Memorial are also free. However, they are timed and frequently sell out as soon as they are released.

That’s why a visit to Pearl Harbor is one of my favorite free things to do on Oahu.

Read More: 25 Awesome Things to Do on Oahu That Won’t Cost You a Dime🌺

If you can’t score a reservation, you can still show up and do everything BUT the Arizona Memorial. And you might even be able to get a standby ticket.

Arizona Memorial Standby Tickets

When you arrive, sign up at the digital standby kiosk for the Arizona Memorial boat trip and the movie. I tried it a few weeks ago to see how long it would take on standby and the wait was less than 30 minutes.

(Note: I got there at 7:00am when they open and that’s your best bet if you’re shooting for standby tickets.)

When to Book: You get two cracks at this one. The first tickets are released online 8 weeks in advance. I highly recommend booking at that time. However, if you miss that window, additional tickets are released at 3:00pm HST daily, for the next day.

To score these, log into the reservation site a few minutes early and start refreshing exactly at 3:00pm. When my family visited recently I was able to get 4 tickets for my sister and her family the day before without a problem.

If you do get a reservation, plan to arrive 1-hour before your reservation time. It can take some time to find parking, especially if your reservation is later in the day. (Paid parking is available for $7 at Pearl Harbor.)

Oh, and be sure to create an account at Recreation.gov before the tickets are released so you’re ready to book.

Where to Book: Recreation.gov Pearl Harbor

2. Hanauma Bay Marine Park

It’s one of the best snorkeling sites in the world and is considered the jewel of Oahu. The pristine marine ecosystem of Hanauma Bay was formed within a volcanic cone creating a natural marine park.

Hanauma (literally “curved bay” in Hawaiian) Bay is the epitome of snorkeling on Oahu. The vibrant marine life here includes playful Hawaiian green sea turtles (known as honu) and as many as 400 species of fish that call this pristine marine ecosystem their home.

And that’s why I consider it one of the best snorkeling spots in Hawaii and a must-do Oahu experience.

Read More:  The 7 Absolute Best Things to Do on Oahu (if time is short!)

But these days, Hanauma Bay often sees 3000 visitors per day. And that’s why a concerted effort has been made to reduce mass tourism and limit damage to marine life.

Enter, the new reservation system.

The reservation system can be tricky, but don’t be discouraged, you can do this! You just need a few easy tips for success and I’ve got you covered there.

But first, let’s cover the basics…

When is Hanauma Bay open?

The nature preserve is open to the public Wednesdays through Sundays from 6:45am – 1:30pm. Visitors must leave the preserve by 4:00pm each day.

Note that the preserve is CLOSED on Mondays and Tuesdays. It can also be closed due to extreme weather conditions like high winds and surf. 

How much?

Adult tickets for Hanauma Bay are $25. Children 12 and under are free but still need a reservation.

Hanauma Bay’s online reservation system is run by the county of Honolulu and time slots are available every 10 minutes. The first time slot is 7:00am and the last is 1:20pm.

There’s one very good reason to book a morning reservation…

Hanauma Bay Parking is not guaranteed

Parking is $3 and must be paid in cash only. Parking is limited to just 300 spaces and often fills up by late morning. 

And just because you have a reservation, you’re not guaranteed a parking space. But if you go early, you won’t have a problem.

That’s why I strongly recommend booking a reservation time before 9:00am. Don’t worry, I’ve got a few foolproof tips for scoring that early reservation time…

Read More: The Foolproof Guide to Hanauma Bay for Snorkeling

When to Book: Online reservations are only available 48 hours in advance. That’s right, no matter how much planning you do for your trip to Oahu, you can’t guarantee a snorkeling trip to Hanauma Bay (unless you book a tour – more on that in a moment).  

The reservation system populates at exactly 7:00am Hawaiian Standard Time (HST) and reservations sell out in less than 5 minutes. So if you want to visit on a Saturday, you can book your reservation starting promptly at 7:00am local time on Thursday. 

Where to Book: Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve Reservations

Next up, Oahu’s most popular hike…

3. Diamond Head State Monument

Believed extinct for more than 150,000 years, the volcanic tuff cone known as Diamond Head crater defines the skyline of Hawaii’s most famous beach, Waikiki. 

Built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1908, the historic trail features tunnels, underground command posts, and steep switchbacks along the mile and a half journey to the top.

It’s a challenging climb but not overly strenuous.

Hikers who persevere are rewarded at the summit with dazzling views over Waikiki and all of downtown Honolulu.

When is the trail open?

​The Diamond Head Crater Trail is open daily from 6:00am – 6:00pm (last entry at 4:00pm). The trail is closed on Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Don’t forget to add parking!

Unlike Hanauma Bay, you can reserve a parking spot when you make your reservation to hike Diamond Head. That ensures you won’t have trouble finding parking when you arrive.

Just don’t forget to add parking when you make your reservation! And remember that to park, you must arrive within the first 30 minutes of your reservation window.

How much?

The entry fee for non-Hawaii residents is $5. Children 3 and under are free but everyone else needs a reservation. Parking is an additional $10 and must be booked in advance.

Reservations here are much easier to get than at Pearl Harbor or Hanauma Bay, but I’d still recommend booking at least two weeks in advance, just to be safe.

However, if you’ve got your heart set on a sunrise hike, make that reservation as far in advance as possible, the earliest times sell out first each day. 

When my family visited, I booked our reservations 30 days out just to be safe.

Reservations are available in 1-hour windows. The first time slot is 6:00am – 7:00am and if you’re hoping to see the sunrise, you’ll need to book that first time slot.

For more detailed booking information (including why Saturdays are my favorite day of the week to do this hike!), check out this post for everything you need to know before you go:

Read More: Why Hiking Diamond Head Crater is an Oahu Must-Do

When to Book: Reservations can be made up to 30 days in advance. Book at least 2 weeks in advance if you want to see the sunrise but afternoon reservations are often still available a few days out.

Where to Book: Hawaii State Parks Website

Can’t Score a Reservation?

Let’s say you did not read this post before your trip and didn’t make a reservation for one of the above.

Now what?

Not to worry!

If you can’t score a reservation for Pearl Harbor or Hanauma Bay (you won’t have a problem with Diamond Head if you’re flexible on times), you can still visit both by booking an organized tour.

Just keep in mind that these tours primarily just include transportation and the hard-to-get reservation.

Oahu is an incredible destination and some of the island’s top experiences now require a reservation.

So make your Oahu vacation everything you’ve dreamed of and mark your calendar to book those reservations as soon as they’re available.

And for more great things to see and do on Oahu (plus where to stay and eat!)…

Start here: The Ultimate Guide to Hawaii’s Idyllic Island of Oahu

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