Compared to other Hawaiian Islands, the capital island felt overwhelmingly crowded. We longed to see a different side of Oahu, discover its best-kept secrets, find its most hidden gems, and relish its raw beauty in secluded recesses, overlooked by many.
Last updated: October 12, 2024
Secluded Places on Oahu
This is the side of Hawaii that we don’t often get to see. Besides the sandy beaches of Waikiki and the towering peaks of the urban jungle of Honolulu, there is another Oahu. A secluded section of the ancient island intersected with tropical rainforests, well-preserved elements of Asian cultures, and trails, so steep and muddy.
Some parts of Oahu, in particular the West Shore, are less developed, with rough beaches filled with locals fishing and keiki (Hawaiian for children) running into sunset.
We sprinkled our Oahu itinerary with both well-recognized (there is a certain degree of beauty in those places that interest visitors from all over the world) and off-the-beaten-path destinations.
After spending a few days exploring the bustling South Coast, we were ready to see some of the best-kept secrets of Oahu, places where locals go for a hike or fish on the beach during the golden hour, surrounded by the tranquility and unspoiled beauty of the tropics.
THE BEST-KEPT SECRETS OF OAHU
1. The Byodo-In Temple
Some of the hidden gems on Oahu are less secluded than the others. Tucked away at the foot of the Ko’olau Mountains in the secluded Valley of the Temples Memorial Park, the Byodo-In Temple is one of the most unique hidden gems of Oahu.
The temple was built in 1963 to commemorate the 100-year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants arriving in Hawaii. A scale replica of the Byodo-In Temple in Uju, Japan, it consists of a central shrine, a small meditation pavilion, a large pond with koi fish, a symbol of luck and prosperity, and the Bell House.
The Bell House reflects both the Japanese architectural style and centuries-old customs. Behind its traditional facade, it conveys an even deeper meaning, engraved in Japanese and now Hawaiian culture.
The tiny structure in the secluded corner of Oahu is a permanent home to the massive, three-tone brass bell. They say ringing it helps allude to the serene surroundings and remind you of the fleeting nature of time.
While visitors may find the Byodo-In Temple one of the most secluded hidden gems on the South Coast of Oahu, flocks of white-stripped zebra doves congregate at the far end of the pond regularly. Waiting for their turn to participate in occasional feasts, they swarm around noisily, attracting the maximum attention to themselves.
2. Kapena Falls
We almost skipped Kapena Falls, one of the best-kept secrets of the South Coast of Oahu. With a plethora of taller and more impressive waterfalls, who needed to see another island cascade? Well, I needed to. Needless to say, sparing 15 minutes for this hidden waterfall hike before heading to the North Shore of Oahu was an amazing decision.
Finding the Kapane Falls trailhead, however, was the hardest thing. With no signposts or a clear trailhead location, we were lucky to stumble upon two locals working at the far end of the parking lot who pointed us in the right direction.
The Kapena Falls is a short hike with a 15-foot waterfall that cascades down a cliff into a large pool where you can take a refreshing dip to cool off. If you’re willing to look for this tiny hidden gem on Oahu early in the morning, you may have it all to yourself.
My favorite part of this spontaneous adventure was the trail itself. Carving its way through a tropical jungle, the path is narrow and shaded by a dense canopy of trees. Rare sun rays pierce through the lush vegetation, placing pockets of sunshine on the leaves and rocks along the trail.
Similar to the popular Manoa Falls Trail (certainly not one of the best-kept secrets of Oahu), the Kapena Falls Trail feels like a set from the Jurassic Park movie.
3. Koko Crater Botanical Garden
Overshadowed by the steep stairs of the Koko Crater Trail, the Koko Crater Botanical Garden is another secret spot in the southern section of Oahu.
The 60-acre secluded garden sits inside the Koko Crater known for its hot and dry climate. But unlike Ubehebe Crater we hiked in in Death Valley, the Koko Crater is not barren. The remote verdant sanctuary took on a mission of incubating a large variety of plants from Hawaii, Madagascar, Africa, and the Americas. Some of Hawaii’s rarest and most endangered plant species can also be found here.
Between different sections of the garden, run several hidden trails that only a few dozen people or less tread a day.
4. Kawainui Marsh
The biggest secret of all of the hidden gems on Oahu, Kawainui Marsh Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Kailua, 10 miles northeast of Honolulu. Tucked away behind a row of residential houses, this serene area does an exceptional job at staying off the tourist radar.
Even when you succeed at getting to the right area, you can’t shake off a feeling that you are trespassing on somebody’s backyard. The 3-mile trail is secreted by dense shrubs on the parking lot side.
Only when you follow the narrow path to get to the other side of the fishpond, an entirely different world opens up. Green slopes of the Koolau Mountains tower to your right. To your left, a small stream flows into the mostly unobscured Kawainui Marsh wetland.
The area abounds with Hawaiian indigenous birds, from red-crested cardinals to endangered moorhens, stilts, and black-crowned night herons.
5. Lyon Arboretum
Set in the upper end of the Manoa Valley, almost adjacent to the Manoa Falls area, the Harold L. Lyon Arboretum is one of the least-visited places on Oahu. The 200-acre arboretum and botanical garden is managed by the University of Hawaii. A world of tropical rainforest with a series of shaded trails and a seasonal waterfall exists behind the high gate of the garden.
Despite its not so secluded location, the Lyon Arboretum opens its doors to a small number of people a day. Reservation is required. Something that we learned only while standing in front of the garden’s gate and contemplating whether we should have tried our luck and visited Oahu’s secret grounds as walk-ins.
Eventually, we decided against it and came back a few days later, reserving our time slot in advance.
TIP: If, unlike us, you don’t have another opportunity to explore one of Oahu’s best-kept secrets, see if the arboretum accepts walk-ins that day. Just head uphill toward the office and ask. There is a good chance they may allow you to walk around and hike to the remote waterfall without a prior reservation.
6. Aihualama Falls
Aihualama Falls is a secret waterfall in the Lyon Arboretum on the South Shore of Oahu. Nestled at the far end of the botanical garden, the waterfall may be an alluring sight or less than a trickle depending on the season. It dries up almost completely in the summer, known as the dry season in Hawaii.
The waterfall regains its strength when tropical rains bring more water into the Manoa Valley. Normally, it’s from November to March. December is the rainiest month and the best time to see Aihualama Falls at its peak flow.
We headed to Oahu’s secret waterfall on a hot summer day. Arboretum’s staff warned us that our chances of catching even a glimpse of the plunge were minimal. With no certainty of what we could find at the end of the 1.3-mile trail, we shifted our perspectives, focusing more on the path that cut through the lush garden and ready to accept the waterfall at any stage it was at that moment.
The Lyon’s staff was right. Only a wet imprint on the sheer cliff and a tiny trickle were all that was left from Oahu’s secret waterfall.
7. Aihualama Trail
Roughly 1.6 miles long and for most parts completely serene, the Aihualama Trail got on our radar by a sheer accident. Nestled a few feet away from the Manoa Falls Overlook, the narrow path veered to the left and started climbing along meticulously arranged stone stairs. It looked easy. So we didn’t need any invitation to embark on another epic hiking journey in what turned out to be one the most secluded areas on the South Coast of Oahu.
The Aihualama Trail is one of the best-kept secrets of Oahu for a number of reasons. The biggest of them is the trail itself. Protected from the hot tropical sun under the canopy of the dense bamboo forest, the path is generously covered with mud and puddles that hardly ever get a chance to dry up.
Muddy and slippery, the unfrequented Aihualama Trail keeps turning away any unprepared visitors of Oahu after they face the first few obstacles. Locals, on the other hand, sprint the entire distance to the Pauoa Flats Lookout and then back to the trailhead before you even manage to conquer half of the trail one way.
8. Best-Kept Secrets of Yokohama Bay in West Oahu
As you drive along the West Coast of Oahu, dotted with smaller, undeveloped towns and communities, you feel like an intruder. Usual crowds of visitors are gone. Only a few regulars fish right off the shore and kids jump into the ocean, their dark silhouettes against the golden colors of the descending sun.
We stopped at several secluded beaches on the western side of Oahu, any places that looked inviting and appealing to us. Not willing to disturb any balanced routine or maybe a family gathering, we skipped those areas where temporary tent towns dotted the coastline for the summer.
Some of the best-kept secrets of this part of Oahu are said to be Makua and Keawaula Beaches, also known as Yokohama Bay. Hidden by imposing green mountains, these secret spots are nestled on the westernmost shoreline of the island and are favored mostly by locals.
If you decide to go off the beaten path and explore some of the true hidden gems of Oahu, head to Yokohama Bay early in the morning when Hawaiian Spinner Dolphins swim along the unspoiled shoreline.
9. Pupukea Beach
Unlike the famous beaches of Waikiki on the South Coast of Oahu, the North Shore keeps its sandy expanses well tucked away. Equally gorgeous, with calm waves perfect for swimming and snorkeling and big surf for those who like to ride ocean waves, Pupukea Beach or any beaches between Ke Ike Beach to Sunset Beach define the slower pace of the island life.
10. Maleka Farm in Laie
Laie is a relaxing, somewhat secluded, coastal area in northeastern Oahu. A small town with big surprises. It’s how the place is often described by visitors. Home to the iconic Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie is famous for its luau feasts, canoe tours, and hula performances.
Different cultural immersion experiences at the Center, however, may be the culprit of a rather expensive excursion to the coast. Despite its remote nature and far fewer visitors, accommodations in the northern part of Oahu are even pricier than in the Honolulu area. Considering that the state capital is one of the most expensive cities in Hawaii, it says a lot.
Yet the travel bug was biting us hard. Skipping more serene and less visited parts of Oahu felt like defying the purpose of traveling to Hawaii. We had to find an alternative way to explore some of the best-kept secrets of the northern area of Oahu without shelling out a fortune.
The solution came in the form of a comfortable glamping experience at Maleka Farm. Surrounded by banana groves and soaked in the chirping of tropical birds, the farm felt like what old Oahu might have looked like. Or still does, but only for locals.
TIP: If you are willing to look for more best-kept secrets of Oahu, hike to Laie Falls. Yet since it’s located on private property, make sure to get permit or permission, whichever works, beforehand.
Read Next
If you are planning to travel to other islands in Hawaii, check out the following guides.
- MUST-SEE PLACES ON MAUI: Haleakala National Park: Hawaii Taught Us to Slow Down
- KAUIA TRAVEL: 20 Things to Know before Traveling to Kauai, Hawaii
- THE INFAMOUS ROAD TO HANA: The Best of Road to Hana and Back Road to Hana
