10 Must See Spots When Driving Through East Oahu

There’s so much to do when visiting Oahu, Hawaii that there’s never enough time to do it all so let’s take a drive from the east side of Honolulu all the way up to Turtle Bay and stop at the best sight seeing places on our way there. There’s a lot more then just 10 spots to see but here’s the top 10 on my list. 

Next stop is right up the road. We will be stopping at Hanauma Bay. It’s one of the top snorkeling spots on the island as it’s a reservation and the marine life is very protected here but we’re just admiring the views. Pull in and park, walk around admire the gorgeous bay below. 

Following Haunama Bay we can take a quick stop at one of the scenic view points. You will see a small parking lot on the side of the road. Here you will see three must see spots. You can view the Eternity Beach on the right side of the parking lot and on the left side you will see Sandy Beach and the Halona Blowhole. All tourist MUST-SEE spots. My favorite is Eternity Beach. I can’t get over all the blues in that beach. You may have seen this beach in several movies as well such as “From Here to Eternity.” 

Next stop will be Lanikai Beach. It’s by far one of the most beautiful beaches on the island. The clear turquoise waters that you see on travel magazines is what you will find here along with two little islands to the distance making this one gorgeous MUST-SEE beach. I will highly recommend taking a day of your vacation and spending it here. I usually do the Lanikai Pillbox Hike and then head over to the beach for a full day of adventure. (Check out my post on the Lanikai Pillbox Hike for more info.)

Now let’s head on over to the Byodo In Temple. It’s only a few dollars to get in and it’s a quick walk around the temple. Gorgeous mountain sites plus lots to learn. It’s a replicated temple of the real Byodo In Temple. Don’t forget to ring the bell. Read more about the Byodo In Temple here. 

We have three more spots to stop by at. Next up is Chinaman’s Hat and Laie Point. Chinaman’s Hat is this little island that you will see to your right that, well, looks just like a Chinaman’s hat. Can’t miss it. It’s located on a beautiful beach park and gorgeous views all around. It’s surrounded by mountains and beach. Great to go for a quick swim or just to look around and enjoy a relaxing afternoon. 

Let’s head on north to Laie Point now. You will know this spot as the famous Forgetting Sarah Marshall cliff jump where Peter failed to jump off the cliff and just fell. And not to forget to mention their first kiss. This is a popular spot to, not just cliff jump, but to go fishing as well. If walking through here with little kids please be careful as it is rocky and there’s open water all around the point but don’t let this scare you. It’s absolutely breath taking and you can’t miss it for the world. 

And last but not least, Turtle Bay. Also known as the hotel where they were all staying at in the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall. This is more considered to be North Shore but it’s at a spot on the island that I see it as either/or or even both. I like coming here to see the sunsets or just to drive by. It’s a really pretty spot. Other then that this would be my ending point for the East side. Stay tuned for our upcoming post on North Shore where you will find some of the most stunning beaches and best surf spots on Oahu.

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Disclaimer: This post is in no way compensated or affiliated. All opinions and experiences are my own. Always respect the locals of the place you travel too and learn from other cultures. Admire and care for the world you live in.