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Rainy Day Activities on O’ahu

O‘ahu has an amazing amount of natural beauty and outdoor activities; however it does rain in paradise. The island’s windward side (north and east) sees much more rain than the leeward side (south and west), which is generally protected from inclement weather by the Ko‘olau Range. O‘ahu is host to Honolulu, Hawai‘i’s only major city, and is famed for Waikīkī Beach, great shopping, and tons of things to do in Oahu when it rains on the leeward side. If you are staying on the windward around Kane‘ohe or Hale‘iwa, there are still plenty of rainy day activities on Oahu that are out of the elements.

Indoor Rainy Day Activities on Oahu

Leeward Side

Honolulu has a wealth of things to do in Oahu when it rains. Head over to the Waikīkī Aquarium, or take in Hawaiian history and culture at the world-famous Bishop Museum. A visit to Pearl Harbor makes for a full day of sobering yet fascinating WWII history and education, though you may have to dodge some raindrops while visiting the various historical sites, memorials, and museums. In the Historic District you can visit ‘Iolani Palace, the royal home of King David Kalāukala and Queen Liliu‘uokalani. ‘Iolani Palace is now a museum, and is the place where Queen Liliu‘uokalani was imprisoned for eight months during the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy. Nearby is Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives, where you can visit the three oldest houses in the state. Or, you can shop till you drop at Ala Moana Center, browse the fascinating indoor marketplaces in Chinatown, or slow down and indulge in some pampering at one of Honoluluʻs excellent day spas.

Windward Side

O‘ahuʻs windward side is a bit slower paced than the leeward side’s big city environment; however, there are still plenty of things to do in Oahu when it rains. Visit the Polynesian Cultural Center in La‘ie, or if you are on the North Shore in Hale‘iwa you can browse through the many art galleries and funky boutique shops, or sample fare from the many local restaurants that grace the main drag.

When There’s Rain, There’s Rainbows

Rainy days on O‘ahu are a great opportunity to take advantage of the island’s food, shopping, museums and art galleries. There’s many more rainy day activities on Oahu other than the ones we’ve listed above, so just in case the weather doesn’t cooperate with your outdoor plans, contact us at ILoveHawaii today and let us help you put together ideas for what to do in Oahu when it rains.