Of course, there are many ways that you can explore a new place. You could hire a car, a push bike, a scooter or even a tuk-tuk driver if one is available in your destination. But, if you’re looking for the best way to explore Oahu, Hawaii, then you should consider hiring a motorbike. A Harley Davidson to be specific.
Hiring a Harley Davidson ‘Fat Boy’ to ride around Hawaii’s third largest island, Oahu, is probably one of the funnest travelling things we have done to date. The island is small enough that you can do the entire loop in one day! Be prepared though, you are going to get a sore butt! 😂
So Why Should You Hire a Harley Davidson in Hawaii?
It is just such a cool way to see a new place! Especially a beautiful island like Oahu. I also felt that the Harley Davidson in particular was a real ‘Hawaiian’ bike to hire, in terms of how laid back and ‘cool’ you feel riding it.
Of course, if you don’t have an open motorbike license, you won’t be able to hire a bike. If this is you, why not opt for something like an open-air Jeep?
Where Can Your Hire a Motorbike in Waikiki?
We used Chase Hawaii Rentals in Waikiki. Their service was fantastic and the bike was in really great condition. We arranged the hire on our arrival in Hawaii, but during peak periods, I would recommend booking online in advance.
They have over 30 Harley Davidson’s to choose from, as well as Indian’s, Triumph’s, Ducati’s and Honda’s. I would say almost any bike riders preference would be satisfied here.
What I particularly liked about Chase Hawaii Rentals is you can either hire the bike for 10 hours or 24 hours. Essentially, you could pick the bike up of an afternoon, and enjoy a sunset ride. Followed by more exploring the following morning. It just gives you so much flexibility for exploring!
What Does a Perfect Day Exploring Oahu Look Like?
There is so much to see and do around Oahu that you won’t be able to tick all activities off in one day. However, if you’re looking for a relaxing, scenic ride, you’re in for a treat. Here’s what our day exploring Oahu on the bike looked like…
We picked the bike up at 9am, and spent the first hour circling Waikiki, trying to work out how to get out of the damn place 🤦🏼♀️.
Hot Tip: Load the directions of where you want to go on Google Maps before you leave Wi-Fi. If you have a pillion passenger, they can read the map and provide you directions while you focus on riding ☺️.
Head For the North Shore…
The North Shore is very well known as a surfing capital of the world. The famous pipeline swells only come around during the winter. Even still, the Historical town of Haleiwa is certainly worth the visit.
Haleiwa is an awesome little town with the coolest surf vibe you’ve ever experienced. Wearing shoes seems to be somewhat of a rare occurrence, and everyone is super laid back.
We stopped for lunch the famous Giovanni’s Shrimp Truck along the highway and had some deliciously huge deep fried garlic shrimp for lunch. Be prepared, they aren’t cheap but they are delicious!
Continue Around to Waimea Bay
In my opinion, Waimea Bay is the prettiest beach that Oahu has to offer. The water is so clear and turquoise blue! It was quite a warm day, and we’d been riding around in long pants and shirts (for some minor protection), so we were super sweaty and ready for a swim.
We parked the bike on the side of the road on the cliff top, changed into our swimmers, and scrambled down the face to the beach. There is a main car park, but it was closed for some reason 🤷🏼♀️.
In winter, Waimea Bay boasts large swells and tons of big wave riders. However, during spring and summer time, the waves go flat and waters calm, allowing visitors to jump off ‘The Big Rock’. So, we did exactly that!
I can tell you, the jump doesn’t seem that high up from the beach, but once you’re standing up there, it’s somewhat terrifying! 😬😂
Follow the Kamehameha Highway Home
Once you’ve had your fair share of swimming and relaxing, hop back on the bike and continue around the island on the Kamehameha Highway.
We had originally planned to ride the entire coastline back to Waikiki. Past Waimanalo Beach and Hanauma Bay – the ultimate scenic route. But as it happened, we’d had a long enough day on the bike. In other words, our butts were super sore 😂.
Even still, we did enjoy our ride along the coast, and stopped often to admire the incredible scenery. It’s unbelievable the way the volcanic rock has formed, towering against the shoreline. Hawaii is a beautiful place, there is no doubt about that.
Once we hit the Pali Highway, we decided to make a beeline for Waikiki, taking around 40 minutes off of our ride home. While not as scenic as the coastline, you’ll find Pali Highway to be quite breathtaking in itself. The whole ride around Oahu took us about 6 hours, with plenty of stops along the way!
Hopefully, now you can see why hiring a motorbike is one of the best ways to explore Oahu. In my opinion, the open-air freedom to a bike makes any adventure more rewarding. Regardless of how you do it, this trip is an easy day trip and an amazing way to see this beautiful island 😍.
If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii and need some other ideas of what to do on Oahu, check out my post ‘6 Things to do on Oahu Outside of Waikiki Beach’.
