Visiting Oahu in a Wheelchair
Oahu is the most populated Hawaiin Island. It’s also one of the most visited as it has so much to offer. I had a wonderful time here as well and put together a complete guide for visiting Oahu in a wheelchair to help you prepare for your own trip to this beautiful island.
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Wheelchair Accessible Places to Stay on Oahu
The most popular area to stay on the island is the Waikiki Beach area. It is very citylike, offering easy convenience to the beach, restaurants and tour pickups. There are many hotel chains in this area that offer wheelchair accessible rooms.
It is important to note, however, that although there are ADA rooms available, they may be smaller than on the mainland which will reduce options for turning radius and the ability to use a Hoyer lift. I found this to be true of many of the hotels I stayed at in Hawaii. Also make sure to call the hotel ahead of time to determine the types of beds that they use. I found many of the hotels to have platform beds which would make the use of a Hoyer lift impossible.
Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach
When I was here, I stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn Waikiki Beach. The room was clean and had a roll-in shower. The bathroom was large enough to turn around in and maneuver and the shower had a fold down seat with grab bars.
I chose the option that included breakfast when I booked, which was delicious. There were options such as muffins, other continental type items as well as hot dish options including eggs, choice of bacon or sausage and potatoes. It was hearty and a great way to start the day.
The hotel was also conveniently located a few blocks from the beach. Tour operators also had pickup options about two blocks away. I’ll talk more about tour options below.
Getting Around in a Wheelchair on Oahu
Accessible vans are available to rent on the island, but if you plan to stay in the Waikiki Beach area, then I would advise against renting a vehicle. Parking is a nightmare and will cost you additional money. There are plenty of tour options available to you. If you prefer not to use tours, there are also a number of shuttles and public transportation (which is wheelchair accessible).
Adapted Vehicle Rentals in Oahu
If, however, you’d like to stay outside of the city, then a rental car will be necessary. Accessible vehicle rentals with a side entrance ramp and tie downs can be arranged through a company called Wheelers of Hawaii. For larger groups or if you’re in need of some extra space, Van Rentals Hawaii offers 12 and 15 passenger accessible van rentals.
If you are able to transfer to a regular vehicle, then you can rent your desired vehicle through any of the major car rental companies on the island. There is a shuttle from the airport that is wheelchair accessible, making the pick-up and drop off of these rentals easy.
Some of the rental car agencies can offer some adaptations to the vehicle for people with disabilities. This must be arranged in advance. To find out more about what services rental companies offer and for booking these vehicles, visit Hawaii Rental Cars.
Wheelchair Rentals in Oahu
Let’s face it, it’s a pain to fly with all of the mobility equipment that you may need during a trip. Even if you’ve mastered traveling with the necessary equipment, there’s always a chance that it could get lost or damaged on the plane. It can be worth the money of renting equipment at your destination vs lugging it with you everywhere.
Cloud of Goods
Cloud of Goods is a rental company based in Honolulu that offers a wide variety of medical and mobility rentals on the island. From Hoyer lifts, hospital beds, bathroom devices, wheelchairs (both manual and power), mobility scooters, portable ramps and beach wheelchairs, this company is a one stop shop for all your rental needs.
ACE Medical Inc
Another option is ACE Medical Inc. This company also offers a wide variety of equipment rentals to suit your needs. Rental options include: wheelchairs, mobility scooters, hospital beds, patient lifts, oxygen, and commode chairs.
Some items may need a prescription from your doctor. Make sure to contact either company with plenty of advanced notice so that they can best accommodate your needs.
Wheelchair Accessible Places to Eat in Oahu
Nico’s Pier 38
This seaside restaurant is a favorite of tourists and locals alike. They offer something for everyone including burgers, fresh seafood, pasta and more. They are open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Make sure you save room for some yummy dessert.
Restaurant 604
Located near Pearl Harbor with a great water view, this is the perfect stop for lunch or dinner after touring the memorial. This restaurant also is highly recommended by locals. Their menu isn’t huge but offers a variety of choices depending on what you’re in the mood for.
Travel Tip: Check out my Hawaii Packing List post for ideas on what to bring for your trip!
Wheelchair Accessible Things to Do on Oahu
As an island that is used to entertaining tourists, there’s no shortage of options for things to do. Here are some of my favorites.
1. Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona Memorial
Ok, let’s get one of the obvious choices out of the way first. It would almost be a crime to come to Oahu and not visit Pearl Harbor. This historic place is etched in history when Japan attacked it on December 7, 1941, and is what led to the United States entering World War 2.
It is free to enter Pearl Harbor, but there is a price for tickets to visit the USS Arizona Memorial, the Battleship Missouri, and the submarine. Only the USS Arizona memorial is fully wheelchair accessible and requires an accessible boat ride out to the memorial.
The Battleship Missouri has limited accessibility. A ramp leads to the main deck of the ship and an elevator can take people with mobility issues to the Surrender Deck where they can listen to the Surrender story and see some artifacts.
In addition to paying your respects to the brave men who lost their lives that day, you can watch an educational film about what happened there and visit three small museums (all of which are accessible). There is a souvenir and snack shop onsite as well as accessible restrooms.
How to Get to Pearl Harbor
You have a few options for getting here. You can drive your own rental car, take a shuttle bus, or visit as part of an accessible tour. Shuttle bus #24 from Waikiki Beach will transport visitors for a small fee.
I visited as part of a tour. I used Robert’s Hawaii tour company, which combines Pearl Harbor with a tour of the city. They use a large motor coach that has a wheelchair lift at the back. There are tie-downs to secure your wheelchair once inside the bus.
➡️ Check tour prices and availability by clicking here.
2. City Tour of Honolulu
Honolulu has a variety of historic sites located throughout the city. You can visit the King Kamehameha statue and learn about how he united the Hawaiian Islands, see the buildings that were used for the exterior headquarters of the popular TV series Hawaii 5-0, and learn about the first missionaries that came to the island.
You could easily take a shuttle from Waikiki to Honolulu to do your own walking/rolling tour of the city, or you could do an organized tour. The tour I booked through Robert’s Hawaii which took me to Pearl Harbor, included a driving tour of the city which allowed me to learn a lot and see the major sites. As a bonus, my tour also included a visit to the Punchbowl Cemetery which is located just outside of Honolulu.
3. Germaine’s Luau
Ok, yes, a luau is a very touristy thing to do, but it was also a ton of fun! There are several options for luaus on the island, but Germaine’s is the one I decided to go to so I’ll review my experience here.
Getting to the Luau
I booked the experience through Robert’s Hawaii as they provided wheelchair-accessible transportation to and from the luau. There are a couple of packages that you can book, depending on what section you want to sit in and how many alcoholic drinks you might want to consume. I booked the VIP package for better seating.
Wheelchair Accessibility at Germaine’s Luau
When you arrive, you are greeted by the friendly staff with a lei necklace, and your photo is taken by their photographer.
Most of the pathway is of compacted sand and some small gravel. As you get closer to the seating areas, the sand becomes much looser, and staff put down boards so that I could easily wheel to my table. If you have a power wheelchair or mobility scooter, be warned that these devices are not advised as sand can get in their motors and cause damage.
My Luau Experience
While everyone is arriving, a band plays music to keep people entertained. This gave me an opportunity to meet the other people at my table and get comfortable. When the ceremony begins, staff will take the pig out of the imu (or underground oven). Don’t worry, the pig is wrapped in something so sand doesn’t get all over it.
The dinner included in your ticket is a delicious buffet with a variety of meats, salads, rice, and even desserts. The meat was melt-in-your-mouth yummy and I suggest trying it all!
The staff was very helpful in helping me get a plate of food so I wouldn’t have to worry about rolling through the sand. I can honestly say that the staff were fantastic in trying to help meet all of my needs. They even informed me that there was a wheelchair-accessible restroom on site should I need it.
The show was also spectacular. It included dances not only from Hawaii but some of the other islands in the South Pacific as well (i.e., Tahiti, New Zealand etc.). One of the many highlights of the performances is when their award-winning fire dancer performed. He was fantastic!
➡️ Get your tickets in advance to ensure your preferred date and time. Check prices and availability by clicking here.
4. Dole Plantation
For a refreshing and educational stop on your trip, make sure to visit the Dole Plantation. While there, you will learn more about how pineapples are grown, agriculture in Hawaii, witness a pineapple cutting demonstration, be able to take a train/tram tour, tour the gardens and taste some fresh pineapple. Both the train and garden tours are wheelchair accessible.
Our visit here was short, as it was part of a larger tour, and we wished we had more time to explore. Depending on what you want to do, plan to spend a few hours or half a day at this location. Don’t forget to try a Dole Whip! It’s a pineapple ice cream that looked delicious.
5. Kualoa Ranch
Located outside of the city and in a beautiful mountainous region of the island, this ranch is known for filming many movies and TV shows on its premises. Accessible bus tours are available so that you can see many of the filming locations. There are other activities available, but they are not all accessible. If you can transfer, you may be able to do an ATV tour while here as well.
After exploring this incredible place, you can grab a bite to eat at its café and onsite restaurant. They are self-sustaining growing all of their produce and raising grass-fed cattle. Options include burgers, salads, chicken tenders, and vegetarian options. It’s the perfect spot for lunch with a view.
➡️ Prebook your movie tour so you can notify them of your accessibility needs. Check prices and availability by clicking here.
6. Byodo-In Temple
This Japanese Buddhist Temple is an exact replica of one found in Kyoto Japan. Located at the base of a mountain range and surrounded by several koi ponds, this is a relaxing stop in the hustle and bustle of touring the island. Yes, it is crowded as it is popular with many tourists, but if you can ignore the people, it’s actually a very serene place.
From the parking lot, you’ll cross a small bridge and get your first look at the temple. Make sure to stay to the left so you can see and hear the ancient bell that hangs there. Although it’s not wheelchair accessible to ring the bell, you can enjoy its deep tones as others ring it. The bell is meant for people to ring so that it will help remove any negative energy or spirits before entering the temple for worship.
Pathways around the area are compacted dirt with some small gravel. Ramps lead up to the temple, making it accessible. Accessible restrooms are also available onsite.
Honestly, I could’ve walked in and around the temple for an hour or more. I found watching the koi fish and taking in the scenery to be very peaceful. Make sure you don’t rush your stop here, and feel free to take in all of the sights and sounds to help you relax.
7. Polynesian Culture Center
This educational center is another popular spot for tourists. This center is sponsored and hosted by Brigham Young University, which has a campus on the island. Spending a day here will provide a wealth of knowledge about the people who live on the different islands in the South Pacific.
There are six villages located throughout the center and each offers demonstrations and interpretations of everyday life. In addition, you can attend a luau, and a nightly show called “Ha: the breath of life.” There are also canoe rides and a canoe Regala (which is currently suspended due to COVID). When social distance regulations are lifted, the movie that the center offers will also resume.
All major exhibits, shows, and eating venues are wheelchair accessible. The canoe ride is accessible as long as someone can transfer from their wheelchair. Accessible bathrooms and parking are also available onsite. If you do not have a rental car on the island, accessible transportation can be combined through a partial grand circle tour through Robert’s Hawaii tour company.
8. Try Some Adapted Surfing
Surfing is a large part of Hawaiian life and a company called AccesSurf is making surfing possible for people of all abilities. AccesSurf offers an adapted surfing program for people with mobility challenges for both locals and visitors alike. They offer events at least once a month and have separate events for veterans.
The goal of AccesSurf is to help people get in the water and even surf using adaptive equipment such as amphibious wheelchairs as well as homemade equipment to suit individual needs. The staff of this program go through training so that they can best help their participants. For more information on this amazing program, click here.
9. Grand Circle Tour
A grand circle tour is a great way to get a taste of all that Oahu has to offer if you are short of time or just want to enjoy the amazing views without having to worry about driving. I booked my grand circle tour through Robert’s Hawaii, which offered the tour on an accessible tour bus. During our drive, we had plenty of stops, and bathroom breaks and got to learn about the history of the island.
Many of the stops on this tour included many of the sites and activities that I’ve listed above. We also passed a lighthouse, just outside of Waikiki, stopped at a blow hole, and went up into the mountains to the Pali lookout. All of the views were incredible and it was a wonderful way to explore the island since I had limited time on Oahu.
➡️ Check prices and availability when you book your tour by clicking here.
10. Go to the Beach
I’m not sure how someone can go to a paradise like Hawaii and not want to go to the beach! The good news is that there are several beaches on Oahu that offer free beach wheelchairs for people to use.
Just make sure to call in advance to reserve one and to check availability. This can be done by contacting the Department of Parks and Recreation at (808) 768-3027.
Wheelchair Accessible Beaches in Oahu
The beaches with available all-terrain wheelchairs are:
- Ala Moana Beach Park
- Fort DeRussy Beach
- Sans Souci Beach in Waikiki
- Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
- Kailua Beach Park
- Kualoa Regional Park
- Pokai Beach Park.
While I did not specifically see any beach mats on any of the beaches I passed, having a beach wheelchair available will allow you to not only to enjoy the sand and sun but the refreshing water as well. Since many of these beaches are in park settings, accessible restrooms are on site.
Final Thoughts on Visiting Oahu in a Wheelchair
Well, there you have it, my all-inclusive guide to visiting Oahu in a wheelchair. If you ever get the chance to visit this part city, part tropical paradise, you are sure to have an amazing time. Using this guide will help make sure that all of your accessibility needs are covered.
