Honolulu, Hawaii

Honolulu is located on the island of Oahu, and is the capital of Hawaii. Unlike a typical city, Honolulu is more of a beach town. The island of Oahu offers shopping, hiking, beaches, and endless activities. Hawaii is easily our favorite U.S. state for its beauty and culture. With so much to do, here is our guide on how to be a tourist in Honolulu, Hawaii. 

Things to do

Pearl Harbor

Visiting Pearl Harbor is a must for anyone visiting Oahu. It's a place where you can immerse yourself in American history and remember the lives that were lost when Japan bombed the U.S. Naval base during WWII. Whether or not you're a history buff, it's easy to spend several hours exploring the historical sites of Pearl Harbor. 

We have two recommendations for ticket options: 

Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial

This is the basic ticket option that includes access to the museums and a boat ride to see the USS Arizona Memorial. Transportation is included from Waikiki area hotels. 

Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial and Battleship Missouri

We highly recommend an upgraded ticket that includes USS Battleship Missouri, on top of the Pearl Harbor museums and USS Arizona Memorial boat ride. This experience allows you to explore inside the USS Battleship Missouri and see living quarters, bunk beds, dining rooms, and more. 

Pearl Harbor

Interesting fact: if you look closely at the USS Arizona, you can still see a rainbow color in the water indicating oil is still leaking. 

There is a no bag policy when visiting Pearl Harbor. Bags that are not transparent and over the dimensions of 1.5" x 2.25" x 5.5" are not allowed. Exceptions may be made for medical conditions at the discretion of security. You can bring food and non-alcoholic drinks, but only water is allowed inside the museums. Near the entrance of the visitor center is bag storage with fees varying based on size. 

If you drive your own vehicle to Pearl Harbor, there is a parking fee of $7 a day which can be paid virtually on your phone, or at the visitor's center kiosk. Look for signs upon arrival for more details on how to pay for parking. 

Dole plantation

It is free to visit the dole plantation grounds, along with several activities such as demonstrations of pineapple cutting and chocolate making. However, you do have to purchase tickets to experience the train or maze. Tickets can only be purchased at the ticket booth on site, so no advance reservations can be made. The dole plantation is located about 40 minutes from Honolulu, so it’s ideal to rent a car to visit, or take a tour that stops there. There are several tours that include dole plantation on an island tour, including this one. 

Sunset catamaran cruise 

A sunset catamaran cruise is the perfect way to view Oahu from the ocean. This two hour experience will provide the best views of Waikiki and Diamond Head, and allow you to take stunning sunset pictures of Honolulu. There’s even the opportunity to spot dolphins and humpback whales. A sunset catamaran cruise was the highlight of our trip to Hawaii and we highly recommend it. 

Kualoa Ranch

The movie Jurassic Park was filmed in Hawaii and you can visit iconic movie scenes at Kualoa Ranch while immersing yourself in adventurous dinosaur themed tours. Tours can only book directly through the Kualoa Ranch website where you can choose from a variety of exciting tours including e-bike, UTV, zipline, and horseback tours. The natural beauty of Kualoa Ranch is stunning and well worth a visit while in Oahu. Located about 35 minutes north of Honolulu, it is ideal to rent a car to visit or use rideshare to get there. 

Snorkeling

For the best snorkeling experience, you’ll want to leave early in the morning. That’s when the fish are more active and the ocean is the calmest for best visibility. Turtles are commonly spotted while snorkeling in North Shore. Some of the best beaches for snorkeling are Laniakea Beach, Turtle Bay Beach, and Shark’s Cove. For a tour that includes snorkeling on the agenda, book this one that includes a trip to the Dole Plantation. 

Go on a zipline adventure

Experiencing the natural beauty of Oahu’s North Shore on a zipline tour is the perfect adventure for a rush of adrenaline. 

Visit Aulani

If you’re a Disney fan, you’ll want to at least visit Aulani if you’re not staying there. It will take around 35 minutes to drive to Aulani from Honolulu. While you can’t use the pools or reserved beach area while visiting, you can dine at the restaurants, shop for exclusive merchandise, use the adjacent public beach area, and see the luau. Be sure to make advance reservations if you plan on eating at a restaurant or attending the luau as reservations will sell out months in advance. 

Soft serve and shave ice at Aulani

Parking at Aulani will cost $15 for the first hour and $5 for every half hour after that, up to a maximum of $40 per day. Parking validation is offered at some stores and restaurants if a minimum spend is reached. 

See Duke Kahanamoku statue

Visit the famous Duke Kahanamoku statue on Waikiki Beach. You’ll notice that the statue is covered in leis. Tossing a lei on the outstretched arms or neck of the statue is considered a sign of respect or admiration. 

North Shore

The North Shore is known for snorkeling, food trucks, and ziplining. It’s a beautiful part of the island that you will undoubtably want to experience. The drive to the North Shore takes around 40 minutes from Honolulu. 

Go shopping

Waikiki is the best place to spend some time shopping. From designer shops, to souvenir shops, Waikiki Beach has it all. There’s plenty of restaurants lining the beach as well for when you’ve tired yourself out from shopping and need a bite to eat. 

Pro tip: Be sure to check out the ABC stores that have monopolized Honolulu. These convenient stores offer affordable prices for food, beach supplies, souvenirs, and pretty much anything you could need while in Hawaii. It is an experience in itself to shop at the ABC stores. 

Enjoy a beach day

Relaxing on the beach is one of the best activities to do while in Oahu. All beaches in Oahu are available for public use, but there are areas blocked off for resort use. Waikiki Beach is the most popular beach. If you're not staying at a resort that offers beach chairs, you can purchase them at an ABC store and set them up anywhere on Waikiki. If you prefer not to lug your own chairs to the beach, there will be companies offering rentals along the beach, or you can reserve them in advance here.

Luaus

Attending a luau is a must do experience to immerse yourself in the unique culture of Hawaii. With so many options, it’s hard to know which one to do. We've listed three of our favorites below, but it's only essential to attend one luau during your vacation, as they will all be similar enough to get the experience. Expect to spend at least $100 per person for any of the luaus, but it’s worth it for the unique Hawaiian experience that you can’t get anywhere else. Here are our top choices for luaus in Oahu. 

Waikiki Starlight Luau

Pro: located conveniently on Waikiki Beach

Ka Wa’a Luau

Pro: surprise character appearances

Rock a hula

Pro: features tributes to classic artists such as Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley

Hikes

Hiking is one of best and inexpensive ways to experience the natural beauty of Hawaii. Whether or not you are athletic, there are different options for you. Here are our top three hikes in Oahu in order of difficulty. 

Diamond Head

Difficulty level: easy

Diamond Head is mostly paved and doesn’t involve any steep slopes, making it a fairly easy hike and almost anyone can do it. 

You do have to make an advance reservation for a two hour entrance time slot to hike Diamond Head. It cost $10 per person and $10 for parking which can be booked directly through their website. If you prefer a tour that includes transportation and park fees, you can book that here.

Lanaikai Pillbox

Difficulty level: medium

The path for hiking Lanaikai is fairly easy to figure out as you can tell where others have hiked. However, it is not paved so you should expect dirt paths and some slippery rocks. There are a few areas that involve climbing which is why we consider it medium difficulty. You don’t have to be in great athletic shape to do this hike if you go at a slow pace, but will have to lift yourself up a little at points. 

The unique part about this hike is the opportunity to stand on top of or go inside the pillboxes. For those who don’t know, pillboxes are concrete structures with openings designed for firing weapons. In Oahu, these pillboxes are still in tact from when they were used during World War II. There are two pillboxes that are the highlight of this hike and are mostly covered in graffiti and art. You have the option to complete the hike at the first pillbox or continue on to the second for a slightly more challenging and extended route. The pillboxes provide unparalleled 360 degree views featuring scenic ocean sights. The stunning views and unique history makes any struggles along the way well worth it. 

View of pillbox from a distance vs inside view

The start of Lanaikai Pillbox is in a residential area, so parking can be difficult. On most days, street parking is unavailable from 10:00am - 4:00pm, so arriving before or after is best if you plan on street parking in the residential areas. If street parking is unavailable, you can park at the parking lots near Kailua Beach and walk around 20 minutes to the hike entrance. This was our favorite hike in Oahu and well worth the hassle of parking.

Koko Crater

Difficulty level: hard

Koko crater is an abandoned railroad track that was used during World War II for transporting supplies to the top. The entire hike consists of climbing over one thousands railroad steps. The stairs are spread far apart and require 2-3 steps per stair. For the most part, the ground fills the space between the stairs, but are a few parts that have a drop under the stairs, so you’ll have to carefully crawl to safely get across. The views from the top are the best of any hike in Hawaii and well worth it. While the hike is very challenging, it is a rewarding experience. Be sure to save enough energy for the way down which is even more difficult than going up. We were extremely sore for multiple days after. 

It is best to arrive early in the morning to hike Koko Crater. It will be less crowded in the morning, and less hot since there is no shade to shield you from the sun. Parking is free in the lot near the restrooms at Koko Head District Park. 

Local food

Honolulu Cookie Company

The Honolulu Cookie Company has several retail locations in Honolulu near Waikiki Beach. This is the perfect place to try the most popular Hawaiian-inspired cookies. They offer individual cookies for immediate consumption and prepackaged gift sets to take home. 

My Cafe

My Cafe is known for their creative, Hawaiian inspired pancakes. Located close to Aulani, My Cafe is a hidden gem.

Original Big Island Shave Ice Co

For the best shaved ice in Oahu, check out the Original Big Island Shave Ice Co. There are endless flavors and toppings to choose from and specialize in real fruit flavors.

Food trucks

There are food trucks located near Haleiwa, and Shark’s Cove, but the biggest variety and best ones are located in Kahuku. The food trucks are a great place to stop after an early morning snorkel before setting out to explore more of North Shore. 

Where to stay

Waikiki Beach is the ideal location to stay since it is centrally located to most activities. If you can find a hotel within your budget on Waikiki beach, that would be the best option especially if you plan on spending a few days at the beach during your vacation. Otherwise, there are plenty of hotels one or two blocks off Waikiki Beach that are more affordable and within walking distance to the beach. 

Getting around

We recommend renting a car for the best experience in Hawaii. However, there are plenty of tours that offer transportation if you decide renting a car is not the right choice for you. Taxis and rideshare apps are available in Honolulu. 

It is around a 25 minute drive from the airport to Waikiki Beach. For a private transfer from the airport to your hotel, book in advance here. 

Tourist traps

Polynesian Cultural Center

The Polynesian Cultural Center has mixed reviews - people either love it or hate it. Because of some of the great reviews, we gave it a chance only to find out that it is a tourist trap! The concept of the Polynesian Cultural Center is great. The people who work there are mostly students who are provided scholarships and housing giving them opportunities to live in Hawaii and go to school. However, as a tourist on the beautiful island of Oahu, this is the last place you want to waste your time at. The admission ticket is steep at around ~$100 USD. That price only includes your admission, as they are constantly trying to upsell you while inside. The only thing to do is attend the different shows that they consider culturally immersive, but all were very underwhelming. We highly recommend that you stay away from the Polynesian Cultural Center. It is a massive waste of time and money, and there are way better activities in Hawaii.

Waimea Valley

Waimea Valley is another tourist trap we advise you to stay away from! They charge $25 USD to walk around the botanical gardens and hike to the "waterfall", which is nothing more than a drizzle. All the paths are paved providing no challenge and no real views along the way. Swimming at the waterfall is nothing special. Shuttles cost an extra $10 each way if you want to skip the 3/4 mile hike. They advertise Waimea Valley as the filming location for quite a few popular movies, but none of the sights are recognizable. Overall, we found Waimea Valley to be very unimpressive and there are other places to go in Oahu to experience the natural beauty of the island.

Things to know

• If you are married or in a relationship, you should wear a flower behind your left ear. Those who are single wear a flower behind their right ear.

• There is a large Japanese influence in Hawaii.

• The Hawaiian language is frequently used in conversation.

We hope that you have enjoyed our guide on how to be a tourist in Honolulu, Hawaii. Feel free to contact us if you have any additional questions.

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