Surf, sunsets and Pacific history on Oahu
Honolulu is Hawaii's capital and gateway, with Waikiki Beach at its tourist heart. It mixes city comforts with hikes, reefs and WWII history. This guide covers Honolulu plus the rest of Oahu, with farther sights marked as day trips.
Tap a card to open it. Day trips are marked.
Honolulu's famous crescent of sand with gentle surf, ideal for first surf lessons and sunset swims. Diamond Head rises at its eastern end, making a classic backdrop.
Beach is free; board rental costs extra.
A volcanic crater with a steep trail to a rim lookout over Waikiki. The trail includes stairs and a tunnel and climbs about 170 meters.
Non-resident entry fee, plus parking if you drive; check the state website.
The site of the 1941 attack, with the USS Arizona Memorial and museums. The white memorial spans the sunken USS Arizona, where most of its crew remain entombed.
The USS Arizona program is free with a small reservation fee; battleship and aviation museums are paid.
Oahu's surf coast, with Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach, turtles and Haleiwa town. In winter it hosts some of the world's biggest surf.
Beaches are free.
A protected bay in an old crater with easy snorkeling over reef. The bay formed inside a volcanic crater.
Non-resident entry fee, plus parking or transport; reservation needed.
The only royal palace on US soil, home of the last Hawaiian monarchs. It had electric lights before the White House did.
Ticket price depends on tour type.
Scenic drive past green cliffs, Chinaman's Hat islet and beaches. Turquoise bays and small beach parks offer stops along the way.
Free to drive.
Hawaii's largest museum of Polynesian culture and natural history. It also has a planetarium and science displays.
Adult admission price; discounts for children and residents.
Theme park with villages from across Polynesia and an evening show. It is run in connection with a nearby university, with many student performers.
Ticket price depends on the package, higher with dinner and the evening show.
Short rainforest walk to a tall waterfall in the hills above the city. The path winds through bamboo and giant ferns.
Small fee for the trail and parking at the trailhead.
Everything above is open to read. A Hodolog account lets you build the trip around it.
Choose how many days you have.
Day one Pearl Harbor and downtown, day two Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay, day three a North Shore drive.
Valley tours on a working ranch used in many films.
25 mi · Car, about 45 minutes
Calm turquoise beaches for kayaking.
12 mi · Car or bus, 30 to 60 minutes
Haleakala and the Road to Hana for longer stays.
99 mi · Short inter-island flight, about 40 minutes
A short walk with coastal views and a chance to spot whales in winter.
16 mi · Car, about 30 minutes each way
A botanical valley with a waterfall swim spot on the north shore.
34 mi · Car, about 1 hour each way
Living cultural center featuring six authentic island villages, traditional canoe pageants, and evening luau shows.
34 mi · Drive via Kamehameha Highway along the Windward Coast in about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Best: April to June and September to October. Warm, drier weather with fewer crowds than winter and summer peaks.
Daily high and average, by month
Typical inches per month
Busy season. Higher prices, bigger crowds.
Climate normals: NASA POWER (public domain). For your own dates, a trip's Plan tab shows the forecast and the usual weather.
September (opening ceremony September 5 in 2026)
Hawaiian music, parades and block parties in Waikiki.
December
A very popular race with thousands of runners from around the world.
Memorial Day
Thousands of lanterns are floated at Ala Moana Beach Park to honour the dead.
November to December
Major surf contests on the north shore.
June 11
Historic floral parade featuring pa'u horseback riders in long skirts and flower lei draping on King Kamehameha's statue.
Domestic US city with no State Department advisory; main risks are car break-ins, strong surf and currents, so swim at lifeguarded beaches.
Waikiki and downtown are easy on foot; the rest of Oahu needs transport.
TheBus covers the island and the Skyline rail line serves the west side; pay with a HOLO card or app.
The neighborhoods that suit most first visits.
Best for: first-timers, families
Beachfront hotels, restaurants and surf schools in one strip.
Best for: luxury, families
Resort lagoons on the quieter west coast.
Best for: couples, nature
Laid back windward town with calm beaches, mostly rentals.
Best for: adventure, surfers
Rural surf country, few hotels.
Best for: shoppers, food lovers
Close to a big mall and local restaurants, away from the busiest beach crowds.
Best for: history fans, business
Near Iolani Palace and Chinatown, with fewer beach options.
| Main airport | Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), 9 mi from the center |
| To the center | Take a taxi, rideshare or shuttle to Waikiki in about 25 to 45 minutes depending on traffic. |
| Around town | Walk and bus in town; rent a car for a day or two to see the North Shore and windward coast. |
| Ride apps | Uber, Lyft |
Cubed raw fish seasoned with soy and sesame.
Rice, macaroni salad and a main like kalua pork.
Fine shaved ice with tropical syrups.
Portuguese doughnuts, a local favourite.
Rice, hamburger patty, egg and gravy.
Tender shredded pork slow-smoked with sea salt, traditionally cooked in an underground earthen imu pit.
| Plugs | Type A and B, 120 V |
| Tap water | Safe to drink |
| Tipping | Tip 18 to 20 percent at restaurants as on the mainland. |
| Payments | Cards accepted almost everywhere. |
| Etiquette | Respect sacred sites and do not touch turtles or monk seals. Use reef-safe sunscreen; some sunscreens are banned. |
Polynesian voyagers settled Hawaii many centuries ago. The Hawaiian Kingdom ruled from Honolulu, where Iolani Palace still stands, until its overthrow in 1893. The US annexed the islands in 1898 and the 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor drew the US into WWII. Hawaii became the 50th state in 1959.
Researched 2026-10-12. Check official sources and recent changes before you go.