Honolulu (Oahu), HI

What to do in Honolulu (Oahu), HI

Island Tour

Sure, there are gorgeous beaches, swaying palms, and balmy weather, but Honolulu isn't just a pretty face. It has the only royal palace in the United States, it's the place where the US was catapulted into a world war, and it has an equal blend of Western, Asian, and Polynesian influences that offer visitors a cornucopia of multi-cultural attractions. Though it's among the world's most visited locales, there's plenty of elbow room for all. The valleys above the city have lush forest reserves and frequently empty hiking trails. Within an hour's drive of the capital, you can find tranquil coves for swimming and snorkeling, quiet gardens, and towns so small and peaceful that you'll forget there is any bustling spot on the island.

Arizona Memorial

This simple, gleaming white structure shields the hull of the USS Arizona, which sank with over 1,000 men aboard when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Your visit includes a short documentary chronicling the tragic events and a shuttle boat ride to the memorial. This unprovoked massacre ushered the US into World War II.

Polynesian Cultural Center

This fascinating place recreates villages representing Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Fiji, the Marquesas, New Zealand, and Tonga. Shows and demonstrations bring the villages to life and spectacular IMAX film about the sea is a visitor favorite. An expansive open-air shopping village features Polynesian handicrafts and the 2-hour dinner show is a 5-sense extravaganza!.

Day Trip to the Big Island of Hawaii

Fly off for a day and check out the flower nurseries in Hilo and the awesome Rainbow Falls, visit a macadamia nut factory and swim in the black-sand beaches, and then head off to the fiery wonderland of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Scuba Diving

Hawaii is full of surprises, like its many little-known pristine reefs and wrecks that for one reason or another - like distance from a harbor - are little visited. Most of the best sites are on the northern and western shores, though there are also a handful in the southeast, and scores of dive operators are ready to get you under water. Oahu's seabed claims the most wrecks of all the Hawaiian islands, and each of the 13 established sites has a unique aspect unto itself, like Turtle Canyon, which attracts at least 10 giant turtle each day, along with octopuses, eels, butterfly fish, and Moorish idols. The Hanauma Bay Reserve is a popular snorkeling site, and advanced divers can venture to the outer reef.

Paradise Cove Royal Alii Luau

Attend an authentic Hawaiian luau on a private beachfront setting. Before the Polynesian revue and Dance of Fire show begins, you are invited to walk through a small thatched village, try your luck at Hawaiian games, and participate in craft demonstrations. Torches light up the evening sky as you eat while enjoying the show.

Snorkel Cruise

Sail to a crystal-clear ocean playground just off the coast of Waikiki, and spend the day snorkeling, floating on view boards, and eating to your heart's content at an onboard all-you-can-eat BBQ picnic.

Waimea Falls Park

This is a stunning region where remnants of an early Hawaiian civilization are surrounded by 1,800 acres harboring more than 2,500 species of flora from around the world. The garden trails are well-marked, and the plants are labeled. You might spot a Hawaiian nene, the highly endangered state bird. There's a spectacular cliff-diving show from 45-foot-high walls, and you can try your skill at Hawaiian games and dances. You can have lunch at the restaurant or bring along your own picnic.

Iolani Palace

America's only royal palace was the home of King Kalakaua and his successor-sister Queen Liliuokalani, the last monarchs of the Hawaiian kingdom. The name means "heavenly bird." Designed and furnished in lavish Hawaiian style, it was captured by armed American businessmen in 1893, who occupied the palace as the seat of the Territorial Government until statehood in 1959. After 75 years of misuse and neglect, the palace has undergone a massive restoration including a world-wide search for many of the original furnishings, which were auctioned off for practically nothing.

Diamond Head

Composed of volcanic ash - known as a tuff cone - this hill was formed by the violent explosion of steam deep beneath the island surface. The majestic 760-foot peak is one of the best-known landmarks in the Pacific. Hawaiian tribes called it Leahi and built a luakini heiau at its summit - a sort of temple used for human sacrifices. In 1925, British sailors noticed calcite crystals gleaming from the peak and in a rush of mistaken excitement, named it Diamond Head. Its trail to the crater rim is a favorite destination for staunch hikers.

Bishop Museum

Charles R. Bishop founded this museum in 1889 as a memorial to his wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi, to serve as a repository for the royal possessions of this last direct descendant of King Kamehameha the Great. It is world-famous for its displays of the best of Polynesia, including lustrous feather capes, the skeleton of a giant sperm whale, an authentic and well-preserved grass house, and changing photography and craft displays.