7 Best Things to Do in Honolulu Beyond Waikiki Beach
Most people who fly into Honolulu never leave Waikiki. That’s a shame. Waikiki is fun for a day or two, but it’s basically a strip of high-rise hotels and chain stores on a crowded beach. The real Honolulu, and the rest of Oahu, is so much more interesting.
In this guide
Within half an hour of your hotel there’s a volcanic crater, a royal palace, a rainforest waterfall, a protected reef and some of the most important history in the country. Here are seven things worth leaving the beach for.
1. Hike Diamond Head at sunrise
Diamond Head is the big volcanic crater you can see from Waikiki. The hike up to the rim is short, about 1.6 miles round trip, but steep, with stairs and a tunnel near the top. The view from the old military lookout, across Waikiki and the Pacific, is the best in Honolulu.
Visitors from out of state have to reserve an entry time online, and the early morning slots go fast. Book a few days ahead. Go as early as you can, because there’s almost no shade on the trail and it gets hot by mid-morning.
2. Visit Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor National Memorial is the most moving place on Oahu. The USS Arizona Memorial sits over the sunken battleship where more than 1,100 sailors died on December 7, 1941. You take a short Navy boat out to it, and you can still see oil rising from the wreck.
The memorial program is free, but you need a timed ticket. Reserve online as soon as your dates are set, since they sell out. Bags aren’t allowed, so leave yours in the car or use the storage near the entrance. Plan a full morning if you also want to visit the battleship Missouri and the other museums on site.
3. Tour Iolani Palace
Here’s something many people don’t know: the United States has a royal palace, and it’s in downtown Honolulu. Iolani Palace was built in 1882 for King Kalākaua, and it had electricity and a telephone before the White House did.
The guided tour tells the story of the Hawaiian monarchy and its overthrow in 1893, when Queen Liliʻuokalani was later imprisoned in an upstairs room. It’s a beautiful building and an important, sad story. Afterwards, walk to the King Kamehameha statue across the street and on to Chinatown for lunch.
4. Snorkel at Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay is a sheltered bay inside an old volcanic crater, about 20 minutes east of Waikiki. It’s a protected nature preserve, and the shallow reef is full of tropical fish and sea turtles. It’s one of the easiest, best places to snorkel in Hawaii.
Entry for visitors requires an online reservation, released two days ahead, and there’s a fee. It’s also closed two days a week to let the reef recover, so check the schedule before you plan your trip around it. Everyone watches a short video on reef safety before going down to the beach.
5. Walk to Manoa Falls
It’s hard to believe that just 15 minutes from Waikiki, there’s a lush rainforest valley. The Manoa Falls trail runs about 1.6 miles round trip through bamboo groves, giant ferns and banyan trees to a tall, thin waterfall. Parts of Jurassic Park and Lost were filmed in this valley.
The trail is often muddy, so wear shoes you don’t mind getting dirty. Bring bug spray, too. Next door, the Lyon Arboretum is a quieter, beautiful walk through tropical gardens. It runs on a suggested donation, but check whether you need to reserve a slot first.
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6. Explore Kaka’ako
Kaka’ako is a former warehouse district between Waikiki and downtown, and it’s where Honolulu’s younger, creative crowd hangs out. The old buildings are covered in huge, colorful murals, many painted during the yearly Pow! Wow! Hawaii art festival.
Wander the streets for the art, then try the breweries, coffee roasters and food spots. The Salt at Our Kaka’ako complex is a good place to start. Grab a poke bowl, which you’ll find at almost every corner store in Honolulu, and eat it at Kaka’ako Waterfront Park while you watch the surfers.
7. Drive the east coast to Makapu’u
For an easy half-day trip, drive east past Hanauma Bay on the coastal highway. The road winds past cliffs, blowholes and beaches, and it’s one of the prettiest drives on Oahu. Stop at the Halona Blowhole and the lookout over Sandy Beach.
The Makapu’u Point Lighthouse Trail is a paved, two-mile round trip walk up to views of the red-roofed lighthouse, the turquoise sea and the offshore islands. From December to April, it’s one of the best places on the island to spot humpback whales. Continue on to Waimanalo Beach or Lanikai if you want a quieter beach afterwards.
What to eat outside Waikiki
Some of the best food in Honolulu is cheap and casual. Try a plate lunch, with rice, macaroni salad and kalua pork or chicken. Get warm malasadas, Portuguese doughnuts, from Leonard’s Bakery on Kapahulu Avenue. And don’t leave without shave ice, piled high with syrup. It’s nothing like a snow cone, I promise.
Getting around
You can do a lot without a car. TheBus covers most of the island, and it’s cheap. But a rental car for a day or two makes the east coast and Pearl Harbor much easier. Parking in Waikiki is expensive, so rent for the days you need it rather than the whole trip.
Common questions
Is Honolulu worth visiting beyond Waikiki?
Yes. Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay are all within 30 minutes, and they’re the highlights of a trip to Oahu.
Do I need reservations?
Yes, for Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay and the USS Arizona Memorial. Book them as soon as your dates are set.
How many days do I need in Honolulu?
Four to five days covers the city and the east coast. Add more for the North Shore.
What’s the best time of year to visit?
April to June and September to October bring good weather and fewer crowds. Winter is whale season and big-wave season on the North Shore.
Is it worth renting a car?
For a couple of days, yes. You don’t need it in Waikiki, but it opens up the rest of the island.
