1. Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach is one of the most famous beaches in the world. This two-mile long sandy beach on the island of Oahu is located on the island’s south shore next to the iconic Diamond Head. Across from the beach are many luxury hotels, restaurants, beach bars and shops.
Just before Diamond Head is beautiful, spacious Kapiolani Park, which is popular for jogging, picnics, or throwing a ball with friends. Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, on the west end of the beach, is a secluded spot where kids can swim in safety. The beach is popular for surfing, snorkeling and swimming and tends to be quite busy.
2. Pearl Harbor
Visiting Honolulu would not be complete without a visit to Pearl Harbor, where the infamous Japanese attack in December 1941 killed 2,403 people and forced the U.S. to enter WWII. Pearl Harbor is a National Historic Landmark and also an active military base. Organized tours will take you to important sites such as the battleship the USS Missouri, the site where the Japanese surrendered, the USS Arizona Memorial, the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, the USS Bowfin where you can get a glimpse of life on a WWII submarine, and the Pacific Submarine Museum with its indoor and outdoor exhibits.
You will also see a documentary on the history of Pearl Harbor and so much more. It is an emotional journey, and there is much to see, so plan on spending a day going from site to site, especially if you are travelling with kids, who will love roaming aboard battleships and a submarine.
3. Iolani Palace
Located in downtown Honolulu, a quick drive from Waikiki Beach, Iolani Palace is a magnificent 10-room, four-story palace built in Italian Renaissance style and the only royal palace in North America. The official residence of Hawaii’s King Kalakaua and his sister and successor Queen Lili`uokalani, the last monarchs of Hawaii, the opulent palace was completed in 1882 and was wired for electricity even before the White House.
Since being lovingly and carefully restored to its former glory, the palace has been open to visitors, who can immerse themselves in Hawaii’s history and royal heritage. The first two floors consist of the living areas, while the basement houses the Hawaiian crown jewels, photos, regalia, and decorations. The palace is registered as a National Historic Landmark.
364 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813, Phone: 808-522-0822
4. Makapuu Lighthouse Trail
Leaving the beach in Honolulu to spend two hours hiking a hot and dry trail surrounded by low growing kiawe and cactus and fighting against strong winds makes sense only when you get to the top and see the views. The Makapu‘u Point trail is part of the Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline, and once you get through the fairly steep hike you will be rewarded with spectacular views of the O‘ahu’s coastline, Koko Head, and Koko Crater.
From Makapu‘u Head where the trail ends, you can see small offshore islands off in the distance. These are wildlife sanctuaries for seabirds such as frigate bird and tropicbird. You can also easily spot the famous historic 1909 Makapuu Lighthouse with its red roof standing out against the deep blue of the see that surrounds it. If you are lucky, you even might see Lana’i and Moloka‘i on a clear day. If you find yourself on the Makapuu between November and May, you even might see migrating humpback whales.
What to do if you are traveling with kids:
5. USS Missouri Memorial
USS Missouri Memorial was the last battleship America built and the last to be decommissioned. The Japanese surrendered on the deck of the Missouri, effectively ending the Second World War. This 58,000 ton 900 foot long giant now sits in Ford island dock off the Hawaiian island of Oahu, where it silently guards Pearl Harbor and serves as a reminder both of the three wars it fought in and the three generation of American soldiers who fought on board.
Visitors can climb aboard the Missouri and imagine General Douglas MacArthur pacing back and forth while commanding the Allied Powers. They can get a look at the Missouri's enormous 16-inch 50-caliber guns, visit the crew's quarters, and even sit in the captain’s chair on the bridge.
63 Cowpens St, Honolulu, HI 96818, Phone: 877-644-4896
6. Koko Crater Trail
Koko Crater, a 1,208 tall volcanic tuff cone, is one of the most recognizable of Oahu's landmarks. It is a popular hiking destination, and the hiking trail leading to its peak can be seen for miles. There is also a smaller tuff cone called Koko Head nearby. To get to the lookout point, hikers have to climb 1,048 very steep stairs made of railroad ties, which were built more than 60 years ago so that the military could get supplies to the bunkers at the top.
At one point, the railroad tracks hanging above ground, making that part of the trail a little scary. Inside of the crater there are horse stables and the famous Koko Crater Botanical Garden with many native cacti and succulents. It is a pleasant place to take a rest before heading back.
Koko Crater Trail, 7802 Koko Head Park Rd, Honolulu, HI 96825
Activities and Attractions for Couples and Singles:
7. The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum
Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop was the last of the royal Kamehameha family descendants. When she died in 1889, her husband Charles Reed Bishop built the spectacular Hawaiian and Polynesian Halls on the grounds of the Kamehameha School for Boys to display the impressive collection of royal family heirlooms of the Princess and a large number of meaningful Hawaiian artifacts.
Since then, the museum collection has grown to include millions of documents, artifacts, and photographs about Hawaii and other Pacific islands, and it is one of the world’s biggest collections of natural history specimens. The museum is today the largest Hawaiian museum and a major cultural and natural history institution.
The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice St, Honolulu, HI 96817, Phone: 808-847-3511
8. Honolulu Museum of Art
The Honolulu Museum of Art is Hawaii’s largest private visual arts institution. It was founded by Anna Rice Cooke in 1922 and officially opened its doors in 1927. It is recognized as having one of the largest collections of Pan-Pacific and Asian art in the States.
The museum’s other treasures include works by Monet, Hokusai, Gauguin, van Gogh, Picasso, and Warhol. Since its opening, the museum’s collections have expanded to contain over 50,000 works of art covering 5000 years. The museum also includes the Doris Duke Theatre, which hosts concerts, meetings, and lectures, the Robert Allerton Art Research Library, and the Honolulu Museum of Art School.
900 S Beretania St. Honolulu, HI, Phone: 808-532-8700
9. World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument
The World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument is a U.S. National Monument that honors, preserves, and interprets the stories of the Pacific War, from the internment of Japanese-Americans to concentration camps to the battles in the Aleutians.
The monument covers 6,310 acres in nine sites and tree states. Most sites are in Hawaii: Pearl Harbor, the USS Utah Memorial, the USS Arizona Memorial and Visitor Center, Six Chief Petty Officer Bungalows, Ford Island, the USS Oklahoma Memorial, and Mooring Quays F6, F7, and F8 on Battleship Row. The Monument is managed by the National Park Service.
1 Arizona Memorial Pl., Honolulu, HI, Phone: 808-422-3399
If you are a photographer, don't miss:
10. Highway Inn
Highway Inn is a great place for visitors to taste true traditional Hawaiian cuisine. This family-friendly Hawaiian restaurant was established in 1947 and now has a new location open in 2013 in Kaka'ako, a residential and commercial project led by Kamehameha Schools, between Waikiki and downtown Honolulu. The dining room is spacious, bright, and unpretentious, offering delicious, fresh Hawaiian dishes. Every morning, each laulau is carefully hand-wrapped in the traditional Hawaiian style. The kalua pork is shredded by hand, thread by thread. The beef stew is made fresh every day, one pot at a time. The menu hasn’t changed since the opening in 1947, and for good reason. Generations of Hawaiians have grown up eating those traditional dishes and they keep coming back for more. Popular combo plates are served with poi or rice, steamed sweet potato, and haupia with a choice of lomi salmon, potato-mac salad, or local greens. There is also a classic a la carte menu of Hawaiian dishes.
680 Ala Moana Blvd #105, Honolulu, HI 96813, Phone: 808-954-4955
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