Are you planning a trip to Honolulu? You have to ensure planning everything on board before you plan to visit Honolulu. Today, I have added the best things to do in Honolulu in this content. Honolulu is the largest city in Hawaii and undoubtedly the best place for tourists.
Honolulu is located on Hawaii Island, and we have shared the detailed information in our previous article – What Island is Honolulu on?. Stunning Oahu Island is also known as the Heart of Hawaii. Undoubtedly, Honolulu has the best tourist attractions that make your visit worthwhile. You will not find such experiences anywhere else in this world.
Therefore, if you plan a vacation trip with your family or loved one? Before getting on board, you can look at some of Honolulu’s best things to do.
Table of Contents
10 Best Things to Do in Honolulu
As mentioned before, Honolulu has many tourist attractions and places worth visiting. For Example, the Historic Pearl Harbor, one of the most beautiful destinations, and Waikiki Beach, the most famous site in Hawaii.
Like the above examples, there are multiple places to explore or do in Honolulu. So let’s get it started?
1. Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor is the world’s most beautiful destination to visit during your trip to Honolulu. The name “Pearl Harbor.” derives from fondness for numerous pearls in the ocean, and people have harvested them naturally a long time back.
People worldwide know about its history and what happened to this destination after the Japanese Attack in 1941. But it is active for the tourists, and people can plan a visit to this place to know the importance of the Harbor and all about 1941’s Tragic History.
Apart from this destination, you can visit the other nearby attractions, World War II Valor, the Pacific Monument, and Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island. Such things make it worthwhile for people to add Pearl Harbor to their list of things to do in Honolulu.
2. Waikiki Beach
Waikiki Beach – A Well-Known name around Hawaii. Waikiki Beach is fabulous and made up of miles of stunning, fluffy white sand, bordered by the Tall Palms and a bright blue beautiful Sea. This place is a must-visit and worth adding to Honolulu’s list of things to do.
Since most sections of this beach are roped up for swimming, the waves are pretty gentle to explore the glorious water and enjoy the vacations. You will find Swimming, Surfing, and Boogie Boarding are the favorite local activities to do on Waikiki Beach.
Also, do not forget to wait until the Sunset arrives. The beautiful view of Sunset on Waikiki Beach is glorious and worth the time.
3. Lolani Palace
Planning a trip to Honolulu, Oahu, is incomplete without visiting the Lolani Palace. This place is the former residence of the Hawaiian King (King Kalakaua) & Queen (Queen Liliuokalani). Lolani Palace is one of the most famous historic destinations, and this place was constructed in 1882 and rebuilt in 1969.
Tourists & the public were not allowed to visit this palace till the 1970s. You will love the massive structure Downtown that covers Royal Rooms and Political Places.
People interested in exploring the historical vibes will love this place. It is one of the best places to visit on your trip to Honolulu.
4. Manoa Falls
Manoa Falls is a warm, beautiful, and the best place to explore in Honolulu. A 150-Foot Tall Waterfall and located five miles northeast of downtown Honolulu. This place is worthwhile for people who want to go on an adventurous waterfall hiking trip. Manoa Waterfalls is the best place to hike for tourists.
You will love to know those famous movies like Jurassic Park & The Hunger Games filmed in this area. This place is a must-visit on your adventurous trip to Honolulu.
However, the Waterfall is not decisive as expected due to the climatic conditions, and the hiking is open from the Sunrise to the Sunset. Also, there is a fee of 7$ to park your vehicle and the fantastic mouth-watering local cuisines.
5. Shark’s Cove
Shark’s Cove, its name does not describe this place. You might have thought there were many sharks in this place, but it is not the case. The name comes from its shape, as it looks like Shark Head. Shark’s Cove is known for its Snorkeling activity.
You will find unusual, reef-protected Oahu Beach Cove, located around the corner from Waimea Bay. Also, there are plenty of tunnels and caves to explore due to past volcanic explosions. It does not matter whether you are a pro diver or on the beginner level. This place will fit perfectly in your adventurous trip.
Shark’s Cove is not in the city itself. You need to move forward to North Shore.
You may also like to read:
6. Kuhio Beach Park
Kuhio Beach is Waikiki’s Popular surf and bodyboarding site. You will find a fantastic view of tranquil seas, and the vibe of this place is mind-refreshing. It is a quick add-on to the “Best Things to do in Honolulu.” Moreover, people can spot impressive landmarks like the Duke Kahanamoku Statue, the Stones of Kapaemahu, and the Prince Kuhio Statue.
A special treatment for tourists as this place holds free Hula shows accompanied by Live Music. The visitors are welcome to walk in the area and look at such regular and impressive shows.
Also, there is not much crowd in this place, making it a perfect destination to spend time with loved ones on a trip to Honolulu.
7. Halona Blowhole
This place is located on the Oahu’s East Coast. Halona Blowhole is another popular attraction within the city. The waves pound into cliffs and beneath the rocks in this place, and the appearance is outstanding and worth watching.
Despite its appearance, this area is quite dangerous for people due to its high current velocity. But it is safe to view from a distance and one of the best things to do in Honolulu if you are not packed with famous tourist spots.
The best time to visit this place is during the summers, as the view is impressive and the sunny rays and winds make it more amazing to shoot water higher than on regular days. You will be lucky to visit this place during the summers.
8. Honolulu Botanical Gardens
A love for plants and their species never ends in Honolulu. Honolulu Botanical Gardens is a series of gardens spread within the city. You will find a unique diversity of flora in each place, and the specific location influences the types of plants and trees.
For Example, The Wahiawa Botanical Garden is located on the higher plateau, so it bursts with greenery and vibrant flowers.
On the other side, Koko Crater Botanical Garden is known for its hottest temperature climate, resulting in growing cacti and shrubs. You will find more on the series when you explore this place.
9. Honolulu Museum of Art
Honolulu Museum of Art was founded in 1927, and it is known for its recognized arts and the largest collections of Pan-Pacific & Asian arts in the US.
You will find other attractions like the Doris Duke Theater, which organizes concerts, the Robert Allerton Art Research Library, and the Honolulu Museum of Art School, which are part of the Honolulu Museum of Art.
The main campus of the Museum is one of America’s best Asian art collections. You will love to see the work of the greatest European artists, Picasso, Gauguin, van Gogh, etc.
10. Corsair Wreck Dive Site
This place is just amazing. Who has diving skills and is looking for actual adventurous activity in Honolulu. Corsair Wreck Dive Site is the best destination for tourists and the best attraction place to dive into the bottom of the ocean and look at WWII real planes. It lies about 3 miles from the southeast Shore.
Corsair Wreck Dive Site is an exciting place for divers and photographers. The crash of the plane is 115 feet deep. Moreover, this place has rapid currents. So be precautious while diving into the ocean.
The diving spot is advanced, so you will need to hire or rent a boat to get into the diving place. Again, take all the precautions before diving in.
The Bottom Line
Planning a trip to Honolulu is not only interesting for the couples, but the solo and family travel can make sense. (It can make Hawaii trip expensive, though). Before you board your trip, you need to prepare a list of activities and things to do in Honolulu. We have added a list of activities and the best attractions for every traveling type to make it easier for our readers.
We have only listed the places we have visited ourselves. You are open to comment on your experiences and suggestions in the comments. We would love to read them all.
