Honolulu

Pacific Islands

Honolulu is the only US state capital located outside the continental United States — a city of 350,000 on the island of Oahu, isolated in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, more than 2,000 miles from the US mainland. The city has been shaped by native Hawaiian culture, waves of Asian immigration (Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean), and American military presence since the late 19th century. This confluence created Hawaii's distinctive multicultural culture, its extraordinary local cuisine (plate lunches, shave ice, poke bowls), and its famous aloha spirit of warmth and welcome. Honolulu sits between Waikiki's famous beach resort strip and the Koolau mountain range, with Pearl Harbor to the west and Diamond Head volcanic crater to the east.

Highlights

Waikiki BeachPearl Harbor MemorialDiamond Head HikeNorth Shore Surfing

Must-Do Experiences

Hike Diamond Head Crater

The 1.6-mile round-trip hike to the 760-foot summit of Diamond Head volcanic crater rewards with panoramic views of Waikiki, Honolulu, and the Pacific Ocean. The trail goes through a World War II-era tunnel and up a spiral staircase to the final bunker. Start early to beat the heat and crowds. Admission $5/person. Timed-entry reservations required; book online in advance.

Visit Pearl Harbor

The site of the December 7, 1941 Japanese attack that brought the United States into World War II — a profoundly moving historic site. The USS Arizona Memorial (free, book in advance) floats above the sunken battleship where 1,177 crew members remain entombed. The USS Missouri (the battleship where Japan surrendered in 1945) and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum are nearby. Allow a full day.

Watch the Sunrise at Manoa Falls or Koolau Mountains

Oahu has exceptional hiking beyond Diamond Head — the Manoa Falls trail through a tropical rainforest valley ends at a 150-foot waterfall, and the Koolau mountain ridge offers impossibly dramatic views. The Nu'uanu Pali Lookout (free, just a short drive from downtown) provides the most dramatic panorama of the windward coast, often with powerful trade winds.

Watch the Sunset from the North Shore

Drive the full circumference of Oahu (about 100 miles) stopping at Kailua Beach (voted one of America's most beautiful), the North Shore surf towns, Dole Pineapple Plantation, and arrive at Waimea Bay for sunset. November through February, catch professional surfers riding massive waves at Sunset Beach and Pipeline — one of the world's most spectacular sporting spectacles.

Best Time to Visit

April to June, September to November

spring

April-June: 77-84°F (25-29°C). Beautiful weather, humpback whales still visible in April, North Shore surf calming for swimming. Good value.

summer

June-August: 82-88°F (28-31°C). Peak family vacation season. Beaches calm and swim-safe island-wide. Highest prices.

autumn

September-November: 79-85°F (26-29°C). North Shore surf begins building in November. Ironman World Championship in Kona (Big Island) in October.

winter

December-February: 75-80°F (24-27°C). North Shore big wave season. Humpback whale watching from December to April. Slightly more rain. Good off-peak value.

Getting There

By Air

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is one of the busiest airports in the US for leisure travelers. Direct flights from the US mainland take 5-6 hours from Los Angeles, 9-10 hours from New York. Hawaiian Airlines and Alaska Airlines offer the most extensive mainland service. International flights connect Honolulu to Japan (8 hours), Australia (10 hours), and other Pacific destinations.

By Train

There is no train service to or from Hawaii. Air is the only intercontinental option.

By Bus

No intercity bus service is relevant — Hawaii is an island state accessible only by air or sea.

Budget Guide

Budget

$100-150/day

Mid-Range

$250-500/day

$$$

Luxury

$600-3000+/day

Neighborhoods

Waikiki

Hawaii's most famous neighborhood — a dense strip of beach resort hotels, restaurants, shops, and nightlife packed onto a small peninsula between the Pacific and the Ala Wai Canal. The 2-mile Waikiki Beach is one of the world's most famous and was once the exclusive playground of Hawaiian royalty. Duke Kahanamoku, the father of modern surfing, learned to surf here. The streets behind the beach are touristy but vibrant.

Diamond Head & Kapiolani Park

The extinct volcanic crater of Diamond Head (Le'ahi) rises 760 feet above Waikiki and provides the iconic backdrop to countless Hawaiian postcards. The 1.6-mile summit trail is one of Hawaii's most popular hikes. Kapiolani Park at the base of Diamond Head is Honolulu's green lung — a large recreational park with the Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Shell outdoor concert venue, and weekend farmers markets.

Downtown Honolulu & Chinatown

The historic downtown has Iolani Palace — the only royal palace on US soil — and the Hawaii State Capitol. Chinatown, adjacent to downtown, is Honolulu's most vibrant urban neighborhood with lei vendors, dim sum restaurants, art galleries, and the Oahu Market Place. The recently revitalized Kaka'ako neighborhood between downtown and Waikiki has become Honolulu's street art and craft beer destination.

North Shore

Oahu's legendary surf coast, an hour's drive from Honolulu, is a world apart — a rural stretch of beaches, shrimp trucks, and surf towns centered on Haleiwa. From November to February, the North Shore hosts the world's biggest waves at Banzai Pipeline and Waimea Bay, drawing the world's best surfers. Summer brings calm, swimnable water. The Dole Pineapple Plantation is nearby.