Choose from 196 Fun Things to Do in Hawaii
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Royal Lahaina Luau
The Royal Lahaina luau is a family-friendly evening of oceanfront entertainment set inside of Ka’anapali’s Royal Lahaina resort. More economical than some of the larger shows in town, children will love getting on stage and trying their hand at the hula, and adults will love the buffet of Hawaiian food and open-bar of tropical drinks. Mai-tais and Blue Hawaiians are paired with luau classics such as kalua pig, lomi salmon, and bowls full of poi, and everyone can agree towards the end of the night that the fire dancers are the overall highlight. Oftentimes, the twirling staffs are a fitting end to a fiery sunset which has given way to darkness, the last rays having disappeared over the horizon which is visible from your oceanfront seat.
Since the Royal Lahaina luau is located in the Ka’anapali resort district, the luau grounds are only a short drive from neighboring hotels, or, if you’re staying in the immediate vicinity, you can reach the luau on your own two feet by taking a leisurely stroll down the beach. Once inside, learn about the history of Polynesia as it’s told through chanting and dance, and gradually lose yourself in the rhythm an oli (chant) as you sip your drink beneath a rustling palm.
Both entertaining and filling, the Royal Lahaina luau is a great evening for groups traveling with children, and the affordable ticket price and casual atmosphere make it a family evening that you’re sure to remember long after you’ve left the islands behind.
Since the Royal Lahaina luau is located in the Ka’anapali resort district, the luau grounds are only a short drive from neighboring hotels, or, if you’re staying in the immediate vicinity, you can reach the luau on your own two feet by taking a leisurely stroll down the beach. Once inside, learn about the history of Polynesia as it’s told through chanting and dance, and gradually lose yourself in the rhythm an oli (chant) as you sip your drink beneath a rustling palm.
Both entertaining and filling, the Royal Lahaina luau is a great evening for groups traveling with children, and the affordable ticket price and casual atmosphere make it a family evening that you’re sure to remember long after you’ve left the islands behind.
Address: 2780 Kekaa Drive, Lahaina, HI 96761, USA
Admission: $50 and up per person
From $ 112
Waihee Ridge Trail
Tropical jungle and gorgeous valley views await along the popular and moderate Waihe'e Ridge Trail following an elevated spine in the West Maui mountains. From the ridge you’ll enjoy 360 degree views of the valley connecting Maui’s two halves, Maui’s riotous northern coast and undulating mountains that look as though someone took a massive green satiny cloth and draped it loosely with wrinkles and folds over tall hills. Waterfalls stream between the crevices and from several vantages the trail overlooks multi-tiered Makmakaole Falls, which rains down into a small basin from some 250 feet above.
The just under five-mile round-trip hike starts north of Kahului and ascends steeply from the 1,000-foot elevation at the trailhead to its zenith at Lanailili at 2,563 feet. The well-maintained path meanders over jutting tree roots and its sides are dotted with guava trees, ohi'a and tall ferns. Keep an eye out for native forest birds like the bright red 'apapane honeycreeper. At the end a picnic table offers respite overlooking a mist-shrouded valley. The return follows the same route.
Practical Info
The Na Ala Hele sign-marked trailhead is 0.9 miles inland up Maluhia Road. Find Maluhia Road near mile marker 6.9 off Kahekili (Highway 340) by the Boy Scouts’ Camp Maluhia north of Waihee town. Follow the signs through a small pasture before passing through a cattle-proof gate and entering the forest. The gate is open at 7am and closes at 7pm.
Start early (before 8am) for clearer valley vistas—as the day wears on, moisture condenses into cool clouds that shield some views. Wet weather and muddy conditions are not uncommon.
Address: Kahekili Hwy., Wailuku, Hawaii 96793, USA
From $ 114
Spouting Horn
When the island of Kauai erupted from the sea between 4 and 5 million years ago, parts of the coastline were riddled with tubes where molten lava once flowed. One of those spots is the Spouting Horn on the island’s southern coast, where waves are channeled into the tube before violently erupting in a saltwater geyser over 50 feet in the air. Compared to other Hawaiian blowholes, what makes Kauai’s Spouting Horn unique is the guttural moan that precedes the powerful eruption. A second, smaller hole in the rocks funnels air as opposed to water, and the result is a sound that makes it seem like the rocks themselves are groaning. No wonder Hawaiians believed that a mo’o was stuck inside of the rocks—a mischievous lizard of Polynesian lore that can still be heard to this day. Once finished admiring the geyser and feeling the ocean’s fury, peruse the homemade souvenir stalls erected by local vendors. Even if you don’t find that perfect give to bring back from your Hawaiian vacation, the locals are always a good source of friendly conversation.
Practical Info
The Spouting Horn is located on Lawai Road about 8 minutes west of Poipu. There’s an area with a guardrail for protected viewing, and while walking near the blowhole is technically allowed, it can be very dangerous and multiple visitors have been injured or lost their lives. As an added bonus, the drive from Poipu parallels the ocean and is a great spot for watching whales during the winter from December-April.
Address: Kauai, Hawaii, USA
From $ 65
Statue of Duke Kahanamoku
A landmark stop on almost every organized Honolulu tour is the nine-foot-tall bronze statue immortalizing Hawaii’s original ambassador of aloha, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku. One of those guys who was seemingly good at everything, Kahanamoku wore many hats. He was a Hollywood actor, a full-blooded Hawaiian descended from alii (the royal class), an Olympic swimmer who won gold in both the 1912 and 1920 games, an Olympic water polo player, a 13-term sheriff of Honolulu and one of Waikiki’s first surf and canoe instructors. Kahanamoku used his charm and personable nature to popularize surfing and was later the first person to be inducted into both the Surfing and Swimming Halls of Fame.
Poised in front of a longboard and welcoming visitors with open arms, the Duke statue has enjoyed a prime seaside spot across from popular Waikiki breaks since it was installed on what would have been Duke’s 100th birthday in 1990. Many visitors honor Duke’s memory by draping floral and kukui nut lei around his neck and from his arms, or just pause long enough to take a shaka selfie. Making this stop even more popular is the fact that one of Honolulu’s live city cameras is constantly trained on the statue and the palm-lined sands of Waikiki behind it — a great tool for making family back home jealous in real time.
Each summer, Duke’s OceanFest honors the waterman’s memory with ceremonies at the statue and a series of ocean sporting events including longboard surfing, paddleboard racing, swimming, surf polo and beach volleyball.
Practical Info
The Statue of Duke Kahanamoku fronts Kuhio Beach between Kaiulani and Uluniu avenues off Kalakaua Street, Waikiki’s main drag. The Duke Kahanamoku statue live cam can be viewed online from anywhere in the world.
Address: Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815, USA
From $ 25
Waikiki Aquarium
Have you been wondering the name of the bright yellow fish or strange eel that you saw snorkeling? Wonder no longer—the small but lively Waikiki Aquarium has dozens of tanks that recreate area reefs, as well as unusual ocean habitats in the remote Northwest Hawaiian Islands, with informative signage. The aquarium boasts half a dozen species of butterflyfish (your yellow fish could have been one of these), the fun-to-say state fish of Hawaii— humuhumu-nukunuku-a-pua’a, sharks, puffers, turtles and even two resident specimens of the endangered Hawaiian monk seal. Watch jellies float in black-lit tanks, see a nautilus use jet propulsion to move through the water, or find strange seadragons camouflaged in seaweed. The aquarium also hosts after-hours programming, including the popular Reef After Dark, which takes participants to explore area tide pools with experts by moonlight.
Practical Info
Waikiki Aquarium is located 2777 Kalakaua Avenue at the Diamond Head side of Waikiki beyond the Honolulu Zoo. The building is open daily from 9 a.m. with the last person admitted at 4:30 p.m. (building closes at 5 p.m.); special holiday hours or closures may apply. General Admission tickets are $12 adults, $5 kids ages 4-12 and children under 3 are free, discounts are available for seniors, Hawaii residents and military with ID. The aquarium is serviced TheBus routes 19,20 and 22, the hop-on, hop-off Waikiki Trolley and is within walking distance of many Waikiki hotels.
Address: 2777 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA 96815, USA
Hours: Open daily 9am-4:30pm
Admission: Adults: $12; Children: $5
From $ 25
USS Arizona Memorial
The USS Arizona Memorial floats above the watery site where the eponymous battleship was bombed and sunk, taking 1,177 lives with it, in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The solemn, all-white memorial features a marble wall of names of those who served onboard and spans the Arizona’s width, with openings to look down on the sunken hull.
The Basics
The USS Arizona Memorial is free and open to the public. For civilians, the only way to access the memorial is via Park Service shuttle boats that run according to timed tickets. Visit several Pearl Harbor attractions on a guided tour that includes boat tickets and round-trip transportation between Honolulu and Waikiki. Because USS Arizona tickets are limited each day and often involve long waits to procure, booking a tour in advance is a convenient way to ensure you’ll see the memorial. Note that boat tours not run by the Park Service are not allowed to disembark at the USS Arizona Memorial and sometimes skip it; boat tours with Park Service tickets allow you to disembark and take the Park Service’s tour.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Park Service’s memorial tour includes the viewing of a 23-minute documentary, round-trip boat ride, and time at the memorial. Plan to spend about 90 minutes there.
- Check the weather before you go. Because the memorial must be accessed by boat, high winds and seas may be cause for cancellation.
- There are no restrooms at the memorial, but facilities can be found at the visitor center.
- The USS Arizona Memorial, visitor center, and related facilities are accessible to wheelchair users.
- Because the timed tickets are limited to the number of seats on the boat, crowding is not an issue.
How to Get There
The memorial is located within the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, in Pearl Harbor on Oahu. To reach the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center from Waikiki and downtown Honolulu, take Nimitz Highway to H-1 West and take exit 15-A to HI-99, then turn left at the fourth traffic light.
When to Get There
The USS Arizona Memorial is open daily year-round except Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. If you want to visit spontaneously, the site gives away 1,300 tickets each day starting at 7am—arrive early, as they’re given on a first-come, first-served basis. Many visitors opt to start their Pearl Harbor experience with the USS Arizona, making morning tickets the hardest to come by. Other challenging times to get tickets are the weekends on either side of the anniversary of Pearl Harbor (December 7), as well as over busy summer and winter school holidays.
Other Pearl Harbor Attractions
There are four other main sites at Pearl Harbor besides the USS Arizona Memorial: the land-based USS Oklahoma Memorial run by the National Park Service; the floating Battleship Missouri Memorial, aboard which the WWII peace treaty was signed; the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park, where visitors can board and see the interior of the sub that avenged the attacks by sinking enemy ships; and the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, home to huge hangars of period aircraft.
Address: Arizona Memorial Place, Pearl Harbor 96818, USA
Hours: Daily 7am–5pm
Admission: Free
From $ 4
Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park
Evidence of a little-remembered attempt by Russians to gain a foothold in Hawaii between 1815 and 1817 can still be found in the remnants of an old fort alongside the mouth of the Waimea River. Though today the site is little more than jumbled red rock walls hinting at its former layout, an irregular octagon guarding entrance into Kauai via the waterway, it once was the site of grand plans to use Kauai as a permanent provisioning and trading station for the state-sponsored Russian American Company. With outer rock walls constructed from ancient heiau (Hawaiian temples), the fort once included residences, a chapel, gardens, a trading center and the main fort building. Visitors can explore what’s left via a self-guided interpretive tour following signage with drawings of how the area once appeared.
Here, Dr. Georg Anton Schäffer, sent to retrieve lost cargo from a wrecked Russian American Company ship, overstepped the orders of his mission. Schäffer instead built the fort complex, befriended Kauai’s chief, set him against the newly instated Hawaiian King Kamehameha and secured a sandalwood monopoly for the company. When Mother Russia learned of Schäffer’s actions, however, she disapproved. Russia didn’t want to become embroiled in the already complicated politics of the islands; they just wanted their cargo back. So, Russia summoned Dr. Schäffer home, leaving the fort to be claimed by the Hawaiians, and, later, after the dismantling in 1864, the elements.
Practical Info
The remains of the fort—within the larger Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park—are located off Kaumualii Highway (named for Kauai’s last king and the man Dr. Schäffer befriended) on the river’s eastern bank about a mile south of Waimea proper. The site has a small parking lot and is open daily during daylight hours. If visiting during peak sun, bring sunscreen and a hat; the area is exposed with little shade.
Address: Kaumualii Hwy, Waimea, Hawaii 96796, USA
From $ 75
Saddle Road
Like a lonely ribbon of black asphalt across the Big Island’s empty bosom, Saddle Road provides the fastest means of driving between Hilo and Kona. There was once a time when this remote stretch of highway was one of the worst roads in Hawaii, but substantial improvements and re-paving have made it accessible and open to cars.
From Hilo, Saddle Road climbs through residential neighborhoods towards a lush, mist-soaked rainforest. The green of ferns is gradually replaced by the brown of desert scrub brush, and fog is common as the road climbs toward 6,600 feet in elevation. Passing between the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa—Hawaii’s dueling 13,000-foot mountains that are often snowcapped in winter—the road passes the turnoff for the Mauna Kea Visitor’s Center, where stargazers gather each evening.
Cell phone service is spotty on Saddle Road, and for the entire duration of its 48-mile stretch there are no gas stations or supply shops. While Saddle Road can be a time-saving alternative for driving between Kona and Hilo, visitors need to make sure they’re prepared to traverse a remote stretch of island. The journey is one of the most beautifully desolate and adventurously rugged stretches of road in the state, and it’s a convenient way for Kona visitors to access the east side of the island.
Practical Info
Also known as Route 200, Saddle Road reduces the Kona-Hilo driving time to one hour and 35 minutes. It’s a convenient alternative for visitors traveling to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and while the road is safest during the day, anyone driving the road at night must match out for feral cattle.
Address: Hawaii Highway 200, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA
From $ 186
Waikele Center
If it’s a rainy day in this island paradise, or you forgot your bathing suit at home, the Waikele Center is a sprawling sanctuary of classic retail therapy. Located in Waipahu in Central Oahu, the outlets here provide an affordable alternative to the larege scale malls in town. You’ll find global classics such as Armani, Converse, Adidas, and Michael Kors, as wells as shops with island flare like the Local Motion surf shop. There’s a popular food court for re-fueling so you literally don’t shop ‘til you drop, and even a trolley connecting the two sides of this sprawling commerce compound.
Practical Info
The Waikele Center is open Monday through Saturday from 9am to 9pm and on Sunday from 10am to 6pm. Stores are often open later during holidays, with the exception of Christmas when all stores are closed. The Waikele Center is about 35 minutes from downtown Waikiki and 20 minutes from West Oahu resort such as Aulani and Ko Olina.
Address: 94-849 Lumiaina St, Waipahu, Hawaii 96797, USA
From $ 18
USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park
There are only 15 American submarines that remain from World War II, and the most-heralded of them—the USS Bowfin—now sits in Pearl Harbor, where the war American’s war first started. Known as the “Avenger of Pearl Harbor,” the USS Bowfin was built in Maine and sailed the South Pacific. It set off on its mission exactly one year after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, and 44 different enemy ships would eventually succumb to her guns.
Today, visitors to Pearl Harbor can walk inside the submarine to see the cramped metal quarters, and get an authentic feel for the daily hardships of the boys in the “Silent Service.” In nine tours of duty only one crewmember died from injuries in battle, and when visiting today, you can stand in the chambers where these brave sailors celebrated a successful strike. Once finished with the tour of the ship, learn the fascinating history of submarines in the accompanying Bowfin museum, where exhibits range from a ballistic missile that was once housed on the ship, to a 54-foot, human-guided torpedo known as a Japanese Kaiten.
Practical Info
The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park is open from 7am-5pm daily, with the exception of Christmas, New Year’s Day and Thanksgiving. Admission is $12 for adults, $5 for children—and only $5 and $4, respectively, to visit the museum.
Address: 11 Arizona Memorial Dr, Honolulu, Hawaii 96818, USA
Hours: Daily 7am-5pm, Closed Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year's Day
Admission: Adults $12, Children $5
From $ 15
USS Missouri
Step aboard the USS Missouri, a hulking, gray battleship also known as the “Mighty Mo," docked at Ford Island in Oahu's Pearl Harbor. More than 70 years ago, it played an important role in history while anchored in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrender documents that ended World War II were signed on her decks. Permanently docked off the active military base and within sight of many memorials that mark the United States' tragic entry into World War II, the USS Missouri (now known as the Battleship Missouri Memorial) is a reminder of the war's conclusion.
The USS Missouri went on to participate in two more wars, and today the 900-foot decommissioned ship serves as a showcase of what life aboard was like. Visitors can wander the crew's quarters and mess halls, look out from the bridge and touch the 50-caliber deck guns. Exhibits inside the ship's various compartments—restored to look as it did during service—share information and crew artifacts from its various tours of duty. Three regularly running guided tours are included in admission and offer different insights: The main deck tour explores the guns and site of the historic surrender; the below deck tour covers the cabins, berths and mess hall; and the above deck tour offers bird's-eye views from the command and control center, bridge and captain's quarters.
Practical Info
Because the USS Missouri Memorial is located on Ford Island, visitors must take either the designated shuttle (departs Pearl Harbor Visitors Center and USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park every 15 minutes during operating hours) or arrive via organized tour. The memorial is open daily from 8am to 4pm, except in June, July and August when it remains open until 5pm. General admission costs $27 for adults and $13 for children ages 4–12. The ticket gives access to three tour options: self-guided, an informational audio tour with 100 stops, or one of the three guided routes mentioned above (35 minutes).
Did You Know? The Mighty Mo was the last battleship ever built, but there were three other USS Missouris prior to this its commissioning in 1944. The fourth, a submarine, is still an active military vessel.
Address: 63 Cowpens Street, Ford Island, Oahu, Hawaii 96818, USA
Hours: Daily 8am–4pm (June–Aug until 5pm)
Admission: $27
From $ 69
Waianapanapa State Park
The legendary “Road to Hana” drive seems to indicate that the town of Hana itself is the goal, but you'd be crazy to miss a visit to Wai'anapanapa State Park.
Spending some time in Wai'anapanapa State Park is reason enough to stay overnight in Hana. It's a lush and gorgeous park just outside of Hana, and one of its most well-known features is the small black sand beach of Pa'iloa. It's a beautiful beach, to be sure, lovely for swimming or simply sunbathing, but there's more to this park than just a beach.
Wai'anapanapa has two underwater caves you can visit that are filled with a combination of fresh and salt water. You can go swimming in these pools, too. This area also has historical significance, too, as you'll see when you visit the ancient burial sites. There is also a trail that winds three miles along the coast, from the park all the way into Hana Town itself.
Practical Info
Wai'anapanapa State Park is located at mile marker 32, just before you get to Hana. There's no entry fee to get into the park, and parking is also free. There are camping facilities, including restrooms, drinking water, and outdoor showers, so you can spend the night here before heading back on the Road to Hana.
Address: Hana, Hawaii, USA
From $ 164
Sunset Beach Park
White sand, blue sea, great waves and shady palms. If it sounds too good to be true, it must be Sunset Beach!
This 2-mile (3 km) stretch of sand is targeted by swimmers and snorkelers in the calm of summer, and by the world’s best surfers during December and January, when the wintertime waves are at their lethal best for pro surfer tournaments.
Pack a picnic to enjoy under the palms, go swimming in summer under the watchful eye of the beach lifeguards, and collect shells in tidal pools when the tide’s out.
This 2-mile (3 km) stretch of sand is targeted by swimmers and snorkelers in the calm of summer, and by the world’s best surfers during December and January, when the wintertime waves are at their lethal best for pro surfer tournaments.
Pack a picnic to enjoy under the palms, go swimming in summer under the watchful eye of the beach lifeguards, and collect shells in tidal pools when the tide’s out.
Sunset Beach is on Oahu’s North Shore. To get here by public transport, reserve a few hours and pick up the Circle Island via North Shore public bus service from Waikiki. You’ll need to have at least five hours spare.
Address: 59–104 Kamehameha Highway, Sunset Beach, USA
Admission: Free
From $ 79
Waikiki Beach
For decades, Waikiki Beach has been Oahu’s tourist mecca thanks to its palm-fringed white-sand beaches and high-rise luxury hotels that stretch from downtown Honolulu east toward the towering Diamond Head. Here all the spoils of Hawaiian beach life—from sunbathing and swimming to snorkeling and fruity-cocktail sipping—are within steps of world-class shopping and dining.
The Basics
Waikiki Beach is one of the best spots on Oahu to get out on the water with a surfing lesson or stand-up paddleboarding tour. It’s also possible to check out the beach aboard a duck or catamaran sunset tour, or gaze into the ocean on a submarine excursion. If you’d rather relax, soak up the sun on the sandy beach. The site is visited on most Oahu tours, including those that also hit other Honolulu highlights like the Bishop Museum, Iolani Palace, and Chinatown before heading farther afield to the Polynesian Cultural Center on the North Shore, Hanauma Bay, and Sea Life Park Hawaii on the east side of the island. Visitors who want to cram in the most sites on Oahu can even book helicopter or circle-island tours, both of which depart from Waikiki and showcase the entire island.
Know Before You Go
- Waikiki Beach is a must-see for first-timers to Oahu and beginning surfers.
- If you’re not staying in one of the Waikiki hotels—and even if you are—parking can be expensive and hard to find. If possible, leave the driving up to tour companies and bus drivers.
- Waikiki is warm and sunny year-round. Don’t forget your sunblock, hat, sunglasses, and bathing suit—though if you do, rest assured you can find a shop with replacements.
- Lifeguards are staffed at lookouts along Waikiki Beach. Though conditions are usually calm and great for swimming year-round, heed the lifeguard’s warnings and exit the water if necessary.
How to Get There
Waikiki is just east of downtown Honolulu on Oahu’s southern shore, and about eight miles (12.5 kilometers) from Honolulu International Airport. The main stretch of Waikiki Beach is along Kalakau Avenue, parallel to the sea, which stretches east to Kapiolani Park and Diamond Head. The Waikiki Trolley connects the downtown Ala Moana Center with Waikiki.
When to Get There
Waikiki Beach is popular year-round, but summer, spring, and winter school holidays are the busiest times. To make the most of your trip, time your visit with one Waikiki’s many festivals and parades, such as the King Kamehameha Floral Parade in June, the Spam Jam in late April, or the Aloha Festival Floral Parade, usually held in late September.
The Duke Kahanamoku Statue
One can’t-miss Waikiki Beach landmark is the nine-foot (2.75-meter) bronze statue of Duke Kahanamoku Statue, the king of surfing. Following tradition, visitors drape leis around Duke’s neck and arms; it’s not uncommon for the man to sport fistfuls of purple orchids and be buried up to his eyeballs in plumeria. Duke Kahanamoku was a Waikiki local who is credited with popularizing the ancient Hawaiian sport of surfing and once won an Olympic gold medal in swimming.
Address: Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki 96815, USA
Admission: Free
From $ 22
Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial
Eerie and abandoned, the salt water swimming pool and stone bleachers of the Waikiki Natatorium War Memorial off San Souci beach was a shimmering seaside tribute when it opened in 1927. Today, some call the crumbling venue haunted and it is often featured in Island-wide nighttime ghost tours.
The aging edifice, shuttered since 1979, is still worth a daytime visit, if only to peek through the bars of its towering front gate and imagine what it once was. As one of the country’s few ‘living memorials,’ the space served both as a gathering place to honor the 10,000 Hawaii service men who served during WWI and a public facility where Hawaii residents learned to swim in its 100m length. The Natatorium is credited with creating a swimming culture in the local community, and providing a peaceful practice spot for Olympians including legendary Hawaiian waterman (and five-time Olympic swimming medalist) Duke Kahanamoku. On Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day, the chipping lot around the structure still occasionally hosts commemorative ceremonies honoring the structure’s original purpose.
Despite its designation as a ‘national treasure’ by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, no one seems to know what to do with the Natatorium. Throughout the years, numerous plans to revive or raze the structure, adding a new stretch of white sand to Waikiki’s crowded beaches, have been passed over. Until then, it just waits.
Practical Info
The structure is located at 2815 Kalakaua Ave., across from Kapiolani Regional Park and next to Kaimana Beach at the far end of Waikiki’s main strip. Visitors are welcome 24 hours a day, though interior access is always prohibited.
Address: 2815 Kalakaua Ave., Honolulu, Hawaii 96815, USA
From $ 109
St Benedict's Painted Church
An active Roman Catholic parish, St Benedict’s is a small but beautiful church set in South Kona overlooking Kealakekua Bay. The Painted Church is listed in the Hawaii State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places because of the paintings on the inside walls.
After erecting the church in 1899, Father John Velghe began painting the inside walls. A self-taught artist, his work was inspired by a gothic cathedral in Spain. Using ordinary house paint, Velghe painted biblical scenes until his health deteriorated and he returned to Belgium in 1904.
At the time of Velghe’s painting, few Hawaiians could read, so the murals helped teach parishioners in addition to beautifying the site. The church was never completed, but you can see the unfinished panels when you go inside.
Mass is celebrated every day except Monday at St Benedict's. Many services are early in the morning, so if you are interested in attending mass, you should plan ahead. Visitors are welcome.
Practical Info
The Painted Church is easy or hard to get to, depending on who you talk to. Take Highway 11 and head toward the water onto Route 160 near mile marker 104. After about a mile, take the first right opposite the King Kamehameha sign. You’ll travel about a quarter of a mile on a winding, narrow road before coming to the church up a driveway on the right. There is no admission fee, but donations are always welcome.
Address: 84-5140 Painted Church Rd, Captain Cook, Hawaii 96704, USA
Hours: Mass: Tues, Thurs, Fri 7am; Sat 4pm; Sun 7:15am
From $ 69
Surfing Goat Dairy
Fresh cheese fans will love this working farm’s Island-take on a traditional goat dairy on the slopes of Haleakala. Pens near the entrance underscore its unusual name—happy kids and off-duty does climb on a playground of elevated and colorful old surfboards. In total, Surfing Goat Dairy’s 42 acres are home to more than a hundred Swiss Saanen and French alpine goats that provide milk daily, the basis for fresh cheese and all-natural goat’s milk products created onsite.
Started by German expats and supported by a crew of workers that includes a regular rotation of college-aged goat farming interns, Surfing Goat Dairy runs short daily tours of its milking operation and three room dairy. Tour-goers can feed alfalfa to baby goats and will receive a brief overview of the cheese-making process and the equipment used to pasteurize, ripen and form the cheese. Tours include tastings from a selection of their 30 goat cheese flavors such as “Rolling Green” made with garlic and chives and “Purple Rain” made with Maui lavender. In addition to their small gift shop, which also sells soaps, truffles and t-shirts featuring the farm’s happy ungulates, fans will be comforted in the fact that that hotels, shops and restaurants throughout the Islands and as far away as New York, Pennsylvania, Las Vegas and Phoenix import and feature their cheeses.
Practical Info
The Surfing Goat Diary is located at 3651 Omaopio Road in Kula. They are open from 9 a.m. til 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. til 2 p.m. Sundays. General 20-minute tours are led on demand between 10 and 3:30 Monday through Saturday and between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sundays for $12 adults and $8 children. Other tours including the “Evening Chores and Milking Tours” and 2-hour “Grand Dairy” experience require advance reservation.
Address: 3651 Omaopio Rd,, Kula, Hawaii 96790, USA
Hours: Open from 9 a.m. til 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 9 a.m. til 2 p.m. Sundays. General 20-minute tours are led on demand between 10 and 3:30 Monday-Saturday and between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Admission: $12 for adults and $8 for children
From $ 750
Waikiki
Waikiki, where most Hawaii vacations get their start, is everything at once: white sandy beaches, swaying palms, high-rise accommodations, world-class shopping, top-notch and seaside dining, local culture, and excellent surfing. It’s no wonder this former playground for Hawaiian royalty continues to be an oasis for global visitors.
The Basics
Waikiki is Honolulu’s city within a city dedicated to fun and sun. Stroll down the main oceanfront thoroughfare, Kalakaua Avenue, and place a lei on the Duke Kahanamoku surfer statue; splash in the surfer’s namesake Kahanamoku Lagoon; shop in one of several open-air malls; grab lunch along the way for a picnic in Kapiolani Park; and see the sunset behind the profile of Diamond Head.
Waikiki sightseeing tours by trolley or Segway are a great way to learn about the area and cover greater distances than you can on foot. For a different perspective, take to the water aboard a sunset dinner cruise, or get on the water in this watersports wonderland: Learn to surf, take a stand-up paddleboarding lesson, or try kayaking, parasailing, or scuba diving. Many Oahu tours, including circle-island tours and helicopter tours, depart Waikiki and allow visitors to see sights beyond Waikiki Beach.
Things to Know Before You Go
- Waikiki is a must-see for first-timers to Oahu, families, sunbathers, and more.
- Oahu enjoys daytime temperatures that hover around 80°F (27°C) year-round. But come nightfall in spring and winter, it can get cool—bring an extra layer if you plan to be out past sunset.
- Don’t forget a hat, sunscreen. and sunglasses. Though if you do, several ABC Stores—a Hawaii retail chain—offer replacements along Kalakaua Avenue.
How to Get There
Waikiki, a 3.4-square-mile (8.8-square-kilometer) neighborhood in southeast Honolulu, encompasses everything between Ala Wai Boulevard, Kapahulu Avenue, and the oceanfront. It is serviced by several local bus routes, including the 2, 8, 9, 13, and 22. By road, the area is within 30 minutes of most main Oahu attractions, including the 23 sites covered by the Waikiki Historic Trail, Pearl Harbor and the USS Missouri and Arizona memorials, Iolani Palace, the Nuuanu Pali Lookout, the popular snorkeling haunt of Hanauma Bay, and Sea Life Park Hawaii.
When to Get There
Waikiki’s peak season coincides with the United States’ spring, summer, and winter school holidays. If you plan to visit during these times, it pays to book tours and hotels well in advance. Several of the region’s best (and most unusual) festivals, such as the parades and cultural demonstrations of the Aloha Festival in September and the Waikiki Spam Jam in April, beckon in the off-season.
Waikiki in Winter
Balmy Waikiki provides a tropical respite to the mainland’s chilly winters, but in these months the rains are more frequent, the waves can be wilder, and temperatures still dip a bit—expect 77 to 82°F (25 to 28°C) as opposed to summer’s 82 to 89°F (28 to 32°C). Still, warm-weather seekers will be in good company: Between November and March, hordes of humpback whales migrate down from chilly Alaska to mate, splash, and put on a show for eager onlookers.
Address: Honolulu, Hawaii, USA
From $ 25
USS Oklahoma Memorial
The only land-based memorial at Pearl Harbor, the USS Oklahoma Memorial honors the more than 400 servicemen who lost their lives aboard the ship during the flurry of attacks on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Second only in casualties to the USS Arizona on that fateful day, the Oklahoma Memorial on Ford Island commemorates each life lost with a tall white marble column, symbolizing a crisp white Navy uniform. Taken together, the low black granite walls etched with stories and towering clean rows of columns symbolize the ship and the crew within standing tall forever.
The memorial’s location, on the still-active military base at Ford Island, is also significant. The USS Oklahoma’s berth was here, just offshore. When the ship was torpedoed, several crew were able to escape by swimming and crawling on the stretch of land the memorial now occupies.
A relatively new Pearl Harbor attraction, the USS Oklahoma Memorial was designated on Dec. 7, 2007.
Practical Info
The Memorial is run by the National Park Service as part of the Valor in the Pacific National Monument. However, it is located across a channel from the park’s popular USS Arizona Memorial and fronting the Battleship Missouri Memorial on Ford Island. Because of its location, and the need to board designated vehicles with access to the base, visits to the free USS Oklahoma Memorial are often combined with the separately ticketed Battleship Missouri Memorial and the Pacific Aviation Museum (ticket packages available). A park shuttle departs the Pearl Harbor Visitor’s Center every 15 minutes from 8 a.m til 5 p.m.
Insider Tip: Only one camera and water bottle per visitor are allowed on the military base. It’s best to leave purses and backpacks at home, but if you must bring them a the USS Bowfin Submarine (one of the shuttle stops before the Ford Island entrance) has storage facilities charging $3 per bag.
Insider Tip: Only one camera and water bottle per visitor are allowed on the military base. It’s best to leave purses and backpacks at home, but if you must bring them a the USS Bowfin Submarine (one of the shuttle stops before the Ford Island entrance) has storage facilities charging $3 per bag.
Address: Langley Ave, Honolulu, Hawaii 96818, USA
From $ 125
Valley of the Temples
An ethereal Japanese temple, immaculate zen landscaping, a palm-lined drive, memorial gazebos overlooking the Pacific and a Koolau mountain backdrop conspire to create one of Oahu’s most peaceful settings. The valley is a memorial park and the final resting place for thousands of Shinto, Buddhist and Christian Hawaii residents, including early Honolulu developer Walter Francis Dillingham (1875-1963) and Zhang Xueliang, a warlord and northern China Army General who died in 2001 at age 100. Visitors explore the grounds, especially to see the bright red Byodo-In temple that looks like it was dropped in front of its reflecting pond via some portal to ancient Japan.
The temple was built in 1968 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first wave of Japanese immigrants in Hawaii and is a replica of the nearly 1,000-year-old Byodo-In temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Uji, Japan. Here, incense wafts from the main temple building and peacocks strut in front of the waterfalls that trickle into koi-filled ponds. When visitors ring the temple’s giant brass peace bell, the sound resonates along mountain walls. In summer and fall, the park hosts annual Japanese Obon dance festivals honoring ancestors here.
Also within the Valley are a triangular-shaped Christian church with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the green mountain face, statues of the Virgin Mary and unique memorial displays including markers shaped like aloha shirts—the Valley is a multi-denominational place of rest for both the living and the dead.
Practical Info
The Valley of the Temples is north of downtown Kaneohe off Highway 83 (47-200 Kahekili Hwy). The memorial park is open from 6 a.m. til dusk daily and the Byodo-In temple keeps regular business hours (9 a.m. til 5 p.m.). There is no admission to explore the Valley of the Temples, but there is a cash-only admission charge for the temple ($3 adult, $2 seniors and $1 child). To access the Byodo-In Temple, follow the entrance road up the hill to the back of the valley.
Address: 47-200 Kahekili Hwy, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744, USA
Hours: Open from 6 a.m. til dusk daily and the Byodo-In temple keeps regular business hours (9 a.m. til 5 p.m.)
Admission: $3 adult, $2 seniors and $1 child
From $ 79