Honolulu
The Keliiponi Hale was erected in front of ʻlolani Palace in 1883 as a pavilion for the coronation of King Kalakaua. As there was no other ranking person…
Must-see attractions in Oʻahu
Waikiki
This bronze statue just off Kalakaua Ave represents 'The Storytellers,' the keepers of Hawaiian culture. For centuries, women have been at the top of…
Windward Coast
On the Honolulu side of the island, you can make a scenic side trip along a remnant of the Old Pali Hwy, now called Nuʻuanu Pali Dr. The road runs through…
Windward Coast
Offshore in Kaneʻohe Bay, Moku o Loʻe (Coconut Island), southeast of Heʻeia State Park, was a royal playground, named for the coconut trees planted there…
Haleʻiwa
This is home to some of the best surf on the North Shore, and waves can be huge. It's a popular spot for surf contests. In mid-November the Triple Crown…
Oʻahu
In the shadow of Diamond Head, this strand of sandy beach draws experienced windsurfers when the trade winds are blowing. The popular Diamond Head Cliffs…
Oʻahu
Here, ocean waves surge through a submerged tunnel in the rock and spout up through a hole in the ledge. The spout is preceded by a gushing sound – the…
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
The beach itself is a nice sandy stretch, but the rocky seabed makes for poor swimming. When waters are calm and flat in summer, snorkelers swim out along…
Honolulu
Hidden on a private estate, the centerpiece of this unique site is the ancient, stone-walled Kūka‘ō‘ō heiau (temple). It's surrounded by beautiful…
Oʻahu
Makapuʻu Beach is one of Oʻahu’s top bodyboarding and bodysurfing spots, but as with Sandy Beach Park, Makapuʻu is strictly the domain of experts who can…
Haleʻiwa
On the northern side of the harbor, this park is protected by a shallow shoal and breakwater, so it's usually a good choice for swimming. There’s little…
Windward Coast
This park on Kealohi Point has picnic potential and views of Heʻeia Fishpond to the south. This location was sacred to ancient Hawaiians as a place of…
Honolulu
Pointedly positioned between the state capitol building and ʻIolani Palace is a life-size bronze statue of Queen Liliʻuokalani, Hawaii’s last reigning…
Malaekahana State Recreation Area
Windward Coast
The long, relatively uncrowded beach with buff-colored sand is popular with families. Swimming is generally good here year-round, although there are…
Waikiki
Where most cities have bike racks and others have big parking garages, Waikiki has a public facility that embodies the very spirit of the beach: a huge…
Oʻahu
Bordering the lighthouse, this rocky beach occasionally draws surfers, snorkelers and tide-poolers, plus a few picnickers. The narrow strand nicknamed…
Windward Coast
Just north of He‘eia State Park, off the Kamehameha Hwy, is one of the Windward Coast’s only small-boat harbors. Watch the comings and goings of local…
Windward Coast
The Crouching Lion is a landmark rock formation just north of mile marker 27 on the Kamehameha Hwy. According to legend, the rock is a demigod from Tahiti…
Windward Coast
Although many of Kahana's archaeological sites are inaccessibly deep in the valley, impressive Huilua Fishpond is visible from the highway and can be…
Honolulu
An institution since 1904, this market sells everything an Asian-food cook needs: ginger root, quail eggs, jasmine rice, luscious slabs of tuna, long…
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
Immediately west of Turtle Bay Resort, Turtle Bay was named because of the green sea turtles that used to lay their eggs on the beach. Not any more,…
Senator Fong's Plantation & Gardens
Windward Coast
A labor of love by Hiram Fong (1907–2004), the first Asian American elected to the US Senate, these flowering gardens aim to preserve Hawaii’s plant life…
Honolulu
Fronting the Honolulu Convention Center, this magnificent statue was created by local artist Shige Yamada. It symbolically acknowledges the Hawaiian…
Windward Coast
At this long, narrow swimming beach, an offshore reef protects the shallow waters in all but stormy weather. Be cautious of strong currents near the mouth…
Oʻahu
Oʻahu's easternmost point was the landfall for all ships from the American west coast to Honolulu. The lighthouse dates to 1909, when it was finally built…
Windward Coast
Right along the highway in the middle of town, this narrow, ironwood-shaded beach has a shallow, rocky bottom that isn’t too appealing for swimming but…
Honolulu
The 1929 headquarters of one of Hawaii's most powerful pre-war plantation and trading companies, this stirring structure combines powerful authority with…
Kahuku Land Farms Roadside Stand
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
A number of local farm stands group together just west of the Turtle Bay Resort entrance. Stop here for a fresh-cold coconut water ($3) and to peruse the…
Waikiki
Opposite the entrance to Honolulu Zoo and right on the beach, the Surfer on a Wave statue celebrates surfing as a major part of the culture of Waikiki…
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
Opposite the western end of Dillingham Airfield, this is the widest stretch of sand on the Mokuleʻia shore, although it’s not maintained and there are no…
Pearl Harbor & Leeward O‘ahu
At a rocky point that’s popular with snorkelers and anglers. There are great coastal views, as well as water, picnic tables and restrooms. This is the end…
Honolulu
Local volunteers with family ties to the community run this crowded gallery that displays changing historical and cultural exhibitions about Oʻahu’s…
Windward Coast
The beach here offers mostly safe swimming with a gently sloping sandy bottom. Watch out for the riptide near the bay's southern reef break. There are…
Waikiki
Generations of surfers and sunbathers have enjoyed shade under this century-old banyan tree. It's the perfect pictorial backdrop for photos and it serves…
Windward Coast
North of Laʻie Shopping Center is a crescent of white sand that’s a leisurely place for swimming when summer waters are calm. Just beware any time the…
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
At 1724ft, Kolekole Pass occupies the main gap in the Waiʻanae Range. Film buffs may recognize the landscape, as this is where WWII Japanese fighters…
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
Operated by the City and County of Honolulu, the Patsy T Mink Central Oʻahu Regional Park is a 269-acre public space. The massive park houses a tennis and…
Waikiki
Where did all the tourists go? From Kapahulu Groin south to the Natatorium, this peaceful stretch of beach, backed by a green space of banyan trees and…
Waikiki
Honolulu Zoo displays tropical species from around the globe. There are 42 acres of tropical greenery, over 1200 animals and a petting zoo for kids…
Keanianileihuaokalani Healing Stone
North Shore & Central O‘ahu
A small shrine on California Ave houses the Healing Stone of Wahiawa, also known as Keanianileihuaokalani. The history of the stone is somewhat cloudy,…
