Your complete guide to Honolulu
Verified itineraries, honest advice, and no-fluff tips on Pearl Harbor, Waikiki, the North Shore, and day trips across Oahu, from Kailua to Haleiwa.
Top-rated activities in Honolulu
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Top destinations in and around Honolulu
From Waikiki on the south shore to Kailua, the North Shore, and the beaches of Leeward Oahu further afield.
Waikiki
Waikiki is Honolulu's beach district: 2.5km of sand, hotels and reef-protected water, and the base most visitors use for the rest of Oahu.
Honolulu
Honolulu is Oahu's capital and Hawaii's biggest city, not a beach. Neighborhoods, transit, and how it differs from Waikiki.
Pearl Harbor
Pearl Harbor sits on Oahu's leeward coast, 30-40 minutes from Waikiki. What to know before you plan a visit to its memorials.
North Shore: Oahu's surf coast, an hour from Waikiki
North Shore Oahu guide: Haleiwa, Pipeline and Sunset Beach, winter surf danger, drive time from Waikiki, and why you need a car.
Windward Coast: Kailua, Lanikai, and Kaneohe Bay
The green, rain-fed east coast of Oahu: Kailua and Lanikai beaches, Kaneohe Bay, the Koolau cliffs, and how to reach them from Waikiki.
Diamond Head
Diamond Head hiking guide: mandatory reservations, entry fees, trail time and the best hours to go before the crater fills up.
Things to do in Honolulu
Pearl Harbor memorials, Diamond Head sunrise, snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, and North Shore surf — the best things to do in Honolulu and Oahu.
Pearl Harbor memorials
Tickets and guided visits to the USS Arizona Memorial, the battleship Missouri and the USS Bowfin submarine at Pearl Harbor.
Luau dinners and shows
Evening luau options around Oahu with a buffet dinner and a Polynesian dance and fire-knife show.
Snorkeling and diving
Snorkeling and scuba trips to Hanauma Bay and other reef sites around Oahu, including turtle and shipwreck spots.
Circle island tours
Full-day guided loops around Oahu covering the North Shore, windward coast, lookouts and small towns.
Essential travel guides
Our most popular guides to help you prepare.
Pearl Harbor tours: how to plan the whole visit
How to plan a Pearl Harbor visit: which sites to combine, what order, how long, and the security rules that apply across the whole complex.
Best luaus on Oahu, compared by location and price
Compare Oahu's main luaus outside Waikiki by location, distance, transport, style and price band to help you pick one.
Snorkeling on Oahu: where to go and when
A no-nonsense overview of where to snorkel on Oahu, by coast and by season, plus how to pick between a boat trip and swimming out from the beach.
The best hikes on Oahu, ranked by who they're for
Seven Oahu hikes ranked by difficulty, time from Waikiki, and who they suit, from Diamond Head to Lanikai Pillbox.
Circle island tour of Oahu: what a full-day bus tour actually covers
What a full-day circle island bus tour of Oahu covers, costs, and skips, from Pearl Harbor or Diamond Head to the North Shore.
Best time to visit Oahu
When to visit Oahu: prices, crowds, whale season, and North Shore surf, month by month, without the hurricane or hard hiver/ete detail.
Suggested itineraries
Tested routes to make the most of your time.
One day in Waikiki without a car
A car-free day in Waikiki: sunrise swim, Diamond Head hike, lunch, shopping, and the free Kuhio Beach hula show at sunset.
Oahu in two days: a realistic stopover itinerary
A two-day, self-drive Oahu itinerary for a short stopover: Waikiki and Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, then a partial windward coast and North Shore loop.
Three days on Oahu for first-timers
A three-day Oahu itinerary for first visitors: Waikiki and Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor and Honolulu, then a North Shore day trip.
Why trust Honolulu Trip?
Every recommendation is based on verified information and honest, hands-on research. Our guides include real prices in US dollars, practical tips and straight advice — not sponsored rankings. When you book through our links, you pay the same price and we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.