Honolulu and Oahu, the United States: things to do, when to go and how to get there

Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Oahu is the most populous island in Hawaii and the main gateway to the archipelago. Formed by two ancient volcanoes that now make up the Waiʻanae and Koʻolau ranges, it is about 70 km from tip to tip. Honolulu, on the south coast, is the state capital and concentrates the airport, the port, government buildings, and most visitors.

The city has the sandy stretch of Waikiki, with Diamond Head’s silhouette in the background, the ʻIolani Palace, residence of the last Hawaiian monarchs, and the Bishop Museum, with collections of Polynesian history and culture. To the west, Pearl Harbor bay holds the memorial of the December 7, 1941 attack that brought the United States into World War II. To the east, Hanauma Bay, an open crater to the sea, is a marine reserve for snorkel diving.

On the other side of the Koʻolau range, the east coast receives the trade winds and features green mountains and cliffs. Kailua, about 20 km from downtown Honolulu, has pale-sand beaches and turquoise waters, including Lanikai, which faces the Mokulua islets.

The North Shore, in the north, lives for surfing. Between November and March, swells arrive that form the big waves at Waimea Bay and the Banzai Pipeline; in summer the sea is usually calm. Haleiwa is the region’s center, and to the east is the Polynesian Cultural Center, in Laie.

This destination brings together 3 cities: Honolulu, Kailua, Haleiwa.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Honolulu and Oahu is

Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau / geoBoundaries (public domain). Adapted by Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Honolulu and Oahu

✈ Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) · 10 km to Honolulu

Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), in Honolulu, receives flights from the American continent, Asia and Oceania, as well as short flights to the other islands. It is about 15 km from Waikiki. From Honolulu, Kailua and the North Shore are reachable by car or via the island’s bus network.

Suggested arrival point: Honolulu

Havaí · Honolulu and Oahu Capital Suggested arrival point

Honolulu

The capital and largest city of Hawaii, on the south coast of Oahu. It includes Waikiki and the volcanic silhouette of Diamond Head, the ʻIolani Palace, the Bishop Museum, the Pearl Harbor memorial, and Hanauma Bay to the east. The downtown has buildings from the kingdom and territorial periods, Chinatown has markets and restaurants, and Ala Moana holds the state's largest shopping center and a beach park.

Havaí · Honolulu and Oahu

Kailua

Town on the east side of Oʻahu, the coast that receives the trade winds, on the other side of the Koʻolau Range from Honolulu. Do not confuse it with Kailua-Kona on the Island of Hawaiʻi. It has Kailua Beach and, to the south, Lanikai Beach, facing the Mokulua islets, plus kayak rental shops, cafés and farmers’ markets. It’s about a half hour from Waikiki via the Pali Highway.

Havaí · Honolulu and Oahu

Haleiwa

The main village of Oahu’s North Shore, with wooden plantation-era houses, surf shops, galleries and shave ice stalls with flavored syrups. It is a state historic and cultural district. Located at the mouth of the Anahulu River, crossed by a two-arch bridge from 1921, it serves as a base for Waimea Bay, the Banzai Pipeline and the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie.

The local experience

Things to do in Honolulu and Oahu

Haleiwa · Hawaii · Beach

Waimea Bay (Oahu)

A crescent bay on Oahu’s North Shore, birthplace of big-wave surfing: in winter, swells can form waves several meters high; in summer the sea is usually calm and blue, good for swimming. Not to be confused with Waimea on Kauai.

Kailua · Hawaii · Beach

Kailua Beach

A light-sand beach of about 4 km on Kailua Bay on Oʻahu’s windward side, with turquoise water and steady wind, popular for kayaking, windsurfing and kitesurfing, with views of the Mokulua islets and Popoiʻa Island.

Honolulu · Hawaii · Beach

Waikiki Beach

The roughly 3 km stretch of sand on Honolulu’s south coast, between Ala Wai Harbor and Diamond Head, with long-rolling waves, surf and canoe lessons, and the statue of Duke Kahanamoku.

Haleiwa · Hawaii · Beach

Banzai Pipeline

The surf’s most famous barrel wave, which breaks over a shallow reef in front of the ʻEhukai beach park on the North Shore. In winter it attracts professional surfers and contests; spectators watch closely from the sand.

See 7 more places in Honolulu and Oahu

Honolulu · Hawaii · Trail

Diamond Head (Lēʻahi)

The crater of an ancient volcano east of Waikiki, with a 1.3 km one-way trail to the rim at 232 meters, passing a tunnel, steps, and military casemates. For nonresidents of Hawaii, entry requires an advance reservation.

Kailua · Hawaii · Beach

Lanikai Beach

A narrow strip of light sand about 800 meters long south of Kailua, facing the Mokulua islets, with shallow water protected by a reef. Access is via public walkways between houses, and there are no beach facilities.

Honolulu · Hawaii · Memorial

Pearl Harbor National Memorial (USS Arizona Memorial)

The memorial for the Japanese attack of December 7, 1941, west of Honolulu, with a visitor center, two museums and the white memorial over the sunken hull of the battleship USS Arizona, reached by boat.

Haleiwa · Hawaii · Theme park

Polynesian Cultural Center

A cultural park in Laie on Oahu’s northeast coast, with villages representing Polynesian islands such as Hawai‘i, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji and Aotearoa (New Zealand), canoe pageants, demonstrations and an evening show.

Honolulu · Hawaii · Palace

ʻIolani Palace

The palace built between 1879 and 1882 by King Kalākaua in downtown Honolulu, residence of Hawaii’s last monarchs and the only royal palace on U.S. soil, with restored state rooms open to visitors.

Honolulu · Hawaii · Museum

Bishop Museum

The largest museum of natural history and culture of Hawaii and Polynesia, founded in 1889 in Honolulu, with feather cloaks of Hawaiian chiefs, objects from the Pacific islands, a planetarium and a science center.

Honolulu · Hawaii · Nature reserve

Hanauma Bay

A horseshoe-shaped bay inside a crater open to the sea, east of Honolulu, protected as a marine reserve since 1967. The shallow reefs host hundreds of fish species and are popular for snorkeling.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

The weather is usually warm year-round, with highs between 27 °C and 32 °C. From April to October there is less rain and the North Shore’s sea tends to be calm; from November to March rains increase on the windward side and the big northern waves arrive. Humpback whales are commonly seen from December to April.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Four days allow you to see Honolulu, Waikiki, Diamond Head and Pearl Harbor, with one day on the east coast and another on the North Shore. With a week, there is time left for beaches, hikes and the Polynesian Cultural Center.

Which city to stay in

Waikiki concentrates most accommodation, near the beach, with buses to the rest of the island. Downtown Honolulu and Ala Moana are near the palace and the museums. Kailua has vacation homes and apartments close to the windward beaches. On the North Shore, lodging is more spread out around Haleiwa and Kahuku.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Honolulu and Oahu

How many days to spend in Oahu?

Four days cover Honolulu, Pearl Harbor and a trip along the east coast and the North Shore. A week allows a more relaxed pace and adds beaches and hikes.

Do you need to rent a car in Oahu?

Not if you stay in Honolulu and Waikiki, which have frequent buses. For the east coast and the North Shore, a car gives more freedom, although the island buses also reach those areas. Drive on the right.

When do the big waves arrive at the North Shore?

Generally from November to March, when winter swells from the North Pacific reach the coast. In summer the sea there is usually calm.

What time zone is Hawaii in?

Hawaii follows the UTC−10 time zone year-round because it does not observe daylight saving time.

What documents are required to enter Hawaii?

Hawaii is a U.S. state and follows the same entry rules as the country, which vary according to nationality and travel document. Requirements can change: confirm before you travel.

Honolulu and Oahu

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.