hawai’i
honolulu, o’ahu
Honolulu, the Capital of Hawaii is located on the island of O’ahu, the third-largest and most populated island of the Hawaiian Islands. With a tropical climate it’s a popular travel destination all year around with average temperatures of 18°C to 32°C. Most tourists choose to stay in the popular Waikiki, due to it’s stunning coastline, designer stores, and selection of restaurants + bars.
Index:
Overview
How to get from the airport
Accommodation
Hikes:
Diamond Head [Lē‘ahi]
Koko Head
Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail
Scenic:
Nu’uanu Pali Lookout
Sandy Beach
Kuhio Beach, Waikiki
Historical:
Pearl Harbour National Memorial
How to get from the Airport?
Bus: The journey takes around one hour, and Route 20 will take you from the airport to Waikiki, and costs just $3 per adult for a one-way ticket. The bus stops are located on the airport’s second-level roadway and operate roughly every half an hour.
Airport Transfer: There are a few different shuttle services that operate between Daniel K. Inouye International Airport and Waikiki, with set rates and advanced booking options, this can be an affordable option when arriving in Honolulu. Some options include:
Roberts Hawaii: One-way shared transfers starting around $28 per person.
SpeediShuttle: One-way shared transfers starting around $25 per person.
Taxi: The official taxi ranks are just outside of baggage claim, and you will be met by staff wearing yellow t-shirts who will direct you to the next available vehicle. Metered fares can average $50-$60, but some local firms offer a flat rate when booked in advance; such as Charley's Taxi who’s fixed rate fee to Waikiki is $38 (2025).
THINGS TO DO:
Diamond Head [Lē‘ahi]: Known for its historic hiking trail, stunning coastal views, and military history, attracting 1.3million visitors each year. The 2.6km round trip to the summit is steep as it spans over 560ft. The hike includes stairs and a 225ft lit tunnel. At the summit you are rewarded with spectacular views of the shoreline of southeastern Oʻahu from Koko Head to Wai’anae. The Diamond Head Crater was formed around 300,000 years ago during a single eruption, as the ash settled it cemented together and formed a rock known as ‘tuff’, leaving behind a crater. There is a small fee for non-residents to hike Diamond Head, and in recent years advanced reservations have been required.
Pearl Harbour National Memorial: In December 1941, the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbour, killing over 2000 people, and destroying 20 naval ships and more than 300 planes. Pearl Harbour now serves as a memorial, and historic site where visitors can learn about the attack which forced the United States into World War II, alongside the harbours legacy and preservation of the area.
There are many tours offered on the Pearl Harbour website, including pickups from Waikiki or Ko Olina, alongside self-guided tours. Alternatively, it is free to enter the Visitor Center and walk around the Memorial. However, you do need to pay to go into the individual museums and for a boat ticket to visit the USS Arizona Memorial.
I chose to get the local bus from Waikiki to Pearl Harbour which was much cheaper than a scheduled tour + very efficient.
Koko Head: One of my all time favourite hikes, and the one I recommend everyone to do when visiting Hawai’i, but it’s not for the faint hearted. This 2.4km hike, takes you 1,050ft to the summit of Koko Head Crater, by climbing 1,048 railroad ties. The stairs are a disused railway track that the military used in WW2 to transport supplies and equipment to the pillbox bunkers at the top of the crater. When you reach the summit, you will be rewarded with panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, Oahu, Hanauma Bay + Diamond Head.
Nu’uanu Pali Lookout: Located five miles northeast of Honolulu, the Nu’uanu Pali Lookout offers breathtaking views of the Ko’olau cliffs, and Windward Coast. You will need a car to reach this lookout, and although there is no entry fee, it costs $7 for cars. The Pali Lookout is the site of the Battle of Nu’uanu, which was a key battle in 1795 in the final days of King Kamehameha I's wars to conquer the Hawaiian Islands.
Koko Head
Koko Head
Pearl Harbour
Pearl Harbour
Makapu'u Point
Makapu'u Point Lighthouse
Makapu'u Point
Kailua Beach
Kailua Beach
Nu'uanu pali Lookout
Kuhio Beach
Kuhio Beach
Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail: A popular 4km hiking trail in Oahu, with views of the Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline. On a clear day you will have views of Koko Crater, Makapu Beach, Molokai Island + Lanai Island. The Makapuu Lighthouse, built in 1909, is located along the route, and has a recognisable red roof.
Sandy Beach: Known to the locals as Wāwāmalu, is a beach known for it’s bodyboarding + surf with consistent barrels.
Sandy Beach, also referred to as "Sandy's" and known to Hawaiians as Wāwāmalu, is a beach on the southeastern shore of Oʻahu in Hawaii. It is known for its excellent bodyboarding and bodysurfing opportunities due to its peaky shore break and consistent barrels. Consequently, Sandy Beach has one of the highest incidences of water related spinal cord injuries in Hawaii,[1] earning it the infamous nickname, "break-neck" beach.[2] The water is especially dangerous during high surf, when powerful waves break over shallow sand and slabs of underwater lava rock. In certain conditions, strong rip currents are also present. The beach park is located between Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve to the west and Makapuʻu Point to the east along Kalanianaʻole Highway.[3]
Due to the geography of Sandy Beach, the surf zone spanning approximately 2,500 feet contains individual surf breaks. This makes Sandy Beach somewhat unique from other shore breaks on Oahu, such as Makapuʻu Beach Park and Waiamea Bay, where the waves largely do not break in consistent locations.
At the eastern end of the beach park is Full-Point, an offshore reef break which is surfable by board surfers.
Moving west, the next break is Half-Point, which is also an offshore reef break that is closer to shore and more dangerous due to the wave breaking over shallow reef, resulting in a short, hollow tube-ride type of wave. Half-Point breaks both left and right, with the right ending in a channel and the left running into the shore break.
Sandy Beach
Waikīki
food and drink
Lulu’s Waikiki: Lulu’s has been offering delicious Hawaiian cuisine to locals and visitors since 2004. Offering live music every evening from 6pm, views over the ocean, a signature cocktail menu, and a breakfast, lunch + dinner menu with both gluten free and vegan options available.
L&L Hawaiian BBQ: Originally known as the ‘plate lunch’, Hawaiian BBQ is comprised of two servings of rice, one serving of macaroni salad, and a choice of; a local fresh catch, a chicken entree, or an alternative protein. A Hawaiian BBQ is a must do when visiting Hawaii.
Holey Grail Donuts: A popular donut truck, with two locations in Kauai County, and a Flagship store in Honolulu. The donuts are made using the Hawaiian superfood taro as their base, and are cooked in 100% organic and sustainably sourced coconut oil.
Waiola Shave Ice: Family run since 1979, this is a favourite shaved ice location among locals, in Honolulu. Named after the original grocery store which shared the same location back in 1940.
Lahaina Shave Ice: A family business established in 2019, offering shaved ice with an array of flavours, toppings + signature creations, there is something for everyone.
