10 Things to Do On a Honolulu Holiday

Whether you’re fascinated by history or not, no Honolulu holiday is complete without paying a visit to Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Located just 20 minutes out of Honolulu, Pearl Harbor is the naval base where the Japanese forces launched their surprise attack on the United States in 1941. Pearl Harbor is made up of several historic sites and memorials, including the USS Arizona Memorial, which is the final resting place of over 900 sailors and marines. You can also visit the USS Missouri battleship, the site where the Japanese signed the surrender that ended the war.

No Honolulu visit is complete without a trip to Pearl Harbor National Memorial, featuring historic sites like the USS Arizona Memorial and USS Missouri battleship.

With almost 2,000 kilometres of coral reef to explore, it’s not surprising that snorkelling and scuba diving are amongst the most popular activities for holidaymakers in Hawai’i. One of the best spots to do so near Honolulu is Hanauma Bay State Park. This protected marine life preservation area is home to an array of colourful fish, along with bigger creatures like sea turtles and dolphins. Plus, Hanauma Bay is situated within a volcanic cone that naturally protects it from elements like the wind and waves, making it a great spot for families.

Explore the vibrant marine life at Hanauma Bay State Park, a protected area near Honolulu, known for its colorful fish, sea turtles, and dolphins, all within a volcanic cone for family-friendly snorkeling and scuba diving.

If you want to explore some of O’ahu’s rainforest trails on your Hawai’i holiday, the hike to Manoa Falls is a great place to start. At 45 metres high, Manoa Falls is the tallest accessible waterfall on O’ahu, just 20 minutes from downtown Honolulu. The three-kilometre path takes you through some incredible rainforest scenery, passing prehistoric ferns and snaking banyan trees. Allow for approximately two hours roundtrip, and make sure to wear sturdy hiking footwear as some sections of the trail can get rather muddy.

Begin your O’ahu rainforest adventure with a hike to Manoa Falls, the island’s tallest accessible waterfall, just 20 minutes from downtown Honolulu, featuring a three-kilometer trail through lush rainforest with prehistoric ferns and banyan trees, requiring about a two-hour roundtrip hike with sturdy footwear recommended.

Add a bit of adventure to your Honolulu holiday by venturing just 30 minutes north to Kualoa Ranch. This 4,000-acre property is located on the Windward Coast and doubles as a private nature reserve and working cattle ranch. In fact, you may recognise Kualoa Ranch as the filming location for over 50 movies and TV shows, including Jurassic Park and Lost. Kualoa Ranch offers a huge array of ways to interact with the landscapes of O’ahu, including ATVing, ziplining, horseback riding and sailing tours. This is the spot to go for outdoor fun on O’ahu.

Add adventure to your Honolulu trip with a 30-minute drive to Kualoa Ranch, a 4,000-acre property known for its movie and TV show filming locations, offering ATVing, ziplining, horseback riding, and more for outdoor fun on O’ahu.

While in Honolulu, don’t miss the chance to check out Hawaii’s number one visitor attraction. The Polynesian Cultural Centre is simply the best way to learn about the rich heritage of Hawai’i and the Pacific Islands. Here, you can explore six island villages – Hawai’i, Aotearoa, Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti and Tonga – and mingle with natives as they demonstrate their arts, crafts and traditions. The Polynesian Cultural Centre also offers a great traditional luau experience, where you can enjoy an ‘all you can eat’ Polynesian buffet while enjoying authentic Hawai’ian songs and dance.

Explore Hawai’i and the Pacific Islands’ rich heritage at the Polynesian Cultural Centre, featuring six island villages, traditional arts, crafts, and a luau with authentic Hawai’ian songs and dance in Honolulu’s top visitor attraction.