Here’s everything you need to know for your Aloha State adventure.
‣ Hey there, welcome back! It’s been a minute since I last posted—I’ve been busy with exams and other end-of-the-school-year festivities. As of this past Friday, I am officially a high school graduate! It’s hard to believe that I started travel blogging nearly 5 years ago. I’m really glad that I’ve been able to keep up with it, though. I love documenting my adventures in a digital scrapbook and am so grateful that I can share them with you.
Today’s post is a special one because it’s about my home away from home: Honolulu, Hawai‘i! Honolulu, the state capital, is located on the island of O‘ahu, which is the most populated of the eight main islands. My dad and his side of the family are from Hawai‘i, and I have a lot of family still living there, so I have been lucky enough to visit about twenty times. As the world starts to reopen, and as summer approaches, I’ve noticed a lot of people making plans to visit the beautiful Aloha State. Because I’ve got quite a few favorite activities from my own travels there, I decided to put together a list of must-do things.
What to See & Do
Visit Waikiki Beach
World-famous Waikiki Beach is located in the heart of Honolulu. There are often people playing beach volleyball, having picnics on the beach or at the park across the street, and biking around on rented Biki bikes. Waikiki is a very lively and touristy place, with bustling crowds headed to restaurants, shops, and more. This makes it a popular area to stay, as well. International Market Place, an open-air shopping center that was recently renovated, is one place that people like to visit in Waikiki. This is the beach that I’ve been going to since I was a young child, so I have fond memories of my cousins and me building sand castles and going boogie-boarding here. I also recommend it for sunset views, as it has some spectacular ones!
Stand Up Paddle Board
I love to paddle board, and Hawai‘i is one of my favorite spots to do it! If you’re looking for a fun way to soak up the sun and get some exercise, I’d recommend going to Kahanamoku Beach next to Hilton Hawaiian Village. My family usually rents paddle boards from Quality Surfboards Hawaii for $40/day. They provide wheels to roll the board over to the beach, and it’s really nice to not be restricted to a one- or two-hour block. I’ve seen a turtle swimming in the ocean almost every time I’ve been paddle boarding here! Another place that my family enjoyed is Ala Moana Beach Park because there tend to not be any waves, and there are places to book rentals on site as well. Even if you’ve never tried paddle boarding, I’d recommend going for it—it’s pretty easy to learn, and the payoff is great!
Hike Diamond Head
Diamond Head State Monument is a relatively short, easy hike with a million-dollar view. My family has made it a tradition to walk up Diamond Head (also known as Le‘ahi Crater) every Christmas. For such a short hike—it can take half an hour, if there aren’t too many people—I would say that the view is honestly spectacular. The only downside of this hike is that it can be very crowded; because of its proximity to Waikiki, there are lots of tourists who climb Diamond Head every day. The earlier you arrive, the better. As of this post, it costs $5 per person or $10 per vehicle for non-Hawai‘i residents. (Also, fun fact: Diamond Head got its name because English sailors thought that there were diamonds on top of it.)
Snorkel at Hanauma Bay
Hanauma Bay, a nature preserve in Honolulu, is a very popular snorkeling spot. Visiting Hanauma Bay is one of the highlights of my trip every year. You can see tons of colorful tropical fish, ranging from butterfly fish to spotted boxfish to reef triggerfish (known as “humuhumu-nukunuku-apua´a”…this is also the state fish of Hawai‘i!) One of my favorite things about it is that you don’t have to take a boat out to the snorkeling spot—you can just wade right into the water. Just remember not to feed the fish or step on the coral; be respectful of the environment and Mother Nature!
If you want to rent snorkels and life jackets, you can do that here, right before you go in; however, there are also several snorkel rental shops around Honolulu. Before we had our own snorkel gear, we would always rent from Snorkel Bob’s because it was cheaper and meant we wouldn’t have to wait in line.
Shop at the KCC Farmers’ Market
Farmer’s markets and Hawai‘i are two of my favorite things…and combining them is just even better. Occurring every Saturday from 7:30 to 11:00 AM at Kapiolani Community College, right near Diamond Head, the market features lots of fresh produce (so you can stock up on your favorite tropical fruits) as well as specialty items like cookies, taro chips, and coffee. There are also tons of food and drink stalls; I’ve seen everything from musubi to mochi to crepes to empanadas. Get there early, as it tends to be crowded!
Visit Pearl Harbor
The historic naval base that was the site of a Japanese attack on December 7, 1941 is open to visitors. There are a couple of different exhibits, “Road to War” and “Attack,” that display memorabilia, photographs, and more to provide information about the attack and its effects. To visit the USS Arizona Memorial, you’ll have to book a ticket online; the tickets cost $1/person and include a 23-minute documentary screening, boat ride to the memorial, time to experience it and walk around, and a boat rid back to the visitor center.
Visit ‘Iolani Palace
If you’re looking for more historic/educational experiences and want to learn about Hawaiian culture, I’d recommend visiting ‘Iolani Palace, which is the only royal palace in the United States. ‘Iolani Palace was home to King Kalakaua and Queen Lili‘uokalani, the only reigning queen and last sovereign before the overthrow and annexation of the islands by the United States.
Eat!
Honolulu is home to a rich blend of Asian, Polynesian, and European cultures, and its food scene certainly reflects that. I have a full post on plant-based eating in Honolulu, which you can check out here. For my non-vegan friends, I can recommend my family’s favorites and some famous spots: malasadas (Portuguese fried dough, either plain or with fillings such as haupia, lilikoi, and chocolate) from Leonard’s Bakery, poke from Ono Seafood or Fresh Catch, breakfast from Sweet E’s Cafe, coco puffs from Liliha Bakery, ramen from Goma Tei, Korean food from Gina’s BBQ, and Chinese food from Happy Days. If you’re willing to drive about 35-50 minutes away, Waiahole Poi Factory has some of the best Hawaiian food I’ve ever had.
Watch the Sunset
Hawaiian sunsets might be one of the most beautiful things in the world, and they’re the perfect way to finish off a lovely day in Honolulu. If you’re looking for a beach sunset, I recommend Ala Moana Beach Park, Waikiki Beach, Kaimana Beach, and Diamond Head Beach Park. Unfortunately, Diamond Head closes before sunset, but you can check out Tantalus Lookout for a scenic view of the city at sunset.
Final Thoughts
Honolulu is one of my favorite cities in the world. It has a unique combination of city life (with lots of restaurants, stores, malls, etc.) and beautiful natural scenery (with beaches, parks, lookouts, tropical forests, etc.). If you decide to visit this summer, please make sure that you are a responsible tourist and “mālama Hawai‘i” (care for Hawai‘i)—this includes not littering or trespassing, respecting the culture and local people, following all safety precautions, and of course, not traveling there if you have or suspect you may have contracted COVID-19.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed this post! Make sure to follow me on Instagram and subscribe to my newsletter for more updates and travel content 🙂
