Published: 2/17/23

What To Do When You’re Not Really Planning to be in Honolulu

If you’re a first-time visitor to the Hawaiian Islands, you’re probably wondering what to do in Honolulu. As Hawaii’s capital city, Honolulu is both the political and population center of the state. Its population of 1 million mean that 2 out of 3 Hawaiians live in the Honolulu metro area. As a result, Honolulu is the major hub for getting anywhere within this fabled Pacific archipelago.

While I’d been low-grade planning a trip to Kauai since 2016, Honolulu really wasn’t on my Hawaii to-do list. I thought we might day trip to Pearl Harbor National Memorial, but I was confident enough in my island choice that I initially booked round-trip tickets to Lihue on Kauai.

But as the actual trip drew closer, many people strongly recommended island-hopping at least once. When I spied direct flights from Honolulu to Minneapolis, I jumped on them. Suddenly we were spending three nights in Honolulu and I had absolutely no idea what to do in the tropical city.

Despite being home to one of the most popular urban beaches in the world, Honolulu itself doesn’t offer that many unique activities. Mostly it’s a place to soak up the sun and enjoy delicious food. Trust me, when you do sunshine and food as well as Honolulu does that’s really all you need to offer.

Here’s what we go up to during our short time in Honolulu’s famous tourist district, Waikiki.

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Headed to Honolulu soon? Read on!

What To Do in Honolulu: 13 Things To Do

If you prefer an active vacation, Honolulu will force you to slow down. We found Honolulu didn’t have a particularly distinctive personality, but you certainly can’t beat its setting. For being such a large urban area, it was surprisingly hard to answer the question: “What to do in Honolulu?”

By far the best things to do in Honolulu are soak up the ever-present sunshine and stuff your gob with as much delicious food as possible. Whether you’re spending a day or the better part of a week in Honolulu and Waikiki, here are the best things to do during your visit.

1. Explore Fort DeRussy Beach

One of the most famous beaches in the world, Waikiki Beach is a two-mile long sandy expanse that’s often thought of as nine separate beaches. If you’re staying inland in Waikiki,  the easiest one of these beaches to access is Fort DeRussy Beach.  I couldn’t believe how uncrowded the small beach was, although I imagine it fills up quickly during busier seasons. It proved the perfect place to dip my toes into the (very warm) Pacific Ocean. If you’re looking for more than beach lounging and splashing, rent kayaks and stand up paddle boards from a beach kiosk.

2. Hang out in Ainahau Triangle

Shout out to Travel by Brit for bringing this beautiful green Waikiki oasis to my attention. Filled with trees, shrubs, and other plants, Ainahau Trinagle was probably my favorite spot in Waikiki. It’s also where we first encountered the Hawaiian Islands’ omnipresent jungle fowl! While there isn’t really anything in particular to do in this park, it’s a lovely (and shady) place to just “be in Hawaii.” The park includes tennis courts, a military museum, and a World War II memorial.

3. Visit Pearl Harbor National Memorial

If you’re a first-time Honolulu visitor, chances are Pearl Harbor National Memorial already sits near the top of your Honolulu to-do list.  Located about a 25-minute drive from Waikiki, Pearl Harbor is Hawaii’s number one tourist attraction. In fact, our entire stay in Honolulu hinged on visiting this somber historic location. In addition to the USS Arizona Memorial, the site hosts three museums. If you’ve never been before, plan to spend about half a day at the site.

4. Shop at an ABC store

Maybe this is a silly thing to do, but you’ll find ABC Stores sprinkled all over Honolulu. These small convenience stores are kind of like gas stations without gas pumps. Despite their small size, they’re  packed with everything you might need in Hawaii. Stock up on sunscreen, sunglasses, beach towels, and souvenir t-shirts. They’re great spots to pick up a couple drinks to enjoy on your hotel lanai. I recommend the Kona Brewing Island Seltzer!

5. Hike Diamond Head

Diamond Head, a volcanic cone, dominates Waikiki’s eastern landscape. As you might expect, hikers who summit this volcano crater via a short .8 mile (one-way) trail are rewarded with sweeping views of Honolulu and eastern Oahu. Besides visiting Pearl Harbor, this was our favorite thing we did in Honolulu. In addition to great views, you also get to go inside an old military bunker!

However, don’t just head over to Diamond Head expecting to hit the trail. In June 2022, Hawaii State Parks started requiring hikers to make a timed reservation to access the trail. This effort to resolve trail overcrowding gives you a 60-minute window to start the hike.

Although you can walk to the Diamond Head trailhead from Waikiki, I strongly suggest getting a ride to the park entrance. The hike itself, while short, is steep and unshaded. I was certainly happy to have conserved my energy for the actual hike!

Fun fact: this was the first time I ever had the same Lyft driver to and from a location. Shout to Brian for being a fantastic Diamond Head chauffeur!

6. Eat a malasada

Similar to a jelly donut, these round, pillowy donuts actually originated in the Europe’s Hawaii: the Azores. When Portuguese workers came to work Hawaii’s sugar and pineapple plantations, they brought their pastries along. Today, the malasadas you buy in Hawaii are filled with delicious island flavors like coconut, mango, and passionfruit. Leonard’s Bakery makes some of the most famous malasadas in Hawaii. I grabbed mine at the more centrally located Liliha Bakery in the International Market Place off of Kalakaua Avenue.

7. Window shop on Kalakaua Avenue

The main throughfare in Waikiki is lined with high end shops and popular American restaurant franchises. If you want to buy a Hermes scarf and then grab dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, you can do that on Kalakaua Avenue. With its focus on catering to Waikiki’s four million annual visitors, I felt like I’d been transported to Las Vegas as I walked down the wide, palm tree lined avenue. While it’s fun to window shop, the area feels decidedly discordant with Hawaiian culture, which generally values experience over possessions.

8. Visit the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in the Punchbowl

Diamond Head isn’t the only volcanic cone in town. Just north of downtown Honolulu, you’ll find the Punchbowl. This volcanic crater houses National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, where more than 60,000 military members are laid to rest. After you’ve paid your respects, continue to the south rim overlook for an excellent Honolulu view.

9. Go to the Iolani Palace

Just below the Punchbowl sits Iolani Palace. The home of Hawaii’s last monarchs, the palace only dates back to 1882, which means it only served as a royal residence for nine years before the monarchy’s overthrow. Hawaii’s final monarch, Queen Liliʻuokalani was imprisoned in one of the palace’s upstairs bedroom for eight months in 1895 after loyalists tried to restore her to the throne. Today this stunningly beautiful building is a lovely place to learn about Hawaiian history.

10. Take an excursion

The number one recommendation we received from locals about what to do in Honolulu was to . . . get out of Honolulu! Suggested excursions included Manoa Falls, Queen Emma’s Summer Palace, the North Shore, and Makapu’u Point. If you’re in town for longer than 48 hours, definitely plan to travel beyond Honolulu’s city limits.

Didn’t rent a car? Check out my tips below about getting around on Oahu.

11. Get a Hawaiian dog

The Anthony Bourdain approved hot dogs served up at Hula Dog are a unique Hawaiian treat and so delicious. These made to order hot dogs are completely encased in their bun, then topped with your choice of garlic lemon sauce, tropical fruit relish, and mustard. Don’t worry – if your mind’s swimming with all the topping choices, just have the staff build your hot dog for you.

FYI: if you think these bear a striking similarity to Kauai’s Puka Dog, that’s because the Hula Dog brand splintered off Puka Dog when the company’s founders divorced.

12. Drink a coconut latte

I definitely went all in on coconut during my time in Hawaii. Basically, if it said “haupia” (a coconut cream dessert) I was ordering it. So I strongly recommend you make your morning coffee in Honolulu a coconut latte. My favorite was the Undertow at Brew + Foam.

13. Visit Foster Botanical Garden

If you liked Ainahau Triangle in Waikiki, consider venturing a little farther to the Foster Botanical Garden near downtown Honolulu. Not only is this the oldest botanical garden on Oahu, this 13.5 acre forest oasis hosts thousands of different plants from all over the globe. Highlights include the conservatory, butterfly garden, and a famous orchid collection. Free guided tours are available with the price of admission, but it’s recommended you reserve your tour spot in advance.

(Foster Botanical Garden is currently closed for an accessibility project until May 2023.)

Other Fun Activities in Honolulu

What To Do in Honolulu: A Mini Travel Guide

Where to Eat in Honolulu

Fish tacos and the fresh catch plate at Paia Fish Market

It’s not hard to find a good place to eat in Honolulu. The city brims with delicious food. Here are some of our favorite Waikiki restaurants.

Duke’s – Many, many Hawaii restaurants are located in hotels. One of the most popular and well-reviewed restaurants in Waikiki, Duke’s, is no exception. Located on the second level of the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, come for the amazing beach views – especially at sunset – and excellent Hawaiian fare. Reservations are recommended, but if you’re a group of two and go early, you’ll probably snag a table after a couple minutes. Be sure to save room for dessert.

Lilhia Bakery – We just grabbed our malasadas here, but I’ve heard great things about their breakfasts. Located in the third level of International Market Place right off of Kalakaua Avenue.

Paia Fish Market – As the name suggests this hopping counter service restaurant is an offshoot of the original Paia Fish Market in Maui. Located slightly inland on Kuhio Avenue, you won’t get fabulous beach views, but the food is fast and amazing.  We couldn’t believe how quickly our food came and how delicious it was. The only downside is that their bar selection is pretty limited.

The Sunrise Shack – A satellite store of the original Sunrise Shack on Oahu’s North Shore, this small storefront in the lobby of the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort is the perfect grab and go breakfast spot. They offer lots of “superfood” breakfast options including smoothie bowls, avocado toast, and bullet coffee.

Heavenly Island Lifestyle – A delicious ingredient forward restaurant. I highly recommend their Loco Moco!

How to get around Honolulu

Most Honolulu visitors stay in Waikiki, a relatively small, tourist-centric neighborhood absolutely packed with tower hotels on Honolulu’s east side. As you might expect, an area this dependent on tourism is very walkable. Your choice of beach, restaurant, or shopping is only ever a short walk away.

I don’t recommend renting a car in Waikiki. It’s a major urban area and considering the time you’ll spend sitting at stoplights, it’s faster to walk. In hindsight, I wish I’d selected a drop-off spot other than our hotel when we did rideshares to save both us and our drivers from Waikiki’s stop and start traffic.

However, if you want to see the best of Honolulu, you’re going to need some wheels. We used taxis and rideshares during our stay to explore Honolulu beyond Waikiki. However, there are definitely more cost-effective ways to get around Honolulu and Oahu.

How do you know you’re still in America when you’re in Honolulu? Because the only public transportation they offer is a bus system! That said, we could see a bus stop from our balcony and it appears “TheBus” (as Honolulu cleverly calls this service) runs very consistently. At just $3 a ride, it’s definitely the cheapest way to get around Honolulu. However, the price you pay is your time. TheBus takes more than an hour to do the otherwise approximately 25 minute drive to Pearl Harbor from downtown Waikiki.

Another option for getting around Honolulu and Oahu is Hui. This car share service has rental lots scattered around Honolulu. Prices start at just $12 an hour for a Prius. Definitely worth looking into if you want to do an Oahu excursion.

Lastly, you can use the hop on, hop off Waikiki Trolley to get around Honolulu. This is kind of a spendy option – especially if you’re just using it for one day – but it does come with narration so maybe that’s a selling point for you!

When to visit Honolulu

I was surprised to learn that Hawaii follows the same tourist season as the rest of the United States. High season in Honolulu correlates with school vacations. According to the locals we talked to, the busiest tourist time is from June – August. That’s also when the weather is considered the best: highs in the upper 80s and lows in the 70s.

That said, it never gets cold in Honolulu. Seriously, the record low is only 52 degrees Fahrenheit! All winter long, it’s a rare day that temps get below 65. Although winter is considered wet and cold in Honolulu, the most “inclement” weather we experienced were some overcast skies. I also couldn’t believe how warm the ocean was when I wade in.

Given the year-round temperature weather, I assumed winter would be the busiest as folks from the contiguous United States flee freezing temperatures. Apparently, that’s just my upper Midwest shining through. We saw so many fellow Minnesotans!

We found early December a really lovely time to visit. With many Americans not planning to use vacation until the holidays, Waikiki was only at about 30% capacity. We also happened to be visiting on Pearl Harbor Day which made our time at the Memorial all the more poignant. There’s a surge of visitors around Christmastime so expect hotel prices to rise accordingly. Of course, the city does get a fair amount of spring break visitors as well.

Where to Stay in Honolulu

There’s no shortage of massive tower hotels in Waikiki. While I’m sure highly recommended Waikiki hotels like the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort would have provided an excellent stay and unparalleled beach access, I definitely prefer smaller boutique hotels. I’m so glad we found Surfjack Hotel and Swim Club.

Tucked inland on Lewers St, you can reach the beach in just five minutes from the Surfjack. This remodeled 1960s hotel opened in 2016 in its current iteration. The property features a pool, restaurant, and coffee shop. Each of the hotel’s 112 rooms, which includes a mixture of standard hotel rooms and multi-bedroom suites, have their own lanai (balcony).

We somehow got upgraded to a two-bedroom suite which meant we had two private lanais! I really appreciate having a seating area separate from the bedroom which made our two private lanais extra special. What a perfect spot to enjoy my daily smoothie bowl!

While the Surfjack wouldn’t be classified as luxury, it was the perfect Honolulu base for us. I can’t say enough good things about the friendly staff. We also loved that they offered free coffee every morning. My only regret is that we didn’t get a chance to eat in their highly rated restaurant, Mahina and Sun’s.

If the Surfjack doesn’t quite sound like what you’re looking for in Waikiki, just use the widget below to find the Honolulu hotel for you. I also considered the Royal Hawaiian and Coconut Waikiki Hotel.

Recommended Reading Before Your Honolulu Trip

Have you visited Honolulu before? What would you tell a first-time visitor to do in Honolulu?