What are the best things to do in Honolulu?
Start with a few fixed sights, then add one tour to fill the rest of the day. Hanauma Bay, Diamond Head and Iolani Palace each have set hours, so build your day around them first. The Pearl Harbor City Tour / USS Arizona Memorial from Aloha Hawaii Tours starts from $69 per person. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is at 100 Hanauma Bay Drive, Honolulu 96825.
| Place | What you can do | Good to know | Getting there | Hours or entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hanauma Bay | Snorkel rentals are available inside the preserve (credit or debit card only). | Visibility is usually best at low tide and early in the day, before snorkelers stir up sediment. | Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is at 100 Hanauma Bay Drive, Honolulu 96825. | The preserve is open Wednesdays through Sundays; entry 6:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.; the beach is cleared at 3:30 p.m. and visitors must leave by 4 p.m. |
| Diamond Head | From the parking lot on the crater floor, the trail to the summit is 0.8 mile (1.3 km) one way and climbs 560 feet (171 m). | - | Visitors with a parking reservation must exit the park by the end time of their reservation period. | Diamond Head State Monument is open 6:00 am to 6:00 pm daily, with last entry at 4:30 pm for the 4:00 pm reservation and gates closing at 6:00 pm. |
| Hawaii Loa Ridge | Nā Ala Hele lists the length as 3.5 mi (5.63 km) one way. | - | The trail follows the ridge up to the summit of the Koʻolau. | DLNR's September 30, 2026 news release says all forestry and wildlife lands on Oʻahu are open to the public. |
| Manoa Falls | Nā Ala Hele lists the length as 0.8 mi (1.29 km) one way. | - | Hikers can park in the Paradise Park lot for a $5.00 fee or park in the lower neighborhood for free. | The trail is open seven days a week, sunup to sundown. |
| Bishop Museum | The museum says it houses the largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific cultural artifacts and natural history specimens in the world. | - | 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96817. | Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. |
| Iolani Palace | The two main tours are a guided tour with a palace docent and a self-led audio tour; both cover the first and second floors, and the palace suggests allowing about 1 to 1.5 hours. | - | ʻIolani Palace is in downtown Honolulu on the corner of King Street and Richards Street. | The palace is open Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed Sunday and Monday. |
For a water outing, Discover Scuba Diving from Aloha Scuba Diving Co. starts from $99 per person and includes equipment and a guide. Parasailing from Go Hawaii Watersports starts from $45 per person, with equipment included. Pick scuba if you want to go under the surface. Pick parasailing if you would rather stay above it.
For a private group, the PRIVATE Circle Island Tour of Oahu from Hawaii Pacific Adventures starts from $949 for the group, with equipment and a guide included.
For whales, Whales and You from And You Creations starts from $99 per person. Whale Watching Oahu Boat Tour from Captain Max Boat Tours starts from $109 per person. Plan a backup day if whales are the main reason for your trip.
For land sights, the Bishop Museum says it houses the largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific cultural artifacts and natural history specimens in the world. The Nā Ulu Kaiwiʻula Native Hawaiian Garden shows plants important to Hawaiian culture.
How do you get to each place, and where do you park?
Head to the Bishop Museum at 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, Hawaiʻi 96817. ʻIolani Palace is in downtown Honolulu, on the corner of King Street and Richards Street.
Hikers can park in the Paradise Park lot for a $5.00 fee or park in the lower neighborhood for free. There is no parking on the fire lane between the Paradise Park lot and the Lyon Arboretum entrance.
Diamond Head visitors with a parking reservation must exit the park by the end time of that reservation. On the Hawaii Loa Ridge, do not stop or park in the subdivision. On the Kuliʻouʻou Ridge, do not park at the end of the cul-de-sac where it says No parking.
When are these places open, and what does it cost to go?
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve is open Wednesdays through Sundays, with entry from 6:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The beach is cleared at 3:30 p.m., and visitors must leave by 4 p.m.
The Bishop Museum is open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Manoa Falls trail is open seven days a week, from sunup to sundown.
The Manoa Falls parking fee is $5.00.
What rules and hazards should you know about?
Plan your Hanauma Bay visit around the morning. Visibility is usually best at low tide and early in the day, before snorkelers stir up sediment. Hanauma Bay was designated a Marine Life Conservation District in 1967, the state's first.
No pets are allowed in Diamond Head State Monument except service animals. The Diamond Head trail from the crater floor parking lot is 0.8 mile one way and climbs 560 feet.
The Hawaii Loa Ridge trail is 3.5 miles one way and gains 1,700 feet in elevation. The Kuliʻouʻou Ridge trail is 2.1 miles one way and gains 1,605 feet. The Manoa Falls trail is 0.8 mile one way and gains 396 feet.
At the Bishop Museum, service dogs are allowed but must be announced at the Admissions Desk, and other animals are not allowed. At ʻIolani Palace, shirts and footwear are required, and bathing suits and beachwear are not permitted.
Frequently asked questions
Does Hanauma Bay have snorkel rentals?
Yes, snorkel rentals are available inside Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, and they take credit or debit cards only.
How long is the Diamond Head Summit Trail?
The Diamond Head Summit Trail is 1.6 miles round trip.
