Things To Do
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
For those interested in history, this is a great stop. You can get tickets online in advance (with a small reservation fee) or can wait on the day of for available tickets (this has always worked in the past for Megan and friends). There are museum areas to see while you wait to go out to the Arizona memorial itself. You can also get tickets to go out to Ford island and see the Missouri as well. Bonus: December 7th is Pearl Harbor Day, so you could even plan a visit on the anniversary. This year is the 83rd anniversary!
Halona Blowhole Lookout
This as well as the other lookout points on the east coast (between Hanauma bay and Makapu'u Beach Park) are some of the best viewpoints on the island! The drive here is stunning!! It is very accessible and should be on everybody's list of places to see!!
Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout
Great view of the East/Windward side of the island! There is a parking lot and a very short walk. Highly recommend a short stop! There are also a few signs here taking about the history of the uniting of the Hawaiian islands, so if you want some Hawaiian history, this is a good short introduction.
Tantalus Lookout - Puu Ualakaa State Park
This is a great place to view the city of Honolulu! It's pretty during the day and in the evening to see the city lights. There is parking and a very short walk on the grass/concrete to get here, so very accessible. On the way up here, be sure to stop at the "jungle swing".
Kailua Beach
Beautiful beach on the windward side! Definitely worth stopping here. It's a great place to watch kite surfers.
Ala Moana Beach
Great beach right in Honolulu! Good place to watch sunset.
Magic Island
Despite the name, this is actually a (very accessible) peninsula next to Ala Moana beach (one of the best beaches). This is a great place to watch the Friday Night fireworks (they happen at the West side of Waikiki, so this is a prefect spot to watch) or go for a walk/run (there is a paved path around the peninsula).
China Walls
Park in the nearby neighborhood, walk through the park, make your way down the rocky path (may be difficult if you have mobility challenges), and find your way to the rock edge. This is an excellent place to watch sunset! Forewarning that there can sometimes be a young crowd doing a small bit of partying (jumping into the ocean, smoking, etc).
Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden
The views here are amazing! Take the drive out to this free park/garden and enjoy some time viewing different tropical plants.
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
This is some of the best snorkeling you will find! Be sure to make reservations online before going (see state park website for details).
Blue Planet Adventure Co
This is one of a few shops in the area where you can rent a kayak or SUP to take on the river. This is a great place to see turtles, and, because it's a river, the water is very calm, so this is great for beginners too! (Megan loves the nearby Banzai Bowls shop for açaí bowls/smoothies after a good paddle on the river too!!)
Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail
This is an excellent hike for sunrise (or any time of day)! The trail is entirely paved, so relatively easy. There is free parking, but the lot can get full when it's busy. From this hike, you can sometimes get a view of the islands to the east (Lani'i, Molokai'i, and Maui) or see whales!
Mānoa Falls Trail
This is a popular and relatively easy hike to a gorgeous waterfall. It can be crowded, so if your're a more experienced hiker and/or want something more quiet, another hike may be better for you. There is a parking lot here where you will pay a few dollars to park. Follow the crowd or use the All Trails app (website linked) for directions.
Diamond Head
This is a popular hike with views overlooking Waikiki. Reservations are required, so be sure to check out the state website for details!
Lanikai Pillbox Trail
This is a beautiful sunrise hike (but gorgeous during the day too) that takes you to an old bunker (aka pillbox). Parking in the Lanikai neighborhood can sometimes be tricky but is worth it. From here, there are great views of the windward side and the mokes (iconic islets off the coast)! (See the All Trails website linked for more details.)
Lulumahu Falls
This is probably Megan's favorite hike on the island. (Free parking is right off the Pali highway right after the intersection with the Old Pali road.) It can be a bit more challenging and at about the halfway point, you need to walk across a dam or walk in the river so river hiking sandals or other shoes that can get wet are a great option. The All Trails app (website linked) can be a great resource for directions. The reward for completing this hike is seeing a beautiful waterfall!
Dole Plantation
Stop here for some delicious Dole whip! You can see just the shop and get some food or choose to explore the maze, take a train ride, or generally make a longer stop of this.
Polynesian Cultural Center
If you are willing to commit a day (plus the hour or so drive from Honolulu) and spend a bit (tickets can be a bit expensive), a visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center can be an excellent and educational use of a day! There are small shows and activities during the day, optional Luau, and an evening show to be seen as well as some shops.
Ala Moana Center
This is an open air mall/fun shopping center. Take a stroll and enjoy some shopping or food here!
Kalākaua Avenue
This is the main road in Waikiki and is the place to stroll when looking for Waikiki restaurants and shops! Be sure to check out the International Market Place (mall along this street) while you're here.
North Shore Marketplace
Good options for shopping and food on the North Shore!
Island Brew Coffeehouse
This is a great coffee shop to stop at if you want somewhere a little outside of downtown and Waikiki or on your way to/from the sites on the east side of the island (Makapu'u lighthouse, Hanauma bay, etc). They sell Hawaiian coffee, so this is a great place to check out if you'r a coffee connoisseur. There are a few other locations of this coffeehouse as well if you don't want to drive out to Hawaii Kai.
Giovanni's Shrimp Truck
Arguably the best shrimp truck on the island, this is a must-visit for seafood lovers! Be sure to bring cash (last Megan visited it was cash-only).
Banzai Bowls Haleiwa
Yummy açaí bowls and smoothies here!
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue
This is a popular Hawaiian barbecue chain worth checking out while you're in town!
Kono's Northshore - Waikiki
There are multiple locations of this Hawaiian restaurant. Check out the website for their locations!