Honolulu

By Joyce Ira

Edit this page

Canyons of USS MIssouri

BIg Waves of Halona Beach

Honolulu is the largest city and capital of the state of Hawaii which is also known as the “Sheltered Bay” or the “Peace of Shelter”. Being blessed with big waves and white sand beaches, Honolulu is one of the most favourite tourist destinations in the world.

Beaches you can explore in Honolulu.

Waikiki Beach – considered as the best tourist destination in the world.

Halona Beach – also known as the Peering Place.

Kuhio Beach – quiet version of Waikiki

Sandy Beach – perfect for sunbathing and playing with the waves.

The beaches are the main tourist attraction in Honolulu. Beach lovers gather here to enjoy the waves and surf with them while children like the sand to build castles. Aside from the beautiful waters, there are other places that you can explore in Honolulu. Refer to the list below.

1. Battleship Missouri Memorial – located in the Fort Island, Pearl Harbour. If you have seen the USS Arizona Memorial then this battleship is going to be a must see. It is known to the site where World War II ended when the Japanese military surrendered to the Allied Forces. At the USS Bowfin Museum, tickets are available for the Battleship Missouri Memorial. Admission is $16/adults and $8/children below 8. They are open daily from 9am-5pm except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. For more information, contact +1 808 423 2263.

2. USS Arizona Memorial - built over the hull of the sunken battleship USS Arizona, commemorates the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor which brought the U.S. into World War II. Tickets are given out on a first-come-first-served basis and are limited; tickets may run out by noon on busy days. Expect wait times of about one hour. Free admission. For more information, contact +1 808 422 0561.

3. National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific – this is the final resting place of over 45,000 Americans who served their country. There is a large marble shrine inscribed with 28,000 names of the soldiers missing in action in World War II. Admission is Free and they are open daily from 8am-5:30pm.

4. Bishop Museum – is a non-profit institution founded by Charles Reed Bishop in 1889. It aims to record, preserve and tell stories of Hawaii and the Pacific to every guest to enable them to feel the natural and cultural world. The museum is the leading repository of natural and cultural history in the Pacific, recognized throughout the world for its cultural collections, research projects, consulting services and public educational programs. It also maintains one of the largest natural history specimen collections in the world. Admission is $14.95/adults, seniors (65+) $11.95/children 4-12, $11.95, children under 3 free. For more information, dial +1 808 847 3511.

5. The Contemporary Museum - devoted exclusively to contemporary art. They are open every Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-4pm.

6. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve - Hanauma Bay is not a place for beach sports but is instead a bay formed in the crater of an extinct volcano and filled with a wonderful coral reef and many fish. It is a great place for snorkeling and scuba diving. If you're driving you'll want to get there early in the morning (by 8:00AM) to ensure you get a space as parking is limited. Otherwise, parking may be available again by afternoon as people leave. On the weekends, public buses from Waikiki fill up and will not stop if full; you can get a shuttle package from most Waikiki hotels for about $15, round trip with snorkel gear, not including admission (ask your concierge). Admission $5 for adults, Hawaii residents and children under 13 free. Parking $1. Snorkel rental available. Plan on 20 additional minutes before entering, as lines may be long, and all new visitors (as well as visitors who have not visited in the past year) are REQUIRED to watch an orientation video. Bring water and food. There is a snack bar, but it's limited and pricey. Also keep an eye on the tides; at low tide you will be swimming right on top of the reef, which is harder and makes it less easy to see. Free admissions.

7. Diamond Head State Monument - ancient volcanic crater is a former US military site, but portions are open to the public. Specifically, there is a hiking trail that winds up the inside of the crater to the summit on the western side of the crater wall, 761 feet above sea level. To reach the trail, you can drive or walk up the road that leads into the crater basin (through a tunnel in the crater wall). There is a park fee of $5 to enter, after which a winding path up the crater wall leading to a World War II-era bunker with a steep staircase of over 100 steps, takes you to the top. Open daily from 6am-6pm.

Around the town you can also enjoy shopping at the International Market Place, Aloha Stadium Swap Meet, Ala Moana Shopping Centre, Victoria Ward Gardens and Aloha Tower Marketplace. They have good products and sold in fair prices.

For dining try, Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. for some seafood delights, Jimbo which is a Japanese restaurant – famous for their classical udon, Olive Tree a Mediterranean restaurant and Ono Hawaiian Foods for some delightful local cuisines.


Honolulu is served by Honolulu International Airport where it is served by most major American airlines from the mainland U.S., and by many international airlines from other countries around the Pacific Rim.

Around the town, you will find it easy to navigate as there are buses and taxis available. Bus ticket is at $2.25/adults and $1/children.




Edit this page