Honolulu Things To Do

From mythology to monarchy, the Bishop Museum offers an excellent introduction to Hawaii’s natural and cultural history. The planetarium points out what you’ll see in Hawaii’s night sky.

Although the hike to the top of this iconic peak is just under two miles long, you’ll climb nearly 550 feet to reach the breezy summit that offers stunning views of Waikiki and the Pacific.

‘Iolani Palace is the only royal palace in the United States. It was home to King Kalakaua, who oversaw its construction in 1882, and his successor, Queen Lili‘uokalani, who was imprisoned within the palace walls for nine months following the overthrow of the Hawaiian monarchy in 1893. Fascinating docent-led tours, offered Tuesday through Saturday, take visitors back in time through the palace corridors and into the state rooms, the private quarters, the galleries and the basement, for a peek at what palace life was like. Reserve at least one day in advance. The fee is $20 for adults and $5 for children 5-12. Alternatively, pay $12 ($5 for kids) and take a self-guided audio tour.

Tobacco heiress Doris Duke’s 15,000-square-foot home is an Arabian Nights’ fantasy, complete with around 3,500 pieces of art from Iran, Egypt, India, Morocco, Syria, and Iraq; reservations recommended.

Learning to surf needn’t take all day. Head to the Aloha Beach Services stand behind the Westin Sheraton Moana Surfrider Hotel on Waikiki for half-day surfing lessons.

Twilight tours every Saturday at the Honolulu Zoo illuminate creatures of land and sea in a different light. It’s a great place to bring the kids every other day of the week as well.

Take the whole family along to gaze at the incredibly diverse wildlife the Pacific Ocean has to offer. With unique species of fish, the aquarium is a great place to spend an afternoon.

In existence since 1900, the Honolulu Symphony is the longest-established orchestra west of the Rocky Mountains. Under the direction of the esteemed Andreas Delfs, the symphony collaborates with musicians from the around the world, such as violinist Cho-Liang Lin, to bring music written by the likes of Brahms and Wagner to life.

Calm water, a massive reef, and more than 400 species of fish make snorkeling at Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve a Technicolor flurry of reds, blues, and yellows. Rent equipment or bring your own. Note that the preserve is closed on Tuesdays and that it’s quite a long trek from the parking lot to the bay. Also, get there early as the park suspends entry when the parking lot is filled.

Some 2,335 military men and women died during the bombing of Pearl Harbor, and each year more than 1.5 million visit the stark-white marble memorial to the USS Arizona, as well as the USS Missouri, the USS Bowfin, and the Pearl Harbor Museum, where you can listen to survivor interviews.