On this page
About Honolulu
Honolulu stretches along Oahu's south shore from Hawaii Kai in the east to Pearl Harbor and the airport in the west, with the Koolau Range behind it. Waikiki, a 2-mile (3 km) strip of hotels and beaches, is the visitor center and has its own page; the Ala Wai Canal separates it from Manoa, McCully and Moiliili. Diamond Head (Leahi), a volcanic crater at Waikiki's eastern end, is a state monument with a trail to the summit. West of Waikiki are Ala Moana Beach Park and Ala Moana Center, then Kakaako with its murals, breweries and restaurants, and Downtown Honolulu with Iolani Palace (the only royal palace on US soil), Kawaiahao Church and the state capitol. Chinatown, next to Downtown, has Oahu Market, lei shops and late-night bars. Manoa Valley holds the University of Hawaii, Lyon Arboretum and the Manoa Falls trail. East of Diamond Head, Kahala and Hawaii Kai lead to Hanauma Bay, Koko Head, Sandy Beach and Makapuu. West of Downtown, Pearl Harbor holds the USS Arizona Memorial and the Battleship Missouri. Transport is TheBus (an island-wide network), the Skyline elevated rail between East Kapolei and the Kalihi Transit Center (the airport stations opened on 16 October 2025; the line does not yet reach Downtown, Chinatown, Kakaako or Waikiki), Biki bike share, taxis and rideshare. The climate is tropical and mild year round, with trade winds, a drier season from May to October and a wetter season from November to April, and a hurricane season from 1 June to 30 November. Hawaiian words appear everywhere (mauka means toward the mountains, makai toward the sea), and Hawaiian language, culture and sacred sites deserve respect. Day trips from Honolulu include the North Shore, Kailua and Lanikai, Kualoa Ranch, the Polynesian Cultural Center and the Dole Plantation.
- Capital
- Honolulu (state capital of Hawaii)
- Largest city
- Honolulu
- Population
- About 350,000 in Urban Honolulu (350,964 at the 2020 census); about 1.0 million on the island of Oahu (City and County of Honolulu)
- Languages
- English, Hawaiian, Tagalog, Japanese
- Currency
- US Dollar
- Time zone
- Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time (HST): UTC-10 all year; Hawaii does not observe daylight saving time (Pacific/Honolulu)
Explore Honolulu by topic
Jump straight to the experience you're planning.
Best places to visit in Honolulu
The 24 destinations our editors recommend — from iconic landmarks to under-the-radar finds.
Battleship Missouri Memorial
USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park
Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum
Iolani Palace
King Kamehameha I Statue
Recommended itineraries
Pick a length, follow the route. Each itinerary balances headline sights with breathing room.
5-Day Honolulu Explorer
- Day 1Arrive in Honolulu, explore city center
- Day 2Visit top attractions and museums
- Day 3Day trip to nearby highlights
- Day 4Local markets and hidden gems
- Day 5Final sightseeing, departure
7-Day Classic Honolulu
- Days 1-2Honolulu city highlights
- Days 3-4Regional exploration
- Days 5-6Cultural immersion and local experiences
- Day 7Return and departure
14-Day Ultimate Honolulu
- Days 1-3Honolulu comprehensive city tour
- Days 4-6Northern region exploration
- Days 7-9Eastern highlights
- Days 10-12Southern attractions
- Days 13-14Return to Honolulu, departure
Where to stay in Honolulu
Three tiers, every traveller covered — from cost-conscious to flagship hotels.
Budget $150-230 (about US$150-230) per person
Hostels, budget hotels, and guesthouses offer affordable stays without sacrificing experience.
Mid-range $350-550 (about US$350-550) per person
Boutique hotels and well-located accommodations provide comfort and convenience at reasonable prices.
Luxury $800+ (about US$800+) per person
World-class resorts and premium hotels deliver unforgettable experiences.
Halekulani
Waikiki's most celebrated luxury address, a low-rise beachfront resort at the quiet Diamond Head-facing end of Kalia Road, home to the tasting room La Mer and the House Without a Key beachside terrace.
Check rates on Booking.comThe Royal Hawaiian, a Luxury Collection Resort
The pink 1927 Spanish-Moorish hotel known as the Pink Palace, set on a wide stretch of Waikiki Beach beside the Royal Hawaiian Center.
Check rates on Booking.comMoana Surfrider, A Westin Resort & Spa
Waikiki's first hotel (1901), a colonial-style beachfront landmark with a historic Banyan Wing, a beachside bar under a century-old banyan and a renovated tower.
Check rates on Booking.comKa La'i Waikiki Beach, LXR Hotels & Resorts
All-suite beachfront tower on Saratoga Road at the western end of Waikiki Beach, previously the Trump International Hotel Waikiki and now operated under Hilton's LXR brand.
Check rates on Booking.comWhere to eat in Honolulu
Cafés, neighbourhood gems, and tasting menus worth the table reservation.
Rainbow Drive-In
Leonard's Bakery
Liliha Bakery
Helena's Hawaiian Food
Highway Inn Kakaako
Ono Seafood
Book a food tour in Honolulu We may earn a commission from bookings made through this link.
Getting around Honolulu
Honolulu combines TheBus, the Skyline elevated rail, Biki bikes and plentiful taxis and rideshares. Most visitors need no car in Waikiki and rent one only for the North Shore, Windward coast and Waianae coast.
Budget breakdown
Daily spend by tier in USD, broken out by category.
| Category | Budget | Mid-range | Luxury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation | $45-90 (US$45-90) for a hostel dorm bed in Waikiki such as Waikiki Beachside Hostel, or $150-220 (US$150-220) for a basic hotel room before taxes | $250-420 (US$250-420) per night for a mid-range Waikiki hotel, before about 18.7% in taxes (11% state transient accommodations tax, 3% Honolulu county surcharge and 4.712% general excise tax), plus daily resort fees of $30-50 at many hotels | $550+ (US$550+) per night at oceanfront resorts such as Halekulani and The Royal Hawaiian, before taxes and resort fees |
| Food (per day) | $30-50 (US$30-50) (plate lunches at Rainbow Drive-In, poke from supermarkets such as Foodland, malasadas and shave ice) | $80-140 (US$80-140) (sit-down lunch and dinner, a drink and coffee) | $200-400+ (US$200-400+) (Hawaii Regional fine dining, tasting menus and cocktails) |
| Transportation | $0-7.50 (US$0-7.50) (TheBus and Skyline fares are $3 per ride with a daily cap of $7.50 on a HOLO card) | $10-50 (US$10-50) (TheBus, occasional Uber or Lyft, Biki rides) | $60-250 (US$60-250) (private car, valet parking at about $50-65 per night) |
| Activities | $0-40 (US$0-40) (free beaches and sunsets; Hanauma Bay admission $25 for nonresidents; Diamond Head State Monument has a nonresident entry fee, confirm at gostateparks.hawaii.gov/diamondhead) | $50-150 (US$50-150) (Pearl Harbor sites, a snorkel or surf lesson, Bishop Museum, Iolani Palace) | $150+ (US$150+) (private sails, helicopter tours, spa days and golf) |
| Daily total | $150-230 (about US$150-230) per person | $350-550 (about US$350-550) per person | $800+ (about US$800+) per person |
Best time to visit Honolulu
Weather through the year in Honolulu
Best time Shoulder Worth avoiding
Average daytime temperature in °C.
Honolulu has a tropical climate with little seasonal change. Average highs are about 80F (27C) in winter and 88-89F (31C) in late summer, with lows of 66-76F (19-24C). Annual rainfall at the airport is only about 17-20 inches (430-500 mm), far less than in the Koolau Mountains behind the city, where Manoa gets well over 100 inches. Sea temperatures range from about 76F (24C) in March to 81F (27C) in September. Northeast trade winds cool the island most of the year.
The wetter season runs from November to April, with passing showers and occasional Kona-wind storms that bring flooding and high surf; the drier season is May to October. South-shore beaches get the biggest surf in summer and north and east shores in winter, so check ocean conditions at hawaiibeachsafety.com. UV is strong all year; wear reef-safe mineral sunscreen, since Hawaii law bans sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate. Pack a light rain jacket for Manoa and hiking trails.
Essential travel tips
- Reserve Diamond Head State Monument (nonresidents need an advance online reservation at gostateparks.hawaii.gov/diamondhead), Hanauma Bay (reserve online via honolulu.gov/dpr/hanauma-bay-nature-preserve; closed Monday and Tuesday) and the USS Arizona Memorial (tickets at recreation.gov) before arrival; release windows and fees change, so confirm each.
- Expect hotel taxes of about 18.7% (state transient accommodations tax raised to 11% on 1 January 2026 for the Green Fee, plus a 3% Honolulu county surcharge, plus 4.712% general excise tax) and resort fees of $30-50 per night on top of the room rate.
- Get a HOLO card for TheBus and Skyline; $3 per ride with a $7.50 daily cap beats paying cash each time.
- Wear reef-safe sunscreen, carry water and leave nothing visible in a parked car.
- Take shoes off before entering homes and many small shops; say mahalo (thank you) and aloha, and do not climb on or disturb sacred sites, heiau or graves.
- Book Waikiki hotels 3-6 months ahead for December to January and summer.
- Eat where locals do: plate lunches at Rainbow Drive-In cost far less than Waikiki beachfront restaurants.
- Tip 18-20% at restaurants and $1-2 per drink; there is no sales tax, but a 4.712% general excise tax is added to most prices.
Safety information
Never leave anything in a parked rental car, including bags, jackets, towels and phone chargers; theft from rental cars at trailheads, scenic lookouts and beach parking lots is the most common crime visitors report on Oahu. Empty the car and leave the glove box open.
Swim only at beaches with lifeguards and heed the flags and signs; ocean drownings are a leading cause of visitor deaths in Hawaii. Check conditions at hawaiibeachsafety.com before entering the water.
If caught in a rip current, stay calm, do not fight it, swim parallel to shore until free and then toward the beach; wave and shout for a lifeguard if tired.
Watch for shore break at Sandy Beach and big winter surf (November to March) on the North Shore; never turn your back on the ocean and keep children away from wet rocks.
Box jellyfish appear in Waikiki and other south-shore waters about 8-10 days after a full moon; lifeguards post warnings. Portuguese man o' war wash ashore on windward beaches such as Kailua and Lanikai in trade winds. Rinse stings with seawater, remove tentacles, use vinegar for box jellyfish and see a lifeguard.
Tsunami sirens are tested statewide on the first working day of every month at 11:45 am; if a siren sounds at any other time, go to higher ground or the fourth floor or above of a sturdy building and tune to local radio or dod.hawaii.gov/hiema.
Hike with water, sun protection and closed shoes; Koko Head Crater stairs and Diamond Head can be dangerously hot after 10 am, and Manoa Falls trail is slippery after rain. Stay on marked trails, obey closures and do not enter the closed Haiku Stairs (Stairway to Heaven).
Avoid stream crossings and waterfalls after rain; flash floods rise within minutes in valleys, and freshwater streams can carry leptospirosis, so do not swim with open cuts.
Use mineral sunscreen with SPF 30+, reapply every two hours and wear a hat; the UV index is 8-11 for much of the year and sunburn is the most common visitor medical problem.
Keep at least 10 feet from sea turtles and 50 feet from Hawaiian monk seals; both are federally protected and disturbing them can bring large fines. Report injured or harassed marine animals to the NOAA marine wildlife hotline 888-256-9840.
At night, stay on lit, busy streets in Waikiki and Chinatown; use rideshare after dark in downtown Honolulu and avoid isolated parks and beach edges after dark.
Carry travel insurance with medical cover; US emergency care is costly and EU and UK health cards are not valid.
Frequently asked questions
Is Honolulu safe for tourists?
Generally yes in Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kakaako and Downtown. The main risks are car break-ins at beaches and trailheads, ocean hazards such as rip currents and shore break, strong sun and, from June to November, hurricanes. Dial 911 in any emergency.
How many days are enough for Honolulu?
Three to four days cover Waikiki, Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head, Iolani Palace and one beach or snorkeling day. Allow extra days for the North Shore, Kailua and Kualoa Ranch.
Do visitors need a car in Honolulu?
Not for Waikiki, Ala Moana, Kakaako and Downtown, which are covered by walking, TheBus, Biki and rideshare. A car helps for the North Shore, the windward coast and some trailheads, but hotel parking in Waikiki costs about $40-65 per night.
What is the best time to visit Honolulu?
April to June and September to October have sunny weather and fewer crowds. December to January and June to August are busiest and priciest. Hurricane season runs from 1 June to 30 November.
How do visitors get from Honolulu Airport to Waikiki?
HNL is about 9 miles west of Waikiki. Rideshare typically costs $30-50, a taxi $40-55, shuttles about $20-30 per person, and TheBus Route 20 costs $3. The Skyline rail stops at the airport but does not yet reach Waikiki.
Do visitors need reservations for Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay and Pearl Harbor?
Yes. Nonresidents need an advance online reservation for Diamond Head State Monument and Hanauma Bay (closed Monday and Tuesday), and USS Arizona Memorial tickets are reserved at recreation.gov. Release windows and fees change, so confirm on the official sites.
What taxes will visitors pay on hotels in Honolulu?
About 18.7% in total: the state transient accommodations tax (11% since 1 January 2026, including the Green Fee increase), the 3% Honolulu county surcharge and the 4.712% general excise tax. Many hotels also add resort fees.