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Hawaii - Honolulu Maps & Attractions Guide
Hawaii - Honolulu maps & Attractions - Things to do
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Hawaii - Honolulu
Attractions - Things to do
1. Beaches
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What is it? The main attraction for visitors to Oahu are
the range of 139 beaches which, from the pounding waves of the
north shore to the gentle swells of Waikiki in the south, offer the
chance to bathe and soak up the sun, or tackle a variety of active
watersports in water temperatures that never fall below 75ºF (24ºC)
all year round. The south shore is favoured by families, offering
picnic spots and opportunities for snorkelling, tide-pooling and
swimming. Magic Island near Waikiki is a peninsula where the beach
is protected by a man-made breakwater offering safe bathing and a
stretch of shady, grassy areas on which to picnic. At Ala Moana
Beach a half-mile of white sand is protected by a reef, washed by
calm shallow waters. Hanauma Bay marine sanctuary is located in the
crater of an extinct volcano and is an ideal snorkelling spot while
Waikiki Beach, the most famous stretch of sand in the world, draws
about four million visitors a year to its sands where sun
worshippers can buy fast food, snacks and cocktails to enjoy under
their rented umbrellas. On the West coast the Ko Olina Resort and
Marina offers seven crescent shaped sandy beaches with palm trees
and views of the Waianae Mountains, and Yokohama Bay is a quiet,
beautiful spot away from the madding crowds. The North shore is
favoured by surfers, particularly during the winter months when
waves can reach heights of 25 feet (8m) at beaches like Ehukai with
its famed Pipeline, Sunset Beach and Waimea Beach. The East shore
boasts lush tropical beach settings with conditions ideal for
windsurfing and sailing. Kailua Beach Park is picturesque and
usually in the 'top ten beaches in the United States' lists.
Lanikai is even better. Sandy Beach is popular for kite-flying, and
Waimanalo offers four miles of uninterrupted white sand framed by
palm trees.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
2. Polynesian Cultural Centre
55-370 Kamehameha Highway (83)
www.polynesia.com |
What is it? Hawaii's top tourist attraction, the
Polynesian Cultural Centre, is situated on the Kamehameha Highway
in Laie on the scenic north shore of Oahu island. This remarkable
venue, visited by more than one million people a year, consists of
seven Polynesian 'islands' in a beautifully landscaped 42-acre
setting, representing Samoa, New Zealand, Fiji, Hawaii, Tahiti, the
Marquesas and Tonga, all sited in a freshwater lagoon. The centre
gives visitors a holistic insight into the culture of the different
Polynesian communities, employing students from the nearby Brigham
Young University-Hawaii campus to bring various activities, from
pageants and ceremonies to tribal tattooing demonstrations, to
life. A highlight of a visit to the Centre is the evening show
spectacular, 'Horizons', presented in the 2,770 seat Pacific
Theatre with its multi-level stages allowing for fiery volcanoes
and brilliant fountains to erupt as special effects in this huge
Polynesian song and dance revue.
Hours of Operation: Open Monday to Saturday. The box office is open 9am
to 8pm. Island tours and cultural presentations start at 12.30pm.
The seven cultural villages close at 6.30pm, but the various shows,
pageants, extravaganzas, shops, Imax theatre and restaurants are
open later. 'Horizons' starts at 7.30pm
Phone:800 367 7060 |
3. Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu
www.bishopmuseum.org |
What is it? The Bishop Museum in Honolulu is the largest
museum in Hawaii and the premier natural and cultural history
institution in the Pacific, recognised worldwide for its cultural
collections, research projects and educational programmes. The
museum was founded in 1889 by Charles Reed Bishop, in honour of his
late wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the last descendant of
the royal Kamehameha family of Hawaii. Originally the museum housed
the extensive family heirlooms of the royal family, but now the
collection includes millions of artefacts, documents and
photographs relating to Hawaii and other Pacific island cultures.
It also has one of the largest natural history specimen collections
in the world. All these treasures are housed in the former
Kamehameha School for Boys in Bernice Street, Honolulu, established
by the princess, which moved to a new location in
1940.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9am to 5pm
Phone:(808) 847 3511 |
4. Valley of the Temples
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What is it? Opposite a bustling shopping centre on the
Kahekili Highway in Kaneohe, below the Koolau mountains, nestles a
little piece of Japan tucked away in Hawaii. The Valley of the
Temples Memorial Park contains oriental gardens and koi ponds, a
massive nine-foot Buddha statue, Japanese Tea House and an exact
replica of Japan's 900-year-old Byodo-in Temple, the original of
which stands in Uji near Kyoto. The temple was recreated to honour
the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii.
Hours of Operation: Daily 8.30am to 4.30pm
Phone:(808) 239 8811 |
5. Iolani Palace
364 South King Street, Honolulu
www.iolanipalace.org |
What is it? The only royal residence in the United
States, the Iolani Palace, stands on the corner of King and Richard
Streets in Honolulu, its opulent interior giving a glimpse into the
lives of Hawaii's last reigning monarchs between 1882 and 1893.
Initially it was home to King Kalakaua and his Queen, until he died
in 1891. His successor, Queen Lili'uokalani, then took up residence
until the Hawaiian monarchy was overthrown in 1893 by the US
Marines in a palace coup. The palace has been fully restored.
Visitors on guided tours can see the portraits of Hawaiian kings
and queens, valuable vases and statuary, the grand staircase, the
throne room decorated in crimson and gold, the state dining room
and the royal family's private quarters.
Hours of Operation: Guided tours are offered every 30 minutes from
Tuesday to Saturday between 9am and 2pm. Tours must be booked in
advance
Phone:(808) 522 0822 |
6. Arizona Memorial Museum
1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu
www.nps.gov/usar |
What is it? The USS Arizona was one of several United
States battle ships that were sunk by the Japanese Imperial Navy
during its surprise historic attack on Pearl Harbour, Oahu, on
December 7, 1941, causing the US to enter into World War II.
Visitors are carried by Navy shuttle boats to the unusual memorial
centre, which has been constructed over the sunken hull that lies
six feet (2m) below. The Arizona sank in about nine minutes, along
with 1,177 sailors and marines who were on board. The names of the
dead are inscribed in stone inside the memorial. Visitors are shown
a documentary film and can view artefacts and exhibits explaining
the tragedy. The memorial is open daily, but there is always a
large queue for the free tickets, which are issued on a
first-come-first-served basis, so be prepared to wait. Bookings are
not taken.
Hours of Operation: Daily 7.30am to 5pm. Interpretive programs, including
a documentary film about the attack on Pearl Harbour and the boat
trip to the USS Arizona Memorial, begin at 8am (7.45am in summer).
The last program each day begins at 3pm
Phone:(808) 422 0561 |
7. Honolulu's Chinatown
www.chinatownhi.com |
What is it? Enter Honolulu's Chinatown neighbourhood
through the Gateway Plaza on the corner of Bethel and Hotel streets
in the city's downtown business district, and you step into an
exciting and exotic world made up of a colourful and eclectic blend
of Southeast Asian cultures. Here Vietnamese, Laotian, Chinese,
Japanese, Thai, Filipino, and a myriad of other ethnic groups work
in harmony to sell their wares, serve their delicacies and
perpetuate their cultural traditions. The market sells an array of
delicacies from noodles to duck eggs, and tantalising smells issue
from the numerous inexpensive speciality restaurants in this
15-block area. Visitors can also consult a herbalist, view an art
exhibit, watch a dragon procession, make an offering at a Buddhist
temple, or perhaps buy a precious jade memento in this rich and
memorable part of town.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
8. Haleakala National Park
www.nps.gov/hale |
What is it? The Haleakala National Park extends from the
summit of the volcano, down into the crater, then across the
volcano's southeast slopes to Maui's east coast, beyond the town of
Hana. The main reason for the park being visited by nearly one and
a half million people a year, is the attraction of peering down
into the crater of what is the world's largest dormant volcano.
Haleakala last erupted in 1790, and has been deadly quiet ever
since, although it is not considered to be inactive. The massive
crater covers 19 square miles (49km2): big enough to hold the whole
of Manhattan. Hawaiians regard the crater as a sacred site. It is
possible to drive to the summit along a twisting road that climbs
10,000 feet in just 37 miles (60km); visitors can also explore the
desolate landscape inside the crater on hiking or biking trails.
There are numerous other opportunities for recreational activities
in the National Park too. The Park's headquarters just inside the
park entrance provides information of activities and programmes
offered. The Haleakala Visitor Centre near the summit of the
volcano explains, via exhibits, the history, ecology, geology and
volcanology of the area.
Hours of Operation: Headquarters Visitor Center: daily 8am to 4pm;
Haleakala Visitor Center: daily from 7.30am to 3.30pm; Kipahulu
Visitor Center: daily 9am to 5pm
Phone:(808) 572 4400 |
9. Maui Ocean Centre
192 Ma'alaea Road, Wailuku
www.mauioceancenter.com |
What is it? The Maui Ocean Centre is an unrivalled
aquatic experience and the largest tropical reef aquarium in the
Western Hemisphere. The Centre is located in oceanfront Ma'alaea
Village off the Honoapiilani Highway, within minutes of all major
resort areas. It consists of indoor and outdoor displays allowing
visitors to see, touch and explore Hawaii's unique marine
environment. The walk-through aquarium contains thousands of fish
showcased in more than 60 interactive habitat
exhibits.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9am to 5pm, and until 6pm in July and
August
Phone:(808) 270 7000 |
10. Whalers Village Museum
Whalers Village Shopping Centre, 2435 Ka'anapali
Parkway
www.whalersvillage.com |
What is it? The whaling museum in the heart of Maui's
commercial centre, Lahaina, documents the sleepy port city's
evolution into a whaling boomtown in the middle of the 19th
century, combining exhibits and educational displays. The Whaler's
Village Museum is home to an impressive collection of whaling
memorabilia including harpoons, sea chests and a re-creation of the
crew's quarters on a typical whaling boat between 1825 and 1860,
when men spent months afloat in a harsh environment chasing their
massive quarry. The centre also shows films about whales and
whaling history throughout the day.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9.30am to 10pm
Phone:(808) 661 5992 |
11. Baldwin Home Museum
Front and Dickenson Streets, Lahaina
www.lahainarestoration.org/baldwin.html |
What is it? One of Lahaina's best preserved 19th-century
landmarks, the house in Front Street built by Rev. Dwight Baldwin
in 1834, stands now as the oldest house in Maui. Baldwin was a
missionary who started a farm on the island and was responsible for
growing the first plantations of Hawaii's indigenous pineapples,
the fruit that is now enjoyed worldwide. Baldwin's home gives an
insight into island life in the missionary era. Alongside is the
Master's Reading Room, another of Maui's oldest buildings, which
used to be frequented by visiting sea captains when missionaries
closed down seafront bars in the early 19th century. The building
is now occupied by the Lahaina Restoration Foundation, which issues
maps and guides for visitors wishing to take a walking tour around
Lahaina's historic attractions.
Hours of Operation: 10am to 4.30pm daily
Phone:(808) 661 3262 |
12. Hana Highway
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What is it? No visit to Maui is complete without hitting
the highway - the Hana Highway, that is, that runs for about 50
miles (81km) between Kailua and Hana on the northeastern coast of
the island. This hair-raising but incredibly scenic coastal drive
was built in 1927 by gangs of convicts. It twists and turns its way
along the coastal cliffs, containing 56 bridges and 600 hairpin
bends. The route winds through numerous lush valleys lined with
dozens of waterfalls, dense rainforest, bamboo thickets, fern
groves and tulip trees. Visitors need at least a day to traverse
the route, stopping to enjoy a dip in mountain pools or exploring
off-shooting hiking trails, many of which lead to historic sites,
like the little 19th century church built of lava and coral in the
village of Keanae. There are two national parks on the route, some
lava caves, blowholes, temple ruins and of course unsurpassed
views.
Hours of Operation:
Phone: |
13. Enchanting Floral Gardens of Kula
Highway 37
www.flowersofmaui.com |
What is it? Maui's beautiful botanic gardens cover eight
acres on the slopes of Haleakala volcano at an elevation of 2,500
feet. The gardens contain more than 1,500 species of tropical and
semi-tropical plants, most of them flowering, from around the
world, including proteas, orchids, hibiscus and jade vines. Banks
of aromatic flowers cover the gardenscape, interspersed with lush
tropical fruit trees.
Hours of Operation: Daily 9am to 5pm
Phone:(808) 878 2531 |
14. Hulihe'e Palace
75-5718 Ali?i Drive, Kailua-Kona
www.huliheepalace.org |
What is it? The stately mansion of Hulihe'e is situated
on Alii Drive in Kailua Kona on the west coast of Hawaii's Big
Island. It was built in 1883 and served as the holiday home of
Hawaiian royalty until 1925 when it was turned into a museum; it
now houses a collection of ancient Hawaiian artefacts and personal
memorabilia of the Hawaiian royal family. The bust of King
Kalakaua's presides over the entrance hall, while the beautiful Koa
dining table carved from a single log of wood graces the Kuhio
Room. Little touches like Princess Ruth's hatbox made from the
trunk of a coconut tree and the cradle of Prince Albert, son of
King Kamehameha IV, bring alive a sense of history in the house.
The highlight of the collection is the impressive wardrobe in the
Kawanakoa Room, which is made of koa wood and trimmed with the
King's crest and carvings of classic Greek
muses.
Hours of Operation: Monday to Saturday 9am to 4pm, Sunday 10am to
4pm
Phone:(808) 329 1877 |
15. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
www.nps.gov/havo |
What is it? In the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
surrounding the earth's most massive volcano, Mauna Loa, visitors
can actually watch lava flow into the sea from Kilauea, the still
active on-site volcano. Park rangers direct visitors to the daily
eruption activity on a dramatic burnt landscape, which transforms
the landscape with the ongoing eruption on Hawaii's Big Island. The
park is located 30 miles southwest of Hilo on Highway 11, on the
south-east coast of Big Island. Inside the park the Thomas A Jaggar
Museum provides a fascinating insight into the geology of a
volcano, as well as the cultural aspect of Hawaii's legendary
volcano goddess, Pele. Visitors can view seismograph readings,
study earth science displays and enjoy photographs of volcanic
eruptions.
Hours of Operation: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is open 24 hours a day
all year. Kilauea Visitor Center is open daily from 7.45am to 5pm
and Jaggar Museum is open daily from 8.30am to 5pm
Phone:(808) 985 6000 |
16. Pacific Tsunami Museum
130 Kamehameha Avenue, Hilo
www.tsunami.org |
What is it? The town of Hilo on the Hamakua Coast of Big
Island has been destroyed several times by tsunami (tidal waves).
The first-hand oral testimony of tsunami survivors is now preserved
along with some other fascinating information in the Pacific
Tsunami Museum, located on Kamehameha Avenue in the town. The
museum features a series of permanent exhibits that interpret the
tsunami phenomena, the Pacific Tsunami Warning system, the history
of tsunami in the Pacific Basin, tsunami of the future, myths and
legends about tsunami and public safety measures for tsunami
disasters.
Hours of Operation: Monday to Saturday from 9am to 4pm
Phone:(808) 935 0926 |
17. Parker Ranch
67-1435 Mamalahoa Hwy, Kamuela
www.parkerranch.com |
What is it? Forget about the Wild West, Hawaii gave birth
to the original cowboys about 40 years before they took over Texas.
The history of the Hawaiian Paniolo (cowboy) culture, going back
200 years, is captured in the Parker Ranch Museum and Visitor
Centre in Waimea. Here visitors can experience paniolo herding,
cutting, roping, branding and cattle-sorting on a wagon-ride that
also takes in some ancient Hawaiian artefacts and historic corrals
in the hill country, over and above the working cowboy station. The
Parker Ranch is the third largest privately owned ranch in the
United States. The Museum contains antique ranching tools, historic
photographs and furnishings and is complemented by two historic
homes on the site, which are open to visitors. The Mana Hale
saltbox house, built of koa wood by Parker Ranch founder, John
Palmer Parker, dates from the mid-1800s. The large Victorian home
Puuopelo houses an art gallery containing some original works by
Renoir, Degas, Dufy, Corot and Pissarro. Professional and amateur
rodeo competitions are held regularly at the
arena.
Hours of Operation: Monday to Saturday 9am to 5pm
Phone:(808) 885 7655 |
18. Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park
www.nps.gov/puho |
What is it? This important Hawaiian cultural and
historical site on the black-lava Kona Coast of the Big Island
contains some forbidding-looking giant idols, although it was in
fact built as a refuge for ancient Hawaiians who had violated kapu
(social taboo) or as a sanctuary for defeated warriors. The
surrounding area outside the huge enclosing wall was home to
several generations of powerful chiefs. The 182-acre park also
boasts other archaeological sites including some temple platforms,
royal fishponds and the ruins of ancient villages. The Hale o Keawe
temple, which contains the mortal remains of 23 Hawaiian chiefs,
and some thatched buildings have been
reconstructed.
Hours of Operation: The Park is open from 6am to 11pm on Fridays,
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, and from 6am to 8pm on weekdays.
The visitor centre is open from 8am to 5pm daily
Phone:(808) 328 2326 |
19. Kona Coffee Museum and Farm
www.konahistorical.org |
What is it? For a taste of the coffee industry that
flourished in the early 20th century on the Big Island visitors can
tour the Uchida Coffee Farm, south of Kealakekua town on the Kona
Coast. Tour guides in period costumes show off the original
farmhouse, bathhouse, coffee mill and drying platforms. Only a few
miles away is the Kona Historical Society Museum, housed in the old
Greenwell family store, where photographs, ranching and coffee
farming exhibits are on display. The store was built by Henry
Greenwell in 1875.
Hours of Operation: Living History Farm Tours Monday to Friday on the
hour between 9am and 1pm
Phone:(808) 323 3222 |
20. Ellison S Onizuka Space Centre
Keahole-Kona International Airport, Kailua-Kona
www.hawaiimuseums.org/mc/ishawaii_astronaut.htm |
What is it? Visitors passing through the Kona
International Airport will not be able to miss the clearly marked
space centre that is dedicated to the memory of Big Island born
astronaut, Ellison Onizuka. The astronaut died in the 1986
Challenger Space Shuttle disaster, and the educational centre not
only commemorates this event, but also contains displays about
other manned space flight programmes, an interactive rocket
propulsion exhibit, a moon rock, astronaut suit and models of
spacecraft.
Hours of Operation: Daily 8.30am to 4.30pm
Phone:(808) 329 3441 |
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