I am going to be in Honolulu from late afternoon Wednesday March 30th until late afternoon Thursday March 31st if all my flights line up the way they are supposed to.

I don't really have any plans and would like some suggestions. Things to do, places to eat, etc.

I have never been to Honolulu before and I know it isn't much time but I thought any suggestions from those in the know would allow me to spend my time wisely.

Thank you.

Pearl Harbor is interesting and historical.

If you love history and want to be humbled, visit the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific.

Pearl Harbor should be high on your list as radioman noted, but be sure you look into how they're doing tickets as soon as possible so you don't show up and find out they're out for while you're there.

The Bishop Museum is good for Hawaiian culture and history and could easily be fit into your timeframe.

Enjoy your layover.

There are Pearl Harbor Tours and they cost money, but only tickets issued by the NPS will get you on the Arizona Memorial, the others will take you around it in a boat but you won't set foot on it.

If you do nothing else, go on the Arizona. While you're at Pearl Harbor, visit the USS Missouri and the USS Bowfin, a submarine at Pearl.

If you have more time, go to Punchbowl, a cemetery for Veterans and qualified family. Ernie Pyle is buried there and if you don't know who he is, look him up.

https://www.cem.va.gov/cems/nchp/nmcp.asp

Be advised that food is extremely expensive in Honolulu and most of the shops around Waikiki are top end for well off tourists.

A fun thing my wife and I did was go over to Leonard's Bakery for some malasadas and go sit on the beach at Waikiki.

BTW, I'm afraid that by the time you get away from HNL you won't have time for Pearl Harbor, traffic's a bitch in the late afternoon. And depending on when your flight leaves, you would really have to rush your visit the next morning.

My suggestion would be to visit the Iolani Palace and the Bishop Museum. Rent a car and do the circle island tour.

Places to eat would be Nico's Pier 38 or Fresh Catch.

Thank you guys! I am looking at all of my options.

The thread below is years old, but I have it bookmarked and used the info for my last trip which was 2019. Much of the info is still good. Food suggestions etc.

BTW, Snorkeling is a good suggestion, if you are into such things.

https://sigforum.com/eve/forum...3134&s=674608412&p=2

Surf Diamond Head.

I had a layover in Hawaii coming back from Japan. It was December and I was living in Alaska at the time so my theme was outdoor stuff I can’t do in Alaska in December.

I rented a convertible; drove up to Giovanni’s shrimp truck in Kahuku (shrimp farm is out back); drove over to Kahuku Golf corse where I rented clubs and played 9 holes overlooking the ocean. Also found a Long’s Drug Store and loaded up my suitcase with 100% Kona coffee (don’t know if it’s still the case, but Long’s was known for best price on coffee).

BTW, this was my 3rd trip to Oahu. If it’s someone’s 1st trip I recommend touring the USS Missouri (get the more expensive small group tour) and Pearl Harbor.

Doing a Pearl Harbor tour is about the first major bucket list item I would consider. If you can find a tour that will get you out to the Arizona Monument, then I would do that. If you are not able to fit a structured tour into your limited day, you can still go the the Harbor. The museum/gift shop is designated as The War in the Pacific park, and it is free to enter, wander around and take in the exhibits, except for the Arizona tour, the submarine and the Missouri, which all have an entrance fee. I would wander around the park and then take a bus over to the Ford Island side where the airplane museum and hangars are located. There is a small cafe over at that location as well, and it can be done on the reasonable side, and you can manage your time on that site. Traffic is a bear at times getting back and forth if your hotel is down toward Waikiki. I have been there three times, and the second and third trips we did visit the Mo, which you don't have to stick to tour to do, and the Ford Island airplane museum.

You don't have much time for visiting Pearl Harbor/USS Arizona/USS Missouri. Those require at least half-day and getting there as early as you're able to secure tickets. Afterwards you're smoked so, plan that for a separate trip.

I'd probably recommend one of three things: Cultural, so sight-seeing & eating around core Honolulu-area, Touristy, spending time around Waikiki or, Fresh Air, hike up to Diamond Head and take in some beach time afterwards or, grab a rental car and visit North Shore.

Core-area, includes Chinatown, Bishop's Museum (Hawaiian/Polynesian culture) and Iolani Palace (home of last monarch). Good places to eat Helen's Hawaiian (traditional Hawaiian and recognized by Michelin), Side Street Inn (large portions of local favorites), The Pig & the Lady (modern Hawiian-Vietnamese), Palace Saimin (Hawaiian-Japanese ramen) and Nico's Pier 38 (awesome seafood).

Waikiki-area is a semi-isolated area that has an endless variety of accommodations, time-shares, condos and rental properties all focused on out-of-towners. Everything abutts against the beach so, if you're simply looking for convenience and accessibility, Waikiki has it. I have no issues staying there, however I always find a place near one of the bridges so I can avoid traffic. Leonard's Malasada's are legendary on the islands, so is Rainbow Drive-In for their plate lunches.

Fresh Air I would call it, is just getting out of Honolulu itself. Its a city and many people come to Hawaii wanting beach, sun and jungle and not the urban world. Easiest way is getting a car share or, short-term car rental and hike up to Diamond Head Crater. Bring a water bottle, put on your shorts and shoes and enjoy the view from the top. Afterwards buy a cheap beach towel at the ABC Store as a souvenir, grab a plate lunch from any number of markets (Diamond Head Market & Grill) and head to the beach. For North Shore, get a car rental and drive up to Haleiwa. The beaches there are where all the big surf contests are held, its generally rural and some locals are pretty territorial. Food options include the leagendary Giovanni's Shrimp Truck, Ray's Kiawe Broiled Chicken (bbq), and the Dole Plantation (gotta get a Pineapple Whip).


This couple's video should give you some insight and perspective

Pear Harbor is a must.

There are some really great art galleries in Waikiki that are worth browsing. Real art, not the Hippie kind... Wyland is my favorite.

Duke's in Waikiki has great breakfast and you can sit by the beach.

Zippy's!

A lot of great suggestions… This one’s a little different in case you don’t have much time. Hit up a big hotel on Waikiki beach with a nice lounge, maybe someone playing live some music, that opens out onto the beach/ocean, order some nice local fish for lunch and enjoy the wahines … erm … I mean the view.


Edit: I see someone mentioned something similar ie Dukes

If you've never been there, then the Arizona Memorial is a must see. And it's free. Before you go on a boat to get the memorial, there's a free movie to watch. Then a boat driven by sailors take you to the memorial.

There's a gift shop that you can buy related memorabilia. I bought a flag that was flown at the memorial.

My wife and I enjoyed the Mission Houses museum; lots of interesting true (not James Michener stuff) information about the missionaries from New England who changed Hawaii, including saving the Hawaiian language from extinction.
Also within walking distance: Iolani Palace, and Kawai'ahao church, made of huge blocks of coral.
Rent a car and drive around the island, it will only take 1 1/2 hours. Stop in Hale'iwa for lunch. One of the fun things about the Hawaiian Islands is the huge difference in climate between the windward and leeward sides. That can be seen best by driving up the Pali Highway to the overlook at the top. You will go from sunny tropics to windblown, rainy Kaneohe and Kailua. The Pali (cliffs) are quite a sight to behold from the top, or from the windward side looking back.
We used to attend the Honolulu Presbyterian Church situated on a golf course with the most stunning view of the beautiful, rugged Ko'olau Range.

If you have wheels, We prefer the North Shore area. Polynesian Cultural Center for Luau and show. Shrimp trucks along the way. Wimea Falls. Turtle Bay. We usually stay at Turtle Bay Resort to watch the whales, the whales should be thefe. Lots of beautiful sights up that way.

quote:

Originally posted by Rey HRH:
If you've never been there, then the Arizona Memorial is a must see. And it's free. Before you go on a boat to get the memorial, there's a free movie to watch. Then a boat driven by sailors take you to the memorial.

There's a gift shop that you can buy related memorabilia. I bought a flag that was flown at the memorial.

There's also a museum there with a lot of interesting artifacts including a Japanese torpedo with the wood fins that made it run shallow. It was a dud and didn't go off and was recovered from Pearl Harbor accidently much later.

The tour including your time on the Memorial itself is only 45 minutes, so it's not a half day thing and is definitely a must see.

I think Pearl Harbor is a must see. I spent 3 years in Hawaii in the Navy, and visited several times and again when my wife and took a trip. I was always moved. Most people say the same experience, although I've seen some that say ho-hom. I was always shocked by how many Japanese people where there and were very reverent. They pulled a dirty trick, we fought them, sadly bombed the shit our of them, which they sorely needed. But visiting that sight is something special.