01
45 min
USS Arizona Memorial
USS Arizona Memorial is the white memorial structure spanning the wreck of USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor.
- Must see
- Historic monument
City guide · United States
Honolulu
Honolulu is the urban centre of Oʻahu, with Waikīkī, Downtown and the south shore forming the principal visitor base. Pearl Harbor lies west, while the Windward Coast, Central Oʻahu, the Leeward Coast and the North Shore are separate island regions rather than city neighbourhoods. Keep city days focused on Honolulu and treat farther Oʻahu sites as planned excursions with their own transport time.
Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor
Practical information
Practical information
- Language spoken
- English is the principal language; no federal official language
- National practical orientation; regional and minority languages may also be used
- Dialling code
- +1
- International calling code; local area and mobile prefixes still apply
- Currency
- United States dollar (USD)
- Use the official local currency; card acceptance varies by place
- Emergency number
- 911
- Use only for an emergency; tourist assistance may use a separate number
- Plug type
- Type A and B · 120 V
- Check that chargers support the recorded voltage before using an adapter
- Tap water
- Not recorded
- Water quality is regulated locally; check the current notice for the destination
Turn this list into a plan
Set your days, your pace and the hours you actually want to be out. The planner works around closing days and travel time, and leaves room to eat.
Planning a visit
- Suggested stay
- Not recorded
- Getting around
- Walk, TheBus, Biki, shuttle or car
- January: good time to visit
- February: good time to visit
- March: good time to visit
- April: best time to visit
- May: best time to visit
- June: best time to visit
- July: best time to visit
- August: best time to visit
- September: best time to visit — current month
- October: best time to visit
- November: good time to visit
- December: good time to visit
- Best time
- Good time
- Viable with trade-offs
- Difficult conditions
Sources
- worldweather.wmo.int Checked 2026-08-28
Top things to see
Ranked by importance — sitelinks, pageviews and heritage status, not editor preference.
Filter the list
8 places match
8 places match
Category
Typical visit duration
Interests
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02 45 minBattleship Missouri Memorial
USS Missouri
The Battleship Missouri Memorial is a museum ship and war memorial located at Pearl Harbor. The USS Missouri is an Iowa-class battleship that served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Gulf War.
- Must see
- Historic monument
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03 45 minUSS Bowfin
The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park is a World War II submarine museum located adjacent to the Pearl Harbor visitor centre on Oahu, Hawaii.
- Must see
- Historic monument
-
04 45 minNational Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific
Punchbowl Cemetery
The National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, locally called Punchbowl Cemetery, is a United States national cemetery located inside Punchbowl Crater, an extinct volcanic tuff cone above central Honolulu.
- Must see
- Historic monument
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05 45 minPearl Harbor National Memorial
Pearl Harbor National Memorial is a National Park Service memorial landscape in Honolulu devoted to the attack on Pearl Harbor and its consequences. The place combines historical interpretation with remembrance beside the harbour.
- Must see
- Historic monument
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06 45 minHolona Beach Cove
Halona Beach Cove
Halona Beach Cove is a small, scenic coastal inlet located beneath the Halona Blowhole Lookout on the southeastern shore of Oahu, near Honolulu.
- Must see
- Historic monument
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07 45 minAloha Tower
Aloha Tower is a historic lighthouse and landmark located at Honolulu Harbor on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. The tower was completed in 1926 and served as a welcoming beacon for arriving ships.
- Must see
- Historic monument
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08 45 minDuke Kahanamoku Statue
The Duke Kahanamoku Statue stands beside Waikīkī Beach as a bronze memorial to Duke Paoa Kahanamoku, the Hawaiian Olympic swimmer and surfer who helped popularize surfing around the world.
- Must see
- Historic monument
Source: OpenStreetMap contributors, Wikidata ·
How the city is laid out
Waikīkī occupies the south shore east of Downtown Honolulu. Downtown contains the civic and historic core, while Ala Moana sits between them and Diamond Head marks the eastern end of the main urban visitor strip. Pearl Harbor is west of the centre. Beyond Honolulu, the island divides into Windward, Central, Leeward and North Shore regions, each requiring deliberate travel rather than an extension of a city walk.
Checked 2026-08-26
Getting around
Walk within Waikīkī and compact parts of Downtown, then use TheBus, shuttles, taxis, rideshares or a rental vehicle for longer trips. Biki bike share serves Honolulu and Waikīkī, while island attractions outside the urban core can require substantially more travel time. Public transport reaches many cultural and scenic sites, but check current routes and the return schedule before committing to a distant Oʻahu excursion.
Checked 2026-08-26
Common questions
How many days should I spend in Honolulu?
A fixed stay length is not recorded. Separate Honolulu and Waikīkī sightseeing from excursions to Pearl Harbor, the Windward Coast or the North Shore.
Is Waikīkī the same as Downtown Honolulu?
No. Waikīkī is the main resort district on the south shore, while Downtown contains the civic and historic core farther west.
Can I get around Honolulu without a car?
Yes. Walking, TheBus, Biki, shuttles, taxis and rideshares cover the main urban areas. A car can be useful for dispersed island destinations outside Honolulu.
Is the North Shore part of Honolulu?
No. It is a separate Oʻahu region and requires a planned island journey. Do not treat it as a quick extension of a Waikīkī walking day.
Where does Biki operate?
Biki is Honolulu's bike-share system and serves Honolulu and Waikīkī. Check the current station map before relying on it for a specific route.