HAWAII

1. About – A Little History
2. How To Visit/How Many Days
3. Stay & Dine
4. Best Time To Visit
5. Top Things To Do & See In Oahu Island, Hawaii
6. Interested in Downloading our Itinerary? Scroll to the bottom of this page.

About – A Little History

Aloha!! which means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return. Visiting an island is always fun and when you do that with parents, it’s even more amazing.

Hawaii is a state in the Western United States, about 2,000 miles from the U.S. mainland in the Pacific Ocean. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state in the tropics.

The eight main islands, from northwest to southeast, are Ni’hau, Kaua’i, O’ahu, Moloka’i, Lana’i, Kaho’olawe, Maui and Hawai’i. The last of these, after which the state is named, is often called the “Big Island” or “Hawaii Island” to avoid confusion with the state or archipelago. Of the 50 U.S. states, Hawaii is the eighth-smallest in land area and the 11th-least populous, but with 1.4 million residents ranks 13th in population density. Two-thirds of the population lives on O’ahu, home to the state’s capital and largest city, Honolulu.

How many Days in Oahu

We recommend at least 3 days in Oahu. You can cover all the attractions in this guide in 3 days if you plan well. However we stayed 5 days in Hawaii since we travelled with parents and we also didn’t do any hiking. We mostly visited some of top attractions in Oahu and spent rest of the time being in resort and beach and enjoying some nightlife in the capital city.

Where We Stayed & Dined

Throughout our trip, we stayed at two hotels Alohilani Resort in Waikiki Beach and Hawaii Airbnb.

Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach: Honestly we felt that the resort was overpriced and we expected more for the price. The maintenance and housekeeping and the service was good. However you will have to pay additional price for the breakfast buffet. We recommend you stay at a better hotel for a much better price.

Note: We do not recommend this hotel.

We made reservation through Expedia and the average price per night was 280$ (excluding taxes). If you are interested, you can reserve at:
https://www.alohilaniresort.com/special-offers/elevate/?gclid=Cj0KCQjw2v-gBhC1ARIsAOQdKY3WTyXuwqwTmVWpqjohIwcx2ohwZ2tI2aYCd980SdUlrzf6Z-x0MZAaAuUaEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Quick Tip: Eat outside and do not pay for breakfast buffet at the hotel. You will get great food outside for lesser than the buffet price.

Important Note: There is no free parking in entire island. Even in the hotel you stay you pay additional parking per night which was a huge disappointment. So plan this when you are making your Itinerary.

The Airbnb we stayed was an amazing place hosted by the superhost Jiaming. I definitely recommend this beautiful place if you are planning on visiting as a family. Its good even for two people. We absolutely loved this place. Everything was so clean and neatly organized and the host was super helpful for us throughout our stay.

The average price for the night’s stay was close to 200$ per night. For official listing, check on the Airbnb posting. This place was also close to grocery stores and that helped to get some groceries to make breakfast in the morning before we started our day.

Dining wise we only tried some Indian restaurants in the Waikiki and Honolulu area Kamana Kitchen, Spice Up, House of Indian Cuisine, Cafe Maharani. Among the three, we absolutely loved Spice Up restaurant which was looked after by two sisters. They were so humble and their hospitality was amazing. Except for the waiting time part, the food was pretty good and our parents absolutely loved it. We also met another Indian family who had come all the way from Seattle. To be honest, i didn’t expect such good Indian food especially on an Island which is entirely outside the country.

Best Time To Visit

The best time to visit Oahu is from mid-April to early June or between September and mid-December. During these shoulder seasons, attractions are less crowded, festivals are plentiful and airfare and room rates are at their lowest. Average temperatures comfortably sit in the mid-60s to high 80s year-round, but rain showers are less prevalent from mid-June to August (Oahu’s summer season), so tourists flock to the island to take advantage of the sunnier weather.

Another popular (and pricey) time to visit is between late December and early April.

Is it really worth visiting Oahu?

If you want to spend some time with your family and take some break from your busy schedule, then yes its absolutely worth it. Of the 5 days we stayed in the island, we loved the entire time except for the part where you have to pay for parking regardless where you park in the island.

Top Things To Do & See In Oahu Island, Hawaii

Of the eight main islands, we visited O’ahu. Hawaii isn’t only for honeymooners. We made this itinerary as a guide to visit Hawaii with your family. Here are our top attractions or things to do in Oahu, Hawaii.

1. Visit Pearl Harbor
2. Go on a Dinner Cruise
3. Polynesian Cultural Center
4. Dole Plantation
5. waikiki beach
6. Byodo In Temple
7. Visit Leonard’s Bakery
8. Iolani Palace & Kamehameha Statue
9. Visit Downtown For Shaved Ice & Mai Tai
10. Ala Moana Hawaii Center/Royal Hawaiian Center
11. Hanauma Bay
12. Hiking Recommendations

Visit Pearl Harbor (Time Needed: At least Half Day)

Pearl Harbor National Memorial, a unit of the National Park Service offers visitors a place to connect with national, international, and personal histories of World War II in the Pacific, ranging from events leading to the December 7, 1941 attack on Oʻahu, to continued peace and reconciliation. The memorial is a “place of remembrance and contemplation of the nature of war and the sacrifices of those who lost their lived during the Pacific War.”

We recommend you keep at least half a day for the Pearl Harbor because there are plenty of things to do here.

How to get here

The physical address to Pearl Harbor is:
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
1 Arizona Memorial Place
Honolulu, HI 96818

Operating Hours

Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is open seven days a week from 7AM – 5PM. The visitor center, two museums, and USS Arizona Memorial program are free for all visitors.

Fees and Passes

There is no entry fee for Pearl Harbor Visitor Center and no ticket required to see the museums. The USS Arizona Memorial program does require a ticket. The walk in first come first served ticket distribution system has been discontinued. It is strongly recommended that visitors make advanced reservations online at www.recreation.gov.

Important Note: There is a no Bag Policy. Any bags that offer concealment, such as purses, handbags, backpacks, fanny packs, camera bags, diaper bags, luggage, etc. that exceed the measurements of 1.5″ X 2.25″ X 5.5,” are not allowed at the monument. There is a bag storage facility near the entrance to the visitor center to store your bags. However there is a fee per bag ($7 per bag, $10 oversize/luggage) for all sizes including luggage.

What To Do Here

Visit the USS Arizona Memorial (Time needed: 45 mins)
You need to make advanced online reservations to visit USS Arizona Memorial at (https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/233338/ticket/16). We strongly recommend this in your visit to Pearl Harbor.

The program includes a brief introduction, a Navy-operated shuttle boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial, and time to experience the memorial itself. You will need to have a printed or digital copy of your reservation ticket available to be scanned at check-in.  Tickets are non-transferable.

Note: Last minute tickets are sold at 3PM HST the previous day. You will need to login at that time to make your reservation. But there are less chances of getting reservations if you book at the last moment.

If you are interested in an audio tour to get more engaging and enriching Pearl Harbor experience, you can reserve one at the recreation website. These are good for entire day (7AM to 4PM) https://www.recreation.gov/ticket/233338/ticket/46.

Check out the exhibit Galleries “Road to War” and “Attack”
There are two exhibit galleries that brings visitors closer to the sights and sounds of the events leading up to the attack on Oahu and its aftermath. These galleries display personal memorabilia, dramatic photographs, artifacts of the battle, and other exhibits. Kiosks are available to hear history from those who witnessed it.

Remembrance Circle

This exhibit pays tribute to the men, women, and children, both military and civilian, who were killed as a result of the attack on December 7, 1941. Medal of Honor recipients are noted with their names listed in gold lettering, and a bronze 3-D map of Oahu illustrates the various attack targets of that day.

Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum

My Parents loved the Submarine museum. We strongly suggest you include this in your visit to Pearl Harbor.

Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum features WWII fleet submarine, USS Bowfin, a museum, outdoor artifacts, a lanai (shaded patio), food service, gift shop, restrooms and concessions. This is one of the few museums in the world where visitors can learn about the history of the U.S. Navy’s Submarine Force – the Silent Service during WWII, the Cold War, and Today and into the Future. The museum features a mix of traditional exhibits, multimedia, and interactive displays.

The Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum is open daily from 7:00am to 5:00pm. Last entry to the submarine and museum is 4:30pm. Admission includes an audio tour that is available in seven languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean and Chinese).

The tickets are 21.99$ per adult and 12.99$ for child. You can make your reservations here https://tickets.pearlharborhistoricsites.org/webstore/shop/viewItems.aspx?cg=phhs&c=bo

Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

We did not visit this. Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum stands on an American WWII battlefield, which shows the strafing marks and bullets holes left by the attack that sunk the USS Arizona.

The hours are 9 – 5PM Daily and they recommend you arrive at least an hour prior to closing. General admissions are 25.99$ for adult and 14.99$ for child. You can make reservations here.

Battleship Missouri Memorial

Three wars, spanning three generations. Climb aboard the last U.S. Battleship Memorial, the “Mighty Mo,” as she stands silent guard over Pearl Harbor.

We skipped this as it required lot of climbing stairs and walking. If you have additional time, we recommend you visit this. General admission adult is priced at 34.99$ and 17.49$ for child.

Please Note: If you are interested in doing Visitor Center Audio tour, Pearl Harbor Virtual Reality Center, Battleship Memorial, Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum and Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum and self guided narrated tour, you can buy the Passport to Pearl Harbor which is about 89.99$ for adult and 44.99$ for child.

However you will still need to make a 1$ reservation for USS Arizona Memorial.

Dinner Cruise

If you are travelling with family or even as a couple, we highly recommend you include the dinner cruise in your itinerary. There are different cruise options like Dinner Cruise, Whale Watching Cruise and Holiday Cruise. This cruise was organized by the Star of Honolulu.

Before You Go

The Star of Honolulu is located 15 minutes from Waikiki, at the
Pier 8, Aloha Tower Marketplace, 1 Aloha Tower Drive, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96813.
You will need to check in 45 mins prior to your cruise if you are arranging your own transportation.

For more details on the parking, visit https://starofhonolulu.com/directions-parking

What We Did

We did the Casual Pacific Star Sunset Buffet & Show Cruise which included a delicious Signature Mai Tai, succulent 3 course crab, steak and BBQ chicken dinner. We are vegetarians and once you make a reservation you can request for vegetarian options from the Special Diet info menu.

Reservations cost about 127$ per adult and 76$ per child (Price varies depending on season). For more details you can visit https://starofhonolulu.com/dinner-cruises-oahu-hawaii-casual-cruise

Note: You will have to call/email them in advance so that they can make the required arrangements for dinner. Also if you make reservation for Friday you will have opportunity to see fireworks.

Polynesian Cultural Center (Time Needed: 1 Day)

This was undoubtedly the favorite part of our trip. If you are visiting O’ahu we highly recommend you to visit Polynesian Cultural Center. You will need to plan an entire day for this.

This is also one of the most popular tourist attraction in Hawaii. Owned by Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and occupies 42 acres of land belonging to Brigham Young University – Hawaii.

Timings: 12.30 – 6PM HST (CLOSED ON WEDNESDAYS & SUNDAYS) (Parking is free)

Physical Address:
55-370 Kamehameha
Hwy Lāʻie, Hawaiʻi 96762

Phone: 1-800-367-7060

What you will do here?

You will spend an entire day exploring the rich heritage of Pacific Islands. Wander through 42 acres of tropical splendor and enjoy the adventure of traditional hands-on activities. Dine like royalty at an authentic Polynesian lūʻau and top it off with the most spectacular evening show in the islands.

You will also have hands on experience at throwing a spear or learn to cook in an umu (Samoan aboveground oven) 

Most importantly do not miss the Evening Show. The symbolic story of Mana and his beloved Lani, punctuated by Polynesian dance, music and blazing fireknives, is told in “HĀ: Breath of Life”

Note: Booking directly with them 10 days in advance, will save you 10% of your ticket price.

Gateway Buffet Experience:

We made reservation for Gateway Buffet Experience which costs 139.95$ per adult and 111.96$ per child. You can check the buffet menu options here: https://www.polynesia.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/Alii-Luau-Menu-2018.pdf

This package includes:

• Self-guided experience through 6 island villages
• Gateway Buffet Dinner with live music
•  Free preselected digital photo
• Silver level seating at “HA: Breath of Life” evening show (Seating begins at 7PM)

More details on the packages and reservations here:

https://polynesia.com/new-packages/
https://polynesia.com/packages/all/exclusive-gateway-buffet/

(From left to right: Polynesian Cultural Center entrance, Hawaii island in the cultural center, Artists who performed on the show)

Dole Plantation (Time Needed: Half a day)

Dole plantation provides enjoyable activities for the entire family, including the Pineapple Express Train Tour, the Plantation Garden Tour, and the Pineapple Garden Maze. Originally operated as a fruit stand beginning in 1950, Dole Plantation opened to the public as Hawaii’s “Pineapple Experience” in 1989. Today, Dole Plantation is one of Oahu’s most popular visitor attractions and welcomes more than one million visitors a year.

Physical Address

Dole Plantation
64-1550 Kamehameha Hwy.
Wahiawa, Hawaii 96786

Phone: 808-621-8408

What We Did

We took the Pineapple Express Train Tour and did the Maze & Garden Tour. Pineapple Express Tain Ride is a two-mile 20 minute fully narrated train ride through a real-life working plantation.

Along the route, you’ll learn the stories of the pineapple, Hawaii’s most famous fruit crop, and hear about James Dole, the man who built a world-famous agricultural empire from 60 acres of Wahiawa earth.

Quick Tip: You can skip the Garden tour. We felt it was not worth it. We took Maze & Garden Tour, we recommend you to take Train & Maze tour which costs about 19.75$ per adult and 15.25$ per child.

Important Tip: Stop at the country store and dont forget souvenirs and World-famous Dole Soft Serve.

Note: There is no advance reservations. You will need to buy tour tickets at the location.

For more information on the Dole Plantation Tours, visit https://www.doleplantation.com/tours/

Train Ride at the Dole Plantation & With our parents

Waikiki Beach

Waikiki Beach is known for its breathtaking white sand beaches, turquoise blue water and backdrop of Diamond Head. The world famous Surfer Duke Kahanamoku Statue is located on Waikiki Beach which is an iconic symbol of Waikiki and the surf culture of O’ahu.

Waikiki beach is a popular tourist attraction in Oahu Hawaii.

Physical Address:
2335 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, 96815, USA

Beautiful sunset at the beach

Byodo-In Temple

The Byodo-In Temple is located at the foot of the Ko’olau Mountains in Valley of the Temples Memorial Park. It was established on June 7, 1968, to commemorate the 100 year anniversary of the first Japanese immigrants to Hawaii. The Byodo-In Temple in O’ahu is a smaller-scale replica of the over 950-year-old Byodo-in Temple, a United Nations World Heritage Site in Uji, Japan.

Timings: 8.30 AM – 4.30 PM Daily. Last entrance to temple grounds is 4.15 PM. Temple gift shop open 8.30 – 4.30 PM Daily.

What to Know?
Temple general admission is $5.00 (ages 13-64), $4.00 Seniors (age 65 & up), $2.00 Children (2-12 years). You can purchase the tickets online here: https://tickets.byodo-in.com/mainstore#cat1237

How To Get Here

Physical Address:
47-200 Kahekili Highway, Kaneohe, HI 96744

If you are coming by bus, from Waikiki you can catch the Bus #8 from Kuhio Avenue to Ala Moana Shopping Center and from Ala Moana Shopping Center, catch Bus #65 toward Kahaluu/Kaneohe direction. Get off at the last stop at the corner of Kahekili Highway & Hui Iwa Street East (McDonald at the corner). Walk across Kahekili Highway and go into the Valley Of The Temples Memorial Park (private cemetery). The temple is half mile gentile uphill walkway from here. Bus fare is 2.50$ (Please carry small changes)

What to do here?

Explore the Byodo-In Temple or you can take schedule tours here https://www.valley-of-the-temples.com/locations/byodo-in-temple. You can also visit the Valley of the temples Memorial Park & Crematory (We did not do this). You will however have to schedule tour in advance.

Amida Buddha: The Byodo-In Temple is home to Amida, a golden Buddha unique to the entire world. The Buddha is thought to be the largest figure carved outside of Japan. Towering more than 9 feet, the immense figure is an original work of art carved by the famous Japanese sculptor, Masuzo Inui.

Strike the Bon-Sho (Sacred Bell): The Bell House, called kanetsuki-do, contains a five foot high, three ton brass bell, called bon-sho (sacred bell), cast in Osaka, Japan, from a mixture of bronze and tin, by permission of the government of Japan.

The bell is customarily rung before one enters the temple to spread the eternal teachings of Buddha. Ringing the bell will purify the mind of evil spirits and temptation. It is said that ringing this bell will bring you happiness, blessings, and a long life. It is customarily rung before entering the temple.

Meditation Pavilion: Enjoy the serene location of the meditation pavilion nestled on the hill behind the temple.

Visit Gift Shop: The original Japanese tea house has been converted to a gift shop; located to the left of the Temple. The gift shop sell a variety of unique oriental items, such as miniature temple bells, Buddha statues, Goddess of Mercy figurines, Japanese wedding gowns, kimonos, happi coats, Ichi-ban headbands, prints and artworks by local artists and much more. You may also purchase food to feed the Japanese koi.

Feed the Japanese Koi: Surrounding the temple is a Shinji-ike reflection pond containing hundreds of koi. The koi in these ponds can live to be over 100 years old and are very large.

(Pics clockwise from top: Japanese Tea Garden Main Entrance, Bon-Sho, Buddha, Koi Pond)

Leonard’s Bakery

If you are up for trying some tasty Portuguese Donuts (Malasadas), you need to visit Leonard’s Bakery. We absolutely loved the Malasadas. Malasadas have become staple in comfort food in Hawaii. These doughy treats are loved so much in Hawaii that Fat Tuesday turned into Malasadas Day, when thousands of malasadas are sold over a course of a few hours.

Leonard’s Bakery and Malasadas (Source: Yelp.com)

Iolani Palace & Kamehameha Statue

Unfortunately, we missed the reservation time and we couldn’t visit lolani Palace. The Iolani Palace is the royal residence of the rulers of the Kingdom of Hawaiʻi beginning with Kamehameha III under the Kamehameha Dynasty and ending with Queen Liliʻuokalani under the Kalākaua Dynasty, founded by her brother, King David Kalākaua and was built in 1882.

Physical Address:
364 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813
ph: (808) 522-0822
Hours of Operation: 9AM – 4PM HST (Closed on Sunday and Monday)

NOTE: Reservations are highly recommended and walk-ins are based on availability.

Tours cost anywhere from 26.95$ per person to 77.95$ per person. If you are interested in the tours, visit https://www.iolanipalace.org/visit/

The most recognized Kamehameha statue stands in front to the liʻiōlani Hale (home to the Hawaiʻi State Supreme Court) right across from the palace and also a short walk from Kawaiahaʻo Church and the State Capitol. This 18-foot bronze statue of Kamehameha is one of Oʻahu’s most photographed landmarks. On the Friday closest to June 11 (Kamehameha Day), this statue is ceremoniously draped with wreaths of flower lei to celebrate Hawaiʻi’s greatest king.

Iolani Palace & Kamehameha Statue (Source: Wikipedia By Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America – King Kamehameha statue, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=115138905)

Shaved Ice & Mai Tai

You must visit downtown Honolulu which is the center of the historic and cultural part of the city. The central business district has numerous skyscrapers mingling with history and heritage, including the Iolani Palace and the King Kamehameha I statue.

Downtown Honolulu is a major global tourist destination and home to approximately one million people. There are multiple locations to have shave ice in downtown Honolulu. Shave ice or Hawaiian ice is an ice-based dessert made by shaving a block of ice and flavoring it with syrup.

We had Shaved Ice at Island Vintage Shave Ice which is located in the Waikiki area.

Ala Moana Hawaii Center/Royal Hawaiian Center

Ala Moana, is a large open-air shopping mall in the Ala Moana neighborhood of Honolulu, Hawaii. Owned by Brookfield Properties, Ala Moana is the eighth largest shopping mall in the United States and the largest open-air shopping center in the world.

There are plenty of stores starting from Clothing, Accessories till Specialty stores. For full list of stores and directories, visit https://www.alamoanacenter.com/en/directory/mens_clothing/.

Physical Address:
1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814
Ph: (808) 955-9517

Hours Of Operation: Sunday – Friday 10AM – 8PM HST

Pics: Artists performing at the Royal Hawaiian Center (Source: Royal Hawaiian Center) & the tree decoration.

Hanauma Bay

We could not visit this as we missed our reservation window. But we highly recommend visiting Hanauma Bay. Hanauma is a marine embayment formed within a tuff ring and located along the southeast coast of the Island of Oʻahu in the Hawaii Kai neighborhood of East Honolulu, in the Hawaiian Islands.

Hanauma has been one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Honolulu Island and has suffered somewhat from lot of visitors visiting this place every year and with too much overcrowding.

Hanauma Bay Beach view and Pano View (Source: Wikipedia By Cristo Vlahos – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=23208196)

Physical Address:
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
7455 Kalanianaole Hwy, Honolulu, Hawaii

Hours Of Operation: Open 6.45AM – 4PM (Closed on Monday & Tuesday).

Reservations: You will need to make reservations in advance. Online reservations are made 2 days in advance starting at 7AM HST. Tickets are on high demand and are very limited. They could sell out as fast as 5 minutes after reservations are available at 7:00AM HST.

If you are not able to make an online reservation, you may purchase a walk-in ticket at the park when it opens at 6:45 a.m. Walk-in tickets must be used on the day of purchase. Plan on arriving early as the daily walk-in tickets are limited and sell out very quickly.

You can make reservations at https://pros8.hnl.info/hanauma-bay

Entry Fee: 25$ per person (unless you are a Hawaiian resident) and there is 3$ parking fee for a vehicle (non-residents).

Important Note: Please plan on arriving early as the parking spots are very limited and can fill up pretty quickly.

Thats it for all our top attractions in Oahu Island. Hawaii. If you liked this guide, please do give us a like and comment us. Also if you found any errors with respect to the guide or anything in the post, please don’t forget to provide us your feedback. We take feedbacks very seriously :). We are also working on a youtube video for this guide and this post will be updated soon once its ready.

Hiking Recommendations

Note: We recommend at least 3 days in Honolulu to cover some of the top attractions in the island especially the ones in this guide. We did miss some of the hiking places since we were traveling with parents and we were not able to do any hiking in the island.

If you are interested in hiking, below are some of our recommendations which we plan on doing the next time we visit.

Diamond Head Crater Summit Trail (1. 9 miles out and back). This is a popular hiking area in Honolulu and considered moderate and takes about 1 hr to complete.

Manoa Falls Trail: 1.7 miles out and back and considered as moderately challenging hike and takes about 1 hr to complete.

kuliouou-ridge-trail: This is a 4.4 out and back trail near Honolulu. This is a challenging hike and takes approx 3.3 hrs to complete.

Koko Crater Railway Trail: (1.6 miles out and back) and generally takes about 2 hrs to complete. This is an abandoned railroad track leading through rolling green hills and offering vast, panoramic views of the surrounding city and wilds.

There are plenty of other trails in Honolulu. For more trails and hiking, visit https://www.alltrails.com/hawaii/oahu/honolulu

Interested in Downloading our Itinerary?

We have provided excel spreadsheet to download our Itinerary. Click on the download link below to access the spreadsheet.

Coming Shortly!!! A youtube video for this guide on our Youtube Channel!!