Things to do in Honolulu

This article is about top things to do in Honolulu. It is one of the ideal tourist destinations. Honolulu welcomes you round the year and offers a lot of fun that would be enough to make your trip a memorable one. Beaches and tropical climate are the main charms of the city. The city is home to the best historic events and monuments.The capital city of Hawaii, Honolulu is the gateway to the United States island chain. Well-off restaurants, manicured parks, glamorous nightlife, rich shops and mesmerizing architecture are the part of the city. The rich cultural heritage of Honolulu speaks of  serene ambiance. It offers its tourist a lot of attractions to cover. Read more, to know fun things to do in Honolulu.

Best Things to do in Honolulu

1.) Iolani Palace

Former state capitol and now a palace. The palace location is set on the Downtown of Honolulu. It was built with neo-classic look for the king Kalakaua. Today, it is an official home to Hawaiian monarchy. The place turned into a museum in 1978. It has a royal interior. The throne room holds the chandelier and original throne. Stained glass and mesmerizing decorations grace the interior. Strolling around the palace and gathering information about the city history is one of the best things to do in Honolulu.

2.) Pearl Harbor and USS Arizona Memorial

Pearl Harbor is one of the main tourist attractions of Honolulu. The memorial is a residence of US Navy’s Pacific Fleet “Arizona”. But visitors can come here to visit the USS Arizona memorial. The memorial structure is 184-foot-long. The structure stands on the sunken battleship. The memorial is divided into three sections.The first portion includes the entrance and assembly rooms. The second comprises a common room for ceremonies. Th third portion is the shrine to pay homage.  It is the resting house of the marines and sailors who died on 7th Dec 1941. They were killed during a  surprise attack on Pearl Harbor by the Japanese.

3.) Ala Moana Park

The parks are located around Waikiki and downtown Honolulu. From the park, you can view Waikiki. The park boasts a beach with an artificial reef where tourists and visitors can swim. If you want to go for fishing then you can hire a boat and go to Kewalo Basin. There’s a stunning view of the Waikiki and Diamond Head from the Magic Island. It’s  a perfect picturesque port for fishing in the open sea.

4.) Lyon Arboretum

The Arboretum is a huge botanical garden around the rainforest. The garden features the collection of more than 5,000 tropical plants from Polynesia and Hawaii. It is one of the best things to do in Honolulu. The Arboretum also features theme gardens. Here visitors can stroll around. Ethnobotanical garden, bromeliad garden, spice and herb garden are to name a few theme gardens. Another attraction around the Arboretum is Manoa falls where you can take a bath.

5.) Waikiki

Waikiki is popular as the beachfront neighborhood of the capital city. It is situated on the Oahu island shore in Hawaii. The place is best known for its beach with the same name. It is an incredible thing to do in Honolulu. The large crescent shaped beach is the main attraction of the visitors. There are various options for visitors to swim, take sun bath and learn surfing.

6.) Queen Emma Summer Palace

The mansion was built in the 19th century. The palace was summer residence of king Kamehameha and Queen Emma. The palace has been turned into a museum now. The museum displays Koa furniture and queens wedding dress has been kept for the display. The palace has six rooms. The rooms are carved with the Gothic glass cabinet. The palace is open to visitors seven days a week. The site is well preserved by the Members of “Seven Daughters of Hawaii.

7.) Bishop Museum

Bishop Museum is  a state museum. It features one of the best collections of Polynesian artifacts and art of Hawaii. It displays the prominent collection of the feathered royal standards. Those have worked as a flag in the royal era. Other key attraction in the museum is Hawaiian caps and helmet. And not to forget the artifacts which belong to The South pacific. The palace also holds the natural history exhibits. Around the museum, you will find a J. Watermill Planetarium. It displays the realistic recreation of the night sky. Both the places are among the top things to do in Honolulu.

8.) Hilton Hawaiian Village

The Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort and Spa lie on the Waikiki beach. It belongs to the largest hotel chains in the world. It is one of the prominent resorts in the town. The hotel boasts largest swimming pool in Waikiki. Plus, there are more than 20 restaurants, botanical gardens and exotic wildlife to explore. More or less it is one the top things to do in Honolulu.

9.) Honolulu Museum of Art

It is the largest monument of its kind in Honolulu. It features one of the largest collections of Pacific and Asian art in US. Today, the museum has more than 50,000 artworks. The monument also holds garden, cafe concert and film theater.

10.) Hawaii Theater

The historic theater and cinema are located in the downtown Honolulu. It is referred as “The pride of the Pacific”. The theater is designed with the neo-classical architecture. It features stage shows and movies. The place is crowded round the year so you need to book your tickets in advance. It is one of the must things to do in Honolulu.

11.) Honolulu Festival

It is a premier cultural event. The festival boasts parade, stage shows, dance performances, sand educational activities and programs. The event depicts the vibrant and rich amalgamation of entire Asia, Hawaiian and Pacific cultures. It is one of the best things to do in Honolulu. The extravaganza continues for three days in March.

12.) Waikiki Aquarium

It is one of the oldest public aquariums in US. The aquarium is home to more than 3000 organisms of marine flora and fauna. It also holds educational activities and program. The tanks of water with animals are pristine and collection of coral and indigenous marine fish are exemplary. All these elements make the place of the best things to do in Honolulu.