Comparison · Honolulu vs Okinawa · United States / Japan
Honolulu vs Okinawa
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Farragutful, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Honolulu for Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head and a milder winter; choose Okinawa for Beaches and coral reefs, Churaumi Aquarium and lower day-to-day costs. Okinawa is generally less expensive, and the two are about 7,494 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 7,494 km
- Less expensive
- Okinawa
- Best time for Honolulu
- April–May and September–October
- Best time for Okinawa
- April, June–July and October
Side by side
| Honolulu | Okinawa | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | United States | Japan |
| Known for | Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head and Pearl Harbor | Beaches and coral reefs, Churaumi Aquarium and Ryukyu Kingdom castles |
| Best time to visit | April–May and September–October | April, June–July and October |
| Ideal stay | 6 days | 6 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $300–$500 | $140–$260 |
| Cost level | Very expensive | Moderately priced |
| Warmest month | August, 32°C (90°F) | July, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | January, 27°C (81°F) | January, 20°C (68°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 8 | 8 |
| Day trips in our guide | 5 | 5 |
| Beaches | Waikīkī Beach | Emerald Beach |
| Airports | HNL | OKA |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Honolulu for…
Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head and a milder winter. Honolulu, on the south shore of Oʻahu, combines a real Pacific city with Waikīkī's beach resort strip. Most visitors stay in Waikīkī, where the sea is gentle enough for first surf lessons and Diamond Head rises at the eastern end, and take day trips to Pearl…
Choose Okinawa for…
Beaches and coral reefs, Churaumi Aquarium and lower day-to-day costs. Okinawa Island, about 100 km long and the largest of Japan's subtropical Ryukyu Islands, was the centre of the Ryukyu Kingdom until 1879, and its food, music, crafts and stone gusuku castles still feel distinct from mainland Japan. Naha, the capital, has the…
Top sights compared
| # | Honolulu | Okinawa |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Waikīkī Beach | Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium |
| 2 | Diamond Head (Lēʻahi) | Shuri Castle |
| 3 | Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial | Kokusai-dori |
| 4 | Battleship Missouri Memorial | Daiichi Makishi Public Market |
| 5 | Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve | Tsuboya Yachimun Street |
Food compared
| Honolulu | Okinawa |
|---|---|
| Poke | Goya champuru |
| Plate lunch | Okinawa soba |
| Loco moco | Rafute |
| Spam musubi | Taco rice |
Which is cheaper?
Okinawa is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $140–$260 per person there, against $300–$500 in Honolulu (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Okinawa on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 7,494 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 13 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Honolulu or Okinawa cheaper?
Okinawa is usually less expensive: about $140–$260 a day mid-range against $300–$500 (estimates).
+Is Honolulu or Okinawa better for a first trip?
Pick Honolulu for Waikīkī Beach, Diamond Head and a milder winter, or Okinawa for Beaches and coral reefs, Churaumi Aquarium and lower day-to-day costs.
+How far is Honolulu from Okinawa?
About 7,494 km in a straight line.