3 days in Honolulu

Day by day

1. Day 1: Waikīkī Beach and Surf lesson at Waikīkī

   Waikīkī Beach, Surf lesson at Waikīkī and Honolulu Zoo, then Chinatown in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Waikīkī Beach

      Waikīkī's golden sands run about 3 km from the Hilton Hawaiian Village to Kapiʻolani Park, divided into sections such as Kūhiō Beach, with its sheltered swimming pools behind a seawall, and Queen's.

   2. Late morning

      Surf lesson at Waikīkī

      Book a morning lesson, when the wind is lighter, and wear a rash guard to avoid board rash and sunburn.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Poke

      Supermarket poke counters such as Foodland, which locals swear by, and specialists such as Ono Seafood on Kapahulu Avenue.

   4. Afternoon

      Honolulu Zoo

      In Kapiʻolani Park at the Diamond Head end of Waikīkī, the zoo has an African savanna area, elephants, primates, reptiles and a children's petting zoo, all within walking distance of the beachfront hotels.

   5. Evening

      Chinatown

      Buy a fresh lei on Maunakea Street for a fraction of the hotel price, then walk to Foster Botanical Garden nearby.

2. Day 2: Diamond Head (Lēʻahi) and Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial

   Diamond Head (Lēʻahi), Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial and Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, then Sunset catamaran sail in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Diamond Head (Lēʻahi)

      Book the earliest entry slot: the trail has little shade and the heat builds quickly by mid-morning. Bring water and closed shoes.

   2. Late morning

      Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial

      The visitor centre at Pearl Harbor tells the story of the attack of 7 December 1941 through museum galleries and a film, followed by a short Navy boat ride to the white memorial that spans the sunken USS Arizona, where more than 900 of the crew members killed in the attack remain entombed.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Plate lunch

      Rainbow Drive-In in Kapahulu, open since 1961, and plate-lunch counters and food trucks across the island.

   4. Afternoon

      Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve

      Bring reef-safe sunscreen and your own snorkel gear if you have it, and never stand on the coral.

   5. Evening

      Sunset catamaran sail

      Sit on the bow nets if you don't mind getting splashed; it is the best seat on the boat.

3. Day 3: ʻIolani Palace and Battleship Missouri Memorial

   ʻIolani Palace, Battleship Missouri Memorial and Bishop Museum, then Waikīkī in the evening.

   1. Morning

      ʻIolani Palace

      Completed in 1882 for King Kalākaua, ʻIolani Palace is the only royal palace on US soil and had electric lighting before the White House.

   2. Late morning

      Battleship Missouri Memorial

      Allow a full day for Pearl Harbor if you want the Arizona, the Missouri, the USS Bowfin submarine and the aviation museum.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Loco moco

      Diners, drive-ins and local chains such as Zippy's, and on most plate-lunch menus.

   4. Afternoon

      Bishop Museum

      Founded in 1889 in memory of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, the state museum of natural and cultural history holds the world's largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific artefacts.

   5. Evening

      Waikīkī

      Beachfront bars with live Hawaiian music at sunset, plus clubs and late bars along Kalākaua and Kūhiō avenues.

Before you go

• Diamond Head (Lēʻahi): Out-of-state visitors must reserve an entry time and parking online in advance through the Hawaiʻi state parks system.
• Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial: Reserve the free USS Arizona Memorial programme online in advance; a small booking fee applies and slots fill weeks ahead in busy months.
• Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve: Entry is by advance online reservation, released a couple of days ahead; the preserve closes on some weekdays, so check the calendar.
• ʻIolani Palace: Tours run at set times with limited numbers; book online ahead, especially for guided tours.

If it rains

• Swap in Honolulu Museum of Art (Makiki): Have lunch in the museum café's courtyard, then look for the Hawaiian art galleries that most visitors skip.
• Swap in Waikīkī Aquarium (Waikīkī): Pair it with the zoo across the park; together they make an easy family morning.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Waikīkī keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Ala Moana and Kakaʻako ($$$) suits shopping, food lovers and families. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 25–28 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 10.8 hours in December to 13.4 hours in June.

More or fewer days

• One day in Honolulu
• 2 days in Honolulu
• 4 days in Honolulu
• 5 days in Honolulu
• 7 days in Honolulu

Questions travellers ask