Day trips · Honolulu · United States
5 best day trips from Honolulu
Where to go when you want a day away from Honolulu, and how long it really takes.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Pickle the cool, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
The classic day trip from Honolulu is North Shore and Haleʻiwa (About 1 hour by car). The closest option is Kailua and Lanikai, about 20 km away.
Key facts
- Day trips in this guide
- 5
- Closest
- Kailua and Lanikai (20 km)
- Most popular
- North Shore and Haleʻiwa
Day trips compared
| Destination | Distance | Travel time | How | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Shore and Haleʻiwa | 55 km | About 1 hour by car | Car, tour or TheBus | Beach, Couples, Families |
| Kailua and Lanikai | 20 km | About 30 minutes by car | Car or TheBus over the Pali Highway | Beach, Families, Quiet stays |
| Kualoa Ranch | 40 km | About 45 minutes by car | Car | Families, First-timers |
| Polynesian Cultural Center | 60 km | About 1 hour 15 minutes by car | Car or tour | Families, Culture |
| Maui | 160 km | About 40 minutes by plane, plus driving | Inter-island flight from HNL to Kahului (OGG) | Couples, Beach |
The day trips
55 km · About 1 hour by car
1.North Shore and Haleʻiwa
Drive through pineapple country to the North Shore for the surf beaches of Waimea Bay, the Banzai Pipeline and Sunset Beach, green sea turtles resting on the sand at Laniākea, garlic-shrimp trucks and shave ice in the plantation town of Haleʻiwa. In winter, watch big-wave surfers; in summer, swim and snorkel at Shark's Cove.
- Getting there
- Car, tour or TheBus
- Best for
- Beach, Couples, Families
20 km · About 30 minutes by car
2.Kailua and Lanikai
On the windward coast, Kailua Beach and neighbouring Lanikai have powder-soft sand and turquoise water. Rent a kayak to paddle towards the Nā Mokulua islets, or hike the short, steep Lanikai Pillbox trail for views over the bay.
- Getting there
- Car or TheBus over the Pali Highway
- Best for
- Beach, Families, Quiet stays
40 km · About 45 minutes by car
3.Kualoa Ranch
A working cattle ranch set in the dramatic Kaʻaʻawa Valley below jagged green ridges, used as a filming location for Jurassic Park and many other films. Tours by bus, horseback, UTV and boat cover the movie sites, ancient fishponds and the coast.
- Getting there
- Car
- Best for
- Families, First-timers
60 km · About 1 hour 15 minutes by car
4.Polynesian Cultural Center
In Lāʻie on the northeast coast, this large cultural park presents the traditions of Hawaiʻi, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti and Aotearoa New Zealand through village demonstrations, a canoe pageant, a lūʻau and an evening show.
- Getting there
- Car or tour
- Best for
- Families, Culture
160 km · About 40 minutes by plane, plus driving
5.Maui
An early inter-island flight puts Maui within a day: drive up Haleakalā, relax on the beaches of Wailea or Kāʻanapali, or take a snorkel trip to Molokini. A day is rushed; most visitors stay several nights.
- Getting there
- Inter-island flight from HNL to Kahului (OGG)
- Best for
- Couples, Beach
Day-trip tips
- Leave early: most trips are more relaxed with a morning departure and a return before dinner.
- Pay with a HOLO card, which caps your daily fares at the price of a day pass.
- The Skyline elevated rail line serves the west side of Honolulu and is being extended towards downtown; it does not yet reach Waikīkī.
- For trips over about 150 km, an overnight stay or an organised tour saves a lot of travelling.
Questions travellers ask
+What is the best day trip from Honolulu?
North Shore and Haleʻiwa. Drive through pineapple country to the North Shore for the surf beaches of Waimea Bay, the Banzai Pipeline and Sunset Beach, green sea turtles resting on the sand at Laniākea, garlic-shrimp trucks and shave ice in the plantation town of Haleʻiwa.
+How long does it take to get from Honolulu to North Shore and Haleʻiwa?
About 1 hour by car — Car, tour or TheBus, about 55 km.
+How long does it take to get from Honolulu to Kailua and Lanikai?
About 30 minutes by car — Car or TheBus over the Pali Highway, about 20 km.