Choose from 196 Fun Things to Do in Hawaii
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USS Arizona Memorial
The USS Arizona Memorial floats above the watery site where the eponymous battleship was bombed and sunk, taking 1,177 lives with it, in Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The solemn, all-white memorial features a marble wall of names of those who served onboard and spans the Arizona’s width, with openings to look down on the sunken hull.
The Basics
The USS Arizona Memorial is free and open to the public. For civilians, the only way to access the memorial is via Park Service shuttle boats that run according to timed tickets. Visit several Pearl Harbor attractions on a guided tour that includes boat tickets and round-trip transportation between Honolulu and Waikiki. Because USS Arizona tickets are limited each day and often involve long waits to procure, booking a tour in advance is a convenient way to ensure you’ll see the memorial. Note that boat tours not run by the Park Service are not allowed to disembark at the USS Arizona Memorial and sometimes skip it; boat tours with Park Service tickets allow you to disembark and take the Park Service’s tour.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Park Service’s memorial tour includes the viewing of a 23-minute documentary, round-trip boat ride, and time at the memorial. Plan to spend about 90 minutes there.
- Check the weather before you go. Because the memorial must be accessed by boat, high winds and seas may be cause for cancellation.
- There are no restrooms at the memorial, but facilities can be found at the visitor center.
- The USS Arizona Memorial, visitor center, and related facilities are accessible to wheelchair users.
- Because the timed tickets are limited to the number of seats on the boat, crowding is not an issue.
How to Get There
The memorial is located within the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, in Pearl Harbor on Oahu. To reach the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center from Waikiki and downtown Honolulu, take Nimitz Highway to H-1 West and take exit 15-A to HI-99, then turn left at the fourth traffic light.
When to Get There
The USS Arizona Memorial is open daily year-round except Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. If you want to visit spontaneously, the site gives away 1,300 tickets each day starting at 7am—arrive early, as they’re given on a first-come, first-served basis. Many visitors opt to start their Pearl Harbor experience with the USS Arizona, making morning tickets the hardest to come by. Other challenging times to get tickets are the weekends on either side of the anniversary of Pearl Harbor (December 7), as well as over busy summer and winter school holidays.
Other Pearl Harbor Attractions
There are four other main sites at Pearl Harbor besides the USS Arizona Memorial: the land-based USS Oklahoma Memorial run by the National Park Service; the floating Battleship Missouri Memorial, aboard which the WWII peace treaty was signed; the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park, where visitors can board and see the interior of the sub that avenged the attacks by sinking enemy ships; and the Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor, home to huge hangars of period aircraft.
Address: Arizona Memorial Place, Pearl Harbor 96818, USA
Hours: Daily 7am–5pm
Admission: Free
From $ 4
USS Missouri
Step aboard the USS Missouri, a hulking, gray battleship also known as the “Mighty Mo," docked at Ford Island in Oahu's Pearl Harbor. More than 70 years ago, it played an important role in history while anchored in Tokyo Bay when the Japanese surrender documents that ended World War II were signed on her decks. Permanently docked off the active military base and within sight of many memorials that mark the United States' tragic entry into World War II, the USS Missouri (now known as the Battleship Missouri Memorial) is a reminder of the war's conclusion.
The USS Missouri went on to participate in two more wars, and today the 900-foot decommissioned ship serves as a showcase of what life aboard was like. Visitors can wander the crew's quarters and mess halls, look out from the bridge and touch the 50-caliber deck guns. Exhibits inside the ship's various compartments—restored to look as it did during service—share information and crew artifacts from its various tours of duty. Three regularly running guided tours are included in admission and offer different insights: The main deck tour explores the guns and site of the historic surrender; the below deck tour covers the cabins, berths and mess hall; and the above deck tour offers bird's-eye views from the command and control center, bridge and captain's quarters.
Practical Info
Because the USS Missouri Memorial is located on Ford Island, visitors must take either the designated shuttle (departs Pearl Harbor Visitors Center and USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park every 15 minutes during operating hours) or arrive via organized tour. The memorial is open daily from 8am to 4pm, except in June, July and August when it remains open until 5pm. General admission costs $27 for adults and $13 for children ages 4–12. The ticket gives access to three tour options: self-guided, an informational audio tour with 100 stops, or one of the three guided routes mentioned above (35 minutes).
Did You Know? The Mighty Mo was the last battleship ever built, but there were three other USS Missouris prior to this its commissioning in 1944. The fourth, a submarine, is still an active military vessel.
Address: 63 Cowpens Street, Ford Island, Oahu, Hawaii 96818, USA
Hours: Daily 8am–4pm (June–Aug until 5pm)
Admission: $27
From $ 69
Valley of the Temples
An ethereal Japanese temple, immaculate zen landscaping, a palm-lined drive, memorial gazebos overlooking the Pacific and a Koolau mountain backdrop conspire to create one of Oahu’s most peaceful settings. The valley is a memorial park and the final resting place for thousands of Shinto, Buddhist and Christian Hawaii residents, including early Honolulu developer Walter Francis Dillingham (1875-1963) and Zhang Xueliang, a warlord and northern China Army General who died in 2001 at age 100. Visitors explore the grounds, especially to see the bright red Byodo-In temple that looks like it was dropped in front of its reflecting pond via some portal to ancient Japan.
The temple was built in 1968 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the first wave of Japanese immigrants in Hawaii and is a replica of the nearly 1,000-year-old Byodo-In temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Uji, Japan. Here, incense wafts from the main temple building and peacocks strut in front of the waterfalls that trickle into koi-filled ponds. When visitors ring the temple’s giant brass peace bell, the sound resonates along mountain walls. In summer and fall, the park hosts annual Japanese Obon dance festivals honoring ancestors here.
Also within the Valley are a triangular-shaped Christian church with floor-to-ceiling windows facing the green mountain face, statues of the Virgin Mary and unique memorial displays including markers shaped like aloha shirts—the Valley is a multi-denominational place of rest for both the living and the dead.
Practical Info
The Valley of the Temples is north of downtown Kaneohe off Highway 83 (47-200 Kahekili Hwy). The memorial park is open from 6 a.m. til dusk daily and the Byodo-In temple keeps regular business hours (9 a.m. til 5 p.m.). There is no admission to explore the Valley of the Temples, but there is a cash-only admission charge for the temple ($3 adult, $2 seniors and $1 child). To access the Byodo-In Temple, follow the entrance road up the hill to the back of the valley.
Address: 47-200 Kahekili Hwy, Kaneohe, Hawaii 96744, USA
Hours: Open from 6 a.m. til dusk daily and the Byodo-In temple keeps regular business hours (9 a.m. til 5 p.m.)
Admission: $3 adult, $2 seniors and $1 child
From $ 79
Saddle Road
Like a lonely ribbon of black asphalt across the Big Island’s empty bosom, Saddle Road provides the fastest means of driving between Hilo and Kona. There was once a time when this remote stretch of highway was one of the worst roads in Hawaii, but substantial improvements and re-paving have made it accessible and open to cars.
From Hilo, Saddle Road climbs through residential neighborhoods towards a lush, mist-soaked rainforest. The green of ferns is gradually replaced by the brown of desert scrub brush, and fog is common as the road climbs toward 6,600 feet in elevation. Passing between the summits of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa—Hawaii’s dueling 13,000-foot mountains that are often snowcapped in winter—the road passes the turnoff for the Mauna Kea Visitor’s Center, where stargazers gather each evening.
Cell phone service is spotty on Saddle Road, and for the entire duration of its 48-mile stretch there are no gas stations or supply shops. While Saddle Road can be a time-saving alternative for driving between Kona and Hilo, visitors need to make sure they’re prepared to traverse a remote stretch of island. The journey is one of the most beautifully desolate and adventurously rugged stretches of road in the state, and it’s a convenient way for Kona visitors to access the east side of the island.
Practical Info
Also known as Route 200, Saddle Road reduces the Kona-Hilo driving time to one hour and 35 minutes. It’s a convenient alternative for visitors traveling to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and while the road is safest during the day, anyone driving the road at night must match out for feral cattle.
Address: Hawaii Highway 200, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA
From $ 186
Sea Life Park Hawaii
Just across from the blue sea, the mostly open-air Sea Life Park highlights some of Hawaii's aquatic residents—sharks, rays, turtles, penguins, seals (even the rare Hawaiian monk seal), and dolphins included.
In addition to regular educational programs and talks with trainers to teach visitors about its animals, admission tickets also include access to a number of animal habitats, such as the Hawaiian Reef Aquarium and the seabird sanctuary, where injured or sick birds are rehabilitated. Guests are also free to visit an open-top tide pool housing urchins, starfish and, occasionally, baby turtles (touching is optional).
After hours, the park hosts the Chief's Luau, a popular traditional Hawaiian feast and dancing show with hula, a 10-minute fire dance, and chances to weave a headband from banana leaves. Performers remove a pig from the traditional underground imu (oven) for the dinner. This experience is offered nightly (except on Tuesday and Saturday) with a cost separate from park admission: $158 for adults, $139 for youth ages 13 to 20, and $125 for children ages 5 to 12.
Although Viator tours do not include sea lion and dolphin encounters and swims, these experiences are available for purchase at Sea Life Park Hawaii for an additional fee (from $69.99).
Practical Info
Sea Life Park Hawaii is located off Highway 72 on the island's southeastern coast. When coming from Honolulu, it's on the left side of the road past Hanauma Bay, the Blow Hole, and Sandy Beach. The site is open daily from 9:30am to 4:30pm from June through August, and until 4pm the rest of the year. Standard daily entry costs $39.99 for adults and $24.99 for children 12 and under. On-site dining options include Pink's Hot Dogs and the Beachboy Lanai Food Court. A trip to the park is frequently coupled with a stop for snorkeling at nearby Hanauma Bay.
Address: 41-202 Kalanianaole Highway, Waimanalo, Hawaii 96795, USA
Hours: Daily 9:30am-4pm (June-Aug 9:30am-4:30pm)
Admission: Adults $39.99; Children $24.99
From $ 25
Sunset Beach Park
White sand, blue sea, great waves and shady palms. If it sounds too good to be true, it must be Sunset Beach!
This 2-mile (3 km) stretch of sand is targeted by swimmers and snorkelers in the calm of summer, and by the world’s best surfers during December and January, when the wintertime waves are at their lethal best for pro surfer tournaments.
Pack a picnic to enjoy under the palms, go swimming in summer under the watchful eye of the beach lifeguards, and collect shells in tidal pools when the tide’s out.
This 2-mile (3 km) stretch of sand is targeted by swimmers and snorkelers in the calm of summer, and by the world’s best surfers during December and January, when the wintertime waves are at their lethal best for pro surfer tournaments.
Pack a picnic to enjoy under the palms, go swimming in summer under the watchful eye of the beach lifeguards, and collect shells in tidal pools when the tide’s out.
Sunset Beach is on Oahu’s North Shore. To get here by public transport, reserve a few hours and pick up the Circle Island via North Shore public bus service from Waikiki. You’ll need to have at least five hours spare.
Address: 59–104 Kamehameha Highway, Sunset Beach, USA
Admission: Free
From $ 79
Tropical Farms Macadamia Nut Farm
Located on the east coast of Oahu, 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Honolulu, Tropical Farms Macadamia Nuts is set in the shadow of the mountains of the Koolau Range and is a stop on many circle-island tours. It’s a great place to enjoy a Hawaiian treat and shop for gifts and souvenirs.
The Basics
Along with macadamia nuts, Tropical Farms sells coffee, chocolates, gift baskets, and other local items. The rustic indoor-outdoor complex is a nice break when you want to stretch your legs on a drive around the island, whether you make the journey yourself or as part of a circle-island tour from Waikiki or Honolulu.
Tastings are typically provided for coffee and different varieties of macadamia nuts, such as cinnamon- or Kona coffee-glazed, and tours are available into the orchards. Cracking the raw nuts is a favorite with kids.
Things to Know Before You Go
- There is a parking lot on site.
- Circle-island tours that include a stop at the farm typically last from six to 10 hours, as many other stops are also made.
- Kamehameha Highway is a 2-lane road on this part of the island, and it’s the only way to get from north to south along the east coast; delays are possible.
- Tropical Farms is located about a mile down the road from popular Kualoa Ranch, making it easy to visit both in one day.
How to Get There
Tropical Farms is located on the Kamehameha Highway, one of Oahu’s major roads, which runs along the east coast, across the North Shore, and through the center of the island, making the farm easy to get to by car from Honolulu, Kailua, and the North Shore. By public transit, bus 55 stops near the farm entrance.
When to Get There
The store is open daily (except major holidays), from morning to early evening. To experience smaller crowds, go in the morning before most groups arrive.
Kualoa Ranch
Known for its outdoor adventure opportunities and movie filming locations, neighboring Kualoa Ranch is one of the most visited attractions on Oahu outside of Honolulu. ATV tours, horseback rides, and a zipline course provide ways to admire the green mountain scenery, and the movie tour shows you where blockbusters such as Jurassic Park have been filmed.
Address: 49-227 Kamehameha Hwy # A, Kaneohe, Hawaii, USA 96744, USA
Admission: Varies
From $ 118
Spouting Horn
When the island of Kauai erupted from the sea between 4 and 5 million years ago, parts of the coastline were riddled with tubes where molten lava once flowed. One of those spots is the Spouting Horn on the island’s southern coast, where waves are channeled into the tube before violently erupting in a saltwater geyser over 50 feet in the air. Compared to other Hawaiian blowholes, what makes Kauai’s Spouting Horn unique is the guttural moan that precedes the powerful eruption. A second, smaller hole in the rocks funnels air as opposed to water, and the result is a sound that makes it seem like the rocks themselves are groaning. No wonder Hawaiians believed that a mo’o was stuck inside of the rocks—a mischievous lizard of Polynesian lore that can still be heard to this day. Once finished admiring the geyser and feeling the ocean’s fury, peruse the homemade souvenir stalls erected by local vendors. Even if you don’t find that perfect give to bring back from your Hawaiian vacation, the locals are always a good source of friendly conversation.
Practical Info
The Spouting Horn is located on Lawai Road about 8 minutes west of Poipu. There’s an area with a guardrail for protected viewing, and while walking near the blowhole is technically allowed, it can be very dangerous and multiple visitors have been injured or lost their lives. As an added bonus, the drive from Poipu parallels the ocean and is a great spot for watching whales during the winter from December-April.
Address: Kauai, Hawaii, USA
From $ 65
Waianapanapa State Park
The legendary “Road to Hana” drive seems to indicate that the town of Hana itself is the goal, but you'd be crazy to miss a visit to Wai'anapanapa State Park.
Spending some time in Wai'anapanapa State Park is reason enough to stay overnight in Hana. It's a lush and gorgeous park just outside of Hana, and one of its most well-known features is the small black sand beach of Pa'iloa. It's a beautiful beach, to be sure, lovely for swimming or simply sunbathing, but there's more to this park than just a beach.
Wai'anapanapa has two underwater caves you can visit that are filled with a combination of fresh and salt water. You can go swimming in these pools, too. This area also has historical significance, too, as you'll see when you visit the ancient burial sites. There is also a trail that winds three miles along the coast, from the park all the way into Hana Town itself.
Practical Info
Wai'anapanapa State Park is located at mile marker 32, just before you get to Hana. There's no entry fee to get into the park, and parking is also free. There are camping facilities, including restrooms, drinking water, and outdoor showers, so you can spend the night here before heading back on the Road to Hana.
Address: Hana, Hawaii, USA
From $ 164
Royal Lahaina Luau
The Royal Lahaina luau is a family-friendly evening of oceanfront entertainment set inside of Ka’anapali’s Royal Lahaina resort. More economical than some of the larger shows in town, children will love getting on stage and trying their hand at the hula, and adults will love the buffet of Hawaiian food and open-bar of tropical drinks. Mai-tais and Blue Hawaiians are paired with luau classics such as kalua pig, lomi salmon, and bowls full of poi, and everyone can agree towards the end of the night that the fire dancers are the overall highlight. Oftentimes, the twirling staffs are a fitting end to a fiery sunset which has given way to darkness, the last rays having disappeared over the horizon which is visible from your oceanfront seat.
Since the Royal Lahaina luau is located in the Ka’anapali resort district, the luau grounds are only a short drive from neighboring hotels, or, if you’re staying in the immediate vicinity, you can reach the luau on your own two feet by taking a leisurely stroll down the beach. Once inside, learn about the history of Polynesia as it’s told through chanting and dance, and gradually lose yourself in the rhythm an oli (chant) as you sip your drink beneath a rustling palm.
Both entertaining and filling, the Royal Lahaina luau is a great evening for groups traveling with children, and the affordable ticket price and casual atmosphere make it a family evening that you’re sure to remember long after you’ve left the islands behind.
Since the Royal Lahaina luau is located in the Ka’anapali resort district, the luau grounds are only a short drive from neighboring hotels, or, if you’re staying in the immediate vicinity, you can reach the luau on your own two feet by taking a leisurely stroll down the beach. Once inside, learn about the history of Polynesia as it’s told through chanting and dance, and gradually lose yourself in the rhythm an oli (chant) as you sip your drink beneath a rustling palm.
Both entertaining and filling, the Royal Lahaina luau is a great evening for groups traveling with children, and the affordable ticket price and casual atmosphere make it a family evening that you’re sure to remember long after you’ve left the islands behind.
Address: 2780 Kekaa Drive, Lahaina, HI 96761, USA
Admission: $50 and up per person
From $ 112
Thurston Lava Tube
Located within Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, the Thurston Lava Tube is the most accessible lava tube on the Big Island. Discovered in 1913, this 500-year-old tube was created by subterranean lava that once flowed through this young section of earth. Today, the tube is illuminated to create an eerie glow for visitors who venture inside.
The Basics
The Thurston Lava Tube, also known as Nahuku, is one of several points of interest located along the park’s Crater Rim Drive. From the parking area, a 15- to 20-minute walk leads down through a fern forest to the cave-like tube. The tube features on just about every guided tour of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, as well as circle island and volcano-themed tours of the Big Island.
Things to Know Before You Go
- The Thurston Lava Tube is a must-visit for first-time park visitors and anyone with an interest in volcanology.
- Watch your head: There are some low spots within the 600-foot (183-meter) tube.
- Bring a flashlight to take a closer look at some of the cave’s natural features.
- Be sure to wear comfortable shoes suitable for walking over uneven surfaces.
- The Thurston Lava Tube is not wheelchair accessible, though there are accessible restrooms in the parking area.
How to Get There
The easiest way to reach the lava tube is to drive. The parking area and trailhead leading down to the tube sits 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) past the park entrance on Crater Rim Drive. From there, a short trail (0.3 miles or 0.5 kilometers) leads to the tube entrance.
When to Get There
Since the Thurston Lava Tube is one of the most accessible, and therefore most popular, natural features within the park, it’s a good idea to head there first thing in the morning to explore the tube with fewer people.
Other Attractions of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
If you’re visiting the national park independently, there are several notable points of interest you won’t want to miss. Smell the sulfurous gases of the volcano at Sulphur Banks, breathe in the warmth at the Steam Vents, take in the lunar-like landscapes of Devastation Trail, hike across the floor of Kilauea Iki crater, and watch the glow of the active volcano from the Jaggar Museum observatory.
Address: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, 1 Crater Rim Dr, Volcano, HI 96178, USA
Admission: Varies
From $ 103
Surfing Goat Dairy
Fresh cheese fans will love this working farm’s Island-take on a traditional goat dairy on the slopes of Haleakala. Pens near the entrance underscore its unusual name—happy kids and off-duty does climb on a playground of elevated and colorful old surfboards. In total, Surfing Goat Dairy’s 42 acres are home to more than a hundred Swiss Saanen and French alpine goats that provide milk daily, the basis for fresh cheese and all-natural goat’s milk products created onsite.
Started by German expats and supported by a crew of workers that includes a regular rotation of college-aged goat farming interns, Surfing Goat Dairy runs short daily tours of its milking operation and three room dairy. Tour-goers can feed alfalfa to baby goats and will receive a brief overview of the cheese-making process and the equipment used to pasteurize, ripen and form the cheese. Tours include tastings from a selection of their 30 goat cheese flavors such as “Rolling Green” made with garlic and chives and “Purple Rain” made with Maui lavender. In addition to their small gift shop, which also sells soaps, truffles and t-shirts featuring the farm’s happy ungulates, fans will be comforted in the fact that that hotels, shops and restaurants throughout the Islands and as far away as New York, Pennsylvania, Las Vegas and Phoenix import and feature their cheeses.
Practical Info
The Surfing Goat Diary is located at 3651 Omaopio Road in Kula. They are open from 9 a.m. til 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 9 a.m. til 2 p.m. Sundays. General 20-minute tours are led on demand between 10 and 3:30 Monday through Saturday and between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Sundays for $12 adults and $8 children. Other tours including the “Evening Chores and Milking Tours” and 2-hour “Grand Dairy” experience require advance reservation.
Address: 3651 Omaopio Rd,, Kula, Hawaii 96790, USA
Hours: Open from 9 a.m. til 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 9 a.m. til 2 p.m. Sundays. General 20-minute tours are led on demand between 10 and 3:30 Monday-Saturday and between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Admission: $12 for adults and $8 for children
From $ 750
Shangri La
A guided tour of Shangri La is unlike anything else on Oahu, where the sun and sand of tropical beaches are swapped for the lavish, luxurious world of heiress Doris Duke. Here on the slopes of Diamond Head, Duke designed a soaring mansion of exquisite Islamic design—inspired by her travels in 1935 through much of the Islamic world. Over a span of nearly 60 years, Duke continued her epic travels through Iran, Egypt, and Morocco, and housed the art she’d find on her travels right here at Shangri La. Today the Islamic Art Collection includes over 2,500 pieces from across the Islamic world, and introduces visitors to cultures and styles not normally found in the tropics. On a guided tour of Shangri La, visit inside the historic home that faces out toward the ocean, and hear as docents discuss the details of archways, tile work, sculptures, and fountains that form a sense of Islamic exoticism just minutes from Waikiki. Hear tales from the life of a legendary traveler and “richest girl in the world,” who scoured the world for artistic riches and brought them here to her home.
Practical Info
Guided tours of Shangri La depart from the Honolulu Museum of Art. Tours begin with video presentations, and the entire experience lasts two and a half hours, with a 90-minute tour of the home.
Address: 900 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814, USA
Hours: Tours are offered Wednesday-Sunday at 10:30am, 12pm, and 1:30pm.
Admission: $25
From $ 109
Sandy Beach Park
When U.S. President Barack Obama shared that Sandy’s was his favorite Oahu beach early in his presidency, it went from a popular locals’ beach to just plain popular. This public stretch of white sand just north of the extinct Koko Head Crater is no languid oasis, however; it’s one of Oahu’s best—and most intense—spots for bodyboarding and bodysurfing. A fierce shore break best suited for experienced surfers sometimes wells into powerful barrels that can pummel riders trying to catch a wave.
The spot is often coupled with a visit to the neighboring Halona Blowhole, a lookout point where waves regularly blow spray up through eroded crevices in the lava rock. And when the wind kicks up, it’s not uncommon to see families flying kites on the spacious lawn fronting the sand.
Practical Info
Located on Oahu’s rugged southern-facing shoreline, Sandy Beach Park sits about halfway between the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve and Makapuu Lookout. The beach is accessible via TheBus routes 22 and 23 between Waikiki and Sea Life Park in Waimanalo, with a physically address of 8800 Kalanianaole Highway. The park has ample parking, freshwater showers, restroom blocks, picnic tables and lifeguards, whose warnings should be heeded when the surf is pounding. Also note that areas of shady refuge are sparse, so a hat and sunblock are recommended accessories.
Address: Oahu, Hawaii, USA, USA
From $ 25
USS Oklahoma Memorial
The only land-based memorial at Pearl Harbor, the USS Oklahoma Memorial honors the more than 400 servicemen who lost their lives aboard the ship during the flurry of attacks on Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. Second only in casualties to the USS Arizona on that fateful day, the Oklahoma Memorial on Ford Island commemorates each life lost with a tall white marble column, symbolizing a crisp white Navy uniform. Taken together, the low black granite walls etched with stories and towering clean rows of columns symbolize the ship and the crew within standing tall forever.
The memorial’s location, on the still-active military base at Ford Island, is also significant. The USS Oklahoma’s berth was here, just offshore. When the ship was torpedoed, several crew were able to escape by swimming and crawling on the stretch of land the memorial now occupies.
A relatively new Pearl Harbor attraction, the USS Oklahoma Memorial was designated on Dec. 7, 2007.
Practical Info
The Memorial is run by the National Park Service as part of the Valor in the Pacific National Monument. However, it is located across a channel from the park’s popular USS Arizona Memorial and fronting the Battleship Missouri Memorial on Ford Island. Because of its location, and the need to board designated vehicles with access to the base, visits to the free USS Oklahoma Memorial are often combined with the separately ticketed Battleship Missouri Memorial and the Pacific Aviation Museum (ticket packages available). A park shuttle departs the Pearl Harbor Visitor’s Center every 15 minutes from 8 a.m til 5 p.m.
Insider Tip: Only one camera and water bottle per visitor are allowed on the military base. It’s best to leave purses and backpacks at home, but if you must bring them a the USS Bowfin Submarine (one of the shuttle stops before the Ford Island entrance) has storage facilities charging $3 per bag.
Insider Tip: Only one camera and water bottle per visitor are allowed on the military base. It’s best to leave purses and backpacks at home, but if you must bring them a the USS Bowfin Submarine (one of the shuttle stops before the Ford Island entrance) has storage facilities charging $3 per bag.
Address: Langley Ave, Honolulu, Hawaii 96818, USA
From $ 125
Waihee Ridge Trail
Tropical jungle and gorgeous valley views await along the popular and moderate Waihe'e Ridge Trail following an elevated spine in the West Maui mountains. From the ridge you’ll enjoy 360 degree views of the valley connecting Maui’s two halves, Maui’s riotous northern coast and undulating mountains that look as though someone took a massive green satiny cloth and draped it loosely with wrinkles and folds over tall hills. Waterfalls stream between the crevices and from several vantages the trail overlooks multi-tiered Makmakaole Falls, which rains down into a small basin from some 250 feet above.
The just under five-mile round-trip hike starts north of Kahului and ascends steeply from the 1,000-foot elevation at the trailhead to its zenith at Lanailili at 2,563 feet. The well-maintained path meanders over jutting tree roots and its sides are dotted with guava trees, ohi'a and tall ferns. Keep an eye out for native forest birds like the bright red 'apapane honeycreeper. At the end a picnic table offers respite overlooking a mist-shrouded valley. The return follows the same route.
Practical Info
The Na Ala Hele sign-marked trailhead is 0.9 miles inland up Maluhia Road. Find Maluhia Road near mile marker 6.9 off Kahekili (Highway 340) by the Boy Scouts’ Camp Maluhia north of Waihee town. Follow the signs through a small pasture before passing through a cattle-proof gate and entering the forest. The gate is open at 7am and closes at 7pm.
Start early (before 8am) for clearer valley vistas—as the day wears on, moisture condenses into cool clouds that shield some views. Wet weather and muddy conditions are not uncommon.
Address: Kahekili Hwy., Wailuku, Hawaii 96793, USA
From $ 114
USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park
There are only 15 American submarines that remain from World War II, and the most-heralded of them—the USS Bowfin—now sits in Pearl Harbor, where the war American’s war first started. Known as the “Avenger of Pearl Harbor,” the USS Bowfin was built in Maine and sailed the South Pacific. It set off on its mission exactly one year after the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor, and 44 different enemy ships would eventually succumb to her guns.
Today, visitors to Pearl Harbor can walk inside the submarine to see the cramped metal quarters, and get an authentic feel for the daily hardships of the boys in the “Silent Service.” In nine tours of duty only one crewmember died from injuries in battle, and when visiting today, you can stand in the chambers where these brave sailors celebrated a successful strike. Once finished with the tour of the ship, learn the fascinating history of submarines in the accompanying Bowfin museum, where exhibits range from a ballistic missile that was once housed on the ship, to a 54-foot, human-guided torpedo known as a Japanese Kaiten.
Practical Info
The USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park is open from 7am-5pm daily, with the exception of Christmas, New Year’s Day and Thanksgiving. Admission is $12 for adults, $5 for children—and only $5 and $4, respectively, to visit the museum.
Address: 11 Arizona Memorial Dr, Honolulu, Hawaii 96818, USA
Hours: Daily 7am-5pm, Closed Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year's Day
Admission: Adults $12, Children $5
From $ 15
Statue of Duke Kahanamoku
A landmark stop on almost every organized Honolulu tour is the nine-foot-tall bronze statue immortalizing Hawaii’s original ambassador of aloha, Duke Paoa Kahanamoku. One of those guys who was seemingly good at everything, Kahanamoku wore many hats. He was a Hollywood actor, a full-blooded Hawaiian descended from alii (the royal class), an Olympic swimmer who won gold in both the 1912 and 1920 games, an Olympic water polo player, a 13-term sheriff of Honolulu and one of Waikiki’s first surf and canoe instructors. Kahanamoku used his charm and personable nature to popularize surfing and was later the first person to be inducted into both the Surfing and Swimming Halls of Fame.
Poised in front of a longboard and welcoming visitors with open arms, the Duke statue has enjoyed a prime seaside spot across from popular Waikiki breaks since it was installed on what would have been Duke’s 100th birthday in 1990. Many visitors honor Duke’s memory by draping floral and kukui nut lei around his neck and from his arms, or just pause long enough to take a shaka selfie. Making this stop even more popular is the fact that one of Honolulu’s live city cameras is constantly trained on the statue and the palm-lined sands of Waikiki behind it — a great tool for making family back home jealous in real time.
Each summer, Duke’s OceanFest honors the waterman’s memory with ceremonies at the statue and a series of ocean sporting events including longboard surfing, paddleboard racing, swimming, surf polo and beach volleyball.
Practical Info
The Statue of Duke Kahanamoku fronts Kuhio Beach between Kaiulani and Uluniu avenues off Kalakaua Street, Waikiki’s main drag. The Duke Kahanamoku statue live cam can be viewed online from anywhere in the world.
Address: Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815, USA
From $ 25
Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park
Evidence of a little-remembered attempt by Russians to gain a foothold in Hawaii between 1815 and 1817 can still be found in the remnants of an old fort alongside the mouth of the Waimea River. Though today the site is little more than jumbled red rock walls hinting at its former layout, an irregular octagon guarding entrance into Kauai via the waterway, it once was the site of grand plans to use Kauai as a permanent provisioning and trading station for the state-sponsored Russian American Company. With outer rock walls constructed from ancient heiau (Hawaiian temples), the fort once included residences, a chapel, gardens, a trading center and the main fort building. Visitors can explore what’s left via a self-guided interpretive tour following signage with drawings of how the area once appeared.
Here, Dr. Georg Anton Schäffer, sent to retrieve lost cargo from a wrecked Russian American Company ship, overstepped the orders of his mission. Schäffer instead built the fort complex, befriended Kauai’s chief, set him against the newly instated Hawaiian King Kamehameha and secured a sandalwood monopoly for the company. When Mother Russia learned of Schäffer’s actions, however, she disapproved. Russia didn’t want to become embroiled in the already complicated politics of the islands; they just wanted their cargo back. So, Russia summoned Dr. Schäffer home, leaving the fort to be claimed by the Hawaiians, and, later, after the dismantling in 1864, the elements.
Practical Info
The remains of the fort—within the larger Russian Fort Elizabeth State Historical Park—are located off Kaumualii Highway (named for Kauai’s last king and the man Dr. Schäffer befriended) on the river’s eastern bank about a mile south of Waimea proper. The site has a small parking lot and is open daily during daylight hours. If visiting during peak sun, bring sunscreen and a hat; the area is exposed with little shade.
Address: Kaumualii Hwy, Waimea, Hawaii 96796, USA
From $ 75
St Benedict's Painted Church
An active Roman Catholic parish, St Benedict’s is a small but beautiful church set in South Kona overlooking Kealakekua Bay. The Painted Church is listed in the Hawaii State Register of Historic Places and the National Register of Historic Places because of the paintings on the inside walls.
After erecting the church in 1899, Father John Velghe began painting the inside walls. A self-taught artist, his work was inspired by a gothic cathedral in Spain. Using ordinary house paint, Velghe painted biblical scenes until his health deteriorated and he returned to Belgium in 1904.
At the time of Velghe’s painting, few Hawaiians could read, so the murals helped teach parishioners in addition to beautifying the site. The church was never completed, but you can see the unfinished panels when you go inside.
Mass is celebrated every day except Monday at St Benedict's. Many services are early in the morning, so if you are interested in attending mass, you should plan ahead. Visitors are welcome.
Practical Info
The Painted Church is easy or hard to get to, depending on who you talk to. Take Highway 11 and head toward the water onto Route 160 near mile marker 104. After about a mile, take the first right opposite the King Kamehameha sign. You’ll travel about a quarter of a mile on a winding, narrow road before coming to the church up a driveway on the right. There is no admission fee, but donations are always welcome.
Address: 84-5140 Painted Church Rd, Captain Cook, Hawaii 96704, USA
Hours: Mass: Tues, Thurs, Fri 7am; Sat 4pm; Sun 7:15am
From $ 69