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Places to visit in Hawaii > Waikiki | Ala Moana | Hanauma Bay | Downtown | Pearl Harbor | Sea Life Park | Polynesian Cultural Center | Hawaiian Waters Adventures Park | Waimea Falls Park | Kualoa Ranch | Sunset Beach Park | Other Islands
*Note: The places and activities described are not the only places or activities in Hawaii. They are just highlights. There are many more activities and are usually very expensive. Activities such as helicopter tours and dinner cruises are such examples. It's all up to you. The places and activities I have included are visited by most of the tourists that come to Hawaii and is what I consider "basic" Hawaiian experience.
If you ever go to Hawaii, chances are you will be staying at a hotel in Waikiki. Waikiki is the ultimate place for tourist. The area is filled with hotels, restaurants, entertainment events, and shopping centers. All that stuff right next to one of the world's most famous beaches, Waikiki Beach. Access to the beach is just 5 minutes or less from any hotel! On the two mile stretch of Waikiki Beach, you can enjoy the gentle waves, the sun, and the soft sand. Or you can take surfing lessons, ride in a canoe, and even scuba diving. Whatever your choice, Waikiki should keep you busy. And whatever you do, don't MISS the sunset on Waikiki beach. It is too good to be missed. Feeling hungry after a day at the beach? Not to worry, Waikiki has a variety of restaurant with food that will light up your taste buds. More on fine dining in the food section.
What good is Waikiki without any entertainment? Waikiki has a lot of
famous shows such as "The
Magic of Polynesia" performed by John Hirokawa, Outrigger Waikiki Hotel's "The
Society of Seven", and Sheraton Princess Kaiulani Hotel's "Creation
- A Polynesian Journey" just to name a few. If you don't feel like
spending too much on these shows, there is always free entertainment in
Waikiki. One of them is
free hula shows! If you are walking in
Waikiki, chances are you are bound to see a free hula show. It's
everywhere. Oh did I mention free movies?!?! Every Saturday and
Sunday, a movie is shown on a 30 feet screen right on beach. Some of
the films shown were The Lord of the Rings, Lilo and Stitch, and other
quality films. This event is called "Sunset
on the Beach." Prior to the free movie, there are free live music.
Speaking of entertainment on the beach, there is also a firework display
every Friday coming from the
Hilton Hawaiian Village. As long as you are on Waikiki beach, you
can see the fireworks. It usually starts at around 7:30 pm. If
you are at Hilton Hawaiian Village, there is a show prior to the fireworks.
Of course, if you want entertainment, you should always take a walk on Kalakaua Avenue. At night, there are loads of entertainers on Kalakaua.
Entertainers such as musicians, statue posers, painters, and much much more.
These people are just bystanders trying to make a living, but hey, the
more entertainment the more merrier right? All these entertainment
mentioned occurs at night time. During day, you might want to visit
the
Honolulu Zoo. It is at the far east end of Waikiki where the movie
screen on the beach is. Another great place to visit is the
Waikiki Aquarium. This is a great place if you are
interested in marine animals that lives in Hawaii. Hmm, you probably
have a camera with you. If you want a great picture of Waikiki, go to
Diamond Head. It is volcanic crater at the end of Waikiki.
Once atop, enjoy the magnificent view. I guarantee it will take your
breath away. Finally, if you want adventure, take a ride in the
Atlantis Submarine. I won't spoil the details, but I can guarantee
that you won't forget this adventure.
Phew! That was a lot on entertainment. Now onto shopping. There are a lot of places to shop in Waikiki. There is a shopping center called "Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center." The shopping center stretches along the Kalakaua Avenue and has all kinds of stores as well as a few restaurants. It has something for everyone. Another shopping center is DFS Galleria. This place sells all the luxury brands. Like brand names? Check out King Kalakaua Plaza as well. It is the home of Nike Town, Banana Republic, and All Star Hawaii. Adjacent to King Kalakaua Plaza is a block called "2001 Kalakaua Avenue." It has stores like Chanel, Gucci, Tiffany & Co. and many more. If you are the type that loves to bargain with merchants and get discounts, the International Market Place is the place. It is under a century-old banyan tree. This place is a great place to get souvenirs. You can get jewelry, clothes, and other stuff that may be of interest to you. There are dining places as well.
Think shopping in Waikiki was a great experience?
Wait till you get to
Ala Moana Shopping Center. This shopping center is the grand daddy
of all shopping centers in Hawaii. Located right next to Waikiki, it
is also one of the world's largest shopping center. Ala Moana have
over 200 stores, including major department stores and stores that can't be
found anywhere else in the world. It also provides entertainment and a
food court should you get hungry from shopping all day. Parking is
never a problem. The only problem is maybe you forgot where you park
your 
car because of the sheer size of the mall. After shopping, you
are probably tired. No problem! Just cross the street and relax
in the beautiful
Ala Moana Beach Park. What is unique about Ala Moana Beach Park is
that the waves are very very small. As a matter of fact, I don't even
consider them waves. It is a great place to swim in. There is
also a cove for kids to swim in at Magic Island at the south east end of the
park where boulders enclose the area preventing waves from coming in.
This place is great for family picnics. It is also good for early
morning exercises where local joggers come. Now that you are all
rested up at Ala Moana Park, on for more shopping if you still have any
money left! Next to Ala Moana Shopping Center, there is another
shopping center called "Victoria
Ward Center." This center contains four city blocks of 120 shops,
23 restaurants, and a Farmers Market. There is also a 16 screen movie
theater for entertainment. Next to the movie theater is a place called
"Dave and Busters." It is 1/2 arcade, 1/2 restaurant perfect for
family fun.
Okay, enough of shopping! Now
onto
Hanauma Bay. This magnificent bay, drawing over 1 million visitors per
year, is a must see. It is perfect for snorkeling and scuba diving.
Hanauma Bay is a natural preserved area where marine life inhabits the waters
surrounded by coral reef. You will enjoy swimming among the many tropical
fishes that inhabits the area.
Some of the fishes in the water are found
only in Hawaii. Despite all the fun at Hanauma Bay, it is also a protected
area so you should be aware not to feed the fishes nor step on/touch the coral
reef to help preserve the beauty of the bay. Besides swimming in the bay
area, you can walk along both sides of the bay to enjoy the beautiful scenic
views so get your cameras ready. Be careful of the big waves as you walk
along the rocky path because they could get big sometimes. If you choose
the left side of the bay to walk on, you'll eventually reach the "Halona
Blowhole" if you walk far enough. I almost fell into that hole when I was
a child because the rocks were pretty slippery so be careful! If you took
the right side of the bay, you'll reach an area called "Witches Brew."
There are many other attraction areas at Hanauma Bay. I'll let you
discover them yourself.
Downtown Honolulu, the business center of Hawaii. This is one of the
popular places tourists come to visit. It contains some historical stuff
there. First stop would be the
'Iolani Palace. This is the residence of the last monarchs of Hawaii,
King Kalakaua and Queen Kapiolani. It is also the residence of Kalakaua's
sister and successor, Queen Lili'uokalani. 'Iolani Palace is the only
royalty landmark in the United States. The tour of 'Iolani Palace will
take about 90 minutes if you take the grand tour. After the tour, head for
the
state capitol. It is right next to the 'Iolani Palace, north of it to
be precise. This is where the senate and the state legislature hold their
meetings. The governor's office is also there as well. North of the
state capitol across the street, you'll see the governor's mansion called
"Washington Place." After visiting the capitol, head south past 'Iolani
Palace and cross the street. You'll see the statue of
King Kamehameha, the first king of the Hawaiian Islands. Get your
cameras out and take a picture with the king. Next stop, the
Hawaii Maritime Center. Located next to Pier 7 of Honolulu Harbor, the
museum is all about the history and cultural of Hawaii. You'll love the
tour of the "The Falls of Clyde," one of the only full-rigged ships left in the
world. After an historical experience, its time to eat and shop again.
Right next to the Hawaii Maritime Center is
Aloha Tower Marketplace. Needless to say, this is another place to do
your shopping and fill that empty stomach. After you did all that, go atop
the Aloha Tower and enjoy wonderful views of downtown as well as Honolulu
Harbor. Finally, another worthy stop would be
Chinatown. Adjacent to downtown, this place contains the historical Wo
Fat restaurant building dating back to 1882. Chinatown contains a wide
variety of Asian culture. Chinese, Vietnamese, Laotian, Thai, Filipino,
Korean, as well as local Hawaiian merchants sell their merchandise. It can
sometimes remind you how simple life can be. As you venture through
Chinatown, try some dim sum or manapuas. You'll love them. This is
also the place to get fresh seafood and meat for low prices.
December 7th, 1941, the day that the Japanese war planes attacked the Pacific
fleet that was docked at Pearl Harbor. The day that pulled the United
States
into World War II.
Pearl Harbor is a must see place for visitors. Once there, you will
listen to a brief presentation by the National Park Service rangers followed by
a documentary film. Right after the film, you will be taken to the sunken
ship, the USS Arizona, where even till today, over 1000 American sailors are
still inside the ship. Standing in the white structure over the USS
Arizona, many visitors show their respect by throwing flower leis into the
water. After visiting the Arizona memorial, climb aboard the Might MO.
The
USS Missouri, nicknamed the Mighty MO, is the ship where the Japanese
surrendered to the U.S. to end World War II. There are different types of
tours depending on your preference or you can explore the ship without a tour
guide. You'll be seeing the ship's layout, the weapons, the different
rooms, and much more. This is a good time to take a picture.
Come visit Sea Life Park and watch dolphins, sea lions, and penguins perform. Besides the performance, there are various tanks to see all sorts of marine life such as an assortment of fishes, sea turtles, and other exotic marine creatures. You can also buy a plate of fishes and feed them to the sea lions. For the adventurous type, Sea Life Park also allows you to swim with the dolphins but with addition cost. This place is a great place for family fun.
For the ultimate experience in Polynesian culture, the Polynesian Cultural Center is the place to be. The 42 acres of land is organized into seven Pacific nation villages. Each village has its own unique shows. Some shows are interactive such as learning how to play traditional games. The center also has an Imax theater. If you have time, you might want to stay for the night show. This is where over 100 islanders perform their native dance and rituals. Flame jugglers and fire walkers are just a few highlights of the show. Activities at the Polynesian Cultural Center might take you an entire day so plan ahead. This is a great place to learn Polynesian culture and have fun and be entertained at the same time.
Hawaiian Waters Adventures Park
Can't get enough of fun in the water? Try Hawaiian Waters Adventures Park, the only water park in Hawaii. Voted by the local people as Hawaii's number 1 family attraction, this place is too good to miss out if you like getting wet. The park is filled with thrill rides, family rides, and other kinds of stuff that has to do with H2O. This is another good place for families or anyone who is looking for a good time.
For nature lovers, this is the place to be. Located in Waimea Valley, Waimea Falls Park has so much to offer. Some of the activities in this 1,800 acres of land are cliff diving, hula shows, and hiking. There is also an area just for kids. Other add-on activities include horseback riding, kayaking, and mountain biking for an additional charge.
Another place for nature lovers. Kualoa Ranch is another visitors location. This place have activities suited for everyone. At the ranch you can enjoy all sorts of activities. There's horseback riding, kayaking, jet skiing, gun range, and many other activities. This is also a good time to bring out your camera because if you look towards the beach, you'll see a small island called "Chinaman's Hat." It got its name because of the shape of the island which resembles a hat farmers wear. Kualoa Ranch is a good place to enjoy the Hawaiian scenery as well as its culture.
Sunset Beach Park is one of other famous beaches on Oahu. The area is perfect for swimming and snorkeling during the summer when the waves are gentle. Sunset Beach is also a great spot for surfers during the Winter because waves can get up to 15 to 20 feet high. This is also the area where many surfing competitions take place. If you are looking for another great beach besides Waikiki, this is the place to be.
Okay, you pretty much went to all the worthwhile places on Oahu. What's
left? Other islands. Unlike Oahu, which is mostly an urban setting,
the other islands has more of a nature setting. I am not familiar with
other islands since I live on Oahu but I can give you a few places to visit on
those islands from the online sources I have gathered. One island you have
to visit is the
Big Island. The Big Island is famous for its volcanoes. One of
the places you can visit is the
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This is the home of Kilauea, an active
volcano. It has all kinds of hiking trails. Be sure to bring plenty
of water for the trip. Depending on your abilities, there are different
trails. One of the trails I recommend is the Thurston Lava Tube. It
takes you inside an old lava tube where lava use to flow through. Its a very cool/spooky place
but don't worry, no lava will go through there anymore. Another highlight of the
national park is the Halema'uma'u trail. This 3.5 mile trail takes you to the Halema'uma'u Crater. It is a HUGE volcanic crater. You have to see
it to believe it and please don't forget your camera! Finally, another
worthwhile trip is the Pu'u Loa Petroglyphs trail. You need to access this
place from the Chain of Craters Road. It takes you to an old lava flow
field where it contains Hawaiian petroglyphs. Those petroglyphs were
carved by ancient native Hawaiians. You can also drive to the lava viewing
area at sea level and watch real lava flows. Do not limit yourself to just these
trails. There are many other trails in the national park. The trails
mentioned are just highlights. During December, there will be snow atop
the summit of Mauna Kea. You can ski or snowboard there. The Big
Island also have old temples built by the ancient native Hawaiians. And of
course, there are more beaches to visit. Some of the beaches have black
sand.
Maui, known for its beauty, offers a wide variety of activities. One place to go would be the Haleakala Crater. I would recommend you to get up early in the morning before sunrise and go atop the crater. You'll love the spectacular sunrise. Other activities include biking, hiking, sightseeing, horseback riding, sports activities, beach activities, fishing, kayaking, snorkeling, whale watching, and helicopter tours. There are also attractions and entertainment such as luaus and hula shows. Personally, I feel that most of the activities found on Maui can also be found on Oahu. This could be a good opportunity for you to make up for the activities you missed on Oahu.
Other islands include Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai. I never went to any of those islands so I can't really write much about them. Visit their websites to learn more about the islands. All I can say is, Oahu, the Big Island, and Maui are the three best islands (in my opinion) to visit.
~ more will be added to this section as more places pops up into my mind
