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Honolulu and Pearl Harbor

TRAVEL GUIDE

Honolulu and Pearl Harbor

TRAVEL GUIDE

The Fodor's Five

The five things you need to know before traveling to Honolulu and Pearl Harbor

# 1

No car? No problem–if you’re sticking to Honolulu.

Most of the islands in Hawai‘i require a car due to vast landscapes, isolated natural attractions, and limited transportation options. Honolulu, on the other hand, is a bustling metropolis with ample public transportation and short-range options like trolleys, which are geared toward tourists. If you decide to go car-free, you’ll probably want to rent a car or join a tour group for a day or two to explore the rest of O‘ahu, but otherwise, public transportation and ride-sharing should do the trick. The city’s newly launched light rail system may also fit your public transportation needs.

# 2

There’s more than just Waikīkī to explore.

While Waikīkī is a huge draw for many visitors, the shopping, the dining, the gorgeous beach, and the stellar hotels of Waikīkī aren’t the only things worth your time in Honolulu. Venture out from the tourist center and check out what some of the other neighborhoods offer–like the art galleries and restaurants of Chinatown, the shopping centers of Ala Moana and Kaka‘ako, and the government buildings of the Capitol District. Honolulu is also home to a variety of museums and entertainment venues, with a little bit of something for everyone.

# 3

Honolulu offers a taste of the Pacific and Asia.

Honolulu is known as the "Crossroads of the Pacific" for a reason–influences from various cultures converge to create a cosmopolitan city, and the diversity of cultures is most obvious in the cuisine. Hawai‘i is home to its own culinary category, Hawai‘i Regional Cuisine, which represents contemporary takes on traditional foods and the elevation of humble island ingredients like fish and ‘ulu (breadfruit). Nearly every type of global cuisine can be found here, especially those from the Eastern regions of the world.

# 4

Make sure you choose a hotel that's right for you.

One of the best parts of taking a Hawai‘i vacation is staying at a hotel close to the beach. While they’re certainly not the most affordable accommodations in the world, many of Waikīkī’s hotels offer memorable experiences that enhance a vacation and make the cost worth it. Choosing which hotel is right for you can be one of the hardest decisions you’ll make when planning your vacation, especially when there are more than 70 major hotels in Honolulu. Important factors include cost, proximity to the beach, city vs. ocean views, hotel class (luxury, deluxe, or standard), nearby activities and restaurants, and more. Before choosing a hotel, determine which of these factors is the most important to you, and work outward from there.

# 5

Get to know Hawaiian history.

Did you know that Honolulu’s ‘Iolani Palace, the only royal palace in the U.S., had electricity before the White House? The history of Hawai‘i is incredibly dynamic. It includes more than one thousand years of pre-contact culture based on intricate relationships with the ‘āina (earth) and nature, a century of existence as an independent kingdom, and more than 100 years as a U.S. territory then state. During a turbulent history that included overthrows, annexations, and attacks by foreign enemies, Honolulu and its people have continued to flourish, though many of the challenges of the 21st century including rising prices, a housing crisis, and other issues sit just below the surface of the glossy postcard representations of the city. Make education an important part of your visit by checking out places like Bishop Museum, the USS Arizona Memorial, ‘Iolani Palace, and more.

Recommended Fodor’s Video

Neighborhoods

Ala Moana abuts Waikiki to the east (stopping at the Ala Wai Canal) and King Street to the north. Kakaako, Kewalo Basin Harbor, and the
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Chinatown's original business district was made up of dry-goods and produce merchants, tailors and dressmakers, barbers, herbalists, and dozens of restaurants. The meat, fish, and
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Besides hiking Diamond Head, visitors will enjoy the eclectic shops and restaurants along Monsarrat Avenue like Diamond Head Market & Grill. Don’t forget the amazing
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Honolulu's past and present play a delightful counterpoint throughout the downtown area, which is approximately 6 miles east of Honolulu International Airport. Postmodern glass-and-steel office
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Before the arrival of Captain Cook, Iwilei was a network of fishponds. After his arrival it became home to a prison, railway depot, and houses
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Hotels

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Language

English

Nearby Airports

HNL

Electrical Outlets

120 V/60Hz; Type A plugs have two flat prongs. Type B plugs have the same two flat prongs with a third round prong; together the three form a triangular shape.

Currency

US Dollar

Language

English

Electrical Outlets

120 V/60Hz; Type A plugs have two flat prongs. Type B plugs have the same two flat prongs with a third round prong; together the three form a triangular shape.

Currency

US Dollar

Nearby Airports

HNL

Discover the best neighborhoods in Honolulu and Pearl Harbor with curated recommendations from our editors.

Explore All

Discover the best neighborhoods in Honolulu and Pearl Harbor with curated recommendations from our editors.

Explore All

Discover the best neighborhoods in Honolulu and Pearl Harbor with curated recommendations from our editors.

Explore All

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