Island guide
The most populous island, and the center of Hawaiian government since the 1840s. In downtown Honolulu, ʻIolani Palace, Kawaiahaʻo Church and the State Capitol are a short walk apart, and Bishop Museum is a few miles away. The North Shore gets big surf and big crowds in winter and is calmer in summer. Kamehameha Highway there is two lanes with no shoulders, so don't stop on the road for photos. Honolulu traffic is heavy, especially on the H-1. Windward beaches are public, but the homes behind them are private. Use the signed public access paths. Trespassing across yards is forbidden. The USS Arizona Memorial is a war grave, with more than 900 sailors still inside the ship. Keep your voice down and dress respectfully.
Central Oʻahu
A sacred birthing site where women of the highest chiefly lines gave birth, among the most important cultural sites on Oʻahu.
This is a sacred site. Do not sit or climb on the stones, do not move or leave anything, and take only photos from a respectful distance.
Downtown Honolulu
The royal palace of the Hawaiian Kingdom, completed in 1882 for King Kalākaua. Queen Liliʻuokalani was overthrown in 1893 and later imprisoned in an upstairs room.
Visits are by guided or self-led tour; book ahead and arrive early. Photography rules vary by room. For many Hawaiians this is a living symbol of the nation, so treat it as more than a museum.
East Oʻahu
A protected bay inside a volcanic crater, Hawaiʻi's first Marine Life Conservation District, with shallow reef snorkeling.
Book entry online in advance; the bay is closed some days each week. Watch the reef film, float instead of standing, and never touch coral or turtles.
Honolulu
Honolulu's landmark tuff cone, formed in a short eruption about 300,000 years ago. A steep summit trail follows an old Army route up to bunkers on the rim.
Out-of-state visitors need an advance reservation. Go early, carry water, and stay on the trail. The tunnel and stairs get crowded, so let faster hikers pass.
Leeward
The wild western tip of Oʻahu, reached by a coastal hike, with a fenced reserve where Laysan albatross nest and Hawaiian monk seals rest.
Stay on the trail and inside the reserve fence lines. Keep at least 50 feet from monk seals and do not approach nesting albatross. No shade or water; bring plenty.
North Shore
The largest heiau on Oʻahu, on a bluff above Waimea Bay, with views along the North Shore.
A sacred site still used by practitioners. Stay outside the walls, do not move stones, and do not leave or disturb offerings.
Pearl Harbor
The white memorial spanning the sunken USS Arizona, where 1,177 crew members died on December 7, 1941. Most remain inside the ship.
This is a war grave. Reserve free boat tickets ahead, dress respectfully, and stay quiet on the memorial. No bags are allowed.
Uptown Honolulu
Windswept overlook at the top of Nuʻuanu Valley, with views over windward Oʻahu. In 1795, the last battle for Oʻahu was fought on these cliffs.
There is a parking fee for visitors. Hold onto hats and phones; the wind is fierce. Remember that many warriors died here.
Windward
A sheltered bay at the mouth of Kahana Valley, a living ahupuaʻa, with calm water for swimming and paddling and a restored fishpond.
Families live in the valley under an agreement with the state; respect their homes and kapu signs. Swim only near the bay's calm center.
Windward
A long, soft-sand beach with turquoise water, steady trade winds and views of Popoiʻa and the Mokulua islets. A hub for kayaking and windsurfing.
Use the beach park lots and park legally. Many residents feel crowds and vacation rentals have changed their town, so keep noise down and leave no trace.
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