It’s the Hawaii you always imagined. Beaches of soft white sand lapped at by warm waves and palm trees swaying slightly in the breeze. Surf, stunning food, reefs, Polynesian history, markets, museums and palaces are what make the Honolulu the ideal location to explore.
Embrace the culture
On top of the rich Polynesian culture, Honolulu also has an abundance of Chinese culture. There’s a vibrant, bustling Chinatown with a legendary market.
Oahu Market stocks everything you could possibly imagine, and its produce is served up wonderfully in the numerous Chinese restaurants. Maunakea Marketplace’s food court offers not just Chinese cuisine but also Hawaiian, Thai and more.
To start tracing the island’s proud history, make for the world-renowned Bishop Museum, which is an anthropological treat. Open for over 120 years, the exhibits give a fascinating glimpse into Polynesian history.
Local art is one aspect of the Honolulu Museum of Art, but this endlessly surprising place also specializes in Asian art that covers several dynasties, modern art (look out for the Matisse) and brilliant masks and carvings.
Reef revelation
Honolulu is world famous for its beaches, and most of the crowd’s head to Waikiki. There are eight separate sections here, adding up to two miles of the whitest sand imaginable. You can surf here or join the locals and tourists at the countless restaurants and beach bars.
Go a little bit further out of the city and you’ll find quieter stretches to visit. Hanuama Bay is a definite highlight, and former winner of America’s Best Beach. The waters are particularly calm and gentle, and the offshore reef makes for stellar snorkeling.
The bay is also dedicated to marine preservation, so you can’t enter until you’ve watched a brief educational film – it provides valuable insight into the unique marine life and the conservation efforts in the area.
Volcanic views
Much of Oahu and Honolulu has been shaped by volcanic activity, with the reefs owing much of their vitality to the nature of the geography. The biggest show in town, however, is the Diamond Head State Monument – a crater dating back over a quarter of a million years.
The climb to the top sees you pass through a tunnel and up two sets of steps, but it’s hugely rewarding. From the top you’ll be able to see all of the city and across much of Oahu to nearby islands. Look closely and you’ll find the remnants of a military base here – it was the island’s best vantage point.
Hertz car rental in Honolulu will allow you to see the best of Hawaii’s capital and beyond.
