Best Things to Do in Honolulu & O'ahu

O'ahu is the most diverse of the Hawaiian Islands, combining world-changing history and royal palaces in Honolulu with emerald Jurassic mountain valleys and big-wave surf beaches just 40 minutes away. Here are the ten experiences that define a visit.

1. Hike to the 232-metre summit bunker of Diamond Head (Le'ahi) & visit the Saturday KCC Farmers' Market. Walk inside a 300,000-year-old volcanic tuff cone for a 360-degree panorama over Waikiki and the turquoise south shore lighthouse.
2. Take a longboard surf lesson or sunset catamaran sail on Waikiki Beach. Visit the bronze statue of Duke Kahanamoku, stroll past the pink 1927 Royal Hawaiian Hotel, and sail right off the sand with a Mai Tai at sunset.
3. Pay respects at Pearl Harbor: the USS Arizona Memorial & Battleship USS Missouri. Ride the Navy launch out over the sunken hull of the Arizona and stand on the exact teak deck of the 'Mighty Mo' where World War II ended on 2 September 1945.
4. Snorkel inside the flooded volcanic caldera of Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve. Swim over a protected horseshoe bay teeming with giant parrotfish, butterflyfish and green sea turtles.

5. Explore Lanikai Beach, Kailua & the Paved Makapu'u Point Lighthouse Trail. Walk a pushchair-friendly ocean bluff trail to a red-roofed lighthouse, then swim in the powdery turquoise waters of Kailua and Lanikai.
6. Tour Kualoa Ranch ('Jurassic Valley'), the Byodo-In Temple & Nu'uanu Pali Lookout. Ride an open-air UTV or bus past the Jurassic Park fallen tree and ring a 3-tonne brass bell at a 950-year-style Japanese temple beneath the Ko'olau cliffs.
7. Circle O'ahu's Legendary North Shore: Waimea Bay, Banzai Pipeline & Hale'iwa Town. Watch winter surfers tackle 30-foot barrels (or swim in calm summer coves) and eat garlic shrimp and shave ice in historic Hale'iwa.
8. Step inside 1882 'Iolani Palace (America's Only Royal Palace) & Bishop Museum. See the throne room of King Kalakaua and Queen Lili'uokalani and the world's greatest Polynesian artefact collection.

9. Hike through bamboo rainforest to 45-Metre Manoa Falls & drive up Tantalus Lookout (Pu'u 'Ualaka'a). Hike a lush jungle trail 15 minutes from Waikiki and watch sunset over the entire city from Tantalus.
10. Experience a Hawaiian Luau, the Polynesian Cultural Center & Free Friday Night Fireworks, plus Leonard's Malasadas and Fresh Poke.