Top Ten Things to Do in Waikiki

A sunny destination of spectacular natural splendor and unforgettable grandeur, the Waikiki, Hawaii area is home to a wide variety of tourist attractions and fun things to do. Sure to suit everyone from families with kids to romantic honeymooners, Waikiki Beach, Hawaii is home to so many great adventures that the hardest thing will be deciding what you want to do first. Whether it’s a surfing lesson on Waikiki Beach, hitting the hiking trails around historic Diamond Head, swimming at Ala Moana Beach or exploring Waikiki Aquarium, Aqua Bamboo Waikiki is the perfect place to see and do it all. Keep reading to check out our guide to the top 10 things to do in Waikiki, Hawaii…

Top 10 Things To Do in Waikiki, Hawaii

Ala Moana Beach Park.

Waikiki’s Ala Moana Beach Park is a large beach and recreation area that sprawls for over 100 acres. A highly popular swimming beach, a big part of Ala Moana’s allure is that it is one of the safer beaches for swimmers in Hawaii and is patrolled by lifeguards to make it even more safe. Ala Moana Park’s many other attributes include excellent shower and restroom facilities and picnic tables. To learn more about things to do at Waikiki’s Ala Moana Park, visit www.aloha.com/~lifeguards/alamoana.html.

Waikiki Beach.

Waikiki Beach enjoys a fabled reputation as one of Hawaii’s most glamorous destinations and is intertwined with both royal Hawaiian history and the birth of surfing. Dating back to the 1800s, Waikiki Beach, Hawaii was a beach retreat for Hawaiian royalty and the site where surfing started to reach mass popularity. Today, the Waikiki Beach area is home to shopping, dining, water sports and events. To learn more about the many free and fun things to do on Hawaii’s famed Waikiki Beach, go to www.hawaiiweb.com/oahu/beaches/waikiki_beach.htm.

Diamond Head.

Diamond Head State Monument is one of Hawaii’s most identifiable landmarks and one of the not-to-be-missed things to do when visiting the Hawaiian Islands. A dramatically beautiful scene that is the result of a volcano eruption more than 300,000 years ago, Diamond Head stretches for more than 400 acres and features unforgettable hiking trails. To learn more details about fun and free things to do at Diamond Head State Monument, go to www.hawaiistateparks.org/parks/oahu/index.cfm?park_id=15.

International Marketplace.

International Marketplace is a tradition in Honolulu, Hawaii. Featuring nearly 150 unique, open-air shops, stands and food carts, Hawaii’s International Marketplace promises a delightful day of culinary and shopping adventures that reflect Hawaii’s unique heritage. Be sure to look out for live music shows which happen five nights a week. To learn more about things to do, see and taste at International Market Place, visit www.internationalmarketplacewaikiki.com.

Honolulu, Hawaii Convention Center.

The Convention Center in Honolulu is Hawaii’s largest and offers more than 140,000 square feet of space for conventions and meetings. Displaying a charming native Hawaiian theme, the Hawaii Convention Center is one of the world’s leading meeting spots and features a spectacular interior atrium lined with elegant palms. To learn more about the banquet facilities and meeting space available at the Hawaii Convention Center, visit www.hawaiiconvention.com.

Honolulu Zoo.

Honolulu Zoo is located in historic Kapiolani Park and is known throughout the world for its exotic collection of animals and paradise-like setting. The Honolulu Zoo’s totally wild assortment of animal exhibits includes the Tropical Rainforest, an African Savanna and Pacific Islands animal exhibit, there’s even a gentle petting zoo for the tinier tots. To learn more about fun things to do with kids at the Honolulu Zoo, go to www.honoluluzoo.org.

Kapiolani Regional Park.

Kapiolani Regional Park (known as Kapi’ olani Park in the native Hawaiian language) is the oldest and largest public park in Hawaii and is the site of some of Hawaii’s favorite tourist attractions. The fabulous things to see and do at Kapiolani Park include hiking in Diamond Head State Monument and getting a close-up look at the legendary Banyan trees. To learn more about the many fun and exciting things to do in Kapiolani Regional Park, visit www.hawaiiweb.com/oahu/sites_to_see/kapiolani_park.htm.

Waikiki Beach Walk.

Waikiki Beach Walk is one of the island’s most luxurious dining and shopping complexes. Sitting on a picturesque Waikiki Beach stretch, the Waikiki Beach Walk is the island’s largest destination for shopping and dining and covers approximately 80 glorious acres. Dine at a wide range of restaurants including Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse and stop by art galleries featuring native Hawaiian works and charming boutiques. For more information about the stores and restaurants at Waikiki Beach Walk, go to www.waikikibeachwalk.com.

Waikiki Aquarium.

The Waikiki Aquarium is the third oldest aquarium in the United States and was founded in 1904. Today, the historic Waikiki Aquarium is located on the lovely shores of Waikiki Beach and is under the administration of the University of Hawaii. Featuring rare and unique forms of marine life, there are great educational and interactive exhibits that make it one of the best things to do with kids in Hawaii. To learn more about the exhibits and visitor information about the Waikiki Aquarium, visit www.waquarium.org.

USS Arizona Memorial.

USS Arizona Memorial is a solemn and dignified monument to the many American military personnel who were lost when the Japanese sprang a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor. An historic moment, after the Pearl Harbor attack, the United States joined the fighting in World War II. A well-visited attraction, be sure to leave up to three hours before reaching the front of the line for tours when visiting in the summer. For more details on the USS Arizona Memorial and to get detailed visitor information, visit www.nps.gov/usar.