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Honolulu, Hawaii

Introduction toe Honolulu Honolulu Travel Basics

Honolulu Attractions and Activities

• Art on the Zoo Fence: Discover Hawaii through the eyes of a variety of artists who can personally introduce you to their work in a beautiful outdoor setting that is within view of the Pacific Ocean and in the shade of lovely Banyan trees.
• Creation - a Polynesian Journey: An exciting journey into Polynesia highlighting authentic costumes, live music and spectacular dancing, including the thrilling fire-knife dance of Samoa in the Ainahau Showroom.
• Honolulu Botanical Gardens: Actually five different tropical gardens: Foster, Hoomaluhia, Koko Crater, Liliuokalani and Wahiawa Botanical Gardens.
• King's Guard of King's Village: A trick rifle drill team dressed in uniforms reproduced from King David Kalakaua's Palace Guards.
• Kodak Hula Show: A historical look at the islands through the beauty of the hula performed by those who know it best, Hawaiian resident dancers. Held in Kapiolani Park in the Waikiki Shell, this free hula show has operated here since 1937.
• Lyon Arboretum: A tropical rainforest & botanical garden that is just 5 miles from the state capitol and only minutes from Waikiki. A living museum for rare, endangered, and wild extinct tropical plants with over 7 miles of hiking trails. Some attractions are the International Herb Garden, Spice Hill. Inspiration Point and the Thai Walking Buddha.
• Polynesian Cultural Center: In addition to all of the cultural exhibits, Hawaii's favorite visitor attraction has the most authentic luau and the largest night show.
• Sea Life Park Hawaii: A world-famous marine park, featuring performing dolphins, sea lions, penguins, marine life interactive programs, Hawaiian Ray Encounter, Dolphin Adventures, Splash U, Sea Trek, an Underwater Photo Safari, and a Behind the Scenes Tour.
• The Waikiki Aquarium: Helping people of all ages understand and care for the life of the ocean.

Restaurants & Cuisine:

• Alan Wong's Restaurant: Hawaiian regional cuisine which features locally raised and grown product.
• Cafe Sistina: With a decor of Italian masterpieces and wonderful traditional and non-traditional Italian cuisine.
• Chai's Island Bistro: A Thai bistro with live entertainment.
• Dave and Buster's: A 45,000 sq. ft. restaurant with an entertainment complex which has top-notch pocket billiards and a midway, with the latest in interactive games and simulators. The menu ranges from pizzas, pastas, steaks & sandwiches to seafood.
• Furusato Japanese Restaurant: Specializing in authentic Japanese cuisine prepared with only the freshest ingredients.
• Hy's Steakhouse: Fine dining steakhouse.
• Moana Terrace: Island-style cuisine in a casual, open-air atmosphere overlooking world-famous Waikiki Beach with entertainment nightly.
• Orchids: Offers a breathtaking view of the ocean while dining on continental cuisine.
• Paradise Cove Luau: Take part in a traditional hukilau as guests pull fishing nets from the sea. Then follow the Paradise Cove Royal Court to a sunset ceremony to unearth the luau's traditional underground-roasted pig. The luau buffet includes traditional luau fare like poi, lomi lomi salmon and kalua pig.
• Texas Rock -n- Roll Sushi Bar: American BBQ and creative Japanese sushi with live music.
• Tropics Bar & Beach Cafe: Popular beachfront cafe serving hamburgers, pizza, salads, smoothies and more.

Events:

• January: Lei Queen Contest - Contestants will be judged on hula, lei making, poise, carriage, and personality.
• February: Ho'omau Concert - A benefit for the 10 Oahu Hawaiian Language Immersion Schools featuring the hula and music of these Hawaiian language students at the Waikiki Shell.
• March: Annual Honolulu Festival - Promotes cultural understanding, economic cooperation and ethnic harmony between the people of Hawaii and the Asia-Pacific region.
• May: Annual Lei Day Celebration - The festival includes the traditional Lei Day Queen and her court, an adult and youth lei contest, craft demonstrations, and entertainment all day.
• May: Annual Samoa Festival - Samoa is the featured culture for the festival which includes demonstrations and performances in the Samoan village. They also have competitions for high school and university clubs from around the islands for the best in basket weaving, coconut husking, banana peeling, as well as Samoan oratorical skills, ability to play the music, and to perform traditional dances.
• June: Hawaii International Jazz Festival - Big Bands, Blues, Latin, Hawaiian Swing and other jazz styles at the Hawaii Theater Center.
• June: King Kamehameha Celebration Floral Parade & Na Hana No'Eau Festival - Dazzling floats, sensational Pa'u riders, and excellent marching bands abound in this parade. The parade is followed by a festival with arts and crafts demonstrations, food booths and entertainment.
• July: MGF's Annual Prince Lot Hula Festival - The state's oldest and largest Non-competitive exhibition of hula. Enjoy crafts, kappa-making, lauhala-weaving, ipu-make and take, lomi lomi massage, traditional Hawaiian games, food, and more.
• September: Aloha Festivals - Hawaii's largest multicultural festival featuring Hawaiian music and dance as well as a variety of cultural exhibits and performances. Enjoy concerts, street parties, children's events, contests and more.
• October: Annual Conservation Exhibition - at the Honolulu Academy of Arts.
• November: World Art Bazaar - at the Honolulu Academy of Arts.
• December: Honolulu Marathon - The 26 mile scenic course includes amazing views alongside world renowned Waikiki Beach and Diamond head.
• December: Honolulu City Lights - The city's 65 foot Norfolk Island pine will be lighted and is followed by a light parade in Honolulu, Oahu.

Landmarks:

• Battleship Missouri Memorial: Where WWII ended with the surrender of the Japanese forces.
• Hawaii Theater: Built in 1922 as a showplace for vaudeville, plays, musicals and silent films; it re-opened it doors in April 1996 as a multi-purpose state-of-the art performance center for all of Hawaii to enjoy.
• Iolani Palace: The only official palace in the United States was once the official residence of the last monarchs of Hawaii, King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani. Visitors must cover their shoes with bright cotton booties to protect the floors and then follow a guide wearing a colorful muumuu on a tour back to the 1800s.
• Queen Emma Summer Palace: Former residence of Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV.
• Royal Luau - Royal Hawaiian Hotel: A generous feast on the Ocean Lawn is followed by music and entertainment by the Royal Polynesian Extravaganza under the stars.
• USS Arizona Memorial: One of Hawaii's most popular visitor attractions commemorating the bombing of Pearl Harbor by the Japanese in World War II. A boat ride takes visitors out to the memorial, which floats above the famous sunken ship just off of the island.

Museums and Exhibits:

• The Arizona Museum: Displays include historical photos and other artifacts of World War II.
• The Bishop Museum: A grey, gothic-style stone building in a Hawaiian residential area, its extensive collection of Hawaiian and Pacific Islands artifacts makes it a great place to visit. Started by Hawaiian princess Bernice Pauahi, the last descendant of the royal Kamehameha family, for her own collection. It now holds over 20 million items. It contains seashells, historic photos, colorful feather-decorated capes, and an amazing 50-foot sperm whale is suspended from the ceiling in the delightful Great Hawaiian Hall.
• Cedar Street Galleries: 95 contemporary local artists both emerging and those recognized by the local art museums. Mediums include acrylics, bronze, ceramic, glass, oils, stone, watercolors, and wood. Styles include Hawaiian, abstract, just to name a few.
• The Contemporary Museum: The only museum in the state of Hawaii devoted exclusively to contemporary art. Presented in two locations in Honolulu. The Spaulding House features rotating exhibitions of contemporary art, an eclectic museum shop, a garden cafe and a library. The beautiful preserved exterior maintains a subtle blending of Asian and island features. The garden provides both a natural setting for viewing art works and a quiet place for contemplation and renewal. The First Hawaiian Center is flanked by a dramatic art-glass wall consisting of 185 prisms and is a superb location to view art by artists with a strong connection to the islands.
• Hawaii's Living Village: Multi-cultural living history museum sharing the legacy of Hawaii's plantation era.
• Honolulu's Academy of Arts: Hawaii's only general Fine Arts Museum. It also has a coffee shop, art center, classes, a library, a theater, and tours.
• U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii: exhibiting Hawaii's Military history.