Our most recommended things to do in Honolulu

Surf Lesson with the Curvy Surfer Girl & Waikiki Locals

1. Surf Lesson with the Curvy Surfer Girl & Waikiki Locals

Enjoy an accessible surfing lesson suitable for beginners with Waikiki locals and Elizabeth Sneed, founder of the Curvy Surfer Girl movement. Catch your first wave in a relaxed and friendly environment as you learn more about Waikiki's rich heritage. Join Elizabeth and the local beach boys and girls of Waikiki for a morning surfing lesson right on Waikiki Beach. Learn to ride the waves with passionate local instructors who have a deep appreciation for surfing as an intangible part of local culture. Learn the basics of surfing in a relaxed and accessible environment, or refine your skills on the surfboard. Enjoy the beautiful surroundings of the beach as you catch your first wave. Afterward, take a short stroll with your guide through the lobby of the Outrigger Hotel which features photos and information about the historical context of surfing. Make your way to the Duke Kahanamoku Statue and learn more about the father of surfing. Finally, finish off your experience in true Hawaiian style with some refreshing Hawaiian Shave Ice or Dole Pineapple Whip. You will also receive a special nut lei souvenir as a memento of your experience. Your guide, Elizabeth, is the founder of the Curvy Surfer Girl movement, which is a community committed to wider representation in women's surfing. She has been living in Waikiki for several years and continues to lead the women's surfing movement of body diversity and positivity.

Oahu: Ka Moana Luau Dinner and Show at Aloha Tower

2. Oahu: Ka Moana Luau Dinner and Show at Aloha Tower

Get tickets to the oceanfront dinner theatre of Ka Moana Luau and enjoy an evening of Polynesian entertainment and a tropical-themed buffet dinner. Sip on a welcome Mai Tai with the celebrity option. Upgrade your experience by choosing hotel transfers from Waikiki. After check-in, head inside the venue where you can take part in a number of cultural activities like lei making, temporary tattoos, hula, and drum lessons, coconut-headband weaving and a coconut tree-climbing demonstration. The buffet selections include: Farm-to-table buffet: • Mixed greens salad • Hapa rice (brown and white rice) • Bread rolls w/ small-batch honey guava butter • Stir-fry veggies • Mahi mahi • Guava chicken • Local kalua pork Dessert: • Haupia • Ube cheesecake Complimentary beverage options: • Fresh lemonade • Water Bar menu: Enhance your Luau experience by indulging in some refreshing Ka Moana pineapple, served in a freshly cut pineapple and filled with a signature cocktail. • Island Mai Tai’s • Tropical Cocktails • Mixed premium and well drinks • Beers: Bud Light, Stella Artois, Kona Big Wave • Soft drinks: Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Passion Fruit Orange Juice, bottled water Following dinner, enjoy an award-winning production highlighting the vibrant traditions of Hawaii and Polynesia. The show navigates through Polynesia on a way-finding adventure. Your experience culminates with the Polynesian Sword of Fire dance and don’t be surprised if you find yourself as part of the experience. 

Oahu: Shark Cage Dive on the North Shore

3. Oahu: Shark Cage Dive on the North Shore

Swim with the sharks during this tour that offers you the unique adventure of a shark dive, while ensuring your safety at all times. Discover the wonders of the sea on the North Shore of Oahu, Hawaii alongside a certified guide. Bring your own masks and snorkels or use the ones provided on board. Your guide will give you a safety briefing at the start of the tour and will answer all your questions concerning this special adventure. See up to 200 feet (60 meters) in the crystal-clear, cobalt blue water. Depending on the season, you will encounter such magnificent animals as the Hawaiian Green Sea turtles, playful dolphins, and Humpback whales. Admire the sharks from the ship's deck, or experience the rush of entering the shark cage which allows you to be only inches away from sharks that can grow up to 15 feet (5 meters) in length. Capture pictures with your underwater camera of their grace and majesty in the water. Have 20 minutes to marvel at the sharks and cherish this unforgettable moment. Up to 8 people can be in the cage at the same time, so you can experience the sharks with someone you love.

Waikiki: Monk Seal Bay Dolphin and Turtle Jet Snorkel Tour

4. Waikiki: Monk Seal Bay Dolphin and Turtle Jet Snorkel Tour

Make snorkeling easy and fun by using jet scooters. Our snorkeling site was carefully chosen to offer you a glimpse into the underwater wonderland of Hawaii. Immerse yourself in vibrant coral reefs, schools of colorful fish, and an array of marine species that call this paradise their home. We'll pick you up in Waikiki and whisk you away to Monk Seal Bay. Start with a safety briefing that makes this tour great for all skill levels. Get helpful tips and advice as you go over the fundamentals of snorkeling and using the jet while in waste deep water.  Once your guide gets you comfortable, get ready to embark on an unparalleled snorkeling journey that combines the beauty of the ocean with the thrill of jet scooters. Our snorkel with sea turtles tour promises an experience that will leave you with memories to cherish for a lifetime. Receive video footage of your unforgettable experience captured by your guide at the end of your tour. 

Oahu: Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona, and City Tour

5. Oahu: Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona, and City Tour

Spend the day visiting the most important historical sites and landmarks of Honolulu, Hawaii. Visit Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona Memorial, Iolani Palace, Kawaiahao Church, the Hawaii State Capitol, Honolulu City Hall, and more. Begin your tour with a visit to Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Enjoy the exhibits, galleries, and displays before boarding a Navy boat shuttle for a tour of the harbor along “Battleship Row.” Step off the boat to explore the USS Arizona Memorial, then continue to the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl Crater. See the historical landmark against a backdrop of rolling hills and lush foliage. Wrap up your experience with a narrated tour of downtown Honolulu. Spot the impressive state buildings and learn about the Iolani Palace, the official residence of Hawaii’s last reigning monarch and the only royal palace in the United States. Make your way to the Hawaii State Capitol grounds. See the Eternal Flame, Korean and Vietnam War Memorials, Liberty Bell, the majestic statue of King Kamehameha, and Kawaiahao Church.

Pearl Harbor: USS Arizona Memorial & Battleship Missouri

6. Pearl Harbor: USS Arizona Memorial & Battleship Missouri

Visit Pearl Harbor and discover what really happened on that fateful day in 1941. Benefit from guaranteed access to the USS Arizona Memorial and board the Battleship Missouri on Ford Island. Start with a convenient pickup from Waikiki and travel in the comfort of an air-conditioned vehicle to reach Pearl Harbor. Once there, your guide will escort you into the Pearl Harbor Visitor's Center and give you specific instructions on how to make the best of your visit. Explore the visitor center and the accompanying “Road to War” and “Attack” exhibit galleries that display pictures and recovered items from the events which transpired at Pearl Harbor and WWII. Then, watch a short film explaining the fateful day and its significance. Followed by a boat ride to the USS Arizona Memorial, the final resting place of the ship's 1,177 crewmen. Take a short break for lunch and grab some refreshments from the snack shop or food truck, then set out to discover the USS Battleship Missouri. Visit the battleship lovingly known as "Mighty Mo". After fighting in the last year of the war with Japan, Mighty Mo served as the location where Japan would sign the official surrender documents. It also offers a glimpse into what life at sea was like aboard a battleship. On the way back to Waikiki, enjoy a quick drive through the city to check out the National Cemetery of the Pacific and Historic Honolulu City.

Oahu: Afternoon Glass Bottom Boat Tour in Waikiki

7. Oahu: Afternoon Glass Bottom Boat Tour in Waikiki

If adventure is what you seek, join this daily boat tour. Enjoy the beauty of Hawaii’s South Shore as you head out from the slip in the Kewalo Basin Harbor and head toward Lē’ahi. Discover the underwater world while staying dry with the glass-bottom boat. Aboard the Haleiwa Queen, enjoy the clear view of the Pacific Ocean floor as you cruise over live tropical reefs and one of Hawaii’s shipwrecks. Keep an eye out for honu sea turtles, eels, reef sharks, dolphins, and schools of tropical fish, all from the deck of the vessel through the glass bottom boat viewports. Experience a unique perspective of Honolulu, above and below the surface.

Oahu: Turtle Canyon Snorkeling Boat Tour

8. Oahu: Turtle Canyon Snorkeling Boat Tour

Watch angelfish dart in and out of underwater coral caverns and search for sea turtles using high-quality snorkeling gear on this tour from Honolulu to Turtle Canyon. Relax in the sun on the boat's floating platforms while enjoying the provided snacks and beverages.  Be greeted by the activity provider's staff at the pier and hop aboard a comfortable boat with a captain and crew made up of certified divers, lifeguards, free divers, and surfers who familar with the waters of Turtle Canyon. They can show you where to look and what to look for. Admire views of the famed Diamond Head while you head out to the snorkeling site and be provided with new, high-end snorkel gear and floatation devices. For non-swimmers there is a swim step where they can sit and put their feet in the water. Plunge into the water, swimming through schools of tropical fish. Look for the large green sea turtles that come from deeper waters to visit the shallower turtle cleaning station known as Turtle Canyons. Back onboard seasonal fruits, snacks, juice, and water are included. Unwind with an ice-cold drink and stunning views of the shore on the way back to your meeting point. 

Oahu: Queens Waikiki Luau

9. Oahu: Queens Waikiki Luau

Get entry tickets to the Queens Waikiki Luau feast in Oahu, with traditional foods and entertainment. Relax inside as you enjoy cultural activities, Polynesian performances, and a buffet dinner and drinks right in the heart of Honolulu. Sit back and relax as you go on a journey through Polynesia. This spectacular event includes unique cultural activities where you can learn the hula, delicious Hawaiian food, and an authentic Polynesian show. Begin with some cultural activities before you taste traditional flavors and finish by watching a Polynesian performance including the fireknife dance. Menu Rice Macaroni salad Tossed green salad with lilikoi dressing Kalua pig cabbage BBQ shoyu chicken Long rice noodles with garlic Steamed vegetables Cake with haupia drizzle

Oahu: Pa'ina Luau Waikiki at Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort

10. Oahu: Pa'ina Luau Waikiki at Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort

Explore the history and beauty of Hawaii at the Pa'ina Waikiki Luau at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort. Enjoy Hawaiian music, hula, a delicious buffet, and a show highlighting the beauty of Polynesia. Watch a hula honoring Hawaii's own Queen Liliʻuokalani. Marvel at the traditional dance and an all-new original hula show. Learn about Polynesian culture in a laidback, welcoming experience in the heart of Waikiki. You will be given a traditional Hawaiian lei greeting, then you are free to enjoy lei-making demonstrations, and music and dance performances. You may even want to get yourself a temporary Polynesian tattoo. Choose between enjoying only the show or indulging in a prime rib buffet dinner. VIP guests can also enjoy premium seating and 2 cocktails. After the show, which includes a spectacular fire knife dancing finale, you have the chance to meet the cast and have photos with your favorites.

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What people are saying about Honolulu

Overall rating

4.6 / 5

based on 8,293 reviews

This experience was amazing and I highly recommend it! I’ve told all of my friends and family that this is a must do activity for any vacation to Oahu. Our crew Brandon and Ford were so kind, knowledgeable, helpful, and made the entire experience that much better. They had complimentary water, they took photos, answered questions, and we even got the chance to see a turtle and a mother and baby whale. The boat was clean, safe, and had cool music and lights! It was also my boyfriend’s birthday and the crew made sure to go out of their way to make his day, everyone was so friendly, they even played a birthday song for him. I’m so grateful I booked this sunset cruise and will definitely be back! Thank you Brandon and Ford!

My daughter and I had a great time snorkeling with sea turtles and looking for dolphins. We did see some whales. We will return another day to see about those dolphins. The crew was fantastic!! Fresh pineapple was a treat! This was probably our best memory from the trip. We highly recommend.

Great experience. Andrew was our guide and took us on a all day tour of Oahu that included North Shore beaches, a coffee farm, a Buddhist temple, a botanical garden. We saw a rare monk seal and Humpback whales. Lunch stop was at a collection of food trucks with great native dishes.

Ryan was an excellent guide and the e-bikes were the best we have ridden. Great combo of riding and a bush-walk with lots of local information shared along the way. Thanks Ryan for a great family experience.

Fantastic way to see the island. We had a really memorable flight and experience