Things to Do

•  Diamond Head State Monument
  
  Named by British sailors who mistook the diamond-like calcite for a more valuable stone, Diamond Head is a state monument forged of volcanic activity. The image of this cone is synonymous with Honolulu, defining the city's landscape and drawing nearly as much attention as the Pacific Ocean itself. A short, though steep, hike leads to a lookout point, where a panoramic scene of ocean, mountain and beaches spreads out before you.
  
  Diamond Head Road
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 808-587-0300
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•  Bishop Museum
  
  Bishop Museum, the largest museum in the state, holds numerous ancient Hawaiian artifacts. Feathered robes, historical photographs and original Hawaiian textiles are among the 2.4 million Polynesian artifacts found here. While South Pacific cultural artifacts are ample, there's quite a bit more to this museum. Bishop Museum also houses 22 million plant and animal specimens, some of which have been extinct for generations.
  
  1525 Bernice Street
  Honolulu, HI 96817  Map
  Phone: 808-847-3511
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•  Waikiki Aquarium
  
  The Waikiki Aquarium is the third-oldest aquarium in the United States and its location along the coastline in Waikiki makes it easily the most striking. More than just a showroom for 2,500 organisms representing 420 species, the aquarium also hosts learning adventures, including murder mysteries, overnight stays for school groups and guided reef walks. After all, its biggest exhibit isn't found behind tempered glass, it's the Pacific Ocean itself.
  
  2777 Kalakaua Avenue
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 808-923-9741
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•  Manoa Falls
  
  There are few things more picturesque than a waterfall plummeting down sheer lava rock into an emerald pool. While many believe these scenes are the stuff of fantasy and imagination, Manoa Falls is a real-world example of this vision of paradise. An easy 1.5-mile hike takes visitors through a bamboo rain forest in order to reach two pools and the 150-foot-high Manoa Falls.
  
  Manoa Road
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 800-464-2924
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•  Kapiolani Park
  
  Many of the trees growing at this 500-acre state park are more than 100 years old. Because of this, as well as the natural beauty that constitutes this verdant are, Kapiolani park has earned its place on the state's historical register. The park is nearly a city unto itself, housing all of Diamond Head, the Honolulu Zoo and Waikiki Shell (an outdoor amphitheater) as well as a jogging trail, tennis courts, soccer fields and even an archery range.
  
  3840 Paki Avenue
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 808-971-2504
  
  

•  Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
  
  A short drive southeast from Honolulu takes visitors to Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, the first marine-life conservation district in the state. This is an important distinction, as no sea life can be caught or harmed here, making the bay an ideal sanctuary for robust underwater life. Because of its extensive coral system and reef-dwelling fish, the bay is extremely popular place to snorkel.
  
  7455 Kalanianaole Highway
  Honolulu, HI 96825  Map
  Phone: 808-396-4229
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•  Waikiki Beach
  
  Perhaps the most famous stretch of white sandy beach in the world, Waikiki has been immortalized in movies, books and pages of scrapbooks. In fact, Waikiki Beach is such a draw that even Hawaiian royalty vacationed here. Vistas from the sun-bathed sand showcase the placid Pacific and the monolithic Diamond Head volcanic crater to the southeast. Every ocean sport can be seen or done here. Whether you want to paddle an outrigger canoe or bodysurf the shore break, you can see it and do it on Waikiki Beach.
  
  Kalakaua Avenue
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 800-464-2924
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•  Iolani Palace
  
  Iolani Palace, built by King Kalakaua in 1882, was the home of Hawaii's last two monarchs Kalakaua and Lili'uokalani. When first constructed, it was said to have telephones and incandescent lighting before even the White House had either installed. Today, this American-Florentine-style palace hosts visitors who want to tour the only official state residence of monarchy in the United States. Free concerts from the Royal Hawaiian Band can be heard on palace grounds every Friday.
  
  364 South King Street
  Honolulu, HI 96813  Map
  Phone: 808-522-0822
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•  Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island
  
  Ala Moana Beach Park is a haven for beach lovers. Surfers, snorkelers, divers, swimmers and general sun lovers are all drawn here. The aptly named Magic Island, which is actually more of an isthmus, is an especially popular spot. Here, a manmade cove is protected from waves, providing a shallow and calmer swimming experience than tackling the Pacific Ocean head-on. In addition, grassy fields, picnic tables and cement walkways all add to the comfort and ease of enjoying the park.
  
  1201 Ala Moana Boulevard
  Honolulu, HI 96814  Map
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•  USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor
  
  December 7, 1941 is certainly a date that has remained in infamy. The most fitting tribute to the attack is found under the waters of Pearl Harbor, where the USS Arizona still resides. One of the few ships not to be salvaged in the days following the attack, the battleship now stands as a memorial to the servicemen and women who perished. Today, over the sunken remains of the ship stands a building accessed only by boat where visitors can reflect on the catastrophe that thrust the United States into World War II.
  
  Arizona Memorial Place
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 808-422-0561
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•  Golfing in Oahu
  
  With more golf courses than any other Hawaiian island, Oahu attracts players from all over the world. Spectacular scenery awaits you no matter what - and don't miss a chance to watch the pros play: Oahu hosts PGA Tour Championship events and LPGA events in January and February.
  
  City of Waianae
  Waianae, HI 96792  Map
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Dining

•  MAC 24-7
  
  Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week: that's the schedule of MAC 24-7, an anytime restaurant that has become famous for, among other things, its 14-inch banana, walnut and chocolate pancakes. A full bar and menu that reads like an encyclopedia of culinary goodies make this neighborhood restaurant popular with locals and visitors. Those staying in the new Hilton Waikiki Prince Kuhio Hotel have the honor of ordering of the MAC menu for room service.
  
  2500 Kuhio Avenue
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 808-921-5564
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•  Duke's Restaurant and Canoe Club
  
  Named in honor of famed surfer Duke Kahanamoku, this beachside restaurant is a favorite with seafood and sunset lovers. Diners often walk up from the beach and take a seat, though reservations are strongly suggested. A lei maker is often found at work in the restaurant and will create a custom-ordered lei while you wait. After your entree, ask about the decadent hula pie - a Duke's tradition.
  
  2335 Kalakaua Avenue
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 808-922-2268
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•  Leonard's Bakery
  
  A local favorite, Leonard's Bakery has been a Honolulu institution since 1952, seven years before Hawaii became a state. Leonard, the original owner, was a direct descendent of Portuguese immigrants who brought with them the recipe for malasadas, a type of Portuguese donut sans the hole and often filled with jams or creams. The pastry quickly caught on in Hawaii, and Leonard's, now under his son's watchful eye, is still a popular eatery.
  
  933 Kapahula Avenue
  Honolulu, HI 96816  Map
  Phone: 808-737-5591
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•  Hau Tree Lanai Restaurant
  
  Opened in 1994, Nicola Marzovilla's warm and welcoming restaurant has been a favorite for 15 years for those in search of hearty, delicious Italian specialties. Chef Patti Jackson's celebrated menu draws on the regional cuisine of the Marzovillas' homeland, Puglia. Nicola's mother, Dora, prepares hand-rolled fresh pastas daily. The restaurant is famed for its all-Italian wine list (expertly selected by Marzovilla), and the adjoining Enoteca offers lighter food and by-the-glass choices. I Trulli is a popular destination all-year round: diners can sit by the glow of the main room's rustic fireplace in winter, while in the warmer months are treated to the lush splendor of one of Manhattan's finest outdoor garden spaces.
  
  2863 Kalakaua Avenue
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 808-921-7066
  
  

•  Ocean House Restaurant
  
  Pacific Rim cuisine prepared from fresh island seafood in a casually elegant, open-air oceanfront atmosphere. Chef specialties include crab-stuffed mahi mahi, kahuku moi and pulehu prime rib.
  
  2169 Kalia Road
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 808-923-2277
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Family

•  Atlantis Submarine
  
  Cruise 100 feet beneath the surface of Waikiki Beach aboard the Atlantis Submarine. Look out portholes as dozens of varieties of fish dart by. Lucky passengers will see green sea turtles powering through the water. An on-board tour guide explains every aspect of the underwater world.
  
  1600 Kapiolani Boulevard
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 808-973-9800
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•  Surf School in Honolulu
  
  Every great surfer had to start somewhere. Surf schools in Honolulu are abundant and moderately priced. Many give the guarantee that you'll be riding waves by yourself in just one lesson. The larger boards they use may more closely resemble boats than surfboards, but nonetheless, you'll be riding a wave in Hawaii in less than an hour of practice.
  
  Kalakaua Avenue
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 800-464-2924
  
  

•  Boat Tours in Honolulu
  
  You didn't come to Hawaii just to stay on land. One of the best ways to get out into the Pacific is aboard a boat tour. Tours range from multi-day trips around the island chain, to short, one hour tours. Boat tours out of Honolulu offer everything from snorkeling and diving adventures to whale watching and deep-sea fishing.
  
  Kalakaua Avenue
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 800-464-2924
  
  

•  Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park
  
  A frolic in the Pacific Ocean isn't for everyone. But it's tough to travel to Hawaii and not be tempted to get wet. For those who want a bit more control over water fun, a visit to the Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park is ideal. This water park, a thirty-minute drive from Honolulu, offers nearly thirty acres of slides, pools and water rides.
  
  400 Farrington Highway
  Kapolei, HI 96707  Map
  Phone: 808-674-9283
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•  Sea Life Park
  
  Swimming with dolphins is a dream of many, but a reality for few. Sea Life Park, located just 15 miles from Honolulu, provides opportunities to swim with dolphins on a daily basis. In addition, a touching pool (akin to a petting zoo for marine life) is also available, as are animal attractions that include such crowd pleasers as performing penguins, whales and sea lions.
  
  41-202 Kalanianaole Highway #7
  Waimanalo, HI 96795  Map
  Phone: 866-365-7446
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Nightlife

•  The Living Room Nightclub
  
  The Living Room Nightclub is a trendy-chic dance venue where DJs hit the 1's and 2's as Honolulu's most beautiful people walk it out. Popular with the locals, this is the club to hit if you want to be part of the local dance scene.
  
  1009 Ala Moana Boulevard
  Honolulu, HI 96814  Map
  Phone: 808-776-1421
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•  Zanzabar
  
  DJs spin records that send club-goers filling the dance floor to heavy beats. The club can hold nearly 1,000 people, and some nights it's filled to capacity. With more than $6 million in recent renovations, it has become one of Honolulu's most popular after-hours hangouts.
  
  2255 Kuhio Avenue
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 808-924-3939
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•  Pipeline Cafe
  
  What do 50 Cent, the John Butler Trio and Erykah Badu have in common? They've all headlined at the Pipeline Cafe. Its state-of-the-art sound and lighting system, as well as its central location, make this eclectic bar a continual draw for a variety of crowds and concerts.
  
  805 Pohukaina Street
  Honolulu, HI 96813  Map
  Phone: 808-589-1999
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•  Nashville Waikiki
  
  Not everyone knows that cowboys were once common in Hawaii. Nashville Waikiki is a country bar in the heart of a tropical city. The bar's dance floor thunders under the footfalls of cowboy boots stomping in unison with a line dance. Pool, darts and friendly faces round off a country experience in an urban setting.
  
  2330 Kuhio Avenue
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 808-926-7911
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•  Pearl
  
  Super-chic Pearl Ultra Lounge has both live music and DJs filling the speakers with club music. It's also where notorious party girl Brooke Burke, from E!'s travel show Wild On, has hung out. If this upscale lounge and dance club can attract party royalty like her, it's sure to provide top-notch late-night revelry.
  
  1450 Ala Moana Boulevard Ho'okipa Terrace, Third Level
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 808-944-8000
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Shopping

•  Ala Moana Shopping Center
  
  Shop where the locals shop. You won't find a tourist trap here. Instead, Ala Moana is full of the retail names you know and trust. This outdoor shopping center allows for brand-name shopping while warm, tropical air blissfully fills the walkways.
  
  1450 Ala Moana Boulevard
  Honolulu, HI 96814  Map
  Phone: 808-955-9517
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•  Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center
  
  More of a tour de boutiques than a traditional shopping center, the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center is a wonderful shop-and-walk experience. The area boasts 150 stores, located along the length of Kalakaua Avenue just a block from Waikiki Beach.
  
  2201 Kalakaua Avenue
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 808-922-0588
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•  The International Market Place
  
  Located beneath the bows of an expansive banyan tree, the International Market Place is where artisans, crafters and souvenir sellers gather for the tourist crowd. Don't feel too intimidated by its distinction as a tourist magnet, the chance to shop under the vine-like labyrinth of branches growing from a century-old tree is well worth a few extra dollars.
  
  2330 Kalakaua Avenue
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 808-971-2080
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•  Aloha Tower Marketplace
  
  Shop by the waning light of a sunset over the Pacific Ocean at the Aloha Tower Marketplace. Built in 1994, the harbor-side shopping area is also home to restaurants, a visitor attraction (the 10-story 1926 Aloha Tower) and a working shipyard. If a member of your group isn't as excited about shopping as you are, the marketplace also offers a complimentary, guided, historical walking tour of the grounds.
  
  1 Aloha Tower Drive
  Honolulu, HI 96813  Map
  Phone: 808-528-5700
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•  Waikiki Beach Walk
  
  Glass canopies, constructed to mimic the movement of the ocean, cover sections of this downtown shopping area. At night they are lit up, adding a glowing contrast to the starry night sky. Shops here range from urban-chic to fun-loving local. After a day of power shopping, a short walk to the nearby Waikiki Beach is an easy way to replenish your reserves.
  
  Waikiki Beach
  Honolulu, HI 96815  Map
  Phone: 800-464-2924
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