Honolulu Travel Info

Getting There

Honolulu International Airport
Conveninetly located for an easy ride to the city.

Around Town

Oahu Transit Services
The island of Oahu has an excellent transit department and their website offers information not only about transit but also about cultural events and attractions.

Adventure Rentals, (808)944-3131, offers bikes as well as motorbikes and in-line skates.

Ranger Rick's Bicycle Adventures, (808) 922-6693, offers bike tours.

Where to Stay

Hostelling International-Honolulu, (808) 946-0591.

Hostelling International-Waikiki, (808) 926-8313.

Banana Bungalow Waikiki Beach, (888) 2-HOSTEL.

Waikiki Beachside Hotel and Hostel, (808) 923-9566.

Vacation Inn, (808) 638-7838.

Bed & Breakfast Honolulu, (800) 288-4666, has comfy, reasonably priced rooms.

Tourist Sites

Chinatown
Chinese sailors arrived in Honolulu as early as 1789, but since the sugar and pineapple industries were still undeveloped, the first Chinese laborers didn't settle in the city until 1852. Unlike the Japanese, the Chinese tended to stay in Hawaii once they arrived. Strict immigration laws curtailed the numbers of women entering, so Chinese also tended to marry Hawaiian women. In addition, many other Asians (Laotians, Koreans, Vietnamese, Japanese, and Filipinos) remained in Honolulu. So Hawaii's Chinatown, while predominantly Chinese-Hawaiian, is also influenced by other Asian cultures. Today, Chinatown boasts the wonderfully refurbished Hawaii Theatre Center (1922), newly fashionable Eurasian cuisine as well as traditional cuisine, yearly celebrations (such as Chinese New Year), antique gift shops, the historical Kuan Yin Temple, walking tours, herbal shops and souvenirs.

Waikiki Beach
A world famous resort beach. Great party scene, but often crowded. You can enjoy activities ranging from hula shows to lei making. Of course, you also relish all of the excitement the beach has to offer: swimming, diving, sailing and sunbathing.

International Folk Dancers of Hawaii
Oddly enough, they teach the regional dances of European countries. Still fun!

Honolulu Haunted Trolley
For those who like their tours tinged with a bit of the supernatural.

Dole Plantation
Check out the Dole Food Company, the largest producer and marketer of fresh fruit and vegetables in the world. Its success dates back to a humble start as a pineapple plantation. Though the island Lanai (once dubbed the 'Pineapple Island') is really where the major agriculture work was done, the visitors' center of Dole Plantation is on Honolulu. It boasts a fascinating garden featuring 21 varieties of pineapple from all over the world.

Waikiki Aquarium
Founded in 1904, it is the third oldest aquarium in the United States. You can see unusual Pacific aquatic species like the Hawaiian monk seal or green sea turtles. The aquarium also sponsors snorkeling/diving trips.

Museums

USS Arizona Memorial
The Museum is actually built on the recovered hull of the USS Arizona and is a tribute to the sailors killed in the Japanese attack.

Honolulu Academy of Arts
Its permanent collections include Japanese kimonos and traditional Hawaiian household goods and crafts, as well as western art by the likes of Gauguin and Monet.

Pubs and Music

Hard Rock Cafe Honolulu, 1837 Kapiolani Blvd.

Hank's Cafe Honolulu, 1038 Nuuanu Ave.

Wave Waikiki, 1877 Kalakaua Ave.

Cheeseburger in Paradise, 2500 Kalakaua Ave.

Kincaid's, Ward Warehouse.

Havana Cabana, 1131 Nuuanu Ave.