Visit the 'Iolani Palace in Honolulu, Oahu, Hawaii

Honolulu Zoo

Honolulu, Oahu

In the urban jungle of Waikiki there is a savanna full of exotic wildlife at rest and at play in 42 acres of sanctuary. Just across the street from Kapiolani Beach and Park and several blocks from the Waikiki Aquarium, a well-laid plan mixing the zoo and either of the other attraction will maximize your parking and leisure. At a fraction of the cost of an activity such as a boat tour, you can take the whole family to a sweet spot in Waikiki on the beach that is geared for family fun and sun.

At a glance:
Highlights: Escape into the beautiful lush green landscape amidst Waikiki with exhibits featuring giraffes, baboons, tigers, cheetah, black rhinos, hippopotamus, and lots much more. A great family destination, and home to summer concert series.
Location: Kapiolani Park, Waikiki, Oahu
Activity level: easy
Options: Self-guided with admission, several months in the summer look for the concert series hosted at the zoo in the evenings.
Hours: 9 am to 4:30 daily
Reservations: None needed
Costs: $14 adult general admission/ $8 military with ID
$6 general admission kids 3 to 12 years old
Children ages 2 and under are free.

Bring your parking magic wand, or come early as the on street parking and zoo parking fill up fast. With patience, the surrounding metered parking up and down, Monserrat or Kalakaua Avenues will be an alternate parking option. If staying in Waikiki, walking, a short taxi or bus transport can get you to this end of Waikiki fairly easily.

Where to start:
Once parking and transport align, get your zoo tickets and enjoy the zoo during the cool morning hours. The animals tend to siesta during the mid-day heat, as should you and your family at the great beach across the street. Take some time to walk about the zoos many intertwined trails and go all the way to the back for the African Savanna area. Great collection of zebra, elephants, giraffes, and chimps housed against the backdrop of Diamond Head summit.

As you make your way through the zoo, the 100 year old Banyan trees make for a fantasy jungle look to the grassy park surroundings. The entire zoo began from a private animal collection belonging to Hawaiian royalty, and was housed in the 300 acre Kapiolani Park but viewable by the public. Eventually by 1896 the collection grew as the park began being stewarded by the City and County of Honolulu. The main parks administrator named Ben Hollinger helped to secure the first elephant in 1916 and the zoo was officially born. Nearly a hundred years later the zoo encompasses 42 acres and a collection of over 1200 animals in exhibits inspired by great zoos such as the San Diego Zoo. An emphasis has been in place since the 1990's to rebuild and design animal habitats to mimic their natural surroundings.
An added keiki (children's) petting zoo and surrounding food court and playground give the zoo an added landing zone appeal to families making the trek downtown for some Waikiki.

Address:
151 Kapahulu Ave.
Honolulu, Hawaii 96815

Phone: 808-971-7171
Website: Honoluluzoo.org

Directions:
From HI-1 downtown take exit 25B onto 6th Avenue, turn right onto Mooheau Ave.
Take second left onto Kapahulu Avenue and follow for almost a mile looking for Honolulu Zoo signs and a parking lot on the left off of Lemon Road.

Honolulu Museum of Art

Honolulu, Oahu

Amidst the hustle of downtown Honolulu there is an oasis of art and culture. The Honolulu Museum of Art provides a great atmosphere to explore Asian, Arabic, European modern and American modern art. A great selection and diversity of styles is represented due to the merging of several collections left to the museum by its generous benefactors. A courtyard caf and separate espresso bar make for good afternoon eats and treats to go with your art exploration. The courtyards between the main galleries have themed art installations with great sitting nooks to have soft conversations or talk story about what's next in your museum quest.

At a glance:
Highlights: Impressive collection of art from around the world, housed in two large estates in downtown Honolulu. A great dose of arts and culture for an afternoon treat to beat the city heat.
Location: Honolulu, Hawaii
Activity level: easy, air conditioned galleries and lots of seating through out.
Hours of operation: Tuesday thru Saturday 10 am to 4:30 pm.
Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm
Caf open 11:30 am to 1:30 pm
Reservations: none needed
Costs: $10 admission adults, children under 17 are free.
plus metered parking or paid parking lot on Beretainia, $5 to $10

The main museum building has such a character all its own. There is a surprising large collection of 50,000 pieces of art from all over the planet. Special details to the furnishings, lighting and dcor make for interesting engaging layout of galleries that allow you to travel between cultures and times. The inner courtyards of each of the 2 main wings of the buildings have a fountain and sculptured garden environment to reflect upon.

An espresso bar with treats occupies the Palm courtyard and sculptural shade clothes stretched to create shade seating as you gaze upon an ornate hand carved arched window from somewhere in the far east. The city noise becomes a background mumble as the art within the gallery walls creates a bit of a buffer from the outside world. There is caf seating and meal service in the area adjacent to the Doris Duke Theater between 11:30 to 1:30 the perfect short lunch before galleries of art for dessert experience.

Also enjoy the free docent tours with 5 different interpretive guided tours daily offered 10 am to 12 noon.
Plus Spotlight Tour a 20 minute quick tour offered daily at 1:30 pm.
And Tea and tour, a 2:30 pm guided tour with tea after in the Palm courtyard.
Visit their website for tour details: http://honolulumuseum.org/383-adult

Established in 1927, the Honolulu Museum now consists of two sites for the price of one admission. Since 2011 the Spaulding House in the hills of Makiki Valley and its sculpture garden backyard has been incorporated with the HMA. With new contemporary shows rotating in the inner house galleries, and the permanent David Hockney sculptural installation and backyard views of the city make the drive to Makiki to visit the 2nd half of the museum a must.

Local's Tip:
You can never go wrong with this museum, be it for lunch or a few hours of relaxation this museum never disappoints. It has a unique under utilized environment for guests staying in Honolulu especially, to be able to drop out of the hustle and into a quiet zone of art and inspirations.

Contact:
Phone: 808-532-8700
Website: http://honolulumuseum.org/342-visit

Parking for museum:
1111 Victoria Street
Honolulu, Hawaii 96814
$5 for 5 hours. Entry from Beretania and Young Streets

Address:
900 South Beretania Street
Honolulu, Hawaii, 96814

Directions:

From HI-1 west: Take exit 23 to merge onto Lunalilo St (0.4 mi)
Turn left onto Pensacola St (0.2 mi)
Turn right at the 2nd cross street onto S Beretania St

From HI-1 east: Follow I-H-1 E to Kinau St. Take exit 22 (6.5 mi / 9 min)
Continue on Kinau St. Drive to S Beretania St (0.3 mi / 1 min)
Slight left onto Kinau St (0.2 mi)
Turn right onto Victoria St (358 ft)
Take the 1st right onto S Beretania St

Pearl Harbor Visitors' Center

Honolulu, Oahu

The events of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7th, 1941 left and indelible mark on the United States and the civil psyche of Hawaii. It is difficult to imagine this peaceful tropical island erupting into a war zone and the fiery hulks of the U.S Pacific fleet sinking sitting docked unaware. A visit to the Pearl Harbor Visitors' Center, the centerpiece of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument and its interpretive exhibits gets you deeper into the sites, and history of the historic battle. It is also the place to get tickets to visit the U.S.S. Arizona Memorial, Battleship Missouri, Pacific Aviation Museum, and the U.S.S. Bowfin submarine.

At a Glance:
Highlights: A memorial park, and museum complex on the waterfront of Pearl Harbor commemorating the Battle of Pearl Harbor. From here, shuttles can be taken to visit the various attractions including the boat shuttles to U.S.S. Arizona Memorial.
Activity level: Easy, but there can be much waiting in lines
Options: Come early and brave the lines for tickets, or slide in on a pre-booked tour package. IF planning months in advance, go online and pre-book a ticket to the U.S.S. Arizona and avoid the hassles of waiting in lines.
Cost: Free

Operated by the National Park Service, this visitors center can get up to 2,000 visitors per day. This makes it the most popular attraction on the island, so expect crowds if you choose to go for a visit. The first come first serve line for the various shuttle tickets begins as early as 5:45 a.m., but the Center does not open until 7 am. For those wanting to brave the lines the tickets you receive for standing in line early are actually for boat trips several hours later creating a "waiting" situation that may not fit your vacation plans.

Fret not, as the Pearl Harbor Visitors' Center itself is the attraction that is most easily visited no matter what time of day you go. Beyond the morning lines for tickets and boat shuttles, the crowd steadily rotates through the facilities. There are several museum exhibit buildings and a memorial depicting the battle on-site. Large murals, interpretive videos, and memorabilia depict a Hawaii before and after that fateful day. A walk through these exhibits and a look out at the memorial near the waterfront that shows all the sites of the battle through out the island on a 3-D model of the Oahu will only take about 45 minutes to an hour. IF choosing to do the U.S.S. Arizona, and additional hour plus wait times for boat lines will be needed.

Local's Tip:
These monuments are interesting for some, but not necessarily a "must-see" for all. The crowds can be large here, especially in the first several hours of the day. IF the U.S.S. Arizona IS on your agenda, book a couple of months or more ahead online and save yourself the headache of waiting in the long morning line. IF you would like to visit with less hustle and hassle, try later in the afternoon and make it an hour long stop on your way to other adventures.

* The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is open daily from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

*When visiting the Monument, no bags, purse, backpacks, fanny packs, or large camera bags are allowed. There is a bag check area where you can leave your bags in secure holding for $3 per bag.

Contacts:
Phone: (808) 423-7300
Web: http://www.nps.gov/valr/index.htm

Address:
1 Arizona Memorial Place
Honolulu, HI 96818

Directions:

Travel from Waikiki & Downtown Honolulu:

Honolulu is a large metropolitan area. Please plan for traffic. The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is approximately a 45-minute drive from Waikiki. Take Ala Moana Blvd./Nimitz Highway or H-1 West to begin. While on H-1, look for exit 15A, marked "Arizona Mem./Stadium". Note: Do not take the "Hickam AFB/Pearl Harbor" exit. This will take you to the active military base, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, not to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Once you take exit 15A, continue on HI-99 (Kamehameha Highway) and turn left at the 4th traffic light onto Arizona Memorial Place. At the base of the hill, turn right to find parking in one of our available lots. Please park before unloading.

Travel from West Oahu - Ewa, Kapolei, Waianae

Take H-1 East to begin. Take exit 13A toward Aiea onto Moanalua Road; stay in the far right lane and take the "Stadium/Aiea" exit. Continue on Moanalua Road and turn left at first stoplight onto HI-99 East (Kamehameha Highway). Continue on HI-99 (Kamehameha Highway) and turn right onto Arizona Memorial Place. At the base of the hill, turn right to find parking in one of our available lots. Please park before unloading.

Travel from East Oahu - Kaneohe, Kailua

Take H-3 West. Take exit 1C towards Halawa/Camp Smith/Aiea/Stadium, then turn left on Kahuapaani Street. Follow signs for Stadium/Honolulu. Turn right on Salt Lake Blvd. Continue following signs for Stadium. Turn left on HI-99 East (Kamehameha Highway). Continue on HI-99 (Kamehameha Highway) and turn right onto Arizona Memorial Place. At the base of the hill, turn right to find parking in one of our available lots. Please park before unloading.

Travel from North Oahu - North Shore, Haleiwa

Start on HI-99 and continue on HI-80. Continue on HI-99 South. Take H-2 South toward Honolulu. Head toward Honolulu and take exit 1A onto H-1 East. Take exit 13A toward Aiea onto Moanalua Road; stay in the far right lane and take the "Stadium/Aiea" exit. Continue on Moanalua Road and turn left at first stoplight onto HI-99 East (Kamehameha Highway). Continue on HI-99 (Kamehameha Highway) and turn right onto Arizona Memorial Place. At the base of the hill, turn right to find parking in one of our available lots. Please park before unloading.

Bishop Museum

Honolulu, Oahu

The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum is a cultural gathering place and education center that actively engages people in the presentation, exploration, and preservation of Hawaii's cultural heritage and natural history. When visiting Honolulu, it is a must see for those seeking a deeper understanding of what makes these islands and people so unique and special. A collection of 2.4 million Pacific Island and Hawaiian cultural objects, 1 million historical photographs, artworks and archival materials are the backbone of the museum. However, modern science exhibits, planetarium programs and temporary traveling exhibits engage learners of all ages make this facility a great family destination for those wanting to spend some time exploring knowledge.

At a Glance:
Highlights: An active learning environment for discovering Hawaii's culture, geology, and history with planetarium shows, science demonstrations featured in five distinct different museum buildings, and a learning garden.
Location: Honolulu, Oahu
Activity level: Easy
Options: Allow 2 to 3 hours to explore the museum and demonstrations.
Reservations: None needed
Cost: $19.95 adult Youth (4 to 12) $14.95, 3 and under are free.
Hours: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. Closed Tuesdays

Founded in 1889 by Charles Reed bishop in honor of his late wife Bernice Pauahi, the original collection housed royal heirlooms of the dynasties of King Kamehameha and Kalakaua. By 1988 this museum was deemed the official Hawaii State Museum on Natural and Cultural History and the expanded facilities now foster many areas of learning.

The striking stone built Hawaiian Hall was constructed in 1889 to 1903 has a classic Romanesque Revival style exterior that shelters the main artifacts of pre-contact Hawaiian culture within. From the first voyagers to the islands all the way through the present day era, the exhibits in this building give such a great sense of the people who originally inhabited this paradise.

The 3-story tall main hall was renovated in 2006 and designed to give visitors a journey into the many levels of Hawaiian culture while changing floors. The realm of the gods, ocean and creation stories are found on the 1st floor, with the daily life of Hawaiian's and their interplay the natural world is featured on the 2nd floor. On the top or 3rd floor the "Ali'i" (Alee-ee) or chiefs of the islands stories are told side by side with royal artifacts and some interpretive videos explaining historic evolution of Hawaiian culture. A huge replica whale hangs high above, dwarfed by this whale of a building whose ornate wooden floor to ceiling details create grandness in this expansive space.

An adjacent gallery focuses on the connection between the other Pacific island cultures and their influence in Hawaii. Don't miss the "Kahili Gallery" on the downstairs near the entry to Hawaiian Hall. The painted portraits and royal feather staffs are extremely rare artifacts representing the Hawaiian monarchy.

The J. Watumuli Planetarium building on the Museum campus is the dome that is visible above the red-bricked entry building. Recently renovated in 2012 with state of the art digital systems the planetarium rotates between programs daily. The schedule is posted at the entry, and seating is first come first served with a line forming by the entry before each show. Free with admission.
1:30 pm -"Explorers of Polynesia" 45 minutes
11:30 am and 3:30 pm -"The Sky Tonight" 25 minutes
2:30 "Planetarium Fun Show"

Awaken your inner child and activate your young learners in the family at the Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center which is the modern steel and glass building to the southern end of the center courtyard. Featuring a 26 foot tall multi-story erupting volcano that you get to walk and slide through, that illustrates the source of the construction of these islands. Go under sea and pilot the remote control subs that explore our newest islands along the ocean floor. The rooms here are very kinetic and active so be aware the noise level is higher then the rest of the more somber halls. Check the "Lava Melting Demo" at 12 and 2:30 pm (25 minutes) downstairs in the "Hot Spot".

The Castle Memorial Building between the science center and the Hawaiian Hall, houses the seasonal touring exhibits, usually featuring lots of hands-on for the young learners. There is usually a very engaging contemporary theme to these shows. The museum has been able to lure big national traveling exhibits over the years making for a surprising fun additive to the Bishop Museum mix.

Locals Tip:
Make this a destination for a few hours peace and quiet away from the hustle of downtown Honolulu and Waikiki. The many galleries are air-conditioned so this is a great destination to duck out of the mid-day heat.

Contacts:
Phone:808.847.3511
Email: webmaster@bishopmuseum.org

Address:
Bishop Museum
1525 Bernice Street
Honolulu, HI 96817

Directions:

From the H-1 freeway take exit 20A onto the Likelike Highway/ HI-route 63 N
Turn right onto Bernice Street and look for museum entrance on right.

USS Arizona Memorial

Honolulu, Oahu

This memorial marks the tragic spot where the USS Arizona was sunk during the Pearl Harbor bombing in 1941, and where 1777 of her crewmen lost their lives. Part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument, the structure is 184 feet in length and stretches across the middle of the sunken ship. Names of the lives lost in the attack are engraved into its walls.

Following the attack on that fateful December 7th, the battleship sunk in nine minutes. Although planning to construct the memorial began in 1949, it wasn't completed until 1961. Visitors can explore two museums located on the visitor center property to learn more about the history of the USS Arizona and the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The original anchor can also be seen at the visitor center.

AT A GLANCE:
HIGHLIGHTS: The Visitor Center, where you will park your car and obtain your ticket to the memorial, provides a wealth of information on the history of Pearl Harbor, the USS Arizona, and the December 7th attack. Visitors can explore museums, a bookstore, gift shops, and educational displays scattered throughout the grounds, along with views of the harbor and her ships.

ACTIVITIES: Museums, gift shops, educational videos, tours, photographic opportunities

WARNINGS: The USS Arizona memorial is located off of a military base, so you will be taken by boat to the memorial and will have to leave your car parked back at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. You will not be permitted to take any bags (purses included) out to the memorial with you so be prepared to either leave them in your car or check them at the visitor center for $3 and carry necessary items in pockets. Cameras are allowed but again, not in bags.

Hours:
USS Arizona Memorial tours run every 15 minutes from 8am-3pm.

Tickets:
Free, but first-come first-serve. It is best to arrive early! The 75-minute tour includes a video on the attack and a boat ride out to the memorial. Appropriate for all ages.

Address:
1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, HI 96701

Directions:
From Waikiki, take the H1 west. Follow the signs toward Pearl Harbor and the airport. Take Exit 15A (Arizona Memorial/Stadium) and follow the "Pearl Harbor Historic Sites" signs. These signs will lead to the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center. Once you park and purchase your tickets, a boat will take you out to the USS Arizona Memorial.