Honolulu travel guide
United States
The capital of Hawaiʻi sits between volcanic ridges and the Pacific on the island of Oʻahu. Beyond the hotels of Waikīkī are hiking trails, local food counters and history unlike anywhere else in the United States.
Essentials
- Language
- English and Hawaiian; Hawaiʻi Pidgin is widely spoken
- Currency
- US dollar (USD)
- Plugs
- Type A and B, 120 V
- Emergency number
- 911
- Tipping
- Tipping is expected: around 18 to 20 percent at sit-down restaurants, a dollar or two per drink at bars, and a similar share for taxis.
Rough daily budget
Approximate spend per person per day, in US dollars:
- Backpacker: $90-140, with a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport.
- Mid-range: $250-400, with a private room and restaurant meals.
Last reviewed: October 2026
Where to stay in Honolulu
- Waikīkī: the famous beach, surf schools and easy access to Diamond Head.
- Chinatown: markets, lei stands, galleries and some of the city's best bars and restaurants.
- Kaimukī: a low-key strip of local cafés and restaurants just inland from Diamond Head.
Getting around Honolulu
TheBus covers most of Oʻahu and takes a HOLO card. Biki bikes are handy around Waikīkī and downtown, but a hire car helps for the North Shore and windward coast.
Best time to visit Honolulu
April to May and September to October, warm and less busy; winter brings big surf to the North Shore.
Top things to do in Honolulu
- Hike to the crater rim of Diamond Head for views along the coast
- Visit the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, booking the USS Arizona Memorial programme in advance
- Tour ʻIolani Palace, the residence of Hawaiʻi's last monarchs
- Walk the rainforest trail to Mānoa Falls, ideally after a dry spell
- Take a surf lesson on the gentle breaks off Waikīkī Beach
What to eat in Honolulu
- Poke: cubes of raw fish dressed with soy, sesame oil, seaweed or onion, sold by the pound
- Plate lunch: a meat such as kalua pork or chicken katsu with two scoops of rice and macaroni salad
- Shave ice: finely shaved ice soaked in fruit syrups, sometimes with ice cream or sweet beans underneath
- Malasada: a Portuguese-style doughnut rolled in sugar, sometimes filled with custard
Day trips from Honolulu
- North Shore: surf towns, garlic shrimp trucks and big winter waves, about an hour by car
- Kailua and Lanikai: calm turquoise bays and a ridge hike on the windward side, about 30 minutes by car
- Hanauma Bay: snorkelling in a protected volcanic bay, about 30 minutes by car, with entry booked ahead
Local etiquette
Take your shoes off before entering a home. Give sea turtles and monk seals plenty of room, as disturbing them is against the law.
Staying connected
Prepaid SIMs and eSIMs from the major US carriers work across Oʻahu, and Wi-Fi is standard in cafés and accommodation.
Staying safe
The ocean is the main hazard: obey lifeguard warnings, as rip currents and shore breaks can be dangerous, especially on the North Shore in winter. Car break-ins are common at beach and trailhead car parks, so leave nothing in view.
A local tip
Get to Diamond Head early, as entry for out-of-state visitors must be booked in advance and the morning is cooler.
Visas:rules depend on your nationality and change often – check your own government's official travel advice before you go.
Meet people in Honolulu on Waypacker
Waypacker is a free travel community: stay with ID-verified local hosts, join meetups and city groups, and ask people who live in Honolulu for advice. We are new here, so if you live in Honolulu, you could be one of the first hosts.
Questions about Honolulu
- What currency is used in Honolulu?
- Honolulu uses the US dollar (USD).
- What is the emergency number in Honolulu?
- In Honolulu, call 911.
- When is the best time to visit Honolulu?
- April to May and September to October, warm and less busy; winter brings big surf to the North Shore.
- How much does a day in Honolulu cost?
- Roughly $90-140 a day in US dollars on a backpacker budget (a hostel or shared room, street food and public transport), and $250-400 mid-range (a private room and restaurants). These are broad estimates, last reviewed October 2026.
- Is Waypacker free to use in Honolulu?
- Yes. Joining is free and stays with hosts carry no nightly rate or booking fee.
- Are Waypacker hosts ID-verified?
- Every host's ID and selfie are checked by hand by a real person before they can host. Nothing is sent to an AI service.
- Can I meet locals in Honolulu without staying with anyone?
- Yes. You can join meetups and city groups, or ask locals for tips, without booking a stay.
- Will anyone see my exact location?
- No. Hosts and meetups appear as a neighbourhood-sized area about a kilometre wide, and exact addresses are never stored.