5 Reasons to Visit® · Hawaii
5 Reasons to Visit Honolulu, Hawaii, the Only U.S. Capital With a Royal Palace
Long before statehood, Honolulu was the capital of a kingdom, and its royal palace still stands downtown. Beyond the beaches of Waikīkī lie Pearl Harbor, a celebrated food scene and the living culture of Hawaiʻi.
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Honolulu, Hawaii, became the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1845, and it is still the only U.S. state capital with a royal palace. ʻIolani Palace, completed for King Kalākaua in 1882, stands downtown a short drive from the beaches of Waikīkī. This December marks 85 years since the attack on Pearl Harbor, and Honolulu’s food scene keeps drawing national attention, with three local restaurants named 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists. Here are five reasons to see more of Honolulu than the beach.
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1Things to See & Do
Things to Do in Honolulu: A Royal Palace and Pearl Harbor
ʻIolani Palace, home of Hawaiʻi’s last monarchs, King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani, was fitted with electric lights before the White House. Guided tours tell the story of the kingdom and its overthrow in 1893. Across the street stands the gilded statue of King Kamehameha I, and nearby, the open-air Hawaii State Capitol was designed to evoke the islands’ volcanoes and ocean.
Pearl Harbor National Memorial, where the attack of December 7, 1941, drew the United States into World War II, includes the USS Arizona Memorial, reached by boat, as well as the Battleship Missouri and other historic sites; reserve USS Arizona tickets in advance. The Bishop Museum, the state’s largest museum, holds the world’s premier collection of Hawaiian and Pacific cultural treasures.
2Dining Scene
Where to Eat in Honolulu: Plate Lunches to James Beard Semifinalists
Honolulu’s food reflects the islands’ blend of Hawaiian, Asian and Pacific cultures. Start with the classics: poke, plate lunch, shave ice and malasadas from Leonard’s Bakery. In 2026, Mud Hen Water and The Local General Store in Kaimukī and Paris Hawaii in Kakaʻako were named James Beard Award semifinalists, and chef Alan Wong, a pioneer of Hawaiʻi Regional Cuisine, returned with a new restaurant at The Kahala Hotel & Resort.
Kaimukī has become one of the city’s best dining neighborhoods, Chinatown is packed with noodle shops, bakeries and cocktail bars, and Waikīkī’s beachfront hotels offer sunset dinners with views of Diamond Head.
Honolulu is a beach city, but it is also the capital of a kingdom, and the history is never more than a few blocks from the sand.
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3Recreation
Outdoor Honolulu: Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay and Waikīkī Surf
The hike to the summit of Diamond Head, Lēʻahi, rewards an early start with sweeping views over Waikīkī; out-of-state visitors must reserve entry in advance. East of the city, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve offers snorkeling in a protected volcanic crater, also by reservation, and the Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse Trail delivers coastal views and seasonal whale watching.
Waikīkī is one of the best places in the world to learn to surf, with gentle, rolling waves and surf schools along the beach. For something greener, the trail to Mānoa Falls winds through a lush rainforest valley minutes from downtown, and Ala Moana Beach Park is a favorite for calm-water swimming.
4Shopping
Shopping in Honolulu: Ala Moana, Kakaʻako and Island Makers
Ala Moana Center, one of the largest open-air shopping centers in the world, gathers luxury brands, department stores and local shops beside the beach park. Kalākaua Avenue in Waikīkī adds designer boutiques and resort wear, and Kakaʻako’s warehouses hold independent shops, galleries and local designers.
For gifts with island roots, look for aloha shirts from Hawaiʻi labels, koa wood, Hawaiian quilts and locally made jewelry, and browse the farmers markets around town for Kona coffee, tropical fruit and island-made treats. Hawaii adds a general excise tax to most purchases.
5Art & Culture
Honolulu’s Art Scene: A Major Art Museum, Kakaʻako Murals and Hula
The Honolulu Museum of Art, the state’s largest art museum, set around tranquil courtyards, spans Asian, Pacific, European and American art, with a strong collection of Japanese prints. Downtown, the Hawaiʻi State Art Museum showcases work by island artists, and the restored 1922 Hawaii Theatre hosts concerts and performances.
Kakaʻako is an open-air gallery of large-scale murals, many created during the annual POW! WOW! Hawaii festival, and Chinatown’s galleries open late on First Fridays. To experience Hawaiʻi’s most important art form, seek out hula performances, from free shows in Waikīkī to cultural programs at the Bishop Museum.
Plan Your Honolulu Trip
Honolulu is warm year-round, with spring and fall offering the best balance of weather, prices and crowds. Reserve ahead for Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay and the USS Arizona Memorial. Give it at least four days: one for ʻIolani Palace, downtown and Chinatown, one at Pearl Harbor, one for Diamond Head and the beaches of Waikīkī, and one for the Bishop Museum, Kakaʻako and Kaimukī’s restaurants, then add time for the rest of Oʻahu.
Honolulu, Hawaii: FAQ
Is Honolulu worth visiting beyond Waikīkī?
Yes. Beyond Waikīkī’s beaches, Honolulu offers ʻIolani Palace, Pearl Harbor National Memorial, the Bishop Museum, the Honolulu Museum of Art, the Diamond Head summit hike, Hanauma Bay, the murals of Kakaʻako and an acclaimed food scene in neighborhoods like Kaimukī and Chinatown.
Is ʻIolani Palace the only royal palace in the United States?
Yes. ʻIolani Palace in Honolulu, completed in 1882 for King Kalākaua, is the only royal palace in the United States. It was the residence of Hawaiʻi’s last monarchs and is now a museum open for tours.
What are the best things to do in Honolulu?
Top things to do in Honolulu include touring ʻIolani Palace, visiting Pearl Harbor National Memorial and the USS Arizona Memorial, hiking Diamond Head, snorkeling at Hanauma Bay, learning to surf in Waikīkī, visiting the Bishop Museum and the Honolulu Museum of Art, and exploring Kakaʻako’s murals.
Do you need reservations for Diamond Head?
Yes. Out-of-state visitors must make an advance reservation to enter Diamond Head State Monument. Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve and the USS Arizona Memorial also require advance reservations.
When is the best time to visit Honolulu?
Honolulu is pleasant year-round. April to May and September to October usually offer good weather with fewer crowds and lower prices than the winter holidays and summer.
What are the best restaurants in Honolulu?
Well-regarded Honolulu restaurants include 2026 James Beard Award semifinalists Mud Hen Water, The Local General Store and Paris Hawaii, as well as chef Alan Wong’s restaurant at The Kahala Hotel & Resort. Don’t miss local classics such as poke, plate lunch and malasadas.
When did Honolulu become the capital of Hawaii?
Honolulu became the capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1845 and remained the capital through the territorial period and statehood in 1959.
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