Things to Do Near Waikiki Beach

Waikiki Beach, located on the South shore of Honolulu, is one of the most popular beaches in the world. Waikiki is the main resort area of Oahu and receives more than four million visitors every year. Though mostly known for its beaches, it has much more to offer. Things to do near Waikiki Beach include family attractions, restaurants, shopping and nightlife. 

• The Waikiki Aquarium is the third oldest aquarium in the United States, and home to more than 500 marine species and more than 3,000 marine specimens. The Aquarium was founded in 1904 and located on the shoreline of Waikiki Beach, across from Kapiolani Park. Interactive exhibits feature Hawaii’s unique aquatic life. The Aquarium is open everyday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.


• The Honolulu Zoo is home to 995 different animals, including Komodo Dragons, elephants, birds, reptiles and different African animals. The Zoo consists of 42 acres. There are walking tours led by a guide on Saturday nights from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.


• The U.S. Army Museum of Hawaii is housed in Battery Randolph, built around 1911. Battery Randolph was part of a coastal defense system made to protect Honolulu Harbor from invasion. The Museum features memorabilia from an early Hawaiian period through the Vietnam War. It's open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.


• The Honolulu Academy of Arts is Hawaii’s largest fine arts museum and houses a permanent collection of 38,000 pieces. The museum has one of the finest collections of Asian art in the world. The Doris Duke Theatre is located in the museum and plays a variety of foreign and independent films. On the last Friday of every month it features ARTafterDARK, an event that mixes live music, food and dance with the arts. From the Academy of Arts, visitors take guided tours of Shangri-La, a historic home with 3,500 objects of Islamic art belonging to the late Doris Duke. Shangri-La offers an impressive seaside view of Leahi, or Diamond Head State Monument.


• Leahi is a 760-foot tuff crater located five minutes east of Waikiki. It was named Diamond Head by nineteenth century British sailors, and declared a National Natural Landmark in 1968. Leahi is a popular hiking spot and offers panoramic views of Waikiki and the South Shore of Oahu.


• Pearl Harbor, about 30 minutes from Waikiki, has five historic sites: the USS Arizona Memorial, the Battleship Missouri Memorial, the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park, the Pacific Aviation Museum and the USS Oklahoma Memorial.