Waikiki · Things to Do
Things to Do in Waikiki
Waikiki fits a beginner surf break, a crater hike, a free Saturday hula show and Friday night fireworks into one neighborhood. These are the 27 things we would do here, sorted into six groups so you can find the right one for the hour you have. Each entry is short, tagged by who it suits, and links to our full guide, the official page, or a tour we would book.
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Waikiki at night. Photo: Edmund Garman, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
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Waikiki, Six Ways
- On the water6 things · Surf lessons, sunset sails, the submarine
- On land4 things · Diamond Head, Kapiʻolani Park, the Duke statue
- At night4 things · Saturday hula, Friday fireworks, Kalākaua
- With kids4 things · The lagoon, the zoo, the aquarium
- Food and shopping4 things · Market Place, free classes, poke
- Day trips5 things · Pearl Harbor, Hanauma Bay, the North Shore
Trip types
How to use this page: pick a group, scan its list, and follow the link on anything you want to book. “Free” means no ticket. Prices are what we found in September 2026, and anything that needs a reservation says so. To see where everything sits, open the Waikiki map; for the rest of the island, see things to do in Oahu.
On the Water in Waikiki
Most of these start on Waikiki Beach itself or at the Hilton Hawaiian Village pier. For the beaches, stretch by stretch, see our Waikiki beaches guide.
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01
Take a Surf Lesson
Waikiki’s rolling breaks at Canoes, Queens, Populars and Kuhio are where Oahu learns to surf. When we checked eight schools in September 2026, group lessons ran $89 to $100, and several need four people for the group rate. Book ahead in summer.
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02
Sail a Sunset Catamaran
Catamarans load right off Waikiki Beach and sail out for sunset with Diamond Head behind you. The best value we found is a two-hour sail on a 40-foot catamaran with food included and BYOB, from $54.99 and rated 4.92 from 1,003 reviews on Viator in September 2026. Sunset departures sell out, so book ahead.
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03
See the Friday Fireworks From the Water
Hilton Hawaiian Village sets off fireworks every Friday night. A 105-minute Friday fireworks catamaran ($84.72, rated 4.56 from 704 reviews on Viator in September 2026) puts you under the show instead of behind the crowd on the sand. Like the show, it runs weather permitting.
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04
Take a One-Hour Diamond Head Sail
Short on time or budget? A one-hour sail toward Diamond Head on the Ke Kai catamaran leaves from Waikiki Beach for $52.70 (4.90 from 84 reviews on Viator, September 2026). It is the daytime version of the sunset sail, at about half the price.
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05
Snorkel Turtle Canyon
Snorkel catamarans run from Waikiki out to Turtle Canyon, the reef offshore that gives the trip its name. Trips run weather permitting, so book ahead and leave yourself a backup day.
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06
Dive in the Atlantis Submarine
A real submarine, from the Hilton Hawaiian Village pier down to about 100 feet off Waikiki, with no swimming involved. Seats were $151 on Viator in September 2026. Kids must meet a minimum height, so check before you book.
On Land in Waikiki
Waikiki’s land side runs east to Kapiʻolani Park and Diamond Head. Three of these four are free.
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07
Hike Diamond Head
The crater at the east end of Waikiki is the classic Oahu hike, with the whole skyline below you at the top. Visitors need a timed reservation, released up to 30 days ahead: $5 a person plus $10 a car, and Hawaiʻi residents with ID get in free. Open 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., last entry 4:30 p.m., closed Christmas and New Year’s Day.
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08
Wander Kapiʻolani Park
About 300 acres of lawn and banyans between Kuhio Beach and Diamond Head, and Honolulu’s oldest public park, run by the city since 1913. The zoo, the aquarium and the Waikiki Shell all sit along its edges, so it links a whole morning together.
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09
See the Duke Kahanamoku Statue
A nine-foot bronze of Waikiki’s most famous surfer by sculptor Jan Gordon Fisher, unveiled on August 24, 1990, the 100th anniversary of Duke Kahanamoku’s birth. It stands on Kalākaua Avenue at Kuhio Beach. Come on a Saturday evening and the hula show is right beside it.
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10
Follow the Waikiki Historic Trail
Twenty-three surfboard-shaped markers, created in 1997 by Dr. George Kanahele and the Native Hawaiian Hospitality Association, mark the history under the hotels. Start near the Duke statue. Some markers have aged, moved or gone missing, so treat it as a loose walk, not a checklist.
Diamond Head Hike with Tickets and Waikiki Hotel Pickup
★★★★★ 4.78 · 1,006 reviews · From $35
Pickup and drop-off at your Waikiki hotel, park entry included, and you hike at your own pace. About three hours door to door.
Check AvailabilityWe may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Things to Do in Waikiki at Night
Waikiki’s two free shows land on the weekend: fireworks on Friday, hula on Saturday. In December, add Honolulu City Lights downtown.
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11
Catch the Kuhio Beach Hula Show
Hula performers take the Kuhio Beach Hula Mound after a torch lighting, next to the Duke statue and diagonally across from the Hyatt Regency. It is free on Saturday evenings, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., weather permitting. Some Saturdays are skipped for parades and other events, so check the schedule before you go.
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12
Watch the Friday Fireworks From the Beach
Hilton Hawaiian Village sets off fireworks on Fridays at 7:45 p.m., and they are free to watch from Duke Kahanamoku Beach in front of the hotel. Get to the sand before dark for a spot.
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13
Walk Kalākaua Avenue After Dark
Waikiki’s main street, from the Kuhio Beach stretch past the Luxury Row shops toward the Royal Hawaiian, is at its best after dark, when the storefronts are lit and the sidewalks fill up. It costs nothing.
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14
Go Out on Lewers Street and Kuhio Avenue
Waikiki’s bars and clubs cluster on Lewers Street and Kuhio Avenue, a block or two back from the beach. Covers and drink prices vary by venue and by night.
Waikiki Sunset Cocktail Sail on the Moana Catamaran
★★★★★ 4.86 · 2,423 reviews · From $90
Two hours off Waikiki at sunset, with the most reviews of any Waikiki sail we checked.
Check AvailabilityWe may earn a commission if you book through this link, at no extra cost to you.
Things to Do in Waikiki With Kids
The calmest water is at the Hilton end of Waikiki and the zoo and aquarium are at the Diamond Head end, so a family day can move from one to the other. The surf lessons and sails above work for kids too.
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15
Swim the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon
A 4.6-acre man-made lagoon fronting Hilton Hawaiian Village, built in 1955 and 1956 and reopened after a renovation in 2007. There are no waves, which is the point with small kids. No city lifeguard tower is listed on this stretch, so stay within reach of young swimmers.
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16
Spend a Morning at Honolulu Zoo
In Kapiʻolani Park at 151 Kapahulu Ave, open daily 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., no reservation needed. General admission is $21 for ages 13 and up, $13 for ages 3 to 12, and free under 3. Hawaiʻi residents and military pay $10 and $6 with ID at the gate (September 2026). Go early, before the midday heat.
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17
Take the Keiki to Waikiki Aquarium
A small aquarium run by the University of Hawaiʻi at 2777 Kalākaua Ave, with a monk seal pool and a Hawaiian reef tank. Admission is $12 for adults and $5 for ages 4 to 12 (September 2026), with no reservation needed. Pair it with the zoo; they are a short walk apart through the park.
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18
Ride an Outrigger Canoe
Waikiki beachboys take outrigger canoes out to the Canoes surf break from stands near Kuhio Beach, the Royal Hawaiian and the Sheraton. Faith Surf School’s ride is $35 for 20 minutes, for ages 8 and up (September 2026). Walk up, or book ahead online.
Food and Shopping in Waikiki
Waikiki eats well without a reservation: food trucks, poke counters and the open-air centers on Kalākaua Avenue.
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19
Browse International Market Place
An open-air shopping center at 2330 Kalākaua Ave, built around a century-old banyan tree. It is free to walk through, and the tree is the reason to stop even if you skip the shops.
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20
Take a Free Class at Royal Hawaiian Center
The center on Kalākaua Avenue runs free weekly cultural classes: ʻukulele, hula, lei making and weaving. No booking needed. The schedule rotates, so check the events page for this week’s days and times.
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21
Eat Your Way Through Waikiki’s Food Trucks
Trucks are scattered through central Waikiki, and their hours and menus change truck to truck. Our guide sorts out which ones to find and what to order.
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22
Get Poke to Go
The closest good poke to Waikiki: Ono Seafood on Kapahulu Avenue (Tuesday to Saturday, closed Sunday and Monday) and Maguro Brothers’ Waikiki counter at 2250 Kalākaua Ave (evenings only, roughly 5 to 8 p.m.). Take it to the beach.
Day Trips From Waikiki
Waikiki is the base for most Oahu day trips. For everything beyond it, see things to do in Oahu, sorted by region.
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23
Tour Pearl Harbor From Waikiki
Guided tours pick up at Waikiki hotels and handle the driving and the timing; the two combo tours we checked ran $145 to $149 in September 2026. Going on your own? The USS Arizona Memorial runs on timed tickets, mostly free, booked separately. Here is how to get Pearl Harbor tickets.
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24
Snorkel Hanauma Bay
Oahu’s best easy snorkeling, about 30 minutes east of Waikiki. You need an advance reservation and an entry fee, so book it before you plan the rest of the day.
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25
Loop the Island on a Circle Island Tour
A full-day loop up the windward coast, across the North Shore and back through central Oahu, with someone else doing the driving. Our guide weighs a tour against renting a car.
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26
Spend a Day on the North Shore
About 45 minutes to an hour from Waikiki: Haleʻiwa town, the big winter surf beaches and the food trucks. Getting there is free; each stop has its own costs.
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27
Whale Watch From Kewalo Basin (Winter)
Humpbacks winter off Oahu, and whale-watching boats leave from Kewalo Basin, a short ride from Waikiki, roughly December through April.
Waikiki Questions
What is there to do in Waikiki at night?
On Fridays, Hilton Hawaiian Village sets off fireworks at 7:45 p.m., free to watch from Duke Kahanamoku Beach or from a catamaran offshore. On Saturday evenings, the free Kuhio Beach Hula Show runs 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., weather permitting. Any night, take a sunset sail, walk Kalākaua Avenue, or head to the bars on Lewers Street and Kuhio Avenue.
What are the best free things to do in Waikiki?
The beach itself, the Saturday hula show at Kuhio Beach, the Friday fireworks from the sand, Kapiʻolani Park, the Duke Kahanamoku statue, the Waikiki Historic Trail, and the free weekly cultural classes at Royal Hawaiian Center.
What can you do in Waikiki with kids?
Swim the wave-free Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, then spend a morning at Honolulu Zoo ($13 for ages 3 to 12) or Waikiki Aquarium ($5 for ages 4 to 12). Kids 8 and up can ride an outrigger canoe with a Waikiki beachboy, and the Friday fireworks and Saturday hula show are both free.
Do you need a reservation for Diamond Head?
Yes, if you are not a Hawaiʻi resident. Reservations open up to 30 days ahead and cost $5 a person plus $10 a car. Our Diamond Head reservation guide walks through booking.
Is there a luau in Waikiki?
Yes, and this list leaves luaus out on purpose, because our guide to the best luaus on Oahu compares every one on the island, including the ones in Waikiki.
Where should you stay to be close to all of this?
Anywhere in Waikiki puts most of this list within walking distance or a short ride. Our best Waikiki hotels guide picks one at every budget.
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