Honolulu is an island, so go explore its gorgeous beaches and soak up the beauty of both the sunrise and the sunset. Pick one of the numerous beaches and spread out your mats, relax, and get a lustrous tan while listening to the roaring sea.
The east side of the popular Waikiki beach has a wharf known as The Slippery Wall, where an adventurous couple can surf. Meanwhile, the Ford DeRussy Beach is extremely calm and is ideal for couples to swim together. Ala Moana Beach Park features paved walkways, a cove beach, fishermen, and joggers; providing a fascinating view. Additionally, musicians, movies, and shops along the walkways are also entertaining. You may also want to check out the Waikiki Aquarium, the Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, the Manoa Falls, the Ala Wai Yacht Harbor, and the Kakaako Waterfront Park on the coastline of Honolulu.
The beach scene of Honolulu is so scintillating that there is always something new to enjoy and do.
2. Riding the Waves
Barefoot Fun Cruise
The Pacific Splash Cruise Company offers different programs. Its Wild Whale Eco-Adventure Cruise sails from Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head to catch grand views of humpback whales, Hawaiian spinner dolphins, sea turtles, and porpoises. You can also enjoy a freshly cooked breakfast or a steaming barbeque lunch on this cruise that spans about ninety minutes.
The company's Barefoot Fun Cruise at Turtle Canyons allows you to glide down giant water slides from the top deck of the cruising ships. Several water toys are available, along with a freshly prepared lunch on the cruise that lasts three hours and 30 minutes.
Also, among the offerings of Pacific Splash Cruise, is the two-hour long Island Grill Sunset Cruise, that allows you to experience the colorful sunset, the stars, and the lights of the island from the decks of the yacht. The cruise also presents fabulous sights of the Waikiki coastline and Diamond Head. In addition, the Island Grill Street Cruise also serves an aromatic traditional Hawaiian Pupu style dinner.
Many other cruising companies, such as Captain Bob's Adventure Cruise, also supplement the cruising activities conducted by Pacific Splash Cruises.
3. A Day of Culture
Honolulu Concert Hall
In contrast to the frenzied activities on the waves, but equally attractive, are the cultural activities of Honolulu. Honolulu, the center for Hawaiian music, presents several music venues: the Neal Blaisdell Center Concert Hall, the Waikiki Shell, and the Hawaiian Theater. Theater is also very alive on the island at venues such as the Diamond Head Theater and the Manoa Valley Theater. In addition, you can check out visual arts in the Honolulu Academy of Arts and the Doris Duke Theater.
Another must-see cultural center in Honolulu is the Diamond Head Sprinkler Supply Company, which probably is the world's only lawn sprinkler museum. You will see sprinklers dating back to the 1920s, as well as pinball machines, gas pumps, and neon signs in this museum.
4. Bond Over a Brew
Hilton Hawiian Village
You must not miss the scrumptious food and drinks offered at the island's cafes and restaurants. The Scene is a popular café that serves excellent espresso and hot chocolate in a heavenly ambiance. The Food is another café, serving the finest blends at moderate prices. Among the restaurants is the famous Aaron's Atop the Ala Moana Hotel, which provides a breathtaking view of the island from the 36th floor. The hotel also has a peppy dance floor and cozy private dining rooms. Bali-By-The-Sea is another restaurant in the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It offers a magnificent seaside view, in addition to delicious dinner selections. Other restaurants that you may wish to try while in Honolulu are Chai's Island Bistro, Hoku's Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Orchids Brunch Buffet, and Michel's.
5. An evening in the gardens
Flower At Koko Garden
Flora and fauna enhance the beauty of scenic Honolulu, especially in the Foster Botanical Gardens, which has over 4,000 species of rare tropical plants. The Lili'uokalani Botanical Garden is situated amidst streams and waterfalls, and features several native Hawaiian plants. Koko Crater Botanical Garden is another picturesque garden that you will want to add to your list.
6. Shangri La
Doris Duke House
Doris Duke's home, built in 1930, is an architecturally significant home, which also includes a great collection of Islamic artwork. You can wander through the house or take a guided tour. The gardens and surrounding lands are fascinating under the green canopy that covers them. Enjoy a picnic lunch before you explore further.
7. Hiking Honlulu
Mauna Falls
For outdoor enthusiasts, there are plenty of beautiful hiking trails in and around Honolulu. The Maunawili Trail meanders along a gentle slope until you reach the top for great views, or you may want to try the one-hour hike up to Manoa Falls - a place of magical beauty and enchantment.
8. Whale Watching
Whale Watching
The months of December through April are prime for whale watching along the coast of Honolulu. Dream Cruises and The Star of Honolulu both offer daily sightseeing and whale-watching cruises. For a different experience, try an hour-long whale-watching cruise aboard a submarine. Atlantis Submarines departs daily from the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
9. Diamond Head
Diamond Head
You can see this volcanic crater even as you fly over the city. Diamond Head is three-hundred-fifty acres in size, and the location for some of the most amazing scenery in the area. It is a wonder that rewards hikers who dare climb to the top. The view at the top is sure to impress all who see it.
10. Be Pampered
Serenity Spa
Honolulu has a wealth of spas and salons where you can rejuvenate yourself. Serenity Spa Hawaii, Paul Brown Salon and Day Spa, and NA Ho'ola Spa all offer refreshing massages. If you are looking for skin treatments, you can go to Susan Perry Esthetics, Suzy's Skin Care, or the Malama Salon and Spa.
History buffs of all ages would be remiss if they visited Honolulu without touring the Arizona Memorial. Oahu's top tourist site is the final resting place for the 1177 men who lost their lives during a surprise attack by the Japanese at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. The bombing changed the course of history changed, as America was plunged into World War II. A visit to the Arizona Memorial is a solemn and sobering experience, especially when you see the oil droplets that still bubble to the surface of the water from the sunken vessel. If you have time consider visiting other nearby World War II sights: the Battleship Missouri Memorial, the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park, and the Pacific Aviation Museum.
You and your date can experience the rush of a lifetime by signing up for a shark encounter on Oahu's North Shore. The two-hour "Hawaiian Shark Adventure" begins with a safety briefing and a boat ride that includes views of spinner dolphins, Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles, and sea horses, along with breathtaking views of Oahu's coastline. The boat stops in crystal clear water about 400 feet deep. You'll then be placed in a shark cage, lowered into the water wait for the chance to come face-to-face with a "denizen of the deep."
There are dozens of parasailing companies located along Waikiki Beach, which means you and your sweetheart can enjoy high-flying fun any time. Most companies offer harness parasails instead of chairs, which means you're treated to 360-degrees of visibility at 1000 feet above the Pacific. The adventure yields spectacular birds-eye views of Oahu and its gorgeous natural beauty.
Honolulu's Lyon Arboretum is a well-kept secret and a cultural treat. It is an ideal spot for couples looking to take a crash course in Hawaii horticulture. The arboretum features free-guided tour of the grounds, which are filled with sandalwood trees, tea plants and calabash trees draped in vanilla vines. The arboretum also encourages visitors to sniff, touch and taste the spectacular specimens. You can smell allspice leaves, bite into a strawberry guava and munch on joboticaba berries, while learning about the island's unusual and exotic floral and fauna.
