Honolulu, the capital and largest city of Hawaii, lies on the southeast coast of the island of Oahu. It had about 350,000 residents at the 2020 census and close to a million in the wider urban area. Its name means sheltered harbor in Hawaiian, and it has been the islands' capital since 1845, first of the Hawaiian Kingdom and later of the territory and the state.
Most visitors stay in Waikiki, the beach district beneath Diamond Head, but the city also holds Iolani Palace, home of Hawaii's last monarchs, a historic Chinatown, museums of Hawaiian and Pacific culture and, a short drive west, the Pearl Harbor National Memorial. Mountains rise behind the city, and the North Shore and the windward beaches are within an hour or so. Rental rules are strict: stays of under 30 days are allowed only in resort-zoned areas such as Waikiki and a few mapped districts, so check a listing's registration before booking.
Waikiki, between the Ala Wai Canal and the ocean next to Diamond Head, holds most of Oahu's hotel rooms and many condominium apartments, and because much of it is zoned for resorts it is where most legal short stays are found. Its eastern end, near Kapiolani Park and the zoo, is a little calmer than the busy center along Kalakaua Avenue.
Ala Moana and Kakaako, between Waikiki and downtown, have newer residential towers, Ala Moana Beach Park and a large shopping center, and suit longer stays. Downtown and Chinatown are the historic and government heart of the city, with galleries and markets. Inland, Manoa and Makiki are green residential valleys near the University of Hawaii, while Kaimuki, Kahala and Hawaii Kai lie east of Diamond Head. Outside Honolulu, the resort areas of Ko Olina in the west and Turtle Bay on the North Shore also allow shorter stays.
The City and County of Honolulu, which governs all of Oahu, defines a short-term rental as a stay of fewer than 30 consecutive days. These are permitted only in resort-zoned areas, such as much of Waikiki, and in a few specific apartment-zoned areas mapped by city ordinances, and every short-term rental must be registered with the Department of Planning and Permitting. A limited number of older rentals operate under nonconforming use certificates issued decades ago, and no new certificates are being issued.
In most other neighborhoods homes can only be rented for 30 consecutive days or more. A 2022 ordinance sought to raise that minimum to 90 days outside resort areas, but a federal court barred enforcement of that change for at least some rentals of 30 to 89 days, and the city's planning department says it continues to apply the under-30-day definition across the board. Listings must show their registration or certificate number, so check it and the current official rules before booking.
Waikiki Beach is one of six beaches along the district's shore, together with Kuhio, Queen's, Gray's, Fort DeRussy and Kahanamoku beaches, and much of its sand is man-made. Hawaiian royalty surfed here in the 1800s, and Duke Kahanamoku, the Olympic swimmer from Waikiki, helped spread surfing around the world. Gentle waves make it a good place for surf lessons and outrigger canoe rides, while Kapiolani Park, the Waikiki Aquarium and the Honolulu Zoo lie at its eastern end.
Diamond Head, known in Hawaiian as Leahi, is a volcanic tuff cone that frames the view east of Waikiki. A trail built in 1908 as part of a coastal defense system climbs from the crater floor to the summit, with views over the city and coast; it is a state monument, and visitors should check entry requirements in advance.
Polynesian voyagers settled the area centuries ago, and after Kamehameha I conquered Oahu in 1795 he kept his court for a time at Waikiki. In 1845 Kamehameha III made Honolulu the permanent capital of the Hawaiian Kingdom. Iolani Palace, home of the last monarchs, King Kalakaua and Queen Liliuokalani, stands in the capitol district downtown; the kingdom was overthrown in 1893, Hawaii was annexed by the United States in 1898, and the palace opened as a museum in 1978.
On December 7, 1941, Japan's attack on nearby Pearl Harbor killed more than 2,400 Americans and drew the United States into the Second World War. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial, run by the National Park Service, includes a visitor center and the USS Arizona Memorial, reached by boat. The Bishop Museum holds major collections of Hawaiian and Pacific culture, and the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific lies in Punchbowl Crater above downtown.
Hanauma Bay, in a volcanic crater on the southeast coast in Hawaii Kai, is a nature preserve and Hawaii's first marine life conservation district, popular for snorkeling over its reef; protect the coral by using reef-safe sunscreen and keeping off the reef. The road beyond follows a dramatic coastline toward the windward side, where Kailua and Waimanalo have long beaches facing the trade winds, and the Pali Highway crosses the Koolau Range back to the city.
The North Shore, between Kaena Point and Kahuku, with its main town of Haleiwa, is famous for huge winter waves that draw big-wave surfers from around the world, while summer seas there are often calmer. Ko Olina, on the leeward coast in the west, has sheltered lagoons. Short flights from Honolulu connect to Maui, Kauai and the Island of Hawaii for those who want to see more of the islands.
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), the main gateway to Hawaii, lies about 5 kilometers northwest of downtown Honolulu, and Waikiki is roughly 15 kilometers away by road. Taxis, ride-hailing, shuttles and TheBus serve the airport. Inter-island flights to the other main islands also leave from here.
TheBus, Oahu's public bus system, runs routes across Honolulu and most towns on the island, and Biki bike-share stations cover the area between Chinatown and Diamond Head. The Skyline rail line, opened in stages since 2023, runs from West Oahu toward the city and is being extended to downtown. A car is not needed for a stay in Waikiki or downtown, where parking is scarce, but it makes trips to the North Shore and windward coast much easier. Honolulu's rush-hour traffic is often very heavy, especially on the H-1 freeway.
Honolulu is warm all year, with average highs of about 27 to 32 °C and lows of about 18 to 24 °C, and the sea stays between about 24 and 27 °C. The city lies in the rain shadow of the mountains and is fairly dry, with around 420 millimeters of rain a year, mostly falling between October and early April, while summer brings only light showers. Trade winds usually keep the air pleasant, and the mountain valleys behind the city are much wetter.
Hurricanes are rare, but the central Pacific season runs from June to November, so keep an eye on forecasts. Winter brings big surf to north-facing shores and is the busiest season for visitors escaping the cold, along with the summer holidays. April, May, September and October often combine good weather with somewhat fewer crowds. Strong sun and ocean currents call for sunscreen and swimming near lifeguards.
Waikiki is the classic choice, with the beach, most hotels and condos and many legal short-term rentals in its resort zone. Ala Moana and Kakaako offer newer towers and a large beach park, downtown and Chinatown suit history lovers, and Manoa or Kaimuki suit longer stays. Ko Olina and Turtle Bay are resort areas outside the city.
Stays of under 30 days are legal only in resort-zoned areas such as much of Waikiki, in a few mapped apartment-zoned areas and in homes with an older nonconforming use certificate, and they must be registered with the city. Elsewhere on Oahu, rentals must generally be for 30 days or more. Check the listing's number and the current rules before booking.
Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) is about 5 kilometers northwest of downtown, and Waikiki is roughly 15 kilometers from the airport by road, usually around 25 to 40 minutes depending on traffic. Taxis, ride-hailing, shared shuttles and TheBus all connect the airport with Waikiki.
Honolulu is pleasant all year. April, May, September and October often bring dry, sunny weather with fewer visitors. Winter, from about December to March, is a little cooler and wetter, with huge waves on the North Shore, and is a busy season, as are the summer holidays.
Not if you stay in Waikiki or downtown, where you can walk, take TheBus, use bike-share or ride-hailing. A car is useful for the North Shore, the windward beaches and hikes, but parking in Waikiki is limited and costly, and rush-hour traffic on the H-1 freeway can be very slow.
Four to five days cover Waikiki, Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, Iolani Palace and downtown, and a snorkel at Hanauma Bay. A week allows a day on the North Shore and the windward coast, and many visitors add a few days on Maui, Kauai or the Island of Hawaii.
Yes. Waikiki's gentle waves suit surf lessons for beginners, Ala Moana Beach Park has calm water, and the Honolulu Zoo, Waikiki Aquarium and Bishop Museum appeal to children. Condos with kitchens are common in Waikiki. Watch for strong sun, changing surf and currents, and swim near lifeguards.
Honolulu is known for Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head, the Pearl Harbor National Memorial, Iolani Palace and its royal history, surfing and the legacy of Duke Kahanamoku, a mix of Hawaiian, Asian and Western cultures and food, and its role as the gateway to the Hawaiian Islands.
Researched and written with AI assistance, then fact-checked against the sources below. Last checked .