✈Mowando

station balneaire

Honolulu

Hawaii's capital and archipelago gateway — Waikiki Beach 3 km (2 million visitors/year), Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941 Japanese attack, 2,400 deaths, USS Arizona Memorial), Diamond Head 232 m volcanic crater, North Shore world surf capital (Pipeline Vans Triple Crown), Iolani Palace only US royal palace 1882-1893.

★ 4.70Hawaï

Honolulu (350,000 inhabitants city, 1 million Oahu metro) is Hawaii's capital and gateway to the American tropical archipelago. Located on south Oahu coast (the 3rd largest Hawaiian island but most populated, 1,545 km²), Honolulu blends American metropolitan vibe and unique Polynesian culture. Tropical climate guaranteed year-round (24-30°C, sea 24-28°C, low seasonal variation).

Waikiki (south-east Honolulu district, 3 km beach, 2 million visitors/year, one of the world's most visited beaches) concentrates the tourist offering — 30,000 hotel rooms over 2 km² between Ala Moana Boulevard and Kapahulu Avenue, fine sand beach protected by coral reef (calm warm 24-29°C water, ideal swimming and beginner surf), modern skyscrapers (Hilton Hawaiian Village 3,000 rooms, Sheraton Waikiki, mythical pink Royal Hawaiian Hotel 1927, luxury Halekulani), Polynesian-Japanese-American restaurants, International Marketplace + Royal Hawaiian Center shopping, luau evenings (Polynesian feasts hula dance ukulélé music $100-180/person). Status: Waikiki is paradoxically both mass tourism and essential (the beach itself remains beautiful despite the crowds, and it's the most practical base to explore Oahu).

Pearl Harbor (45 min west Honolulu, US Pacific Fleet naval base) is a major historical site — December 7, 1941 Japanese surprise attack (353 planes, 8-9:30am, 4 battleships sunk including USS Arizona with 1,102 sailors still at the bottom, 2,400 US deaths total, triggering US entry in WWII, Pearl Harbor Day commemoration). Pearl Harbor National Memorial brings together: USS Arizona Memorial (floating monument built 1962 above sunken battleship, free + $1 mandatory booking 60 days ahead on recreation.gov, ferry from Visitor Center, deeply moving), USS Missouri Battleship ($35, ship where Japan signed surrender September 2, 1945, WWII end), USS Bowfin Submarine ($25, 1942 submarine), Pacific Aviation Museum ($30). Combo Pass $90 for 4 sites, 4-6h visit, recommended.

Other Honolulu sites: Diamond Head State Monument (volcanic crater 232 m elevation, $5 entry + $5 parking, 1h round-trip 1.2 km hike, spectacular panorama Waikiki and Honolulu, mandatory booking in high season via gostateparks.hawaii.gov), Iolani Palace (downtown Honolulu, $25 visit, only royal palace in US, Hawaiian kings Kalakaua and Liliuokalani residence 1882-1893, royal overthrow 1893 by American planters), Bishop Museum (Hawaii national museum, $30, exceptional Polynesian collections), Foster Botanical Garden ($5, rare tropical plants), Chinatown (downtown, since 1860s, authentic Asian restaurants, markets), Ala Moana Center (one of largest US outdoor shopping centres, 350 shops), USS Arizona Memorial accessible only by boat from Visitor Center.

What we love

  • ✅Waikiki Beach 3 km — iconic tropical beach, fine sand protected by coral reef, calm 24-29°C water ideal for beginners surf
  • ✅Pearl Harbor — major world historical site, USS Arizona Memorial deeply moving (free + $1 booking)
  • ✅Diamond Head — 232 m volcanic crater, 1h hike, spectacular Waikiki + Honolulu panorama
  • ✅North Shore — world surf capital (Pipeline, Waimea, Sunset Beach), 3-10 m winter waves, Vans Triple Crown competitions
  • ✅Unique Polynesian culture — luaus, ukulélé, leis, hula, Iolani Palace only US royal palace 1882-1893

What to know

  • ❌High costs — Waikiki hotels €250-800/night, resort restaurants $50-150/person
  • ❌Long flights and mandatory stopover from Europe (Paris → LA 11h30 + LA → HNL 5h30 = 18-22h total with stopover, €900-1,800 return)
  • ❌Massive jet-lag -12h from France (3-5 day recovery, marked early-trip fatigue)
  • ❌Waikiki mass tourism — prefer Maui, Big Island or Kauai for authenticity
  • ❌Cool sea in winter for Europeans used to Mediterranean (24-25°C December-February, but refreshing trade winds)
When to go
Climate and best seasons.
View →
Budget
Cost of living and tips.
View →
Things to do
Activities and must-sees.
View →

Situation

Où se situe Honolulu ?

Ouvrir la carte en grand sur OpenStreetMap →

Frequently asked questions

How many days for Honolulu and Oahu?+
Minimum 5 nights on Oahu to grasp the island (Honolulu + Pearl Harbor + Diamond Head + Waikiki + North Shore + Hanauma Bay + Lanikai). 3-4 nights insufficient given massive -12h jet-lag from Paris. Ideal 5-day programme: Day 1 arrival + Waikiki jet-lag recovery (beach, beginners surf lesson Waikiki Beach Boys $80-100/h); Day 2 Pearl Harbor minimum half day (USS Arizona Memorial free + $1 booking 60 days ahead, USS Missouri $35, USS Bowfin Submarine $25, Pacific Aviation Museum $30, $90 Combo Pass recommended); Day 3 Diamond Head morning hike 1h ($5 entry + $5 parking, mandatory booking) + Hanauma Bay snorkelling afternoon ($25 mandatory 2-day-ahead booking via pros.hnlinfo.com); Day 4 North Shore (1h30 north, Pipeline-Waimea-Sunset beaches, hippie Haleiwa village, Giovanni's shrimp trucks, winter Vans Triple Crown surf competitions November-December); Day 5 Lanikai-Kailua windward coast (30 min east, 2 of America's most beautiful beaches, Mokulua Islands kayaks) OR Polynesian Cultural Center Laie $65-100. In 10-14 days Hawaii, add Maui (Road to Hana, Haleakala, Lahaina, 5 nights) and/or Big Island (Kilauea volcanoes, Mauna Kea, multicoloured beaches, 4 nights).
How to book Pearl Harbor USS Arizona Memorial?+
The USS Arizona Memorial is Honolulu's major historical attraction — floating monument built 1962 above battleship sunk December 7, 1941 (1,102 sailors still at the bottom, deeply moving). Mandatory booking only via official site recreation.gov — $1 booking fee, free tickets, 60 days ahead (tickets sell out in 5-10 minutes on booking opening days, be on time 7am Hawaiian / 7pm Paris). Some tickets are also released 24h ahead (a Sunday for the following Tuesday), but to avoid — be on recreation.gov exactly at 60 days. Without booking, possible to show up at Visitor Center at 7am opening for walk-in tickets (10-20% of places, 2-3h queue in high season, often sold out before 9am). Visit programme: free Visitor Center (23-min historical films, recommended free exhibition), US Navy ferry shuttle to Memorial (15 min trip, 15 min on monument, 15 min return, total 45 min). $90 Combo Pass recommended for also visiting USS Missouri Battleship ($35, ship where Japanese surrender was signed September 2, 1945, WWII end), USS Bowfin Submarine ($25, 1942 submarine), Pacific Aviation Museum ($30, 1941 restored hangar). Plan 4-6h complete visit. No bags allowed on Memorial ($6 paid locker on site). Proper dress required (no swim shorts). Very moving — moment of silence on bottom sailors, white flowers placed.
Where to stay in Honolulu?+
Waikiki for convenience (beach, restaurants, nightlife, easy access from HNL airport 25-40 min taxi). Hotels by category: 5-star luxury — Halekulani (legendary House Without a Key bar since 1907, €600-1,200/night, considered one of Hawaii's best hotels), Royal Hawaiian Hotel (1927 iconic Pink Palace, €400-800, Waikiki's first major hotel built by Matson Navigation), Moana Surfrider Westin (1901 first major Waikiki hotel, €400-800, Diamond Head view from Banyan Court), Four Seasons Resort Oahu (Ko Olina west coast 30 min Honolulu, €700-1,500, ultra-luxury family). Mid-luxury 4-5 star — Hilton Hawaiian Village (3,000-room family resort, €300-600/night, private lagoon, many restaurants), Hyatt Regency Waikiki (€250-450), Hilton Grand Waikikian (€350-600), Sheraton Waikiki (€250-450). Mid-range — Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort (€250-450), Outrigger Waikiki Beach (€250-400), Ohana Waikiki Malia (€180-280). Budget — Vive Hotel Waikiki (€180-280), Coconut Waikiki Hotel (€150-250), HI Honolulu hostels €50-100/night (dorms). Alternative Ko Olina (west coast 45 min, calm, Aulani Disney family resorts €500-1,000), North Shore (Turtle Bay Resort €400-800, surf, more authentic). Avoid: hotels near HNL airport (time loss to Waikiki).
How to reach Honolulu from Paris?+
No direct flight from Paris or Europe to Honolulu. All flights transit via continental US. Most common itinerary: Paris CDG → Los Angeles LAX direct (Air France daily 11h30 outbound, 10h45 return) → Los Angeles → Honolulu HNL (Hawaiian Airlines 5 flights/day 5h30, Delta, American, United 5h30). Total 18-22h with 2-3h LAX stopover, €900-1,800 return by season. Alternatives: Paris CDG → San Francisco SFO direct (Air France daily 11h45) → SFO → HNL (Hawaiian 5h30) = 18-20h. Paris CDG → Seattle SEA (KLM/Air France via Amsterdam or Delta direct 10h) → SEA → HNL (Hawaiian 6h) = 19-21h. Paris CDG → Tokyo NRT (JAL/ANA direct 12h) → NRT → HNL (Japan Airlines/Hawaiian 7h) = 22-24h (option if Japan + Hawaii combo trip). Book on hawaiianairlines.com (frequent LAX-HNL domestic flight $200-450 return by season) in code-share with Air France for final checked baggage and minimum 3h LAX stopover recommended to avoid connection stress. From HNL airport to Waikiki: flat rate taxi $38-50 + 18% tip = $50 total (25-40 min by traffic), Uber/Lyft $30-50, SpeediShuttle shared $20 (1h multiple stops), TheBus $3 (1h+ with luggage complicated). Skyline rail (under construction) will link HNL to Waikiki by 2031.
What budget for Honolulu/Oahu?+
Hawaii is one of the most expensive US states. Reference budget €250-350/day/person in Honolulu. Flights Paris → Honolulu via LA or SF €900-1,800 return by season (Air France direct + Hawaiian Airlines code-share LAX-HNL or SFO-HNL). Waikiki accommodation: 3-4* mid-range €250-450/night (Outrigger Reef Waikiki, Hyatt Regency Waikiki), 4-5* boutique €350-600 (Sheraton Waikiki, Hilton Hawaiian Village), 5* luxury €600-1,200 (Halekulani €600-1,200, Royal Hawaiian 1927 Pink Palace €400-800, Moana Surfrider Westin 1901 €400-800), budget Vive Hotel €180-280/night, HI Honolulu hostels €50-100/night. Mandatory resort fees $35-50/night extra (wifi, gym, parking). Food: cafe breakfast $15-25/person, lunch $20-40, dinner $50-100/person pre-tip 18-20% + 4.712% Oahu tax (count +24%), fine dining $150-300 (Halekulani's Orchids $200-300, Roy's Waikiki $100-180). Excellent Japanese cuisine (very good value, sushi $30-60), Asian cuisine Honolulu Chinatown $20-40. Traditional plate lunch (rice + protein + macaroni salad) $12-20. Activities: Pearl Harbor USS Arizona free + $1 booking, USS Missouri $35, 4-site Combo Pass $90, Diamond Head $5+$5, Hanauma Bay $25 mandatory booking, Polynesian Cultural Center $65-100 with luau, Waikiki Beach Boys surf lesson $80-100/h, whale excursion $80-120 half day Dec-April, diving $130-200/outing, scenic helicopter Oahu $350-500/person, resort luau $130-180/person. Transport: car rental $60-100/day (useful for North Shore and Lanikai, not essential if staying Waikiki), TheBus Oahu $3/ride (1 line, slow but tourist to Pearl Harbor, North Shore), Uber/Lyft $15-30 typical ride. Hotel parking $30-50/day extra. Total 5 nights for 2 people excl. flights: €3,500-7,000 by category.

Our verdict

Honolulu is the essential Hawaii gateway and the par excellence first archipelago trip option. Our advice: minimum 5 nights on Oahu (practical paradox — Waikiki is touristy but offers the best connections, hotels and restaurants for the first days of recovering from the massive -12h jet-lag). Stay in Waikiki — luxury Halekulani (legendary House Without a Key bar, €600-1,200/night, 5-star), Royal Hawaiian Hotel (1927 iconic Pink Palace, €400-800), Moana Surfrider (1901 historic 5-star, €400-800), Hilton Hawaiian Village (3,000-room family resort, €300-600), mid-range Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort (€250-450), Hyatt Regency Waikiki (€250-450), budget Vive Hotel Waikiki (€180-280). Favour April-May or September-October for optimal window (perfect climate, falling rates, moderate crowds). December-March for North Shore surf and whales but high season +50%. Paris → Los Angeles direct Air France 11h30 flight + Los Angeles → Honolulu Hawaiian/Delta/United 5h30 = 18-22h total with stopover, €900-1,800 return by season. Classic 5-day Oahu programme: Day 1 arrival + Waikiki Beach (jet-lag recovery, beach, Waikiki Beach Boys surf lesson $80-100/h ideal beginners); Day 2 Pearl Harbor (45 min west, minimum half day, USS Arizona Memorial free + $1 booking 60 days ahead, USS Missouri $35, return for Waikiki sunset); Day 3 Diamond Head + Hanauma Bay (Diamond Head morning 1h hike $5 entry + $5 parking, Hanauma Bay $25 snorkelling paradise mandatory 2-day-ahead booking); Day 4 North Shore (1h30 north, Pipeline-Waimea-Sunset beaches, hippie Haleiwa village, Giovanni's shrimp trucks, winter 5-10 m waves champion surf); Day 5 Lanikai-Kailua (30 min east windward coast, 2 of America's most beautiful beaches, Mokulua Islands kayaks) OR Polynesian Cultural Center (Laie, 1h north, $65-100, most authentic Oahu luau, 6 recreated Polynesian villages). Book Pearl Harbor 60 days ahead, Hanauma Bay 2 days ahead.

Nearby

Biarritz
Biarritz
Best for : mai à septembre
Cabarete
Cabarete
Best for : June to August (kitesurfing) and December-March (climate + kite)
Canggu
Canggu
Best for : April to October (dry season)
Essaouira
Essaouira
Best for : April to October
Galle
Galle
Best for : décembre à mars (saison sèche)
Lagos
Lagos
Best for : May-June and September
The Editors
The Editorsauteur principal✓ Verified

"Janvier : haute saison absolue, baleines, surf North Shore, tarifs stratosphériques."

Expert on Honolulu · 1 contributions

Reviewed by :Africa & Americas Desk — Mowando·Editor

Mowando Letter

Once a month: the right destinations for the right season + the best booking windows.

No spam. One-click unsubscribe. Your data is never shared.