Honolulu: Craters, History and Marine Life

The crater landscape, Hawaiian history and marine life offer different highlights for a trip to Honolulu. The views and cultural experiences also range from observing nature to visiting historic places and enjoying performing arts.

Craters, Coast and Views

Diamond Head State Monument covers more than 475 acres, including the crater interior and the outer crater slopes. The area is therefore not limited to the crater interior: it also includes the slopes. The trail to the summit of Lē‘ahi was built in 1908 as part of Oʻahu’s coastal defense system.

A different landscape awaits at Nuʻuanu Pali State Wayside. From the cliffs of the Koʻolau Range, at an elevation of 1,200 feet, you can take in views of windward Oʻahu. If you’d like to experience a variety of landscapes on your trip, this offers a different focus from a crater slope or the coast.

Water and Nature in the Broader Oʻahu Context

Hanauma Bay was formed from two of the many craters that made up Koko Head. At Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, visitors can snorkel among marine life. Geological formation and an in-water experience offer different perspectives on the same place.

The North Shore is another way to explore nature and activities in the broader context of a trip to Oʻahu. Its coastline is seven miles long; in summer, conditions allow beginners to surf, swim and snorkel. While the North Shore highlights the length of its coastline and the season, Hanauma Bay is about snorkeling among marine life.

Places and Stories from Hawaiian History

ʻIolani Palace was built by King Kalākaua in 1882 and was home to Hawaiʻi’s last reigning monarchs until the monarchy was overthrown in 1893.

Pearl Harbor National Memorial offers a significant connection to the history of World War II in the Pacific. The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is about a 45-minute drive from Waikiki.

The Battleship Missouri Memorial is located at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii. On guided tours, visitors can follow in the footsteps of General Douglas MacArthur and see the place where World War II ended. Tours are offered in English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean. If a particular tour language is important to your plans, it’s a good idea to check the current offerings in advance.

Marine Life, Food and Performing Arts

The South Pacific Marine Communities Gallery at Waikīkī Aquarium features five exhibits. They highlight important habitats and ecological communities in the region, as well as the threats they face. The Barrier Reef exhibit adds another perspective with more than 100 fish species, giant clams and live corals. If you’re planning a specific visit, you can check which exhibits are currently on display.

One culinary highlight is the Aliʻi Lūʻau, featuring a traditional Hawaiian feast, kalua pork and other island specialties. For a different kind of cultural experience, “Hā: Breath of Life” tells a story of passion kindled through fire, song and dance. More than 100 Polynesian performers from across the Pacific take part in the production. Food and performing arts each offer their own highlights: the specialties of a feast on one hand, and a story told through music, dance and fire on the other.

Discover more destinations: Kailua, Waiʻanae, Kaaawa, Kapolei, Haleiwa, Kaneohe, Laie, Waialua, Waipahu, Waimanalo, Punaluu, Mililani, Kawela Bay, Mākaha, Ewa Beach, Wahiawa, Kahuku, Honolulu.

For the broader travel overview: Hawaii.