Honolulu, HI
Honolulu travel guide
Waikiki, Pearl Harbor and the North Shore
- Airports
- HNL Daniel K. Inouye International Airport
- Region
- Hawaii & Alaska
- Best time to visit
- April–May and September–October have the best combination of weather, calm seas and lower fares.
- Shortest flight
- 5h 30m from San Francisco
- Round trips from
- $234 (live)
- Time zone
- Pacific/Honolulu
About Honolulu
Oahu is the most developed of the islands and the easiest for a first trip. Waikiki has the hotels, the beach and Diamond Head; Honolulu proper has Chinatown, the Iolani Palace and the Bishop Museum; the North Shore, an hour away, has big winter waves, shrimp trucks and Waimea Bay. Snorkeling at Hanauma Bay needs an advance reservation.
Getting in: the airport is 9 miles from Waikiki. Rideshares and taxis cost $30–$45; the Skyline rail line extends to the airport with bus connections into town, and TheBus route 20 ($3) runs to Waikiki in about an hour. Rental cars are worth it for the North Shore and windward beaches, but Waikiki parking costs $40–$60 a night.
Stay in Waikiki for the full resort experience, Ko Olina on the west side for a quieter resort, or Kailua on the windward coast for a beach-town feel. Plate lunches, poke bowls and shave ice run $12–$18; resort dinners $50–$90 per person. Resort fees of $35–$55 are common. Tip 18–20%, and pack reef-safe sunscreen — it's the law in Hawaii.
Best time to visit
April–May and September–October have the best combination of weather, calm seas and lower fares. Winter brings North Shore surf competitions and higher prices; summer is warm and busy with families.
Where to stay
Neighborhoods our travelers like: Waikiki, Downtown / Chinatown, Kaimuki, Kailua, Ko Olina.
Flights to Honolulu: typical round-trip fares
What economy round trips to HNL usually cost from major US cities, alongside the lowest live fare we can see in the next 90 days. Prices are per traveler and include taxes.
| From | Flight time | Typical fare | Lowest live fare | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (LAX) | 5h 50m | $298 | $234 · Tue, Nov 17 | Search dates → |
| San Francisco (SFO) | 5h 30m | $318 | $244 · Tue, Nov 10 | Search dates → |
| Seattle (SEA) | 6h 10m | $348 | $270 · Wed, Oct 14 | Search dates → |
| Dallas (DFW) | 8h 20m | $468 | $292 · Wed, Oct 14 | Search dates → |
| New York (JFK) | 11h | $598 | $427 · Tue, Nov 10 | Search dates → |
| Denver (DEN) | 7h 40m | $448 | $343 · Wed, Oct 14 | Search dates → |
Typical fares are editorial estimates for economy round trips booked 3–8 weeks out. Live fares refresh several times a day and are shown for the cheapest departure date we found.
Airports in Honolulu
What to do in Honolulu
The places our editors send first-time visitors.
- 1
Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head
Learn to surf on Waikiki's gentle waves, then hike the 0.8-mile crater trail at sunrise (reservation required for non-residents).
- 2
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
The USS Arizona Memorial is free with a timed ticket; the Missouri and the aviation museum are paid add-ons. Book weeks ahead.
- 3
The North Shore
Waimea Bay, Sunset Beach and the Banzai Pipeline — giant surf from November to February, calm swimming in summer.
- 4
Hanauma Bay
The island's best easy snorkeling in a volcanic crater; reservations open two days ahead at 7am and sell out in minutes.
- 5
Kailua and Lanikai
The windward side's powder-white beaches; kayak to the Mokulua islets in the morning before the wind picks up.
Honolulu weather by season
Average highs and lows in °F, with what each season means for fares and crowds.
Winter
81° / 66°
Occasional showers; big North Shore surf.
Spring
83° / 68°
Dry, calm seas — excellent value.
Summer
88° / 74°
Warm and sunny; south-shore surf.
Fall
86° / 72°
Warm water, fewer crowds after Labor Day.
Travel tips for Honolulu
- Fares to Hawaii swing widely: set a price alert and fly midweek in April–May or September–October for the best deals.
- Reserve Pearl Harbor, Diamond Head and Hanauma Bay tickets before you fly — all three sell out.
- Budget for resort fees ($35–$55 per night) and parking ($40–$60) when comparing Waikiki hotels.
- Rent a car for two or three days rather than the whole trip; Waikiki is walkable and TheBus reaches most sights.
- Only reef-safe (non-oxybenzone) sunscreen is sold in Hawaii; bring some or buy it there.
Honolulu flights: frequently asked questions
How long is the flight to Honolulu?
About 5.5–6 hours from Los Angeles or San Francisco, 6 hours from Seattle, 8 hours from Dallas and 10–11 hours nonstop from New York. Eastbound returns are 30–45 minutes shorter.
Do I need a passport for Hawaii?
No — Hawaii is a US state, so a REAL ID driver's license or other TSA-accepted ID is enough for US citizens.
Should I rent a car on Oahu?
For Waikiki, Pearl Harbor and Diamond Head, no — TheBus and rideshares work. Rent a car for a day or two to see the North Shore and windward beaches.
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