Honolulu.

Where we sleep

1. Day 1 · Wed 9 Jun

   A crater and a beach

   We climb Diamond Head early, before the heat, then spend the afternoon on Waikiki’s gentle waves.

   • Diamond Head (Lēʻahi)2.5 h

     A volcanic crater above Waikiki, with a steep trail of about 0.8 miles to a summit that looks over the coast.

     What to see

     • The trail up the crater wall
     • The old military lookout at the summit
     • Waikiki and the coast from above

     Time

     About 1.5 to 2 hours on the trail, according to the park.

     Tip

     Visitors who do not live in Hawaii need an entry reservation, and the park asks you to book ahead. Gates lock at 6 pm. The climb is steep, so bring water and hats, and decide how far the youngest can go.

     To eat

     Shave ice afterwards, with the flavour of your choice.

   • Waikiki Beach3 h

     Honolulu’s famous beach, a long curve of sand with gentle waves, with Diamond Head at one end.

     What to see

     • Diamond Head at the end of the beach
     • The statue of Duke Kahanamoku
     • The surf lessons on the small waves

     Time

     A whole afternoon.

     Tip

     Hawaii bans sunscreens containing oxybenzone or octinoxate, so check the labels of what you pack. Take shade and water for the child as well.

     To eat

     Poke or a musubi, the rice-and-seaweed snack, for a beach picnic.

     Photos
2. Day 2 · Thu 10 Jun

   Pearl Harbor and a palace

   A quiet morning at Pearl Harbor, then an afternoon at ʻIolani Palace. We go today because the palace gives tours Tuesday to Saturday and tomorrow is a state holiday.

   • Pearl Harbor National Memorial3 h

     A national memorial to the 7 December 1941 attack, with museums and a Navy boat to the USS Arizona Memorial.

     What to see

     • The USS Arizona Memorial
     • The museums at the visitor center
     • The harbour from the boat

     Time

     Programs last about 45 minutes. Plan on three hours in total.

     Tip

     Entry to the visitor center, the museums and the memorial program is free, but the park strongly recommends reservations on recreation.gov. Arrive an hour before your program, and know that the Navy can suspend boat rides in high wind or rain.

     To eat

     Bring water and a snack for the child, and have a plate lunch afterwards.

   • ʻIolani Palace1.5 h

     The royal residence of the last monarchs of the Hawaiian Kingdom, now a museum, in the middle of downtown Honolulu.

     What to see

     • The Grand Hall and its staircase
     • The throne room
     • The palace grounds

     Time

     An hour and a half on a tour.

     Tip

     Tours run Tuesday to Saturday. Reservations are highly recommended, and walk-ins depend on availability, so book on the palace site. On Saturday the floral parade starts on King Street right outside.

     To eat

     Malasadas, the Portuguese-style doughnuts that Hawaii adopted as its own.

     Photos
3. Day 3 · Fri 11 Jun

   King Kamehameha Day

   In the morning, the Pali lookout, where Kamehameha’s army fought in 1795. In the afternoon, the lei draping ceremony at the king’s statue in downtown Honolulu.

   • Nuʻuanu Pali Lookout1 h

     A lookout on the edge of the Koʻolau cliffs, about 1,200 feet up, over the windward coast of Oʻahu. In 1795 Kamehameha’s army won the Battle of Nuʻuanu near here.

     What to see

     • The windward coast spread out below
     • The green cliffs of the Koʻolau range
     • The strong wind through the pass

     Time

     An hour, including the drive.

     Tip

     Visitors who do not live in Hawaii pay to park, and the wayside is open daily until 6 pm. The wind here is strong, so hold on to hats and the little one’s hand.

     To eat

     A malasada on the drive back to town.

   • King Kamehameha I statue2.5 h

     The bronze statue of King Kamehameha I in front of Aliʻiōlani Hale, across King Street from ʻIolani Palace. Every Kamehameha Day it is draped in lei.

     What to see

     • The statue covered in lei
     • The Royal Hawaiian Band
     • The hula performance at the end

     Time

     The program runs from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m., with the formal ceremony from 3:00.

     Tip

     The commission lists the Royal Hawaiian Band at 2:30, the formal ceremony at 3:00 and a hālau hula performance closing around 4:30, and says all of this is subject to change. Check sfca.hawaii.gov before you go, and arrive early to find a spot.

     To eat

     A musubi picnic on the lawn, and a cold drink.

4. Day 4 · Sat 12 Jun

   Flowers on King Street

   The floral parade starts at 9:00 outside ʻIolani Palace and ends at Kapiʻolani Park. We watch near the park end and stay for the festival there.

   • King Kamehameha Celebration Floral ParadeMorning

     The 110th floral parade, with floats covered in flowers, marching bands and pāʻū riders on horseback, from ʻIolani Palace to Kapiʻolani Park.

     What to see

     • The floral floats
     • The pāʻū riders on horseback
     • The representatives of the royal societies

     Time

     The parade runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and reaches the park around 11:30.

     Tip

     Downtown streets begin to close at 7:30 a.m., so do not plan to drive. The route runs down King Street and Punchbowl Street, then Ala Moana Boulevard and Kalākaua Avenue. Because the parade reaches Kapiʻolani Park around 11:30, you can skip the early downtown closures and watch it arrive at the park.

     To eat

     Breakfast before you go, and a cold coconut drink while you wait.

   • Kapiʻolani Park3 h

     A large green park at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki, where the parade finishes. A festival, the Hoʻolauleʻa, takes place there on parade day.

     What to see

     • The end of the parade
     • The festival with food, hula and crafts
     • The shade under the big trees

     Time

     The rest of the day.

     Tip

     In 2026 the Hoʻolauleʻa ran from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. with food booths, family activities, hula and craft workshops. The 2027 hours are not yet published, so check sfca.hawaii.gov.

     To eat

     The festival’s food booths, and shave ice for the afternoon.

5. Day 5 · Sun 13 Jun

   A reef and a blowhole

   A last morning of snorkelling in Hanauma Bay, then a short stop at the blowhole lookout along the coast before the flight home.

   • Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve3 h

     A bay inside a volcanic crater on Oʻahu’s south-east coast, protected as a nature preserve and known for snorkelling.

     What to see

     • The reef and the fish from the water
     • The curve of the bay from above
     • The beach under the crater walls

     Time

     About three hours, including the video.

     Tip

     Reservations are mandatory, and every visitor watches a short video on protecting the reef before going in. Wear mineral sunscreen, and do not touch or feed the fish. The preserve is closed some days of the week, so check the city’s site when you book.

     To eat

     Pack sandwiches and fruit. Eat well before the flight.

     Photos
   • Halona Blowhole Lookout30 min

     A lookout on the coast highway east of Hanauma Bay, over a lava-rock inlet where waves can shoot spray up through a hole in the rock.

     What to see

     • The spray rising through the rock
     • The lava coast
     • Molokaʻi on a clear day

     Time

     Half an hour.

     Tip

     Stay behind the barriers and do not climb down to the rocks, because the surf here is dangerous. Look from the lookout and keep hold of the child.

     To eat

     A cold coconut water from a stand along the road.

     Photos

Typical weather for these dates, not a forecast: the average of 2016–2025, with data from Open-Meteo.com (ERA5). The chance of rain is an estimate.