8 Best Family Things to Do in Honolulu
What to Do for Fun in Honolulu with Your Kids?
The best family things to do in Honolulu provide a well-varied selection of adventures and activities tailored for all ages. These include splashing fun, be it stand-up paddleboarding over the azure waves of the Pacific or sliding around at a great waterpark. Out in the ocean, you can see Hawaiian green sea turtles and even cage dive with sharks.
Besides pure fun and thrills, Honolulu can be a starting point to enjoying some of Oahu’s great history and cultural encounters. Check out the list below to find more ideas of things to do with your family in Honolulu.
1. Waikiki Beach
Irresistible sandy coast and azure waters
Good for: Families, Photo, Budget
Arguably the best-known beach in all of Hawaii, Waikiki Beach stuns with its clean, sandy shore bordering the azure waters of the Pacific. Most of Oahu’s great hotels call this beach home. If you’re a family traveling with kids and staying in a top-floor room with a balcony, you’ll be able to take in the beauty of Waikiki Bay, which the little ones will find irresistible.
Down on the sand and in the waves there’s plenty to do besides basking and bathing. Stand-up paddle boarding is especially popular and fun.
Location: Honolulu, HI 96815, USA
Waikiki Beach
2. North Shore Shark Adventures
Up close with the ocean’s apex predators
Good for: Families, Unusual
If swimming with dolphins at Sea Life Park seems too mild for you, North Shore Shark Adventures offers an open water experience that might bring your thrills up a notch. It provides special shark cage diving tours on specially rigged boats that sail about 3 miles (4.8 km) out from the docks of Haleiwa harbor in Waialua Bay.
North Shore Shark Adventures fully guarantees shark sightings, with occasional bonuses of dolphins, green sea turtles, and even humpback whales that often migrate through these waters between November and May.
Location: 66-105 Haleiwa Rd, Haleiwa, HI 96712, USA
Phone: +1 808-228-5900
North Shore Shark Adventures
3. Polynesian Cultural Center
Hands-on cultural activities for the whole family
Good for: Families, Photo, Food
Families on Oahu can enjoy a hands-on and multisensory cultural experience at the vibrant Polynesian Cultural Center site near the island’s northern tip. Designed as a cluster of several traditional Hawaiian villages, the Polynesian Cultural Center lets you explore, observe, and participate in various cultural activities.
Traditional cooking demos invite you to cook up your own Hawaiian dishes. Younger kids can enjoy crafts-making while older ones can pick up some hula moves. Plenty of audience participation sections keep you busy for hours. A festive luau and fire dances complete your memorable visit. Read more
Location: 55-370 Kamehameha Hwy, Laie, HI 96762, USA
Open: Monday–Tuesday and Thursday–Saturday from 12.30 pm to 9 pm (closed on Wednesdays and Sundays)
Phone: +1 800-367-7060
Polynesian Cultural Center
4. Hanauma Bay State Park
A pristine bay, reef, and snorkeling haven
Good for: Families, Adventure
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve, located on the southeastern tip of Oahu, about a half-hour drive east from Honolulu, is a true snorkeling paradise. This curved bay boasts shallow waters with exceptional visibility, allowing visitors to explore a pristine reef ecosystem directly from the beach. Even the youngest family members can delight in observing vibrant marine life close to the shore, with occasional sightings of colorful fish and green sea turtles.
It’s important to note that all non-Hawai‘i residents are required to make a reservation in advance to visit the nature preserve. This ensures the preservation of the bay’s natural beauty. Read more
Location: 100 Hanauma Bay Rd, Honolulu, HI 96825, USA
Open: Wednesday–Sunday from 6.45 am to 9 am (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
Phone: +1 808-768-6861
Hanauma Bay State Park
5. Wet ‘n’ Wild Hawaii
Hawaii’s only waterpark offers more than wet rides
Good for: Families
Take your whole family to Wet ‘n’ Wild Hawaii to Honolulu’s neighboring sister town of Kapolei, around 50 minutes’ drive east past Daniel K. Inouye International Airport. Wet ’n’ Wild is Hawaii’s only waterpark. The park features over 25 different slides and attractions that are spread over 29 acres (12 hectares) of lush tropical cliffside.
The waterpark has a few extreme, high-altitude, and high-speed rides for thrill-seekers, but families with young kids can enjoy the fun Hawaiian Waters Wave Pool, the kids’ playground, or the Kapolei Kooler lazy river. Read more
Location: 400 Farrington Hwy, Kapolei, HI 96707, USA
Open: Hours vary by season
Phone: +1 808-674-9283
Wet 'n' Wild Hawaii
6. USS Bowfin
An awe-inspiring visit aboard a real wartime submarine
Good for: Families, History, Photo
Kids will have a blast visiting the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park, aweing over the torpedoes and the very sight of the sub on display. The memorial is one in the collection of Pearl Harbor’s historical sites, overlooking the tranquil waves of the bay.
Upon entering, you’ll often be greeted by a guide who can help show you the warship’s inner workings and significant naval history. A fun spot on the deck where you can strike a pose is by the anti-aircraft gun. Read more
Location: 11 Arizona Memorial Dr, Honolulu, HI 96818, USA
Open: Daily from 7 am to 5 pm
Phone: +1 808-423-1341
USS Bowfin
7. J. Watumull Planetarium
Among the fun exhibits at Honolulu’s Bishop Museum
Good for: Families, History
Enjoy an intriguing tour of the night sky and deepen your understanding of the solar system at the J. Watumull Planetarium. It’s one among the many great exhibits at the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum near Downtown Honolulu.
Separate shows are held throughout the day, with tickets sold separately. The main 60-minute show, The Stars Tonight, is held monthly on the third Friday of the month. Bishop Museum itself has an extensive gallery of heirlooms and artifacts from Pacific Island cultures. Read more
Location: 1525 Bernice St, Honolulu, HI 96817, USA
Open: Daily from 9 am to 5 pm
Phone: +1 808-847-3511
J. Watumull Planetarium
8. Children’s Discovery Center
A fun spot for interactive learning and cultural exploration
Good for: Families
Children’s Discovery Center is a kids’ hands-on learning center that also offers fun times for accompanying mums and dads. Inside, the 6 permanent exhibits emphasize the use of the senses for better learning.
The Tot Spot is for 5 years and under and filled with stimulating toys. Fantastic You lets kids learn about the human body, while Your Town teaches about community. Hawaiian Rainbows introduces kids to Hawaiian history, Rainbow World teaches about world cultures, and Rainforest Adventures teaches about nature and ecosystems. Read more
Location: 111 Ohe St, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA
Open: Tuesday–Friday from 9 am to 1 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 10 am to 3 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +1 808-524-5437
Children's Discovery Center
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