Waikiki Beach with Diamond Head behind
COMPILED BY CATRIONA GREW, WITH CONTRIBUTIONS FROM CRAIG MCLACHLAN AND RYAN VER BERKMOES. PHOTOGRAPHS: MATT MUNRO/LONELY PLANET, AKIRA KUMAGAI/HONOLULU FESTIVAL FOUNDATION
SIGHTS
Ala Moana Beach Park (1201 Ala Moana Blvd)
This city park has a broad, golden-sand beach nearly a mile long, bufered from passing trafic by shade trees. Ala Moana is hugely popular, yet big enough to never feel too crowded. This is where Honolulu residents come to go running after work, play beach volleyball and enjoy weekend picnics. The park has tennis courts, ball ields, picnic tables, drinking water, restrooms, outdoor showers and lifeguards.
Ali‘iolani Hale (
jhchawaii.net; 417 South King St)
The ‘House of Heavenly Kings’ was designed by Australian architect Thomas Rowe to be a royal palace, although it was never used as such. Today, it’s home to the Supreme Court of Hawaii. Go through the security checkpoint (entry is free) and step inside the King Kamehameha V Judiciary History Center, where you can browse displays about martial law during WWII and the reign of Kamehameha I.
Chinatown Markets (
chinatownnow.com)