Top 6 Things to do in Waikiki that Don’t Require Transportation

Waikiki is a beautiful area with so much to do – even if you don’t have a car. This gorgeous destination is known for its stunning white sand beaches, breathtaking scenery, vibrant nightlife, exciting activities, and iconic Diamond Head landmark.

Visitors can have so much fun in Waikiki – and some of our favorite activities don’t require transportation. Skip the car rental, since you can find plenty to do – including dining, shopping, hiking, sightseeing, surfing, and more – all within the main Kalākaua Avenue area. In fact, every hotel in Waikiki is within walking distance of our recommended beaches, restaurants, and activities.

Six of our Favorite Waikiki Activities

Here are our six favorite things to do in Waikiki that don’t require transportation:

Waikiki Beach

Waikiki Beach is among the most famous – and gorgeous – beaches in the world. This tropical paradise boasts a two-mile stretch of white sand beaches, with spectacular views of Diamond Head, a dormant volcano and a well-known local landmark.

Fun fact: Waikiki is considered the birthplace of surfing! Whether you’re experienced at catching waves or a novice on the board, this beach offers a quintessential Hawaiian surfing experience (as well as great places to take lessons). If surfing isn’t your thing, Waikiki beach is also perfect for sunbathing, swimming, and more!

Check out the bustling Waikiki Beach Walk, which features upscale shopping, restaurants, events, and entertainment.

Honolulu Zoo

The Honolulu Zoo is a fun, family-friendly activity that visitors of all ages will enjoy. Home to 905 different animals, zoo guests can see meerkats, rhinos, aardvark, elephants, spider monkeys, giraffes, penguins, and more! Walk around the zoo’s 42 acres to see numerous exhibits in a beautiful setting.

Special events include Twilight Tours – after the zoo closes to the public – where guests get a special behind-the-scenes look, including the bedtime rituals of some of the animals.

Or join the Morning Safari, a before-hours adventure through the zoo. Visiting the zoo early means you’ll get an up-close encounter with the giraffes, including a special feeding. You’ll also learn about the background, care, and feeding of the animals, with insights from zoo staff.

Waikiki Aquarium

Visit the Waikiki Aquarium, one of the oldest aquariums in the United States, to learn about Pacific marine life. This family-friendly attraction is home to a diverse collection of sea creatures, including Hawaiian monk seals, pufferfishes, sharks, stingrays, seahorses, crazy-looking frogfishes, and other fish, reptiles, marine mammals, and invertebrates. While at the aquarium, check out the interesting educational exhibits, including Coral Farm, Ocean Aquaculture, and Edge of the Reef.

Like the zoo, the local aquarium has interesting classes, tours, and opportunities for its guests. For instance, the Behind The Scenes Tour shows visitors what makes the aquarium run, including the care and feeding of their marine life. And the Hawaiian Reef Animals event allows participants to hold a sea star, feel a sea cucumber, and feed an urchin.

Hiking

Have you ever wanted to hike on a volcano? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Right next door to Waikiki is Diamond Head, a popular – and beautiful – place to hike.

Diamond Head is a dormant volcano and Hawaii’s most recognized landmark. This beloved location is known for its great scenic points and breathtaking views from the summit. It’s a great morning walk around the entire volcano (about 4.8 miles) with scenic look outs providing bird’s eye view of the surfing spots. You can also enter Diamond Head Crater and hike to the summit through a tunnel and historic bunker with rewarding coastline views from its pinnacle! There’s a nominal fee per person and reservations are required.

If you’re looking for more of a peaceful stroll than a hike, try Kapiolani Park, a lovely public park with stunning views of Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach. It offers paved walking paths, picnic tables, tennis courts, and beautiful scenery.

Waikiki Luau

No trip to Hawaii is complete without a luau! The Waikiki Luau at the Royal Hawaiian Center offers an amazing luau experience, complete with Hawaiian food and island favorites, music, and hula dancing.

Enjoy a laid-back, tropical vibe as our talented dancers and musicians entertain and delight you. Tableside ukulele musicians and hula dancers add to the immersive cultural experience. Plus, our professional dancers will teach you how to hula! The luau is held in a beautiful thatched-roof pavilion, which means the show will go on – even if it rains.

In addition to the wonderful entertainment, our talented chefs will astound you with a bountiful feast. The luau buffet overflows with delicious Hawaiian delicacies made using only the freshest ingredients. Sample whole luau pig, prime roast beef, teriyaki chicken, macadamia crusted fish, Poi rolls, fresh tropical fruit, an ice cream bar, and more.

The Waikiki Luau at the Royal Hawaiian Center is conveniently located just steps away from the Waikiki hotels.

Rock-A-Hula Show

Another can’t-miss Waikiki experience is Rock-A-Hula, the biggest Hawaiian show in Waikiki’s only multi-million dollar premier theater. Rock-A-Hula presents a Hawaiian Journey from the 1920s to today, showcasing the evolution of Hawaii’s music and dance. From the advent of “Hapa Haole” to today’s Hula, this must-see show features powerful performances by talented artists and musicians.

As part of the show, enjoy live musical tributes to legends like Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson, who both had strong connections to Hawaii. Plus, guests will love performances from our exceptional hula, Tahitian and fire knife dancers!

Check out our six favorite things to do in Waikiki, and please tell us if there are any other local activities or hot spots that you’d add to this list!