Most American's dream of visiting Hawaii at least once in their life and Honolulu Harbor is the major destination for tourists from all over the world. The City of Honolulu is the island's center for history, art, and culture. Visitors enjoy historic buildings, the only royal palace in the United States, museums, a busy Chinatown, and a downtown alive with shopping, restaurants, art galleries, and an exciting nightlife.

Aloha Tower

Photo by Martin Knaus

Honolulu Harbor has a warm semi-arid climate with year-round warm weather and lots of sunshine. Even though it is located in the tropics, the climate is heavily influenced by its location in the mid-Pacific Ocean. Temperatures vary little, rarely exceeding 32 °C (89 °F) and rarely going below 20 °C (68 °F). Water temperatures off the coast average 27 °C (82 °F) in the summer and 25 °C (77 °F) in the winter. Most rainfall occurs in the winter from October through March. Honolulu Harbor enjoys sunshine 74% of the days of the year. Temperatures range from an average high of 32 °C (89 °F) in August and September to an average low of 19 °C (66 °F) from January through March.

At the heart of the island's art and culture is downtown Honolulu Harbor. On First Fridays, enjoy a Mardi Gras atmosphere with great dining and live entertainment. On Second Saturdays and Third Thursdays, the art community opens for families and visitors to share their wide range of art experiences. On the last Friday of each month, the Honolulu Academy of Arts hosts ARTafterDARK where well-dressed participants enjoy them events.

Duke Paoa Kahanamoku Lagoon

Photo by Travis Thurston

Honolulu Harbor is the center of island life, but Oahu offers a wide variety of experiences. Waikiki offers trendy cosmopolitan ambiance, haute and Pacific Rim cuisine, and everything from modern clubs to hula lessons. Visitors can go surfing or hike through waterfalls. Waikiki's famous beach boasts world-class hotels, great shopping, delicious dining, and an exciting nightlife.

Diamond Head
View from Round Top Drive

Photo by mar1865

Oahu's North Shore is known for its world-class Bonzai Pipeline, notorious for its giant waves breaking in shallow water, with thick curls of water that challenge even the most expert surfer. Bonzai Pipeline's three reefs get progressively deeper and more powerful as you move out to sea. The North Shore is also home to Waimea Bay and Sunset Beach, known for their winter waves and the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Competition .

The windward coast of Oahu offers some of the finest beaches you'll ever find. Less than an hour's drive from Waikiki, you'll find beautiful gardens and valleys, clean white sand, and magical blue waters. This is the perfect spot for lounging, hiking, golfing, horseback riding, and kayaking. The rural leeward and central areas of Oahu contain many tourist attractions. Here you will find the battleships and historic memorial grounds of Pearl Harbor. You can visit the pineapple fields and a huge maze at the Dole Plantation. Aloha Stadium houses the state's biggest flea market. The 43-acre Ko'olina Resort and Marina offer the best of luxury living, with several golf courses and several picturesque lagoons.

Aerial view of Waikiki and Ala Wai Harbor

Photo by Travis Thurston

You can find a comprehensive list of cruises to and from Honolulu Harbor to help make your travel plans. Once you arrive, you can take inter-island or dinner cruises to enjoy the full range of natural beauty and adventure the Hawaiian island have to offer.

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