Hotels in Honolulu

Honolulu: Pacific Capital Between Crater and Shore

Honolulu, the capital of Hawaii, sits on the south shore of Oahu roughly 2,400 miles southwest of Los Angeles. The city anchors a metro of nearly one million residents and draws over five million visitors annually. Waikiki Beach, a 1.5-mile stretch of coral-sand shoreline backed by mid-rise hotels, remains the primary lodging corridor. Diamond Head State Monument — the 300,000-year-old tuff cone rising 761 feet southeast of Waikiki — frames nearly every coastal view and draws 3,000 hikers daily.

Where to Stay in Honolulu

Hotels concentrate in three zones: Waikiki for beach access and the Kalakaua Avenue restaurant strip; Downtown Honolulu near Iolani Palace (the only royal palace on U.S. soil, built 1882) for business travelers; and Ala Moana for proximity to the 350-store Ala Moana Center. Properties range from budget hostels to full-service 4-star resorts. Rates run higher December through March and June through August.

Practical Tips

• Getting there: Daniel K. Inouye International Airport sits 9 miles northwest of Waikiki; taxi fares average $35-45.
• Getting around: TheBus Route 8 connects the airport to Waikiki for $3; car rentals book out quickly in peak periods.
• Pearl Harbor: USS Arizona Memorial is free but timed passes must be reserved online weeks ahead.
• Weather: Average high stays between 80°F and 88°F year-round; pack reef-safe sunscreen — chemical UV filters are banned in Hawaii state waters.