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Hawaii, United States

Waikiki

Two nights on the beach for sunset hula, Hawaiian food and midnight fireworks over the water. This guide pulls together 1 sight, 1 activity and 1 outdoor spot from our curated routes.

Plan Waikiki with friendsBrowse 8 places
Waikiki, Hawaii, United States
Places
8

1 See · 1 Do · 1 Outdoors · 3 Eat · 1 Drink · 1 Stay

Curated routes
1

Honolulu New Year's Eve

Best season
Dec 30 – Jan 1

from our route notes

Warmest month
September

28°C / 83°F avg high

Coolest month
February

25°C / 76°F avg high

Wettest month
March

about 94 mm rain

Climate: NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages.

Things to do in Waikiki

8 places from our curated routes, grouped by what you will do there. Each one has its own page with the address and full notes.

See

1 sight worth building a day around.

  • Royal Hawaiian Hotel in WaikikiPhoto: Seagerthomas · CC BY-SA 4.0
    See

    Royal Hawaiian Hotel

    Pink 1927 Spanish-Moorish hotel on Waikiki Beach, with gardens and a beachfront bar open to visitors.

    Tip Walk through the lobby and gardens to the beach, then have a mai tai at the bar.

    • Waikiki
    • $$
    • 45 min
    • Late afternoon

Do

1 activity for when the group wants to do more than look.

  • Waikiki Beach fireworks in WaikikiPhoto: Edmund Garman · CC BY 2.0
    Do

    Waikiki Beach fireworks

    Midnight fireworks launched from a barge off Waikiki, free to watch from the sand along Duke Kahanamoku Beach.

    Tip Bring a beach mat and arrive by 11 p.m.; the sand fills from the Hilton end first.

    • Waikiki
    • Free
    • 1.5 hr
    • 11 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.

Outdoors

1 outdoor spot for fresh air in Diamond Head.

  • Diamond Head State Monument in WaikikiPhoto: Farragutful · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Outdoors

    Diamond Head State Monument

    Volcanic crater above Waikiki with a steep 0.8-mile trail to old military bunkers on the rim.

    Tip Reserve the first entry slot for Jan 1 and bring a headlamp for the tunnel.

    • Diamond Head
    • $
    • 2 hr
    • Sunrise Jan 1

Eat

Where we would book a table in Waikiki across Kalihi and Kapahulu.

  • Helena's Hawaiian Food in WaikikiPhoto: LittleT889 · CC BY-SA 4.0
    Eat

    Helena's Hawaiian Food

    Family-run Hawaiian lunch spot open since 1946, known for pipikaula short ribs and kalua pig.

    Tip Go early; it keeps short hours and closes on some holidays, so check first.

    • Kalihi
    • $
    • 60 min
    • Lunch Dec 30
  • Leonard's Bakery in WaikikiPhoto: Arnold Gatilao · CC BY 2.0
    Eat

    Leonard's Bakery

    Kapahulu bakery open since 1952 that made the Portuguese malasada a Honolulu staple.

    Tip Order them hot; the line moves fast.

    • Kapahulu
    • $
    • 20 min
    • Morning
  • Eat

    Rainbow Drive-In

    Plate-lunch drive-in near Kapiolani Park open since 1961, serving loco moco and mixed plates.

    Tip Eat at the outdoor tables or take it to Kapiolani Park.

    • Kapahulu
    • $
    • 45 min
    • Lunch

Drink

Our picks for a drink in Waikiki.

  • Drink

    House Without a Key

    Open-air bar at the Halekulani under a kiawe tree, with Hawaiian music and hula at sunset.

    Tip Arrive before 5 p.m. for a table near the stage and the view of Diamond Head.

    • Waikiki
    • $$$
    • 1.5 hr
    • Sunset

Stay

1 place to stay we would book.

  • Hilton Hawaiian Village in WaikikiPhoto: Don Ramey Logan · CC BY-SA 3.0
    Stay

    Hilton Hawaiian Village

    Large resort on the beach at the west end of Waikiki, right in front of the fireworks barge.

    Tip Book an ocean-view room in the Rainbow or Tapa tower to see the fireworks from your lanai.

    • Waikiki
    • $$$
    • Dec 30 – Jan 2

How to fit Waikiki into a trip

Waikiki is stop 1 of 2 on our Honolulu New Year's Eve route. Follow it as-is or lift Waikiki into your own plan.

Getting here and onward

Distances are straight-line estimates between destination centers, not road distances.

Waikiki month by month

Average daily highs run from 25°C / 76°F in February to 28°C / 83°F in September. March is the wettest month, with about 94 mm of rain. Outlined months fall in the best season on our routes.

Average daily highs, NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages. Waikiki weather and the best time to visit →

Near Waikiki

4 other destinations from our guides within about 300 km (186 mi), measured in a straight line.

Waikiki questions, answered

How many days do you need in Waikiki?

Our route notes suggest 2 nights in Waikiki. On our Honolulu New Year's Eve route it is stop 1 of 2 in a 3-day trip. The listed visit times for our 8 places add up to roughly 8 hours, before travel between them, so you will need to choose.

What is Waikiki best known for?

Two nights on the beach for sunset hula, Hawaiian food and midnight fireworks over the water. Standouts on our list: Royal Hawaiian Hotel (Pink 1927 Spanish-Moorish hotel on Waikiki Beach, with gardens and a beachfront bar open to visitors); Diamond Head State Monument (Volcanic crater above Waikiki with a steep 0.8-mile trail to old military bunkers on the rim); Waikiki Beach fireworks (Midnight fireworks launched from a barge off Waikiki, free to watch from the sand along Duke Kahanamoku Beach).

When is the best time to visit Waikiki?

Our Honolulu New Year's Eve route is best Dec 30 – Jan 1. NASA POWER 2001–2025 averages put the warmest highs in September (28°C / 83°F), the coolest in February (25°C / 76°F) and the most rain in March (about 94 mm).

What are the best things to do in Waikiki?

Start with Waikiki Beach fireworks, Royal Hawaiian Hotel and Diamond Head State Monument. Our guide lists 8 places in all, from 1 sight, 1 activity, 1 outdoor spot, 3 places to eat, 1 bar or café and 1 place to stay.

Where should a group eat in Waikiki?

Our picks: Helena's Hawaiian Food (Kalihi); Leonard's Bakery (Kapahulu); Rainbow Drive-In (Kapahulu). Go early; it keeps short hours and closes on some holidays, so check first (Helena's Hawaiian Food).

What is near Waikiki?

The closest destinations in our guides are Kailua & Lanikai (about 17 km / 11 mi), Oahu (about 24 km / 15 mi) and Maui (about 165 km / 103 mi). Distances are straight-line estimates, not road distances.

Plan Waikiki with your crew

Open the Honolulu New Year's Eve route in TripsCircle, invite friends with a link, settle which of these 8 places make the cut with a quick poll, then split costs and share one packing list.

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