Honolulu with keiki
STOP 1 OF 7
Honolulu Zoo
Waikīkī & Diamond Head · Paid entry
Giraffes, elephants and a big playground at the Kapiʻolani Park end of Waikīkī.
2–3 hours · Paid entry; kamaʻāina rates
EThe editors · 2 Oʻahu with keiki lists — switch
Honolulu with keiki
A day of easy wins in town: animals, a lagoon with no waves, and a museum made for touching.
7 placesA full dayRead the guide ↓
- 1. Honolulu ZooGiraffes, elephants and a big playground at the Kapiʻolani Park end of Waikīkī.Waikīkī & Diamond HeadPaid entry2–3 hoursPaid entry; kamaʻāina rates
2. Waikīkī AquariumSmall, cool and quiet: monk seals, jellies and the reef up close.Waikīkī & Diamond HeadPaid entry1–1.5 hoursPaid entry; kids’ rates
3. Queen’s Beach and Sans Souci, Kapiʻolani ParkCalm, shallow water right across the road. Good for a first snorkel.Waikīkī & Diamond HeadFree to visit1–3 hoursFree
4. Magic Island lagoon, Ala Moana Beach ParkA lagoon inside a rock wall, the calmest swim in Honolulu.HonoluluFree to visit1–3 hoursFree
5. Kakaʻako Waterfront ParkGrassy hills for rolling down, with harbor views and sea breeze.HonoluluFree to visit1 hourFree- 6. Hawaiʻi Children’s Discovery CenterHands-on rooms for under-10s, from a pretend ER to a sub.HonoluluPaid entry2 hoursPaid entry per person, adults included
7. Bishop MuseumWhale skeletons, a lava room and the planetarium.HonoluluPaid entry2–3 hours$34–39 adults, $26–31 kids 4–17 (kamaʻāina rates); parking $16
The guide
How to do it: Honolulu with keiki
Honolulu is easy with small kids if you plan around heat and naps. Everything here is within a 15-minute drive of Waikīkī, and most of it is in the shade or indoors.
Do the zoo and the aquarium in the morning, a calm swim at lunchtime, and a museum when everyone needs air conditioning.
- The order to do it in
- Zoo at opening, aquarium next door, a swim at Sans Souci; after lunch, Kakaʻako Waterfront Park and the Discovery Center. Bishop Museum on another morning.
- When to go
- Mornings. Weekdays are much quieter at the Discovery Center and the museum.
- Getting there
- The zoo, aquarium and Sans Souci are a walk or a trolley ride from Waikīkī. Drive or bus to Kakaʻako and the museum.
- What to bring
- Swimsuits, a change of clothes, reef-safe sunscreen and snacks.
- What it costs
- The zoo, aquarium, Discovery Center and Bishop Museum all charge entry; kamaʻāina rates are much lower. The beaches and parks are free.
Worth knowing
- Bishop Museum’s planetarium shows have set times; book them with your ticket.
- Kakaʻako Waterfront Park has no shade at midday.