EThe editors
Royal and sacred Oʻahu
The palace, the birthstones, two heiau and the memorials.
8 placesA full day
1. ʻIolani PalaceThe only royal palace in the United States. Book a tour.HonoluluPaid entry- 2. King Kamehameha statueKamehameha the Great, draped in lei on June 11.HonoluluFree to visit
- 3. Aloha TowerThe old harbor clock tower, with a free lookout.HonoluluFree to visit
- 4. Pearl Harbor National MemorialThe USS Arizona Memorial. Free; reserve a time.CentralFree to visit
- 5. Keaīwa HeiauA healing heiau in the hills above ʻAiea.CentralFree to visit
- 6. Kūkaniloko BirthstonesWhere aliʻi were born. Stay outside the stones.CentralFree to visit
- 7. Puʻu o Mahuka HeiauThe largest heiau on Oʻahu, above Waimea Bay.North ShoreFree to visit
8. Byodo-In TempleA replica of the Byōdō-in in Uji, Japan, in the Valley of the Temples.WindwardPaid entry
Started from the pins on Flashpacking America’s Oʻahu maps (the map). Places and notes checked and written by us; opening times change, so check before you go.