Sights · 8 on Oʻahu · checked 12 October 2026
The big sights, with the booking rules
Not a top-ten list. The places most visitors plan a day around, and the rules that catch them out: which ones need a reservation, when the tickets open, and which days they shut. Read off each official page.
At a glance
| Sight | Open | Price | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diamond HeadDiamond Head, Honolulu | Daily | $5 + $10 parking | Book up to 30 days ahead |
| Pearl HarborPearl Harbor | Daily | Free · $1 booking fee | 8 weeks ahead, or the day before at 3pm HST |
| ʻIolani PalaceDowntown Honolulu | Tue · Wed · Thu · Fri · SatClosed Sundays and Mondays | $28 audio · $34 guided | Online at iolanipalace.org |
| Hanauma BayEast Honolulu | Sun · Wed · Thu · Fri · SatClosed Mondays and Tuesdays | $25 + $3 parking (cash) | Opens 2 days ahead at 7am HST |
| Bishop MuseumKalihi, Honolulu | Daily | From $33.95 | No booking needed |
| Honolulu Museum of ArtHonolulu | Sun · Wed · Thu · Fri · SatClosed Mondays and Tuesdays | $25 | No booking needed |
| Makapuʻu Lighthouse TrailKa Iwi coast | Daily | Free | No booking needed |
| Waikīkī AquariumWaikīkī | Daily | $12 | No booking needed |
8 sights on Oʻahu
The bookmark on each card saves it to an itinerary on this device. Give it a day there and we flag a closed day and tell you when tickets open; then print it.
- Diamond HeadDiamond Head, HonoluluDiamond HeadA state monument built around a volcanic crater next to Waikīkī. A trail runs from the crater floor up to the summit rim.$5 + $10 parkingReservation required for visitors
- Pearl HarborPearl HarborPearl HarborA National Park Service site marking the December 7, 1941 attack. A Navy boat takes visitors from the visitor center to the USS Arizona Memorial.Free · $1 booking feeTimed ticket strongly recommended
- ʻIolani PalaceDowntown HonoluluʻIolani PalaceA royal palace completed in 1882, home to Hawaiʻi’s last monarchs until the overthrow in 1893. Tours run through its restored rooms.$28 audio · $34 guidedBook online ahead
- Hanauma BayEast HonoluluHanauma BayA nature preserve in a bay formed by a volcanic crater, used for snorkelling. The water is a Marine Life Conservation District.$25 + $3 parking (cash)Tickets open 2 days ahead
- Bishop MuseumKalihi, HonoluluBishop MuseumA museum of Hawaiian and Pacific culture and natural history. One ticket covers the main galleries.From $33.95
- Honolulu Museum of ArtHonoluluHonolulu Museum of ArtA general art museum founded in 1922 with more than 50,000 works. Its collection is strongest in Asian art.$25
- Makapuʻu Lighthouse TrailKa Iwi coastMakapuʻu Lighthouse TrailA paved former service road that climbs to a lookout above Makapuʻu Point Lighthouse. The lighthouse itself is closed.Free
- Waikīkī AquariumWaikīkīWaikīkī AquariumA public aquarium on the Waikīkī shoreline with marine life from Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. It is open during renovations.$12
Book these before you fly
- Diamond Head — Visitors must book entry and parking up to 30 days ahead at gostateparks.hawaii.gov/diamondhead. Walk-ins are turned away.
- Pearl Harbor — USS Arizona tickets release on Recreation.gov 8 weeks ahead, and more the day before, both at 3pm HST. All tickets are final.
- ʻIolani Palace — Tickets are sold online at iolanipalace.org. The palace’s own pages disagree on walk-ins, so book ahead.
- Hanauma Bay — Visitor tickets open two days ahead at 7am HST at pros.hnl.info/hanauma-bay. A few walk-in tickets go from 6:45am.
Check the day before you go
- ʻIolani Palace — Closed Sundays and Mondays. Open Tue · Wed · Thu · Fri · Sat, Tue–Sat 9am–4pm.
- Hanauma Bay — Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Open Sun · Wed · Thu · Fri · Sat, out by 4pm.
- Honolulu Museum of Art — Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Open Sun · Wed · Thu · Fri · Sat, Fri to 9pm.
Holiday closures are not listed here; the official page has them.
Then see what is on on the island that week
The sights are the fixed part of a trip. The calendar is the rest: classes, free shows and walks on Oʻahu, each checked against the venue’s own page.
This week →Every fact on these pages was read off the official site on 12 October 2026. How we verify