At the quiet Diamond Head end of Waikiki, a historic aquarium, the city zoo and a royal-era park make an easy day out for all ages.
Kapiolani Park is Waikiki's big green backyard. Established in 1877 under King Kalakaua and named for his wife, Queen Kapiolani it is one of Honolulu's oldest public parks. Around it sit three of the neighbourhood's family favorites.
Waikiki Aquarium
Opened in 1904 and run by the University of Hawaii, the Waikiki Aquarium is one of the oldest public aquariums in the country. It is small and manageable, focused on Hawaiian and Pacific marine life: reef fish, jellyfish, giant clams and Hawaiian monk seals in an outdoor habitat. Plan about an hour and a half.
Honolulu Zoo
The zoo sits on the Waikiki side of the park, a short walk from Kalakaua Avenue. Shady paths, an African savanna section and tropical birds make it a pleasant morning, and there is a children's area with farm animals.
Kapiolani Park and the Waikiki Shell
Banyan trees, ironwood groves and wide lawns host weekend picnics, kite flyers and pickup soccer. The open-air Waikiki Shell, with Diamond Head as its backdrop, stages concerts, and the park's bandstand has free music on some weekends.
| Stop | Time to allow | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Waikiki Aquarium | 1–1.5 hours | Go early on hot days; outdoor exhibits get sunny |
| Honolulu Zoo | 2 hours | Mornings are cooler and animals more active |
| Kapiolani Park | As long as you like | Bring a mat; shade under the banyans fills up at weekends |
| Kaimana Beach | An afternoon | Calm water close to the park, good for younger swimmers |
Everything here is within walking distance of central Waikiki, and TheBus and the Waikiki trolleys run along Kalakaua Avenue if little legs get tired.
Top photo: The entrance of the Waikiki Aquarium near Kapiolani Park. Photo: Simon_sees from Australia, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
