Best Breakfast & Brunch in Waikiki

Waikiki wakes up to an unusual breakfast landscape — Hawaiian plate lunches next to Japanese cafés next to beachfront pancake houses. The Japanese influence on Honolulu’s breakfast scene is particularly strong, with fluffy Japanese-style soufflé pancakes and elaborate set breakfasts.

Local & Hawaiian

Rainbow Drive-In (Kapahulu) — The local classic since 1961. Loco moco (hamburger patty, rice, gravy, fried egg), Portuguese sausage and eggs, and spam and eggs. Counter service, massive portions, low prices. This is how Honolulu eats breakfast.

Best Restaurants in Waikiki & Honolulu

Honolulu’s food is the result of Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Filipino, Portuguese, and American cuisines mixing for over a century. The result is a food culture that includes poke bowls, plate lunches, spam musubi, shave ice, and some of the best Japanese food outside of Japan.

Local & Hawaiian

Rainbow Drive-In (Kapahulu) — Open since 1961. The plate lunch destination. Two scoops of rice, macaroni salad, and your choice of protein (loco moco, chicken katsu, mixed plate). Cheap, massive, and the locals’ go-to.

Diamond Head Hike — Trail Guide, Tips & What to Expect

Diamond Head is the iconic volcanic crater overlooking Waikiki Beach — and the trail to the summit is one of the most popular hikes in Hawaii.

The Trail

The hike is 1.6 miles round trip with 560 feet of elevation gain — moderate difficulty, mostly paved switchbacks with some stairs. The final push to the summit goes through a dark tunnel and up steep stairs (225 steps total). The summit has 360-degree views of Waikiki, downtown Honolulu, the coastline, and the crater interior. On clear days you can see other islands.

Free Things to Do in Waikiki & Honolulu

Oahu has an enormous amount of free entertainment — from world-famous beaches to hiking trails to cultural experiences that cost nothing.

Beaches (All Free)

All Hawaii beaches are public by law. No beach charges admission.

Waikiki Beach — The most famous beach in the Pacific. Walk along the shore, swim in the gentle surf, and watch the sunset behind Diamond Head. Free.

Pearl Harbor Visitor Guide — USS Arizona, Tickets & Tips

Pearl Harbor is the most important historical site in Hawaii and one of the most visited memorials in the United States.

USS Arizona Memorial

The centerpiece — a memorial built over the sunken USS Arizona where 1,177 crew members died on December 7, 1941. The experience includes a documentary film, a Navy boat ride to the memorial, and time on the memorial itself looking down into the water where the ship still rests. Oil still seeps from the wreck — often called the ’tears of the Arizona.’ This is deeply moving.

Things to Do in Waikiki & Oahu

Waikiki is the famous beach neighborhood of Honolulu — a 2-mile crescent of sand backed by high-rise hotels with Diamond Head crater standing guard at the east end. Oahu, the island it sits on, has Pearl Harbor, the legendary North Shore, and a food scene driven by a mix of Polynesian, Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, and American influences.

Waikiki Beach

The beach is narrower than photos suggest, but the setting is iconic. Warm water, gentle waves perfect for learning to surf, and Diamond Head framing every sunset.

Waikiki Timeshare Promotions

Waikiki is the most iconic beach destination in the United States — and timeshare promotional deals here offer one of the only affordable ways to experience Hawaii’s most famous stretch of sand and surf without paying Honolulu’s eye-watering hotel rates. Diamond Head, Pearl Harbor, and legendary Waikiki Beach — all at promotional pricing for qualified visitors.

Here’s how it works, what it costs, and how to decide if it’s right for your next Waikiki trip.

Waikiki with Kids — Family Guide

Oahu is one of the most family-friendly islands in Hawaii — Waikiki’s calm beach, the educational power of Pearl Harbor, and the Polynesian Cultural Center make it a destination where kids learn while having the time of their lives.

Best Family Beaches

Waikiki Beach — The most famous beach in Hawaii is also one of the calmest. Lifeguarded, gentle waves, and shallow water that’s perfect for young swimmers. Boogie board and surfboard rentals right on the sand. Surf lessons for kids 5+ are available from multiple operators.