Cheap flights to Honolulu

Quick summary

Identity

The most isolated big city on Earth

Honolulu sits on the southern shore of Oahu, roughly midway across the Pacific Ocean, which makes it one of the most geographically isolated major cities anywhere in the world — no other landmass of any size lies within 2,000 miles. That isolation is exactly what shaped the place: a Polynesian voyaging culture that reached these islands by reading stars and swells, a 19th-century kingdom that turned a natural harbor into a trading hub, and later a modern American city that never stopped feeling like an island apart. Roughly a million people live across Oahu today, with the vast majority clustered in and around Honolulu itself, making it easily the most populous city in the state of Hawaii.

From royal capital to Pacific gateway

Honolulu became the official capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1845 under King Kamehameha III, who moved the seat of government here from Lahaina on Maui. The city's last monarchs, King Kalākaua and his sister and successor Queen Liliʻuokalani, ruled from ʻIolani Palace until the overthrow of the monarchy in 1893. Hawaii became a US territory in 1898 and the 50th state in 1959 — a relatively short and eventful path that still shapes how locals talk about the islands' identity today.

Not to be missed

Waikiki Beach and the Diamond Head hike

Waikiki is really a string of connected beaches — including Kuhio Beach and Fort DeRussy — stretching about two miles along Oahu's south shore, with mostly gentle surf that has drawn beginner surfers for well over a century. It was here that Duke Kahanamoku, the Olympic swimming champion who is credited with popularizing modern surfing worldwide, first learned to ride waves as a boy. Rising behind the skyline is Diamond Head, an extinct volcanic crater estimated at around 300,000 years old, whose distinctive silhouette has become one of the most photographed natural landmarks in the Pacific.

Hiking to the summit of Diamond Head is one of the most popular things to do on Oahu: about 0.8 miles one way, with roughly 560 feet of elevation gain, usually done in under an hour. The trail winds through former military fortifications before opening onto a 360-degree view over Waikiki and the ocean. Reservations are required to enter the state monument and time slots are limited, so an early start pays off in both cooler temperatures and thinner crowds.

History

Pearl Harbor National Memorial

About 20 minutes west of downtown, Pearl Harbor National Memorial preserves the site of the December 7, 1941 attack that brought the United States into the Second World War. The complex includes the USS Arizona Memorial, reached by boat over the sunken hull where more than 1,100 sailors remain entombed, the battleship USS Missouri where Japan's surrender was signed in 1945, the USS Bowfin submarine, and an aviation museum covering the Pacific War in full. Plan for at least half a day, and book tickets to the Arizona Memorial well in advance — timed entries sell out regularly, even outside peak season.

Culture

The Bishop Museum and downtown Honolulu

Founded in 1889 by businessman Charles Reed Bishop in memory of his wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop — the last direct descendant of the Kamehameha royal line — the Bishop Museum holds the world's largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific artifacts. Its Hawaiian Hall displays feather cloaks, royal jewelry and traditional outrigger canoes, and a planetarium has run public shows since 1961. A short ride away, ʻIolani Palace remains the only official royal residence on US soil, while the nearby Chinatown district packs fish and flower markets, Buddhist temples and a dense mix of Chinese, Vietnamese and Filipino restaurants into a walkable historic core.

Getting around

TheBus and Ala Moana Center

Oahu's public bus network, TheBus, covers the whole island for about $3 a ride, making it the cheapest way to reach Ala Moana Center or trailheads like Manoa Falls from Waikiki without renting a car. A few minutes away by bus, Ala Moana Center has been open since 1959 and is regularly cited as the largest open-air shopping center in the world, mixing local boutiques with international brands and a huge food hall, right next to Ala Moana Beach Park — a quieter, more local alternative to Waikiki for a swim.

Budget

Is Honolulu really that expensive?

Yes, and it's worth planning for. Because almost everything on the islands has to be shipped in, day-to-day living costs in Honolulu run well above the US national average, and that shows up quickly in a travel budget too.

Food

What to eat in Honolulu

Day trip

North Shore, the world capital of big-wave surfing

Under an hour's drive north of Honolulu, Oahu's North Shore turns into the winter proving ground for the world's best big-wave surfers, roughly from November through February, when Pacific storms send swell after swell into breaks like the Banzai Pipeline and Waimea Bay. The Pipe Masters, the finale of the world surfing championship, is held here every year, and Waimea Bay hosts The Eddie — a competition that only runs when waves top 30 feet. Come summer, the same waters turn calm and are far better suited to swimming and snorkeling. The small town of Haleiwa, at the North Shore's entrance, is worth the detour on its own for shave ice or a plate of garlic shrimp from one of its roadside trucks.

Honolulu airport

Getting to Honolulu — and how far it really is

The distance matters more here than for most destinations. From the US West Coast, a nonstop flight to Honolulu typically takes 5 to 6 hours — Los Angeles to HNL runs close to 5.5 hours. From the East Coast, expect 10 to 11 hours. From Europe there are no direct flights at all: routings connect through a West Coast hub such as Los Angeles or San Francisco, and total travel time usually runs 17 hours or more door to door.

When to go

When to visit Honolulu

By length of stay

What to do in Honolulu depending on how long you stay

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about flights to Honolulu