One Day in Honolulu: A Waikīkī Itinerary from the Hotel Area

Use the shoreline as a flexible part of the day, and check ocean conditions before entering the water. Honolulu Emergency Services recommends swimming at a lifeguarded beach, not swimming alone, and talking to a lifeguard if you have questions about conditions.

The City also advises reading posted beach warning signs, swimming during daylight with a buddy, and staying off wet rocks along cliffs or rocky ledges. The HNL.info app can provide alerts about unusual ocean conditions, lifeguard-tower closures and other hazards.

Choose one of the two attractions for an afternoon visit, then leave time for the park nearby. The zoo is at the corner of Kapahulu Avenue and Kalākaua Avenue; the aquarium is beside Kapiʻolani Park and the Waikīkī Natatorium War Memorial.

Honolulu Zoo

Honolulu Zoo is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with the grounds closing at 4:00 p.m.; it closes on Christmas Day. General admission is $21 for ages 13 and older, $13 for ages 3–12, and free for children 2 and under.

Daily tickets are sold at the entrance, with no advance tickets available. Kamaʻāina and U.S. military rates are $10 for adults and $6 for children ages 3–12; valid identification is required per adult.

Parking is accessed from Kapahulu Avenue and costs $1.50 per hour, with a four-hour maximum at one time. The zoo allows service animals accompanying people with disabilities; check in with ticket-booth staff about the policy.

Bicycles, scooters, skateboards, roller skates, pets and drones are among the prohibited items, as are feeding animals, smoking and alcohol. For more on planning a visit, see this Honolulu Zoo guide for Waikīkī.

Waikīkī Aquarium

Waikīkī Aquarium is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and closes at 5:00 p.m. General admission is $12, with discounted rates available. Founded in 1904, it is an option for a visit before spending time in the park.

The aquarium closes on Christmas Day and Honolulu Marathon Day. Details can change, so check the official site before you go. Find practical planning details in this Waikīkī Aquarium visitor guide.

Kapiʻolani Regional Park gives the route an outdoor stop beside the aquarium.

The City of Honolulu took responsibility for the park in 1914. That year, its first director, Ben Hollinger, began collecting animals for children in Hawaiʻi. The aquarium’s location beside the park makes the two places straightforward to pair in one visit.

Keep the day centered on the Waikīkī attractions, and use the ocean-safety guidance to decide whether beach time makes sense. If you plan to use public transport, this guide to Honolulu public transport covers what Waikīkī visitors need to know.

Hours and admission can change, and ocean conditions vary. Check the official sites for the zoo and aquarium before setting out, and follow lifeguard advice and posted beach warnings if you go to the water.