Honolulu Airport

Filled with waterfalls, fish ponds and fragrant outdoor gardens, the beautiful and unique
Honolulu International Airport (HNL) is not only the first sight most visitors see of Hawaii, but also one of the state’s main car rental bases.

Located only three miles from downtown Honolulu and nine miles from the famous Waikiki Beach, Honolulu International Airport’s three terminals are connected by the free Wiki Wiki shuttle bus. Visitors can choose between eight reputable car rental companies before exploring everything else Hawaii’s capital and largest city has to offer.

Most visitors come to Hawaii to enjoy the sun, sea, and surf of its famous beaches, and the most legendary of all, Waikiki Beach, is located less than 30 minutes away from Honolulu International Airport and easily accessible by rental car. However, beginner surfers might like to take a few lessons at the Hawaiian Fire Surf School, which is owned by the Honolulu firefighters who give lessons in safety and surfing.

Surfing, swimming, and sunbathing aren’t all the area has to offer. More than 420 unique marine species are exhibited at the Waikiki Aquarium, located next to a living coral reef on Waikiki Beach.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is another must see stop easily accessible by rental car and located an hour’s drive from Waikiki. Tahitian dancers, Tongan drummers, Samoan fire knife dancers, and authentic luaus are just some of the unforgettable experiences awaiting visitors to Hawaii’s most popular paid attraction.

The view of the spectacular Manoa Falls, just 15 minutes from Waikiki Beach, is well worth the hour long hike through beautiful rainforests. The Kapolei Kooler tubes, Big Kahuna waterslide and Keiki Cove’s water cannons are just a few ways to get wet at Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park, located 35 minutes west of Waikiki on the driest and warmest side of Oahu.

On one of Honolulu’s rare rainy days, visitors may enjoy touring the Shangri La and Islamic art exhibits at the Honolulu Academy of the Arts or tour America’s only official royal residence, Iolani Palace. The palace, located in downtown Honolulu and once the home of Hawaii’s royal family, has now been meticulously restored to its original splendour.

Visitors may also pay their respects at the USS Arizona Memorial, the final resting place of those who lost their lives during the 1944 Pearl Harbor attack. The memorial, located 45 minutes from Waikiki, also includes a museum, bookstore and theatres.