Honolulu With Kids – Akpan Family

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Honolulu is located on the island of Oahu. Our family of four traveled to Honolulu, Hawaii for vacation and we had such a great time there. We spent a total of 7 days in Honolulu with kids and had something to keep us busy every single day.

Where Did We Travel To

• City, State: Honolulu, Hawaii
• Currency: US Dollar
• Visa Requirements: None for US Citizens.

How Did We Get To Honolulu With Kids

We flew to Honolulu with kids on United Airlines from California. We had airlines miles that we had been accumulating for some time so it was perfect. United sent out an email about a sale for 36,000 miles round trip and I purchased the flights immediately. We flew from Ontario International Airport (ONT) to Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL).

Another way to get to Honolulu:

Because Oahu is an island, the only other way to get there is by cruise.

When Did We Go To Honolulu With Kids

We traveled to Honolulu with kids in the first week of September. The weather was warm, and it rained a few times for a little bit during our trip, but not long enough to put a damper on our day. We spent a total of 7 days there.

• Best time to visit city: The best time to visit Honolulu is anytime from April to June, as well as from September up until mid-December. The reason is why is because it is the most affordable time to do so. Also the weather in Honolulu is always warm and nice, so you can’t go wrong whatever month you decide to visit.

Getting Around Honolulu With Kids

Oahu is a big island, so we rented a car to get around. We rented a car from Alamo Car Rental which is located at the Honolulu Airport.

Here are other ways to get around Honolulu:

You can get around Honolulu with kids by using Uber, but do note that this can get expensive. If you plan to stay around Waikiki Beach Only then you can walk and take Uber around. But if you plan to venture out, get a rental car.

Hilton Hawaiian Village, Waikiki Honolulu With Kids

We stayed at Hilton Hawaiian Village which is located in Waikiki. This hotel was amazing – great breakfast and also located on such beautiful grounds. The hotel has several pools, as well as water slides that the kids especially enjoyed. This hotel is beachfront so you can walk right to the beach. This hotel also has a lagoon on the side which is perfect for young kids. You can rent kayaks and paddleboards and other things to ride around the lagoon.

Here are other kid friendly hotels in Honolulu:

• Ala Moana Hotel
• Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
• Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko’Olina
• Grand Waikikian by Hilton Grand Vacations
• Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa

What Did We Do In Honolulu With Kids

There are so many things to do in Honolulu with kids. We purchased the 5-Day Go Oahu Card because there were so many things on there to do and it offered a good discount. We purchased a total of four 5-Day Go Oahu Cards, 2 adults and 2 kids.

Things we did with the 5-Day Go Oahu Card:

• Ka Moana Luau – this was so fun and very interactive. The kids go to make their own lei, get their face painted and play the ukulele. We purchased our outfits (my husbands, mine, my sons, my daughters) from Amazon and wore that when we went there.

• Polynesian Cultural Center – we learned about Hawaiian culture, went on a board ride and visited the different villages. Each village had a show about their culture. This was very educational for the kids.
• Pearl Harbor – we did all the below on one day as they are all located in the same place. The Pearl Harbor tour was very emotional as we all learned so much about the bombing and everything that happened there.
  • USS Arizona Memorial Narrated Tour at Pearl Harbor
  • USS Bowfin Submarine at Pearl Harbor
  • Battleship Missouri at Pearl Harbor
  • Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum

• Rainforest, Waterfalls, and Movie Sites Hike
  • Movie Sites Hike – Jurassic Park: we took a tour of the park were Jurassic Park was filmed, and Jumanji. This is a two hour with different photo stops along the way.

• Waterfalls – Manoa Falls Trail: this is about a 2 mile walk to the waterfall. This is a narrow and muddy walk especially after a rainy day. Make sure to wear the right shoes to hike this trail.

• Secret Island Beach at Kualoa Ranch – this is a secret island that is only accessible by boat. We spent about three hours here and were able to ride kayaks and paddle boards. There are no restaurants or any food available on the island, so make sure you pack food, snacks and water because your kids will get hungry.

Other things that we did in Honolulu with kids:

Below are the other things that we did that were not covered on the 5-Day Go Oahu Card.

• Waimea Valley Waterfalls – we wanted to visit a waterfall so we were excited to find out that his hike and waterfall was kid friendly. The water is cold, so keep that in mind. There are life jackets available to use free of charge.
• Honolulu Children’s Museum – the kids had so much fun playing here. It’s a great indoor activity especially from all the outdoor things we did.

• Turtle Bay – your kids will love seeing the turtles in the water.
• Dole Plantation – the train ride here was a lot of fun. We ate lots of pineapple treats here. If you love pineapple, then you’ll love the Dole Plantation. Our favorite was pineapple ice cream.

• Disney Aulani Character Breakfast – we enjoyed a yummy character breakfast here. There’s also a lady called “Auntie” who goes around and entertains the kids as well as the Disney characters who come around and go from table to table. Make sure to call and make an appointment as it fills up pretty quickly.

Eating At Restaurants In Honolulu With Kids

There are so many amazing restaurants in Honolulu and the food is so fresh and so good. We tried several kid friendly restaurants. Below is a list of the places we ate at:

• Tiki Bar & Grill
• Goofy Café & Dine
• Thai Food Express
• Uncle Bobo’s
• Pounders Restaurant
• Duke’s Waikiki
• Liliha Bakery
• Helena’s Hawaiian Food
• Heavenly Island Lifestyle

Tips For Visiting Honolulu With Kids

• Get a rental car – There is so much to see on the island of Oahu and you’ll need a car to get around.
• Download Yelp – Yelp is great for food reviews, and Yelp sometimes offers coupons for a free drinks or desert.
• Pack snacks – When you step out to explore the island, pack snacks. Eating in Oahu can get very expensive so keep that in mind.

Honolulu With Kids Trip Cost

• Airfare – 36,000 United miles each
• Hotel & Rental Car / Gas – About $2200
• 5-Day Go Oahu Card – $304.30/Adult and $237.15/Child. Our son’s homeschool program covered one Adult and Child pass, so we only paid for one for a total of $541.45.
• Other activities (Children’s museum, Disney Aulani Breakfast etc) – $300
• Meals – $600
• Total Cost of Trip = $3,600 (approximately)

Amabel is a wife and a mother of two, Ethan & Avery. She owns her own hair care line Nundae Hair & Skin as well as a clothing line Aveebelle Designs. When she’s not busy running her business, she loves exploring the world with her family.