Honolulu Harbor is the first thing you’ll see when coming into one of the harbor’s two cruise ports. If you’re not interested in seeing international cargo ships or the fishing market on Piers 36–38, head to Piers 5–11, home to Aloha Tower, the many restaurants of Aloha Tower Marketplace, and the Hawaiian Maritime Center. Aloha Tower has a 10th-floor observation deck with great views of Honolulu Harbor and the Koʻolau Range. Many scuba diving and snorkeling tours depart from the harbor and there’s a luau experience near Aloha Tower.
If you’re driving to Honolulu Harbor, it’s best to park at the Aloha Tower Marketplace where valet parking is available for US$20 per day.
Aloha Tower observation deck is free to enter.
The luau experience offered near Aloha Tower doesn’t run on Saturdays, so if you only have weekend availability, Sunday is your only option.
Nico’s Pier 38 restaurant lets you pick fresh fish at the live fish auction across the street for your meal and has live music every night. Make a reservation ahead of time to secure your night out.
Wear comfy walking shoes for exploring Honolulu Harbor—you’ll be surprised by how much ground you’ll cover when you’re there.
If you have a car, you might want to drive to Honolulu Harbor. You can also take a taxi or rideshare service to get there quickly and easily, but it’ll cost more than other options. The harbor is a 10-minute car ride from the airport and a 5-minute car ride from Downtown Honolulu.
The best time of year to visit Honolulu Harbor and Honolulu in general is mid-April to early June—this is after surf season but before the summer crowds descend. The harbor can be nice at any time of day, but it’s more crowded in the daytime as shops and some restaurants tend to close before 7pm.
At its beginning, Honolulu Harbor was a main port-of-call for large trade ships, and today it’s still just as important to Hawaii’s international trade as most of the island’s goods are still imported. Afterward, enjoy other nearby must-see Honolulu historical sites such as Iolani Palace, the Bishop Museum, Battleship Missouri Memorial, Pearl Harbor National Memorial, and USS Arizona Memorial.
