Sightseeing

[AmyLizabeth]

We will be staying at Aulani for the first time this July. While we are very excited to enjoy the resort, we also want to do some sightseeing around the island (we've never been to Oahu before). We will have a rental car for the whole time we are there (6 days). I have read that Pearl Harbor is about a half hour drive (at least in little traffic). I'm curious to know how long it typically takes to drive to Diamond Head, Manoa Falls, Kualoa Ranch, and Waimea Valley, as those are all places we might want to visit. Also, please feel free to share your favorite places to visit on Oahu beyond the resort. Thanks!

 

[buffettgirl]

Google maps has a great tool where you can see distance and typical driving times based on what time of day you set.

But you can figure roughly, 45 min to 90 min to get to any of those places you've mentioned, depending on time of day and traffic.

 

[Camshell]

We will be staying at Aulani for the first time this July. While we are very excited to enjoy the resort, we also want to do some sightseeing around the island (we've never been to Oahu before). We will have a rental car for the whole time we are there (6 days). I have read that Pearl Harbor is about a half hour drive (at least in little traffic). I'm curious to know how long it typically takes to drive to Diamond Head, Manoa Falls, Kualoa Ranch, and Waimea Valley, as those are all places we might want to visit. Also, please feel free to share your favorite places to visit on Oahu beyond the resort. Thanks!

I rarely see it mentioned, but if you like history, culture and science I would recommend the Bishop Museum in Honolulu. http://www.bishopmuseum.org/ We love to spend an afternoon there. The Hawaiian hall displays are done from a Hawaiian Indigenous perspective. There is a museum, small planetarium, and small science centre. I even went to "uncle's" hulu talk and then saw the same "uncle" working as an "uncle' at Aulani. It's a pretty overlooked attraction, but we really enjoy it.

 

[Rubygoose]

The Byodo-In temple is a beautiful spot to visit for an hour or so on the way to Kualoa Ranch. Also, if you're going to Waimea valley, stop in at the food trucks on the way. We had the most fun just driving around and stopping at a beach here or there.

 

[Loveallthingsmouse]

Enjoy your trip, we will be there in July as well (SO EXCITED). If you are looking to sightsee around the island, I highly recommend the Gypsy App, Oahu Circle Island Tour. It gives great info along the way and we stopped an looked at things we would have never found on our own.

 

[vikequeen]

we loved Waimea. one of the highlights of our trip. We used the Waze app. gave us pretty good real time traffic and drive time estimates when were there.