If you are looking for a great place to explore the outdoors in Honolulu, you will find plenty of great options! To get started, take a closer look at these top 10 parks in Honolulu.
Diamond Head State Monument
Offering breathtaking views overlooking the Pacific Ocean and Honolulu, Diamond Head State Monument boasts a trail that takes visitors to the edge of a 300,000-year-old crater. Though the trail is relatively short, it includes 99 steep steps at the end of a rocky, uneven trail.
Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve
Formed with a volcanic cone, Hanauma Bay is a protected marine life conservation area and underwater park offering pristine beaches and excellent snorkeling opportunities.
Waikiki Beach
Located on the south shore of Honolulu, Waikiki Beach is part of the world-famous neighborhood of the same name. With Diamond Head serving as a backdrop, the beach offers calm waters that are perfect for surfing and other watersports.
Kuliouou Ridge Hike
Located just off of Kuliouou Road, Kuliouou is a 5-mile round trip hike filled with switchbacks. At the peak of Kuliouou Ridge, hikers are rewarded with beautiful views of the Windward side all the way to Kahana Valley.
Koko Crater Railroad Trail
Also known as Koko Head Stairs, the Koko Crater Railroad Trail consists of 1050 steps made from railroad ties mounted to the hillside. The hike offers several beautiful views, including a view of both Hanauma Bay and the Port Lock Peninsula at the same time.
Tantalus Lookout Puu Ualakaa State Park
Despite its proximity to downtown Honolulu, Pu’u Ualaka’a State Park is a forested area boasting breathtaking views. In fact, visitors can see all the way from Diamond Head to Pearl Harbor at the park.
Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail
Located within the Kaiwi State Scenic Shoreline, the Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail boasts magnificent views of Oahu’s southeastern coastline. Famous attractions such as Koko Head and Koko Crater and included among these views. Of course, the historic Makapu’u Lighthouse, which was built in 1909 and features its characteristic read roof, is among the trails biggest attractions.
Fort DeRussy Beach Park
Boasting 71 acres of beachfront property, the military reservation of Fort DeRussy Beach Park has the largest beaches in all of Waikiki. In fact, about one-fourth of all beach in Waikiki is found within the park. The fort for which it is named is also mostly open to the public.
Spitting Cave of Portlock
With its 65-foot cliff, Spitting Cave of Portlock attracts cliff diving daredevils from around the world. Tucked away behind million dollar homes, the naturally manicured sea cliffs are perfectly highlighted by the ocean-spewing cave for which the area is named.
Magic Island Beach
Part of Ala Moana Beach Park, Magic Island Beach is situated between Waikiki and downtown Honolulu. The beach is a popular location for body boarding, swimming, surfing, picnicking, jogging and walking. Originally meant to be the location of a new resort hotel, the man-made peninsula is comprised of dredged coral in the 1960s.
