Diamond Head State Monument
Besides the highly developed strip of Waikiki Beach, there’s no more iconic site on Oahu than the 300,000-year-old Diamond Head volcanic cone standing over the city. The park’s small fee (for Hawaii nonresidents) allows visitors to trek up scenic trails and a series of stairs along the exterior slope of the crater, rising to a panoramic view of Honolulu and the Pacific Ocean below. The journey up can become crowded, so plan to arrive early before the tour buses, and remember to bring cash for the walk-in entry fee.
Pearl Harbor National Memorial
A short boat ride brings visitors from the shore right up to the remnants of the USS Arizona, the site where 1,102 of the 1,177 sailors and Marines perished during the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. This place of solemn remembrance which includes the USS Arizona Memorial program, the visitor center, and museums, is free to all visitors.
Banzai Pipeline
In winter the Banzai Pipeline (or Pipe, as it’s colloquially known) along the island’s North Shore regularly produces titanic waves that break to form equally epic tubes for surfers to brave. Even if you’re not a fan of surfing, the majestic power of these waves is sure to impress.