Waikiki Beach Tower · Honolulu

Our Waikiki Trip

Lyndsie, Daniel, Mom, Paxton & Maddox. Go easy and take it one day at a time.

Hawaii

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Texas

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Up at 4am? Make it count

Texas is 4 hours ahead, so lean into early mornings.

  • 4:00

    Lanai coffee & watch the city lights

    Texas is already at 8am — good time for family calls

  • 5:00

    Slow breakfast in the room

    Groceries from the list; let Paxton & Maddox pick a show

  • 6:00

    Get ready + pack the beach bag

    Sunscreen, water, snacks

  • 6:50

    Sunrise from the lanai

    It's still dark until about now — beach waits for daylight

  • 7:00

    Head out once it's light

    Malasadas at Leonard's, or straight to the day's plan

  • 1:00pm

    Plan a rest hour

    Early risers crash mid-afternoon — protect the evening

Getting around (no car)

  • Walk: beach, aquarium, zoo, Duke’s, Oceanarium — all close to the tower.
  • Waikiki Trolley: Saturday only — Blue Line, mostly sitting down.
  • Uber/Lyft XL: fits all 5 — Kahala, Magic Island, Pearl Harbor, airport.
  • TheBus: $3 per ride. Cheap, but slower.

Walkable Waikiki map

Centered on your tower. Tap “Directions” on any stop for step-by-step walking or ride directions in Google Maps.

Open in Google Maps app →
4 of 34 done

Thu Nov 12 · Memory

  • Kahala Hotel & Resort + Dolphin Quest with Jake

    Loved it!

    Directions Too far to walk

  • Dinner at Jake’s

Fri Nov 13 · Memory

  • Beach day all day + sandwich picnic

  • Dinner in the condo

Sat Nov 14 · Trolley Blue Line adventure

  • 7:30am — Breakfast at home (eggs & toast)

    Eggs + bread are on the grocery list

    At the tower

  • 9:00am — Tank Talk at the Alohilani Oceanarium

    FREE — then walk to the trolley stop and board the Blue Line

    Directions 3 min walk

    Walk ~3 min

  • 10:00am — Board the Blue Line trolley (coastal ride)

    Diamond Head, Hanauma Bay lookout, Halona Blowhole

    Directions 5 min walk

    Board at the nearest Waikiki trolley stop

  • Secret beach: Halona Cove ("From Here to Eternity")

    View from the lookout — the climb down is steep, skip for Mom

    Directions Too far to walk

    On the Blue Line route — stay on the trolley

  • 12:30pm — Lunch out along the trolley route

    Grab something at a Blue Line stop — ask the driver for favorites

    Trolley

  • 5:00pm — Dinner at the Oceanarium restaurant

    Call 808.922.1233 to confirm your table — the resort site lists the tank-side restaurant as reopening in 2027

    Walk ~5 min

  • 6:30pm — Free Kuhio Beach hula show

    Easy end to trolley day — bring beach chairs

    Directions 3 min walk

    Walk 2 min — it's by your tower

Sun Nov 15 · Zoo day — Mom + the boys

  • Breakfast at the condo

    At the tower

  • Honolulu Zoo (opens 9am)

    Ask at entry about wheelchair/scooter rental for Mom

    Directions 8 min walk

    Walk ~10 min, or quick Uber for Mom

  • Picnic lunch in Kapiolani Park

    Pack sandwiches from the grocery list

    Directions 12 min walk

    Walk across from the zoo

  • Secret beach: Queen’s Beach

    Quiet stretch by the zoo — Barefoot Beach Cafe for shave ice/snacks

    Directions 15 min walk

    Walk ~5 min from the park

  • Pool time back at the tower

    Mom relaxes, boys swim

    Uber/walk back to the tower

  • Pizza night at the condo

    Order delivery or bake a frozen pizza (on the grocery list)

    At the tower

Mon Nov 16 · Kuhio Beach + aquarium

  • Breakfast at the condo

    At the tower

  • Beach: Kuhio Beach lagoon (by your tower)

    Calm water behind a wall — great for Maddox & Mom. Lifeguards, restrooms, showers; chair/umbrella rentals on the sand

    Directions 2 min walk

    Walk ~2 min with the gear

  • Picnic lunch on the beach

    Cooler, towels, sand toys, snorkel masks — run back to the condo for anything you forgot

    Already there

  • Waikiki Aquarium

    Small, flat, shaded — go in the afternoon to cool off

    Directions 22 min walk

    Uber ~5 min, or ~20 min walk without gear

  • Fun dinner: Duke’s Waikiki

    Beachfront, lively, kid-friendly

    Directions 15 min walk

    Walk ~10 min along the beach

Tue Nov 17 · Lagoon + sunset sail

  • Breakfast at the condo

    At the tower

  • Secret beach: Magic Island lagoon (Ala Moana)

    Rock-ringed, calm-as-a-pool water — perfect for Mom & Maddox

    Directions 55 min walk — long for Mom

    Uber ~10 min

  • Picnic lunch at Magic Island

    Shady spots under the trees by the lagoon

    Directions 55 min walk — long for Mom

    Right at the lagoon

  • Optional: Pearl Harbor

    Wheelchairs available on site

    Directions Too far to walk

    Uber ~25 min

  • Sunset catamaran from Waikiki Beach

    Easy boarding, the boys will love it

    Walk to the beach boarding spot

  • Dinner at the condo + pack

    Easy leftovers or pasta so everyone can pack

    At the tower

Wed Nov 18 · Last morning + fly home

  • Last breakfast at the condo

    Use up the groceries!

    At the tower

  • Morning swim at Fort DeRussy Beach (after it’s light)

    Wide, uncrowded sand near the tower

    Directions 25 min walk

    Walk ~15 min, or short Uber

  • Lunch out + hang with Jake

    Maybe Jake can drive you to the airport after?

    Walk or Uber

  • Pack + ask about late checkout

    At the tower

  • 3:30pm — Ride to HNL airport (~25–40 min)

    Jake drives: free · SpeediShuttle shared van: ~$18–25/person (~$90–125 for 5) · Uber/Lyft XL: ~$50–70+ (one 6-seat car, may surge) · Taxi: ~$40 flat for up to 4 — you’d need 2. Aim to arrive by 4:00 for the 6pm flight.

    Directions Too far to walk

    Uber XL ~30 min (2 cars if bags overflow)

  • Red-eye: pillows, snacks, tablets charged

    Land DFW ~6am Thursday

    Board at HNL