Honolulu – Things to do with your Team

Honolulu, the largest city in Hawaii, is known as the gateway to the Hawaiian Islands. Every year, millions of visitors travel to Hawaii for its perfect climate, beautiful landscapes, tropical culture, and some of the best beaches in the world. If your team is lucky enough to be visiting Honolulu for a tournament, be prepared to make memories that will last a lifetime.

Beaches of Hawaii

No trip to Hawaii is complete without a day at the beach. You can visit the one closest to where your team is staying, or venture to one a bit farther away if you’re in the mood for an adventure. Either way, you’re all in store for blue skies, warm sand, and crystal-clear water. Some of Hawaii’s most popular beach destinations include: world-famous Waikiki Beach, offering some of the best views of Diamond Head State Monument, a dormant volcano crater and Hawaii’s most recognized landmark, as well as a full array of fun beach activities and watersport equipment rentals; Lanikai Beach on the eastern shore of Oahu, ranked the number one beach in the world by Condé Nast; Waimea Bay, popular with surfers for its monstrous waves during the big wave season from November through February, features full facilities including restrooms, showers, picnic areas, and lifeguards that make this beach popular with locals and tourists alike; Sunset Beach, another beach renowned for its larger-than-life waves during the winter, will be a great choice if you and your team are looking to surf while on your Hawaiian vacation; and lastly, the secluded Kawela Bay is a perfect spot for a picnic by the sea, thanks to shade provided by coconut palms and ironwood trees, and for watching sea turtles that occasionally come ashore. Visit one beach or try to visit as many as you can; each one offers its own once-in-a-lifetime experience!

Diamond Head State Monument

One of the most popular tourist attractions in Honolulu is a visit to Diamond Head State Monument. This broad, saucer-shaped crater was formed approximately 300,000 years ago during a single explosive eruption. Lucky for you and your team, Diamond Head now lies dormant, surrounded by a 475 acre park, renowned for its historic hiking trail, stunning coastal views, and rich military history. 18th Ave, Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96815

Pearl Harbor

Relive history with your team in Pearl Harbor, one of the most important sites in U.S. and world history. This iconic lagoon harbor marks the place where U.S. involvement in World War II began and where the Japanese surrender on the deck of the USS Missouri put an end to the conflict. Located on the coast in central Oahu 30 minutes from Waikiki Beach, there are five prominent historical sites to visit at Pearl Harbor. The first and perhaps most popular site is the USS Arizona Memorial, a 184-foot memorial dedicated to the 2,388 Americans who lost their lives during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor. A visit to the memorial is free and includes a 23-minute documentary, a boat ride to and from the memorial, which is built over the sunken remains of the Battleship USS Arizona, and time to look through the memorial. In total, the USS Arizona Memorial program lasts for one hour and 15 minutes, making it an easy fit into a busy itinerary.

The Battleship Missouri Memorial in Honolulu offers a similar experience and is located only a mere ship’s length from the USS Arizona Memorial. Unlike the USS Arizona however, the USS Missouri was not sunk during the attack on Pearl Harbor and remained in commission until 1992. Now you and your team can come aboard this piece of naval history to learn about its extensive career, spanning five decades and three wars. The Battleship Missouri Memorial offers multiple different kinds of tours to suit time constraints and varying levels of interest. Once it’s time to take a break, you can enjoy some food and refreshments at the Battleshop, Sliders Grill, and Wai Momi Shaved Ice. After visiting these historic memorials, make your way to the USS Bowfin Submarine Museum and Park to tour a 10,000 square foot submarine that served in the Pacific during World War II, as well as the adjoining museum and park. The submarine and museum are both self-guided tours, but free audio walkthroughs are available, including a family oriented walkthrough that is more suitable for younger visitors.

The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, one of the principal Pearl Harbor Historic Sites, is a unique, interactive museum located near the Battleship Missouri in the battlefield hangers of historic Ford Island. There you’ll view historic videos; observe up close the museum’s extensive collection of aircraft, memorabilia, and more; browse the memorabilia in the gift shop; enjoy burgers, pulled pork, mahi mahi, and more in the 1940s-themed Laniākea Café; and virtually experience the adrenaline-pumping excitement of the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Combat Flight Simulators. Lastly, the USS Oklahoma Memorial features large black granite walls memorializing the 429 crew members who lost their lives aboard the battleship during the attack. The structure is only a short distance away from the USS Arizona and Missouri Memorials, making it an easily accessible stop during your team’s visit to Pearl Harbor. 1 Arizona Memorial Place, Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96818

To find hotel rooms closest to where your team is playing in Honolulu or any city, visit hotels4teams.com. Hotels4Teams – The Best Hotels at the Best Prices, Closest to the Action!

Honolulu Zoo

The only zoo within a radius of 2,393 miles, the Honolulu Zoo is a great option for an affordable walk on the wild side. From pink flamingos to African giraffes, this tropical zoo is home to a little bit of everything from the animal kingdom. Its animal population includes more than 64 reptile, 38 mammal, and 160 bird species; more than enough to astound everyone on your trip. The 42-acre facility is organized into three tropical ecological zones: Tropical Rainforests, Pacific Islands, and the African Savanna. You can even bring a picnic lunch to the zoo with you so everyone can eat while listening to the animals! If your team’s tournament is at the Hawaii Convention Center, you can get to the Honolulu Zoo in under 10 minutes by car! 151 Kapahulu Ave, Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96815

Waikiki Aquarium

Just south of the Honolulu Zoo is the Waikiki Aquarium where visitors can get an up close view of exotic marine life through the many interactive exhibits at the second-oldest public aquarium in the U.S. After visiting the sharks, eels, coral, mollusks, and more who call the Waikiki Aquarium home, stop by the gift shop to take home a piece of the aquarium with you. Discounted admission rates are available for children ages 12 and under. 2777 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96815

Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum

For 125 years, the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum in Honolulu has preserved millions of artifacts, documents, and photographs about Hawaii and other Pacific island cultures to be observed by visitors, locals, and now, you. Today, Bishop Museum is the largest museum in the state and the premier natural and cultural history institution in the Pacific, recognized throughout the world for its cultural collections, research projects, consulting services, and public educational programs. It also has one of the largest natural history specimen collections in the world. The museum also features a planetarium, guided tours, special events, and more. 1525 Bernice St, Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96817

Atlantis Submarines

For the ultimate Hawaiian adventure, book a two-hour submarine tour to the ocean floor with Atlantis Adventures. You’ll travel 100 feet below the surface of the ocean in a glass bottom submarine to get an up close view of coral reefs, tropical fish, and other marine animals. The submarine features a spacious, air-conditioned interior, large view ports, and comfortable seating. 252 Paoa Pl, Honolulu, Oahu, HI 96815

Honolulu is a vacation destination unlike anywhere else in the world. The only downside is that with its warm, tropical weather, beautiful beaches, and rich cultural history, your team will never want to go home.