12 days in Hawaii Itinerary

In many ways much more Asian than American, Honolulu is Hawaii's largest city and its center of government, transportation, commerce, and tourism.

Get in touch with nature at Oahu Diving and Kaimana Divers. You'll discover tucked-away gems like Rainbow Scuba Hawaii and Lanikai Beach. Get out of town with these interesting Honolulu side-trips: Kailua Beach Park (in Kailua), Sunset Suzy's Surf School (in Haleiwa) and Banzai Pipeline (in Pupukea). There's still lots to do: explore and take pictures at Diamond Head State Monument, pause for some photo ops at King Kamehameha Statue, discover the deep blue sea with Alex's Aquatic Adventures, and enjoy the sand and surf at Waikiki Beach.

To see other places to visit, where to stay, ratings, and tourist information, read Honolulu online visit planner .

New York City to Honolulu is an approximately 14-hour combination of bus and flight. You can also fly. You'll gain 5 hours traveling from New York City to Honolulu due to the time zone difference. Prepare for much warmer weather when traveling from New York City in February: high temperatures in Honolulu hover around 81°F and lows are around 69°F. Cap off your sightseeing on the 16th (Tue) early enough to travel to Kailua-Kona.

Thanks to its favorable location near a mountain range blocking the northeasterly trade winds, Kailua-Kona gets little rainfall, allowing adventure seekers and nature lovers a chance to enjoy over 300 days of sunshine each year.

You'll explore the less-touristy side of things at Hapuna Beach State Recreation Area and Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park. Get some historical perspective at Puukohola National Historic Park and Puukohola Heiau. Go for a jaunt from Kailua-Kona to Honaunau to see Honaunau Bay about 44 minutes away. The adventure continues: see HYPR Nalu, look for gifts at Kona Wine Market, get engrossed in the history at Hulihe'e Palace, and take a memorable tour with Honu Sports.

For more things to do, photos, other places to visit, and other tourist information, read Kailua-Kona planning app .

You can fly from Honolulu to Kailua-Kona in 4 hours. Expect a daytime high around 81°F in February, and nighttime lows around 69°F. Wrap up your sightseeing on the 21st (Sun) early enough to travel back home.