Downtown Honolulu Self-Guided Walking Tour
Description
Step back in time and explore the charm of Historic Downtown Honolulu with our engaging audio tour! Discover the fascinating history, vibrant culture, and architectural wonders of this iconic neighborhood. Wander through bustling streets lined with historic buildings, lush green parks, and bustling markets as our expert guides share captivating stories and intriguing facts. From the royal palaces of the Hawaiian monarchy to the bustling Chinatown district, our tour covers it all. Immerse yourself in the sights and sounds of Honolulu's past as you stroll through its historic streets. Whether you're a history enthusiast, culture lover, or simply curious traveler, this tour is sure to delight! "Download the Shaka Guide app to access your purchased tours."
Tour Options
Itinerary
The Kamehameha I statue is the starting point of the tour and has an unusual story associated with it. The statue is beautifully framed with the Ali’iolani Hale in the background. Pro tip: If you come near Kamehameha Day (June 11), the statue will be draped in long leis in celebration!
The Ali’iolani Hale is a gorgeous and historical building - the name meaning “house of heavenly kings.” Here, you’ll hear some fascinating backstory about the building, and why it’s so important!
The Kawaiahao Church is an extremely historic church - the first Christian chapel on the Hawaiian Islands. The audio goes deep into the building itself and the history surrounding it.
Located on the grounds of the Kawaiahao Church, this tomb contains the People’s King of Hawaii - King Lunalilo. An extremely well-loved monarch who did a lot for his people. Learn all about him and his legacy on the tour. This is a sacred spot - please be respectful.
This building is the City Hall of Honolulu - and is beautiful both inside and out. In the lobby, you can view the historic architecture, and also art exhibits from local artists on display!
An imposing building with dramatic Greek-style pillars out front, the State Library is a sight to behold. The tour details the long history of reading and writing in Hawaii, and how the library was established.
Iolani Palace is the last stop on the tour - and it’s quite the epic place to end! This Palace is easily the most significant building on the tour. This is because it was an actual palace that generations of Hawaiian royalty lived in. Heaps of landmark events in Hawaiian history - both good and bad - took place here at the palace.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The tour starts at the King Kamehameha Statue and ends at Iolani Palace.
- The tour takes about an hour without stops. Plan to spend about two hours total (more if you’re doing the Iolani Palace tour, which we highlight recommend).
- You’ll be walking so wear comfortable shoes.
- If you’re traveling in a group, everyone will need to purchase the tour individually or use a headphone splitter.
- Travelers must have a smartphone compatible with the Shaka Guide app.
- The app must be downloaded and the tour redeemed before arrival.
- Strong Wi-Fi or cellular data is required to download the tour in advance.
- Location services (GPS) must be enabled on the device
- Travelers are responsible for securing any required entrance passes, reservations, or permits before starting
Reviews(1)
The tour was great except we were driving to the locations and many of the roads are one way. But once we located them the commentary was amazing.
Thank you so much for your feedback! We're glad to hear that you enjoyed the commentary once you were able to locate the stops. We completely understand how one-way roads can make it tricky to navigate at times, and we appreciate your patience. We're always working on ways to improve the tour experience, so your input is incredibly valuable to us. If you have any other suggestions or need assistance with future tours, feel free to reach out. We hope you continue to have great experiences exploring!
