Discover Honolulu Scavenger Hunt
Discover the capital of Hawaii with a scavenger hunt across Honolulu's sand, lava and palace marble. Float in the turquoise of Waikiki Beach, hike up the Diamond Head crater for the postcard view, walk into the only royal palace on American soil and watch hula dancers under the banyan at sunset. Aloha for a day.
Stops on this hunt
The geo-tagged checkpoints that anchor this route. You can rearrange, replace or remove any stop after using the template.
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1
Waikiki Beach
Navigate to Waikiki Beach and check in at the Duke Kahanamoku statue near the Royal Hawaiian.
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2
Diamond Head
Drive or rideshare east to the Diamond Head State Monument and check in at the trailhead.
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3
Iolani Palace
Rideshare to downtown Honolulu and check in at Iolani Palace on King Street.
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4
Aloha Tower
Walk west to the Aloha Tower at Pier 9 on the Honolulu Harbor.
Challenges (20)
Honolulu kick-off
The hunt begins! Find a classic Honolulu backdrop (a palm against blue sky, a hibiscus flower, Diamond Head in the distance) and take a group photo with the whole team in shot. Lei optional but encouraged.
Checkpoint: Waikiki Beach
Navigate to Waikiki Beach and check in at the Duke Kahanamoku statue near the Royal Hawaiian.
Duke Kahanamoku statue pose
Duke Kahanamoku is the father of modern surfing and the patron of Waikiki. Find the bronze statue draped in leis on the beach and take a group photo with the team matching his outstretched-arm pose.
Waikiki surfer shot
Waikiki is one of the world's most famous longboard breaks. Find the surfers in the shallow water (or a board on the beach) and take a group photo with the surfers behind you, Diamond Head on the horizon if possible.
Checkpoint: Diamond Head
Drive or rideshare east to the Diamond Head State Monument and check in at the trailhead.
Diamond Head summit shot
The summit of Diamond Head (Lēahi) gives you the postcard view: the Waikiki coast, the crater behind you, the Pacific on every side. Hike to the top and take a group photo with Waikiki spread out below.
Trivia: Diamond Head height
The summit of Diamond Head rises to roughly how many feet above sea level (within 50)?
Answers: 760 / 750 / 800 / 720 / 780
Checkpoint: Iolani Palace
Rideshare to downtown Honolulu and check in at Iolani Palace on King Street.
Iolani Palace facade portrait
Iolani Palace is the only royal palace on American soil, completed under King Kalākaua. Find the front facade, line the team up and take a group photo with the palace behind you.
Trivia: Iolani Palace completed
Iolani Palace, residence of the last reigning Hawaiian monarchs, was completed in what year?
Answer: 1882
Kamehameha statue salute
Across King Street from Iolani Palace stands the golden Kamehameha I statue, draped in leis. Take a group photo where the team salutes the king in his outstretched-arm pose.
Checkpoint: Aloha Tower
Walk west to the Aloha Tower at Pier 9 on the Honolulu Harbor.
Aloha Tower observation deck
The Aloha Tower has greeted ships into Honolulu Harbor since 1926. Take the elevator to the free observation deck (or photograph the tower from below) and take a group photo with the tower or harbour view in the background.
Trivia: Pearl Harbor attack
The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor that brought the US into World War II occurred on December 7 of what year?
Answer: 1941
Trivia: Hawaii statehood
Hawaii became the 50th US state in what year?
Answer: 1959
Hula or banyan tree shot
Find a banyan tree (Waikiki and downtown both have famous ones) or catch a hula performance at Kuhio Beach Park. Take a group photo with the team gathered under the banyan canopy or watching the dance.
Shave ice toast
Hawaiian shave ice is fluffier than American snowcones and drenched in tropical syrups. Find a shop (Matsumoto in Haleiwa is famous, but any Honolulu shop works), order a rainbow cup each and take a group photo with everyone taking the first bite at the same time.
Plate lunch or poke bowl
Order a Hawaiian classic (a plate lunch with kalua pork, a poke bowl, garlic shrimp from Giovanni's) and take a group photo with everyone taking the first bite at the same time.
Local Honoluluan tip
Convince a local Honolulu resident to share a tip about the city. Take a photo with your impromptu guide and remember the tip. Bonus points if they say "shaka".
Honolulu finale
Final challenge. Find a beautiful Honolulu spot (Waikiki at sunset, Diamond Head in golden light, the Aloha Tower at dusk) and take an amazing closing group photo. Mahalo!
Frequently asked questions
Half a day. Four hours covers Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head, downtown (Iolani Palace, Aloha Tower) at a relaxed pace. The Diamond Head hike is 1.6 miles round trip on a sun-exposed trail, so allow ninety minutes including time at the top. Add a half day for Pearl Harbor if you want to include the USS Arizona memorial.
Yes. Out-of-state visitors must reserve entry through gostateparks.hawaii.gov, and tickets sell out days in advance for popular morning slots. Hawaii residents enter free without reservations. Plan a sunrise (gates open at 6 a.m.) or late-afternoon slot to avoid midday heat.
It is a meaningful half-day on its own and not a casual photo stop. The USS Arizona Memorial requires a free timed-entry ticket booked weeks in advance (or first-come walk-up tickets that go fast). Plan Pearl Harbor as a separate respectful visit before or after the hunt. The hunt covers it with a trivia challenge.
Waikiki Beach is the natural opener if you are staying nearby: the Duke Kahanamoku statue is a five-minute walk from most Waikiki hotels and anchors the kickoff photo. From there you can hike Diamond Head, then rideshare west to downtown for Iolani Palace and the Aloha Tower.
Yes. Waikiki Beach is shallow and lifeguarded, the Diamond Head trail is steep but doable for kids 8+ in good shoes, Iolani Palace runs guided tours that welcome families, and the Aloha Tower has free entry to the observation deck. The shave-ice stop is a guaranteed kid favourite.