Waikiki with kids? Oh yes! After a long Memorial Day weekend on the Hawaiian island of Oahu, I get to share Why We Keep Coming Back to Waikiki & Royal Hawaiian Resort - with a kid.
Honolulu Family Vacation - via LA
Picture this: it's late afternoon in LA. You Uber to LAX. Navigate a busy airport while managing luggage .. and a five-year-old who is 'tired of walking.' You lug around your carry-on backpack, which is overflowing with iPads, bottled water, snacks, activity books and layers of 'just in case' airplane clothes. You endure a six hour flight, nestled into a tiny, paper-thin airplane seat - usually in the back of the plane. Then ten snacks later, twenty-seven episodes of Unicorn Academy, and more kid bathroom trips than seems allowed - you arrive at Honolulu airport.
Off the plane, that thick breeze of tropical air hits your face. And the energy in your body shifts and softens. Coconut and pikake aromas dance in the air, green hills in the distance. And instead of stumbling to a car rental booth, you simply snag your Uber off a platform and go. "Waikiki, please!"
No Car Rental Necessary
So yeah, my first fave thing about Waikiki with kids: no car needed.
There’s something very freeing about landing in Hawaii and immediately deciding: we are not getting a rental car. No loading luggage into trunks. Or figuring out parking garages. No waiting for valet to grab your car, or trek to a hotel self-park lot. And no spending half the trip Googling directions to beaches or restaurants or shaved ice. After living in Los Angeles and spending so much of life in the car already, Waikiki feels like a true transportation exhale for me.
We land, hop in an Uber, and twenty to forty minutes later we’re standing barefoot on Waikiki Beach with warm air hitting our faces and Diamond Head sitting in the distance like a movie set backdrop. Some old Elvis song or the ukulele version of 'somewhere over the rainbow' playing in the distance.
And the 'don't need to rent a car' thing is just one reason I adore a long weekend escape to Honolulu. So let me dive into more ways for a family to have an amazing and relaxing, fun-filled weekend in Honolulu..
Royal Hawaiian Long Weekend - kid-friendly version
This was our second time staying at the Royal Hawaiian, the iconic pink hotel right on Waikiki Beach, and honestly, this version of Hawaii has become one of my favorite trips to take with a kid.
Or ... even without one.
Waikiki - Nope, Not Just for Adults
Waikiki with kids? Yes! Waikiki has this funny reputation where some people dismiss it because it’s busy or touristy or 'too' energetic compared to the quieter parts of Hawaii. Smaller pools. Smaller rooms. Crowded everything. No place to bring kids. And ok, all those things, except the 'kid-friendly' part! The energy of Waikiki is exactly why I adore it so much. It never feels sleepy or boring. It feels like a tropical beach city.
Unbeatable Energy: Honolulu
There’s movement. Music drifting through open hotel doors at night. Surfers carrying boards down the sidewalk at sunset. Families eating ice cream after the beach. You can walk to coffee, breakfast, shopping, snorkeling boats, dinner, and the ocean is basically your front yard the entire trip.
Waikiki Beach
Another huge thing that people miss about Waikiki beach... the actual beach itself is so much more magical than people give it credit for.
The first time I came here years ago, I expected “crowded and pretty Hawaiian beach.” But Waikiki water is different. It’s playful. The ocean stays shallow so far out that people spread way into the water instead of crowding the shoreline. You’ll see paddleboarders, surfers, swimmers, teenagers on boogie boards, little kids floating in inner tubes - all kind of drifting together in this giant sparkling aqua playground.
Rosalie could spend half the day just floating over the waves in her tube. We’d swim for an hour, come back to the sand for snacks, then head right back out again.
That’s the thing about Waikiki. The ocean is the activity.
Which is also why I personally don’t mind the tradeoff that comes with staying here.
Great reason why Waikiki with kids works: the gorgeous, kid-friendly water.
And so if you see pictures of the beach and think, whoa, that's so crowded - no thanks! Here's the thing... The sand part is crowded. But the swimmable ocean parts are not! There is so much shallow swimmable ocean. You don't get like 4-10 feet offshore. You get pretty far out and you can still stand up.
Because the reef drops gradually in many areas, the water can feel shallow and swimmable much farther out than you expect. From a balcony, you can even see the shallow parts of the ocean, sand visible.
Our Easy 4-Night Waikiki with Kids Itinerary
Here's the general itinerary we followed..
THURS Day 1: Arrival + Beach Time
- Uber from Honolulu Airport to Waikiki
- Check into hotel
- Walk the beach at sunset
- Play in the waves
- Dinner and an early bedtime
FRI Day 2: Snorkeling + Beach Day
- Breakfast in Waikiki
- Morning snorkeling catamaran departing directly from Waikiki Beach - HOLOKAI boat
- Lunch nearby
- Beach and pool time - spa visit for mom
- Sunset on the beach - Friday Fireworks (very small show fyi)
- Casual dinner
SAT Day 3: Diamond Head
- Early breakfast
- Uber to Diamond Head
- Hike to the summit
- Shaved ice or a cold drink afterward
- Afternoon at the beach or pool
- Shopping and dinner in Waikiki - GOTCHA claw games + a game of pool at the Sheraton
SUN Day 4: Relax and Explore
- Slow morning
- Beach time
- Pool time
- Spa treatment or massage - Royal Hawaiian massage outdoors
- Shopping and wandering around Waikiki
- Optional visit to the Honolulu Zoo, Pearl Harbor, or another snorkeling or kids-playground boat excursion from the harbor
MON Day 5: One Last Swim
- Breakfast
- One final beach walk or swim
- Check out
- Uber to the airport
What I love about this itinerary is that it leaves plenty of room to actually enjoy Hawaii. You’re not rushing from one attraction to the next or spending hours in a rental car. Most of the trip is spent doing what you came to Hawaii to do in the first place: swimming in the ocean, watching sunsets, eating good food, and relaxing.
More Things to Do in Waikiki (Car Free)
Beyond the beach, snorkeling, and Diamond Head, there are plenty of other easy activities nearby. The Honolulu Zoo is walkable from most Waikiki hotels and is perfect for younger kids. The Waikiki Aquarium is small but fun and sits right along the ocean. Pearl Harbor is an easy Uber ride away if you’re interested in history. You can take surf lessons, rent paddleboards, book sunset catamaran cruises, or hop on one of the snorkeling boats.
For slower days, we love wandering through the various hotel grounds, shopping along Kalakaua Avenue, grabbing acai bowls and coffee, hunting for shaved ice and touristy trinkets to take home, or simply sitting on the beach or our balcony and watching the surfers. Treats, claw machines, souvenirs, and people-watching.
Rent a boogie board.
Get a POG juice at a bar - to go.
Sometimes just hunting for a silly new hat, sea turtle socks, new sunglasses, POG drinks or the perfect pink sea floaty is a fun activity for kids.
Of course live music, random stage performances or searching for seashells and rainbows is perfect.
Even More...
- Kapiʻolani Park
- Glass-bottom boat tours
- Outrigger canoe rides
- Lei-making classes
- International Market Place
- Royal Hawaiian Center
- Sunset sailing cruises
Waikiki Hotels
Waikiki with kids means a shift in expectations for the hotel. Sprawling? Nope. Still wonderful? Yes!
Zero hikes a million miles to your room or across the resort.
The hotels in Waikiki are very different from the giant sprawling resorts you’ll find on Maui or Kauai. You’re usually not getting massive pools, waterslides, lazy rivers, or huge tropical grounds. The rooms tend to be smaller too. Some hotels feel almost entirely vertical - elevator, hallway, room, beach.
Beach Umbrella Tip!
Book in advance for those pink iconic umbrellas and loungers. But if you want a spot right at the water, it's true, you have to wake up at 7am and send someone down to the pool to stand in the beach services line. Yes, there is 10+ people already lined up by 7am when it opens on busy weekend mornings! You can usually get something by 8-9ish. But later in the morning most chairs will be taken. There is also a rental hut at the Sheraton next door.
Pool Tip!
The pool at the Royal Hawaiian is sweet but small. You are allowed to use the Sheraton's pool when you stay at the Royal Hawaiian. The Sheraton's pool is much larger and sprawling - with a fun waterslide. But of course, during our stay, Royal Hawaiian guests could use the Sheraton pool next door, but always confirm current access before booking.
Trip Length? Long Weekend vs Full Week
As I mentioned above, we love a long weekend trip. So Waikiki is truly perfect for that.
The question becomes: what kind of Hawaii trip do you want?
Do you want the giant resort experience? Lots of walking hallways, weaving around pool systems, tiki torches lining long paths and gardens... Or do you want to wake up and immediately walk into one of the most swimmable, playful beaches in Hawaii?
I actually adore both options. Depending on our trip mood...
Other blog posts: We have stayed on Kauai - Hyatt & Maui - Fairmont as well.
We have done the other side of Oahu at the Four Seasons and Aulani, and those are also great when my mood craves them.
When in Waikiki, I enjoy Royal Hawaiian because even though it’s right in the middle of Waikiki, it still somehow feels tucked away. The hotel has these beautiful grassy areas and winding little paths with giant trees and tropical birds everywhere, so you still get moments that feel peaceful and lush, yet also right next to a shopping center, ha.
It feels like its own little pocket world, which I love.
And yes, the entire place being pink absolutely helps when you have a little girl who loves pink. Waikiki with kids, specifically girls, this pink hotel is a must.
Travel Vibe: Short and Sweet
The Honolulu vibe also really fits how our family likes to travel. Short and sweet! I have a cat and house-sitter at home that I want to get home to asap! Ha, but true. Pets miss me. If we can get in and out in under a week or a long weekend, win win.
Our Waikiki Routine
The first night we landed, we did exactly what we always end up doing.
Dropped our bags.
Checked out our room.
Showered, changed quickly.
Walked down to the beach at sunset.
Played in the waves.
Then Rosalie insisted on visiting the little claw machine arcade inside the Sheraton called GOTCHA, which she now considers a mandatory Honolulu tradition.
After that we walked about ten minutes to grab takeout from Cheesecake Factory — which ironically becomes one of my reliable vegan-friendly fallback spots in Waikiki — and carried it back to eat on our balcony overlooking the ocean.
And truly, that balcony is a huge part of why we splurge for the oceanfront room every time.
Watching the birds fly over the water and linger on our balcony in the morning. Hearing music drifting up from the beach at night. Sitting outside after Rosalie falls asleep while the entire shoreline glows below you. That becomes part of the trip itself.
Snorkeling Boat From the Beach
The next morning we booked a snorkeling catamaran - Holokai - that leaves directly from Waikiki Beach. The yellow boat in the pic above. You literally walk from the sand onto the boat, which is another reason I love staying here — you don’t have to organize some huge excursion day just to do something memorable.
Within about thirty minutes we were snorkeling in gorgeous blue water.
Last year we also did a larger snorkeling excursion that departed from the harbor and had slides, trampolines, and more kid-focused activities onboard, so if you have older kids or kids who want more action, that’s another really fun option.
But for simplicity? The boats leaving directly from Waikiki Beach are hard to beat.
Royal Hawaiian Spa
One of my favorite parts of this particular trip was getting a massage at the Royal Hawaiian spa. If you go to Hawaii, try to book an outdoor massage at least once.
Not indoors.
Outside.
End of the day is my vibe. Or even 3pm after a long busy day, so you can make it out by sunset.
The Royal Hawaiian has these shaded outdoor treatment spaces where you hear birds, wind through the trees, distant music, and occasionally rain tapping on the roof while you’re getting a massage. At one point it lightly started raining during mine and it genuinely felt like one of the most relaxing moments of my entire year.
That combination of warm air, ocean humidity, tropical rain, and total calm is just… heaven.
Hiking Diamond Head
The next day we did Diamond Head. You do need reservations now, so definitely book ahead. We usually just Uber there from Waikiki and it’s very easy.
The beginning of the hike always tricks me into thinking it’s going to be miserable because the first stretch feels hot and exposed, but once you get into the narrower dirt-and-rock sections, it becomes way more fun. There are tunnels, steep stair sections, changing views, and eventually these incredible panoramic ocean views from the top.
I’m always impressed that Rosalie manages most of the hike herself.
There were definitely a few moments where she ended up on my back, but overall she powered through surprisingly well for a five-year-old.
And honestly, it feels good to move your body on vacation in a way that isn’t just “walking through an airport carrying everyone’s bags.”
Food + Vegan Tips
I’ll be honest: vegan food in Hawaii can still be a little hit or miss depending on where you go.
There’s amazing fruit everywhere. Acai bowls. Fresh papaya. Smoothies. But traditional restaurants can be inconsistent with vegan requests, so I’d recommend double-checking ingredients carefully when ordering.
One place accidentally included fish in a “vegan” poke bowl I ordered, so it’s definitely worth asking questions instead of assuming.
That said, there are good options if you plan ahead a little.
We loved grabbing coffee and acai bowls fromIsland Vintage Coffee right near the Royal Hawaiian. There’s also:
- Heavenly
- Nalu Health Bar
- Banan food truck
- Vegan soft serve spots like NIU
- Tons of fruit and smoothie places throughout Waikiki
And honestly? Cheesecake Factory remains one of the easiest reliable vegan takeout options when everyone is tired and hungry after the beach.
Not glamorous.
But effective.
The Royal Hawaiian breakfast also became part of our daily rhythm. Rosalie loved the pink pancakes, I survived happily on oatmeal and papaya, and there’s something very comforting about developing little vacation rituals like that.
Hot Tip: Local Fruit. Don't accidentally order mainland fruit! You are in Hawaii. Order anything local. Baby bananas, also called apple bananas. Papaya. Pineapple. Lychee. Mango. Passionfruit. All of that good stuff.
There is a vegan Ramen place I am dying to try next time... Tane
Why Waikiki Works For Us
I think what I love most about Waikiki is that it gives us a version of Hawaii that feels easy, alive and efficient. Really, cost-effective too because you get 'everything' done in just a few days. It's all right there.
You can still have beautiful water, tropical weather, sunsets, snorkeling, oceanfront breakfasts, Diamond Head hikes, shave ice, palm trees, and slow beach days… without turning the entire trip into a logistical operation.
You can walk most places.
Uber when you need to.
And spend more time actually being present.
And even though Waikiki has energy and movement and life to it, there are still these quiet little moments hidden inside everything. Like on the boat, breeze on your face, tired bodies and salt-water skin.
Sitting on the grass outside the Royal Hawaiian while birds hop around the trees.
Watching the sunset from the balcony.
Floating in the waves while Diamond Head glows in the distance.
Hearing Hawaiian music somewhere below your room at night while the ocean air blows through the curtains.
It’s not the isolated resort version of Hawaii. The honeymoon on Kauai vibe of my newlywed days. But that's more than ok. This version of my life is fun, sweet, and maybe my favorite yet. I finally have a mini me to play in the Hawaiian waves with! What's better than that?
It’s Hawaii with a pulse.
And a kid.
And that feels heavenly. Just what paradise should be.
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