7 fun spots to see a banyan tree in Waikiki Hawaii + map

ALOHA!

Banyan trees are something you need to see when you’re in Waikiki!

These are big iconic trees that can be found in Hawaii (and other tropical places) that are fun to get up close to and have a look around… and it’s fun to have a literal walk around a banyan tree!

Even if you don’t consider yourself a tree person, I think it’s a fun stop to make!

It’s possible that you might walk right past one naturally depending on where you go. There are a bunch throughout Waikiki, including right off the sidewalk.

But if you want to make it a point of seeing a banyan tree (or a few!), you can go out in search of them!

I’ll show you below where to go to see banyan trees in Waikiki!

And I’ll give you a “banyan tree hopping” walking route around Waikiki if you want an excuse to see different parts of Waikiki. While the banyan trees can be your “mission,” it’s also a way to see more of Waikiki!

This list includes the banyan trees that I’ve seen! You may see more in other places!

 

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Now, here’s where to go to see a banyan tree in Waikiki!

 

The banyan tree at the International Market Place is one of the most impressive in Waikiki. And it’s not even completely outside! It kind of feels like the tree is inside because it’s surrounded by shops.

The International Market Place is an open-air shopping mall.

When you see it, look up and follow all the branches to see how the tree is connected across such a large area! If you’re walking in from Kalakaua Avenue, then you’ll also see the Don Ho Statue.

You can also go upstairs to “Don’s treehouse” to see the banyan tree from a different perspective.

This banyan tree covers such a big area that it’s really fun to just walk around to see how it is really is all connected!

Once you’ve finished looking around at the banyan tree, walk around the International Market Place to look for the WAIKIKI sign!

The sign was there when I went anyway! Most recently, I saw it on the second floor near the banyan tree.

You can also head to the Queens Court where the Queen Emma Statue is located. This is also the spot where the Queens luau takes place, as well as a free hula show.

 

👆 There is so much of the International Market Place banyan tree to walk around and see! There’s a lower level and upper level that you can look at it from!

 

👆 Go up to the second floor to see the banyan tree from Don’s treehouse!

 

How to see the International Market Place banyan tree

You’ll see the banyan tree almost immediately if you enter the International Market Place through the Kalakaua Avenue entrance. On google maps, you can look for Don Ho Statue to guide you there (map).

If you’ll be going to the International Market Place, it’s a good time to see the iconic Waikiki surfboard alley since it’s right nearby!

 

 

The Moana Surfrider is a historic hotel in Waikiki, and you’ll can see this historic architecture just by walking by it.

If you enter the hotel from Kalakaua Avenue and walk through to the Moana courtyard, you will see the banyan tree as soon as you get outside.

This is another banyan tree to really look up and follow the branches to see just how much of an area is all connected!

You’ll also find the Moana Surfrider Beach Bar at the courtyard.

 

👆 The banyan tree at the Moana Courtyard is a fun one to look around and see how it’s connected!

 

How to see the Moana banyan tree

The entrance to the Moana Surfrider is on the main street of Kalakaua Avenue (map). A short walk through will lead you to the Moana Courtyard, where you will find the Moana banyan tree and Beach Bar. This is near the International Market Place.

At night, you can do a walk on the beach from Kuhio Beach to the Moana Surfrider, and you’ll see the banyan tree all lit up from the beach!

 

👆 You can walk Waikiki Beach at night to see the Moana Courtyard banyan tree lit up!

 

 

The banyan tree at Kuhio Beach is one that you might just naturally come across.

It’s along the sidewalk on the main street of Kalakaua Avenue, so it’s an area that you might end up walking at some point during your stay in Waikiki.

If you go to the free hula show at Kuhio Beach, the backdrop will be this banyan tree!

While you’re here, you’ll also want to look for the nearby iconic Duke Kahanamoku statue.

 

👆 There’s a good chance you’ll end up walking past the Kuhio Beach banyan tree at some point since it’s visible from the road in a main part of Waikiki!

 

How to see the Kuhio Beach banyan tree

If you’re walking along the main road of Kalakaua Avenue past Kuhio Beach, you will see the banyan tree!

It used to be labeled on google maps as the “Kuhio Beach hula mound,” but when I look now I don’t see anything with that name. If you see it, it’s that.

Otherwise, on google maps you can look for “lifeguard tower 2C” and it’s just north of there, across the street from ABC Stores #14 (map). The hula mound is the bare white half circle thing.

 

For a fun tour that starts at the Kuhio Beach banyan tree, have a look at the Honolulu bike tour!

 

 

Queens Beach is located at the far end of Waikiki. This is a must-visit beach if you want to go snorkeling in Waikiki! The water here is part of the Marine Life Conservation District of Waikiki, and you can have fun looking for colorful fishies here!

And, before you go to the beach, you can make a stop at the banyan tree that’s right behind Queens Beach! You’ll find another surfer statue nearby too, the surfer on a wave.

 

👆 Walk over towards Queens Beach and see 2 iconic Waikiki things, a surfer statue and a banyan tree!

 

 

How to see the Queens Beach banyan tree

If you walk the path directly behind Queens Beach, you’ll see the banyan tree. On google maps, you can look for “surfer on a wave” to guide you there (map).

 

 

Now technically, the banyan tree that I told you about near Queens Beach is a part of Kapiolani Park.

But Kapiolani Park is kind of big, and it’s easier to give you a specific landmark (Queens Beach!) for that one.

You can also walk more of Kapiolani Park to see another banyan tree.

Since I don’t really have a good landmark to give you, if you want to further your walk, I’ll tell you to walk the green space on the beach side of Kapiolani Park!

If you do want to walk more, it makes sense to walk the pathway that’s behind Queens Beach, further past Barefoot Beach Cafe (reviews). You’ll see a green space and different types of trees, including a banyan tree!

This park area makes for a perfect picnic spot if you pick up some grab and go food from ABC Store! This is also over by the Waikiki Aquarium. Read the reviews.

 

👆 Walk through the beach side of Kapiolani Park and you’ll see a banyan tree!

 

How to (another) Kapiolani Park banyan tree

From Queens Beach, continue walking on the pathway that lines the ocean. You’ll come across Barefoot Beach Cafe (map). Keep walking and there’s wide open green space… and a banyan tree!

 

 

If you walk over to the Honolulu Zoo (read the reviews), there are more banyan trees to see. You don’t need to enter the zoo. They are right out front.

There’s a Gandhi statue out in front of the Honolulu Zoo too.

As someone who’s been to Gandhi’s birthplace in India, I think it’s kind of fun to see a Gandhi statue somewhere unexpected. There’s one right near a banyan tree!

And although it’s not the reason for the Gandhi statue in Hawaii, banyan trees are actually native to India. So, the Gandhi statue fits into this banyan tree hopping theme quite well! 😁

 

👆 See a Gandhi statue and a banyan tree near the Honolulu Zoo!

 

 

How to see the banyan tree near the Honolulu Zoo

Walk over to the entrance of the Honolulu Zoo and you’ll see it nearby! On google maps, you can look for the Honolulu Zoo or the Gandhi statue (map).

The Honolulu Zoo is near Queens Beach, so you can also go for a quick walk over before you go snorkeling!

 

 

On the western end of Waikiki is where you’ll find an open spacious Fort DeRussy Beach Park. This park does front the beach, and it also has a grassy area that you can walk around to see tropical trees, including a banyan tree. Pick up some grab-and-go food at a nearby ABC Store, and you can have a picnic under the banyan tree!

If you stay at a hotel near Fort DeRussy Beach Park along Kalakaua Avenue, then your beach access will be a walk through the grassy open area of the Fort DeRussy park. You will pass by a banyan tree to get to the beach!

 

👆 Just follow the walking path through the park and you will see a banyan tree!

 

How to see the banyan tree at Fort DeRussy Beach Park

You can get to the park from Kalakaua Ave by walking through Ainahau Triangle. Just keep following the walking path! There is also another banyan tree along Kalakaua Ave in this area so you may spot another one too.

If you’re staying near Fort DeRussy Beach, like at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, the Outrigger Reef resort, or even at a hotel near Waikiki Beach Walk, then you can take the Fort DeRussy boardwalk to get to the grassy area of the park!

 

 

Here is your Waikiki banyan-tree-hopping route!

• International Market Place
• Moana Surfrider resort
• Kuhio Beach
• Queens Beach

This route doesn’t go to all the banyan trees on the list above, as it focuses on the eastern end of Waikiki since there’s more of a cluster of banyan trees around here that can make for a nice walking route. If you’re looking for a nice walk on the western end, the banyan tree can be an excuse to go to Fort DeRussy Park to walk around there and the boardwalk along the ocean.

So, I would say that the best banyan trees to see in Waikiki as part of your “intro to Waikiki” walk are at the International Market Place, Moana Surfrider, Kuhio Beach, and Queens Beach. If you want to save the best for last for the most dramatic ending (aka saving the best for last aka the most WOW reaction to see a banyan tree 😁), then reverse this order!

If you DO want to see all the banyan trees, then your route can be Kapiolani Beach Park, Queens Beach, Honolulu Zoo, Kuhio Beach, Moana Surfrider, International Market Place, and Fort DeRussy Beach Park… or the other way around.

 

 

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