Waikiki gained international renown for its luxuriously long beach, lapped by warm waves and sparkling surf, and simply lounging on the sand is one way to experience its unique beauty and lively energy. But if you’d like to explore a bit more, read on for our insider picks.

Learn about the elegant lifestyle of the Hawaiian monarchy and its overthrow in 1893 via guided and self-guided tours of downtown’s ‘Iolani Palace, the only royal residence in the United States. The pride of King Kalākaua, this gracious mansion boasted electric lights before the White House added them. A variety of specialty tours allow for up-close looks at the beautifully recreated royal uniforms and ball gowns, objects associated with the king’s visit to Japan, and other precious artifacts. Queen Emma’s Summer Palace, a simpler but serene mountain retreat in Nu‘uanu built in 1847, also offers guided and self-guided tours of the home, its furnishings, and royal regalia, as well as a superb gift shop.

The history of the Second World War comes alive at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial and surrounding attractions. Entry to the visitor center and its museums is free, but do make reservations to visit the USS Arizona Memorial, built over a sunken battleship that became the final resting place of some 1,000 sailors on December 7, 1941. A separate reservations-only bus tour takes visitors to Ford Island, an active-duty base that’s home to memorials for the sunken USS Oklahoma and USS Utah. The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum and USS Bowfin Submarine Museum & Park provide unique perspectives on military technology, while the Battleship Missouri Memorial, anchored within view of the USS Arizona Memorial, features a variety of fascinating tours on the ship where Japan officially surrendered in 1945. Nearby, the National Cemetery of the Pacific, nicknamed Punchbowl Cemetery after the crater that frames it, offers impressive views as well as somber memorials in marble.

One of the hidden gems of Honolulu, the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design is accessible via tours that start from the equally visit-worthy Honolulu Museum of Art downtown. Upon her death in 1993, billionaire tobacco heiress Doris Duke bequeathed both her striking oceanfront estate and her extensive collection of Islamic art to the former, which also screens arthouse films in its Doris Duke Theatre.

To immerse yourself in tropical foliage and the sight of a waterfall, visit Lyon Arboretum, where various family-friendly trails lead through well-marked themed botanical gardens with more than 5,000 flowering plants, shrubs, palms, and other greenery to ‘Aihualama Falls, a pretty but sometimes low-flow fall at the end of a more rugged trail. The trailhead to Mānoa Falls, a more robust cascade, lies across from the entrance to the arboretum. The roughly two-mile round trip to the waterfall viewing area is one of the most popular on O‘ahu, so be sure to go early or late in the day. While swimming at Mānoa is strongly discouraged, you can take a dip in a waterfall pool and admire a cornucopia of tropical plants at Waimea Valley on the North Shore, where paved paths through botanical gardens and cultural sites lead to Waihi Falls; swimming is typically allowed, although weather conditions may prevent it.

If you’re headed to the North Shore or the island’s lush eastern Windward Side, plan for a full day of experiencing six Polynesian and Oceanic cultures through the interactive shows, crafts, displays, food, and entertainment at the Polynesian Cultural Center. You can also gain a greater understanding of the island’s uniquely delicate environment and the traditional native approach to sustainability by participating in regenerative tourism. Plant an indigenous koa or milo tree at Gunstock Ranch or Kualoa Ranch; you can also harvest taro, tend a medicinal garden, and more at the latter. For a hands-on, feet-wet experience, volunteer with community groups that are removing invasive seaweed and rehabilitating coral in Maunalua Bay and helping restore the ancient, picturesque Loko ea fishpond.