Ala Moana Center vs Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail: which should you do first?

If you only have time for one, do Ala Moana Center first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 65 against 61 for Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail, and it has 4 ranked ways to see it versus 10. Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail is the cheaper entry at $39, so it is the better pick on a tight budget. With a full day in Honolulu, pair them: plan Ala Moana Center in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Side by side

Ala Moana Center compared with Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail in Honolulu
Ala Moana CenterMakapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail
Ranked experiences410
Top Outty Ranking6774
Average ranking (top 10)6561
Cheapest experience$63$39
Average time needed5.6h6h
Free cancellation100% of options90% of options
Free to visitNoNo

Best ways to see Ala Moana Center

  1. 1. Beaches, Food & Aloha: Private Oahu Tour

    Outty Ranking 67 · from $699 · 6h

  2. 2. Early Access Pearl Harbor & USS Arizona Small-Group Tour

    Outty Ranking 67 · from $89 · 5h

  3. 3. Diamond Head and Manoa Falls Hike and Adventure Tour

    Outty Ranking 65 · from $149 · 6.5h

  4. 4. Early Access Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona & Historic Honolulu Tour

    Outty Ranking 62 · from $63 · 5h

All 4 Ala Moana Center experiences

Best ways to see Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail

  1. 1. Circle Island Tour with Snorkeling & Turtles

    Outty Ranking 74 · from $185 · 8h

  2. 2. Makapu’u Lighthouse Trail and Shuttle Service

    Outty Ranking 71 · from $39 · 4h

  3. 3. Full Day Private Customized Sightseeing Tour in Oahu Hawaii

    Outty Ranking 70 · from $1,299 · 7h

  4. 4. Private Circle Island Tour we build your dream Itinerary

    Outty Ranking 62 · from $300 · 10h

  5. 5. Half-Day Hiking Tour to Diamond Head and Makapuu Lighthouse

    Outty Ranking 61 · from $71 · 6h

All 10 Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail experiences

Frequently asked questions

Ala Moana Center or Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail: which is better?

If you only have time for one, do Ala Moana Center first. Its top ten experiences average an Outty Ranking of 65 against 61 for Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail, and it has 4 ranked ways to see it versus 10. Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail is the cheaper entry at $39, so it is the better pick on a tight budget. With a full day in Honolulu, pair them: plan Ala Moana Center in the morning, as it is the shorter visit on average.

Which is cheaper, Ala Moana Center or Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail?

Ranked experiences at Ala Moana Center start from $63 and at Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail from $39 per person.

How long do you need at Ala Moana Center and Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail?

Experiences at Ala Moana Center run 5.6 hours on average and at Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail 6 hours, so both fit in one day in Honolulu with a break in between.

Can you do Ala Moana Center and Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail on the same day?

Yes. Book the longer visit for the morning when crowds are lighter, and keep the afternoon for the other. 100% of Ala Moana Center options and 90% of Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail options offer free cancellation, which makes it easy to adjust.

What is the best tour of each?

For Ala Moana Center: Beaches, Food & Aloha: Private Oahu Tour (Outty Ranking 67, from $699). For Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail: Circle Island Tour with Snorkeling & Turtles (Outty Ranking 74, from $185).