Aloha Tower (Honolulu Harbor): Sunsets, Harbor Views & Cruise Check-ins
Aloha Tower is one of Hawaiʻi’s most recognizable landmarks, rising over Honolulu Harbor with romantic sunsets and sweeping ocean views. The surrounding Aloha Tower Marketplace offers waterfront restaurants and convenient check-in points for several Oʻahu dinner and cocktail cruises—consistently among the most popular Oʻahu activities.
Where It Is
Aloha Tower anchors the harborfront just outside downtown Honolulu (not in Waikīkī), adjacent to the Aloha Tower Marketplace. The tower stands at Pier 9, with additional cruise check-ins typically held at nearby Piers 6–10.
History at a Glance
- Opened: September 11, 1926, as a combined lighthouse and clock tower welcoming ships to Honolulu.
- Height: 10 stories, topped by a ~40-foot flag mast.
- Tallest for decades: It was Hawaiʻi’s tallest structure for more than 40 years.
- Iconic clock: The word ALOHA appears between the clock faces near the top—an emblem of Hawaiʻi’s seafaring welcome.
What to Do
- Dine with a view: Enjoy harborfront restaurants at Aloha Tower Marketplace—ideal before or after a cruise.
- Sunset strolls: Walk the piers for golden-hour photos of the harbor and skyline.
- Dinner cruises: