Ala Wai Golf Course Honolulu (2026 Guide): Booking, Fees & Diamond Head Views

Flanked by the Ala Wai Canal and boasting panoramic views of Diamond Head and the Waikiki skyline, Ala Wai Golf Course was famously billed in the 1980s as the busiest golf course on Earth.

Ala Wai Golf Course Fees and Tee Times for Visitors

The Ala Wai Golf Course is one of six municipal courses run by the City and County of Honolulu’s Department of Enterprise Services, and its fees follow the city schedule rather than resort pricing. These are the posted rates for an 18-hole round, which were still being quoted in fall 2026:

Golfer	Weekday	Weekend or holiday
Visitor without resident golf ID	$86	$86
Resident golf ID card	$28	$32
No golf ID, valid Hawaii driver’s license	$36	$40
Riding cart (per 18 holes)	$26	$26

Nine-hole rounds cost $43 for visitors, a 9-hole cart is $13, a hand cart is $4 and the city schedule lists club rental at $12 per set.

How to book: Reservations go through the city’s automated system. Golf ID cardholders can book seven days out, while non-cardholders can book as early as three days in advance, starting at 6:30 AM, by opening the Ala Wai online tee sheet and registering as a non-resident with a valid email address. Same-day tee times can also be booked online, and cancellations are allowed up to 10 hours before your time. Popular early-morning slots go fast, so be online at 6:30 AM sharp three days before you want to play.

Playing the Course: Layout, Pace and Practice

• Layout: The men’s tees play 5,861 yards at par 70 (rating 66.8, slope 115); the women’s tees play 5,095 yards at par 70 (rating 67.2, slope 110). The course is flat and easy to walk, with the Ala Wai Canal running along one side and Diamond Head and the Koʻolau ridges in the background.
• History and pace: Opened in 1931, Ala Wai became famous in the 1980s, when the National Golf Foundation called it the busiest course in the United States and it was billed as the busiest in the world. It still runs a full tee sheet, so expect a relaxed rather than brisk round.
• Starter and food: The starter’s office is open from 6:00 AM to 5:30 PM daily, and an L&L Hawaiian Grill snack bar served from 6:00 AM to 7:00 PM in 2026. Check in early; rental services need at least 15 minutes before your first tee time.
• Practice: The driving range on the Kapahulu Avenue side, run by concessionaire Hawaii Golf Advisors, is listed by the city as open from 6:30 AM to 10:00 PM daily.
• Clubs: The city listed the pro shop concession as closed in 2026, so if you need rentals, confirm with the starter before you arrive or bring your own set.
• Maintenance days: On aeration dates the course is limited to 9 holes; the city posts them on its events calendar.

Getting There and Making a Morning of It

The course sits at 404 Kapahulu Avenue, just across the Ala Wai Canal from Waikiki. From hotels near the Kapahulu end of Kalākaua Avenue it is a 10- to 15-minute walk, though a taxi or rideshare is easier with a full bag. Drivers can use the course’s own lot, and our Waikiki parking guide explains what your hotel parking will cost if you are renting a car for the day.

Make a morning of it:

• Grab malasadas a short drive up Kapahulu Avenue; our Leonard’s vs Pipeline malasada guide compares the two.
• Refuel after the round with a plate lunch at Diamond Head Market & Grill on Monsarrat Avenue.
• Cool down with a walk or a set of tennis at Kapiolani Park, a few minutes away.

Bring sunscreen, a hat and plenty of water, even for a winter round.

Where to Stay Nearby

Golfers should base themselves at the Diamond Head end of Waikiki, close to the Kapahulu Avenue bridge. The Queen Kapiolani Hotel is about as close as Waikiki hotels get to the first tee. If you are weighing a quieter street against the beachfront, our Kuhio Ave vs Kalakaua Ave comparison helps, and if you will drive to other courses on Oahu, check our list of Waikiki hotels with free or cheap parking.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to play Ala Wai Golf Course as a visitor?

Golfers without a Honolulu resident golf ID pay $86 for 18 holes and $43 for 9 holes, the same on weekdays and weekends, under the city’s posted fee schedule. A riding cart costs $26 for 18 holes or $13 for 9, and a hand cart is $4. If you have a valid Hawaii driver’s license but no golf ID, you pay the resident rate plus $8.

How do I book a tee time at Ala Wai as a non-resident?

Use the City and County of Honolulu’s online tee sheet for Ala Wai and register as a non-resident with a valid email address. Non-cardholders can book up to three days in advance, starting at 6:30 AM, and same-day bookings are possible online. You can cancel up to 10 hours before your tee time without breaking the rules.

Can I rent clubs at Ala Wai Golf Course?

The city’s fee schedule lists club rental at $12 per set, but the pro shop concession that handles rentals was listed as closed in 2026. Call or ask the starter’s office, open 6:00 AM to 5:30 PM, before relying on rentals, and arrive at least 15 minutes before your tee time if you need any rental service.

Is Ala Wai Golf Course walkable?

Yes. It is a flat par 70 of 5,861 yards from the men’s tees, easy to play on foot with a pull cart, which rents for $4. It is also a short walk from the Diamond Head end of Waikiki, though most visitors with a full bag take a quick taxi or rideshare.

Is Ala Wai really the busiest golf course in the world?

It earned that reputation in the 1980s, when the National Golf Foundation named it the busiest course in the United States, at close to 200,000 rounds a year, and it was widely billed as the world’s busiest. Today it is still one of Honolulu’s most-played courses, so book early and expect a steady pace.