Sunset Dinner Cruise

A number of companies offer sunset dinner cruises on sleek, handsome vessels where your clients can dine, dance and sip champagne or tropical cocktails while enjoying live music under golden skies.

 

Fireworks

Every Friday night, the Hilton Hawaiian Village puts on a spectacular, free fireworks show that lights up the skies over Waikiki. It’s sure to set the mood for romance.

 

Windward Coast Drive

A leisurely drive up the Windward Coast is filled with tranquil spots that will bring couples closer together. Along the way, they can stop for a picnic at a beach park or wander through the serene grounds of Byodo-In-Temple.

 

City Lights

For magical sunset or evening views of Honolulu and Waikiki, suggest your clients make the drive up Puʻu Ohia (Mt. Tantalus) to see the lights twinkling below.

 

Farmers Markets

Oʻahu’s agricultural bounty as well as engaging local experiences await clients who venture beyond the usual tourist sites to a farmer’s market. Here they purchase or sample local treats like Manoa honey or Waialua chocolate. One of the most convenient to Waikiki is the Saturday morning market at Kapiolani Community College.

 

Honolulu Museum of Art

This museum offers changing and permanent exhibits of Western and Asian art in a gracious setting. Available through the museum is a guided tour of Shangri-La, the fabulous 1930s waterfront home and gardens that belonged to tobacco heiress Doris Duke. Art lovers will also enjoy the Hawaii State Art Museum, which emphasizes artworks created in Hawaiʻi.

 

Royal Palaces

Honolulu also has two of the only three royal palaces in the U.S. (the third is Hulihee Palace on Hawaii Island): Iolani Palace, filled with splendid architectural detail and priceless artifacts that tell the story of the last days of the Hawaiian monarchy; and Queen Emma Summer Palace, a peaceful country retreat shaded by kukui trees and filled with intimate memorabilia from the royal family. Guided tours of these places will give your clients a fascinating, behind-the-scenes look at a vanished era.

 

Lyon Arboretum

Another prime attraction in the area is Lyon Arboretum, a 124-acre botanical garden where visitors can enjoy self-guided or guided walks to see a vast array of native plants as well as a vast collection of taro varieties and fragrant herbs. The garden is an important research arm of the University of Hawaiʻi.

Surfing Lessons

As the birthplace of surfing and the undisputed surf capital of the world, what better place than Oʻahu for clients to learn to engage in this exciting sport of Hawaiʻi’s chiefs? The gentle waters of Waikīkī and elsewhere on the south shore are ideal for novice surfers to take a lesson or two. Instruction is often geared for both children as well as adults, making it a great family activity.

 

Outrigger Canoe Paddling

Oʻahu is a hub for almost any kind of water activity your clients could desire. Among the many options they will find are outrigger canoe paddling, ocean kayak, stand-up paddle boarding and boogie board rentals, catamaran sails, snorkel and diving excursions, whale watching and submarine trips deep under the ocean.

 

Hiking

Trails on Oʻahu range from easy to challenging and from rainforest to the mountain range to coastal hikes, offering clients the chance to discover hidden waterfalls, archaeological sites and beautiful native flora. Popular hikes like Lē‘ahi (Diamond Head) State Monument Trail are relatively short, mostly paved, and accessible yet reward hikers with gorgeous ocean views. Online reservations are required to hike this trail. Guided hikes led by cultural experts in such places as Waimea Valley are a great option for your clients who want to learn how the landscape intertwines with island heritage. Hikes on Oʻahu are generally day hikes and with many hiking companies and nature conservation organizations on island, an organized hike is an excellent option for visitors.

 

Kualoa Ranch Private Nature Reserve

This working cattle ranch on the windward coast is also a center for an array of adventures, including horseback rides, ATV touring, nature walks, catamaran excursions, tours of the many film sites on the property, and their newly added zipline excursions.

 

Kawaihāpai Airfield

This public and military-use airport on the North Shore offers a host of exciting aerial adventures, including glider rides and skydiving.

 

Snorkeling Adventures

Oʻahu offers superb snorkeling opportunities, especially at Hanauma Bay just east of Honolulu and Pūpūkea Beach Park on the North Shore. You must reserve in advance to visit. You can register online or in person at pros.hnl.info/hanauma-bay. Visit on the weekends to avoid traffic congestion. For a truly enriching experience, learn more about Hawaiʻi’s unique marine environment at the Hanauma Bay Marine Education Center.

 

Kayaking

Clients with an avid interest in ocean kayaking or windsurfing should head for Kailua on the windward coast, which is world-renowned for both sports and has places to rent equipment and receive instruction. Oʻahu’s premier snorkel and dive spot is Hanauma Bay east of Waikīkī.

 

Standup Paddle Boarding

Standup paddleboarding is a fun water activity, with lessons and rentals available at many resorts and beach parks around Oʻahu, including Waikīkī, North Shore, Windward Coast and the west side of the island.

 

Sunset Catamaran Ride

A number of companies offer sunset dinner cruises on sleek catamarans where your clients can keep watch for green sea turtles and dolphins while enjoying tropical drinks under golden skies.

 

Waimea Valley

Occupying a significant place in Hawaiian history for over 700 years, this verdant valley, which became known as the “Valley of the Priests,” on the North Shore offers an array of cultural activities. Among them are guided hikes that interpret the rare plants and archaeological sites along the way, as well as demonstrations in hula, traditional games and storytelling.

Pearl Harbor National Memorial

O'ahu's Pearl Harbor is an important part of this national monument devoted to sites pertaining to World War II history in three states. Guided and audio tours are available to such memorable sites as the USS Arizona Memorial, USS Battleship Missouri, Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum and the USS Bowfin.

 

Polynesian Cultural Center

The music, song, dance, costumes, architecture and crafts of seven Polynesian cultures, including Hawaiian, are the focus of this attraction on the North Shore. Enjoy an evening show throughout the week at its replicated “villages” pertaining to these cultures. Kids will especially be entertained by the many activities available in the villages, including learning ancient forms of bowling and checkers, coconut cracking and getting a tā moko (Maori tattoo) that is deep in cultural significance yet washable.

 

Waikiki Aquarium/Honolulu Zoo

These two attractions just at the eastern end of Waikīkī can easily be visited in the same day and enjoyed by the entire family. The Waikīkī Aquarium, across from Kapiʻolani Park and bordering a living coral reef, is filled with marine life exhibits, including green sea turtles and the rare Peppermint Angelfish. Located in Kapiʻolani Park, the Honolulu Zoo is home to over 900 tropical animals, including Komodo dragons and orangutans.

 

Sea Life Park Hawaiʻi

Visitors can interact with the denizens of this marine mammal park located north of Hanauma Bay, including chances to swim with dolphins, sea lions and rays and feed sea turtles. There’s also an aquarium, show venue, bird sanctuary and habitats for penguins and the endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal.

 

Kūhiō Beach Hula Performance

These free, early evening performances are held every Tuesday and Saturday on the Kūhiō Beach Hula Mound in central Waikīkī. Opening with torch lighting and traditional blowing of the conch shell, they feature performances by some of the finest hālau hula (troupes) in Hawaiʻi.

 

Dole Pineapple Maze

The history of pineapple farming in Hawaiʻi is presented in various exhibits at the Dole Pineapple Plantation. Visitors can also walk through the giant Pineapple Maze, planted with over 12,000 exotic plants and trees. Then enjoy a sweet treat to celebrate!

 

The Bishop Museum and Planetarium

The Bishop Museum is renowned for its massive collection of artifacts and natural specimens pertaining to Hawaiʻi and the Pacific. Another highlight of the museum is the J. Watumull Planetarium's The Sky Tonight, an engaging show about constellations in the Hawaiʻi night sky.

 

Waimea Valley

Once the domain of kāhuna nui(high priests), this is a lush tropical environment with vast botanical collections and archaeological sites that is most fully appreciated on guided hikes led by cultural experts.

 

First Friday in Chinatown

Among Honolulu's intriguing neighborhoods is one of the oldest Chinatown in the U.S., a bustling 14-block enclave near the central business district. Chinatown and the surrounding area is even more fun to explore during First Friday, an evening festival held on the first Friday of every month with live music, street entertainment and open art studios.