Honolulu ’s nightlife — mostly clustered in Waikiki — showcases an eclectic mix of Hawaiian, country-western, jazz, alternative, contemporary and even Las Vegas-style entertainment. Check local listings for performances by one of Hawaii’s excellent entertainers, such as musicians Aunty Genoa Keawe, Jake Shimabukuro, Makana, Fiji, Henry Kapono, the Brothers Cazimero and comedian Frank DeLima, who pokes good-natured fun at every nationality in Hawaii, including his own Portuguese ancestry.

Another area chock full of nightclubs is Restaurant Row, at the corner of Ala Moana Boulevard and Punchbowl Street, near downtown Honolulu. Some of the island’s hottest nightclubs are there.
If you prefer a relaxing happy hour rather than staged entertainment, drop by the Waikiki beach hotel of your choice around sunset and sip a cocktail to the sounds of a small combo in an open-air lounge. Our favorite spots include the Halekulani Hotel and the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Both always engage first-rate musicians.

Prices are for a main course at dinner. If you’re looking for a meal with a view, explore the restaurants at the upscale hotels and resorts that line O’ahu’s shores. Settings can be as casual as a “barefoot bar� or as elegant as a romantic dinner for two under the stars. Beyond Waikiki are culinary jewels tucked away in shopping centers and residential neighborhoods that specialize in ethnic cuisines.

You’ll almost never go wrong if you sample the offerings at any establishment whose name ends in the words “Drive Inn.� Here you will find the local grinds, which are the staples of the Hawaiian diet: seafood plate lunches and noodle saimin soups. For snacks and fast food around the island, look for the lunch wagons, usually parked roadside near the beaches.

If you’ve never shopped on the Island of Oahu, you are about to discover a shopper’s Mecca! Whether you are the casual shopper or the sophisticated consumer; you are shopping for yourself, for loved ones or for friends back home; or, you are looking for bargains and souvenirs, unique cultural finds or branded items, Oahu offers a range of different shopping experiences to explore.

Indulge in high-fashion boutiques. From international luxury names of the catwalk to designers such as Ann Namba and Mamo, Oahu satisfies the most discriminating shopper. Explore Oahu’s malls with their unique blend of local stores and national chains. In one stop, pick up clothes for the kids, that long desired dress along with macadamia nuts and pikake scented lotion - only on Oahu. Find bargains at the swap meet and at the International Marketplace. Pick up t-shirts, lauhala placemats and dried tropical fruit - all at a steal. Discover Asian and Hawaiian surprises in Chinatown. Taste mango or li hing mui “seed�, buy fresh fruit and don’t forget to get those special lei to take back with you. Pick up a one-of-a-kind piece at the many craft fairs and at local shops around the island, such as up at the North Shore. Select a koa bowl, a Niihau shell necklace, a blown glass dolphin, plumeria-shaped bowls, feather lei to go with your hat or poha berry jam that will remind you of the islands and wanting to come back. Oahu is a shopper’s dream.

Activities & Attractions

Oahu’s combination of a thriving cosmopolitan city, exciting resorts, beautiful natural places, and quaint towns and neighborhoods offer tremendous diversity that the visitor and resident alike can enjoy. Things to do on Oahu are as varied as the island itself - from cosmopolitan Honolulu to the pristine shores of the North Shore. Honolulu showcases the best museums and arts & culture exhibits in the State, yet minutes away, some of the best hiking trails and outdoor activities are available. Waikiki’s history, culture, nightlife, and beach activities are just some of the many exciting experiences available. Oahu’s famous North Shore, Windward, and Leeward coast are also filled with activities that take advantage of the natural paradise that truly is Oahu. There is something exciting, fascinating, and fun for every age, interest, and budget.

Explore the natural side of Oahu. For the outdoor enthusiast, Oahu offers a playground to enjoy from hiking to surfing to snorkeling and diving to paddling to biking. Discover the rich fauna of the island. The animal lover will find Oahu to be teeming with life - from marine sanctuaries to dolphin programs to bird-watching hikes. For those who want to enjoy Oahu’s tropical paradise with little exertion, Oahu provides options from helicopter and seaplane tours to cruises and guided sightseeing tours.

Walk in the footsteps of history and delve into Hawaii’s rich culture. Oahu has Hawaii’s largest collection of museums. Be intrigued and fascinated by the voyaging Polynesians that first made Hawaii home, the missionaries that influenced the island’s cultures, the reign of the Hawaiian monarchy, the Asian immigrant that came to work on the plantations, Pearl Harbor’s involvement with World War II, and by Hawaii’s entrance into Statehood. There are historic monuments such as the Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor and prominent Hawaiian sites such as ‘Iolani palace, the only Royal Palace on American soil. Learn more about the arts and culture at one of Oahu’s many acclaimed art museums, theaters, and galleries. World-class exhibits and productions that, generally, are not seen elsewhere, can be found on Oahu.

Discover the magic of Oahu at night. With a bustling city and resort, Oahu offers, those who want activity when the sun sets, a myriad of nightlife. From luau and Polynesian shows to cool clubbing and martini bar hopping to theater performances and comedy acts to romantic dining and the sounds of the ocean breeze and ukuleles, Oahu is a night lover’s paradise.

Beaches & Watersports

Oahu has over 125 miles of awe-inspiring sandy shoreline. You are most likely familiar with world-famous Waikiki Beach, and you’ve undoubtedly heard of the big-wave north shore surf beaches Pipeline and Sunset. But you’re in for a surprising treat when you discover the sandy wonderlands in between.

The beaches here offer far more than sunbathing and people watching. They’re ideal for all kinds of water sports including swimming, surfing, windsurfing, boogie boarding, snorkeling and fishing. Whether you’re looking for high adventure on the waves, a romantic spot to watch the sunset, or a protected swimming for the kids, it’s sure to be nearby.

With water temperatures at the island’s 139 beaches ranging from 75ºF to 80ºF year-round, it’s easy to understand why locals and visitors alike are regularly drawn to the blue waters off Oahu.

The South Shore coastline is known for its many sheltered beaches ideal for families. (However, in the summer the surf can get unusually high.) Snorkeling, tide pooling and swimming make great activities for families picnicking along these beaches.

The West Shore (Leeward side) also has many excellent swimming beaches. This coast is known for offshore fishing spots. Winter months see the largest waves, which reach heights of more than 15 feet.

The North Shore is best known for its world-class surfing and huge winter swells. During the winter months, waves reach heights of 25 feet.

The East Shore (Windward side) beaches tend to be more lush and tropical. Northeast trade winds keep the coast cool 90 percent of the year, making it a favorite location for windsurfing and sailing enthusiasts.

Golf

Great golf is one of the main reasons Oahu is a favorite destination. There are more golf courses on Oahu than any other islands. You can choose from more than forty public and private courses, ranging from casual municipal links to elegant resort courses. They offer not only superb challenges, but also spectacular vistas. Some call them “distractions,” but make the game beautifully challenging.

The backdrop for a shot here might be mountainous desert-like terrain or the impressive sweep of the Pacific. There are even courses built of former ranch lands, fields of sugar cane, and seaside layouts that resemble British links. Wander off the fairway and there may be no rough to speak of, only lush rainforest. Oh, and avoid the sand traps, because you may feel the urge to spread out a towel and sunbathe.

Constant sunshine makes for long hours of dependable golfing weather, and the spectacular surrounding scenery quiets the mind and stirs the heart. So relax and enjoy some of the most pleasant golf in the world. It’s all right here.

Top-rated resort golfing can be found at the Prince Resort, Ko Olina and Turtle Bay. There’s also the state’s oldest course, Moanalua Golf Club, near downtown Honolulu that has been attracting players since 1898. Tucked up against the rampart of the Koolau Mountains on the windward side of Oahu, the US Golf Association has ranked the Koolau Golf Course the most challenging course in North America, but even novices will appreciate its tremendous beauty.

Outdoors & Adventure

We had struggled for five hours, straight up through dense undergrowth, ohia forests and vast colonies of bamboo. Green, in all its millions of tones and inflections, was the only color we had seen until we reached the top of the ridge where we emerged into a white so thick and featureless it left us dizzy and disoriented. Just in time, the cloud blew over the ridge line and was gone, leaving us gasping at the view that suddenly appeared revealing the sheer, 3,000-foot drop at our feet. It was magic.

The lure of adventure is strong in man and nowhere in the world does it find greater expression than here in the Hawaiian Islands. Is hang-gliding your thing? Do you long to leap from the heights at Makapu’u and, soaring high above the beach, make lazy circles for an afternoon? Perhaps you’d like the heart-pounding intensity of the big winter surf at Waimea. Or the thrill of sailing down the Molokai Channel. Or the skiier’s rocket ride down the slope of sometimes snow-capped Mauna Loa; palm trees in the distance, hard lava coming up.

Or maybe a safer, less terrifying adventure would suit you better. Something like a bicycle ride down Haleakala or a hike inside its moonscape crater. Or riding a very sensible mule-who’s made the trip a thousand times-down the cliffside to Kalapapa and back again. Or taking a glider ride or a parasail. Because of Hawaii’s benign year-round climate, just being outdoors is an adventure to folks fleeing winter. Adventure, after all, like art, is in the eye of the beholder and for every urge there is an outfitter.

For many modern people, eco-tourism is a green way to enjoy the great Hawaiian outdoors and learn about something bigger than themselves. But whatever the call to action, the numbers of people participating in outdoor adventure are increasing rapidly. They’ve been there, done that and the wild places in Hawaii are seductively inviting.

	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun
Average High Temperature	80.0°F 26°C	80.0°F 26°C	81.0°F 27°C	82.0°F 27°C	84.0°F 28°C	86.0°F 30°C
Average Low Temperature	66.0°F 18°C	66.0°F 18°C	67.0°F 19°C	69.0°F 20°C	70.0°F 21°C	72.0°F 22°C
Average Temperature	73.0°F 22°C	73.0°F 22°C	74.0°F 23°C	76.0°F 24°C	77.0°F 25°C	79.0°F 26°C
Average Morning Relative Humidity	82.0 in. 22 cm	80.0 in. 22 cm	78.0 in. 23 cm	77.0 in. 24 cm	76.0 in. 25 cm	75.0 in. 26 cm
Average Evening Relative Humidity	66.0 %	64.0 %	62.0 %	61.0 %	60.0 %	58.0 %
Average Precipitation	3.4 %	2.6 %	2.8 %	1.3 %	1.0 %	0.4 %

	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Average High Temperature	87.0°F 30°C	88.0°F 31°C	88.0°F 31°C	86.0°F 30°C	84.0°F 28°C	81.0°F 27°C
Average Low Temperature	73.0°F 22°C	74.0°F 23°C	74.0°F 23°C	72.0°F 22°C	70.0°F 21°C	67.0°F 19°C
Average Temperature	80.0°F 26°C	81.0°F 27°C	81.0°F 27°C	80.0°F 26°C	77.0°F 25°C	74.0°F 23°C
Average Morning Relative Humidity	75.0 in. 75 cm	75.0 in. 75 cm	77.0 in. 77 cm	78.0 in. 78 cm	79.0 in. 79 cm	80.0 in. 80 cm
Average Evening Relative Humidity	58.0 %	58.0 %	60.0 %	63.0 %	66.0 %	66.0 %
Average Precipitation	0.6 %	0.6 %	0.7 %	2.0 %	2.6 %	3.5 %

For those in active pursuit of romance, Molokai is a dream comes true. Nowhere else in Hawaii will you find more ways to elevate your heart rate with the one you love.

If it’s seclusion you’re after, Molokai gives you thousands of acres to explore your passions. You might take a thrilling mountain bike ride through ancient forests and meadows bursting with wild flowers. Or perhaps a quiet kayak excursions along the island’s glorious south shore, home to the largest reef system in the US. Or follow crystal clear streams on horseback to discover a hidden waterfall hundreds of feet high. Then follow it all with a dinner of freshly prepared island seafood served under a blanket of stars and accompanied by the gentle strain of a slack-key guitar.

However you choose to explore the beauty of Molokai, you’ll find romance around every bend, magic in the air, and love in full bloom.

Molokai Nightlife is practically an oxymoron. This laid back, quiet, island isn’t the place to go to party, it’s a place to relax. With little tourist traffic, and a small population, there isn’t a lot of demand for a hefty nightlife here.

However, there are a few options. Hotel Molokai offers entertainment nightly, with dancing on Friday and Saturday nights. Molokai Ranch offers live music nightly in the lounge, and the Ohia Lounge has live entertainment as well. The hotel’s excellent location (on the beach) adds to the appeal. Maunaloa Town Cinemas, a 3-screen theater, is the only movie theater on Molokai

Most visitors don’t come to Molokai to shop. There are no malls, no outlet centers, no enclaves of fashionopoholics needn’t despair; you will still find opportunities to purchase gifts, souvenirs, and all the necessary sundries. In Kaunakakai, the largest town on the island, you’ll discover a charming shopping district featuring a grocery store, pharmacy, a gourmet wine and spirits shop, flower shops, a few gift and apparel boutiques and art galleries.

You’ll also discover local crafts and art in a handful of galleries scattered across the island, especially in the village of Maunaloa. Here you’ll find Hawaiian clothing and gift boutiques, and a variety of artist studios offering one-of-a-kind treasures. Maunaloa’s most popular shopping attractions include The General Store and the colorful Big Wind Kite Factory.

Activities & Attractions

Much like everything else on Molokai, there is nothing pre-fabricated or pre-packaged about any of the myriad choices of activities you’ll enjoy here. It is truly a natural playground where you are free to walk, run, hike, kayak, swim, or bike your way through an unforgettable vacation.

Among Molokai’s biggest attractions are the world’s tallest sea cliffs, plunging an astounding 3,000 feet to meet the crashing surf. This awesome coast is a must-see, and there are several ways to experience it. You might charter a sightseeing boat, hike, bike, horseback ride, or take a thrilling mule train trip down the very face of the cliffs.

Naturally, you’ll also find miles of magnificent beaches, most of them almost entirely people-free. The largest, Papohaku, offers a 3-mile stretch of white sand. Further inland, you’ll find opportunities for horseback rides, archeological site explorations, cultural hikes, and an expansive mountain biking trail system.

Other interesting options include seasonal whale watching excursions, a visit to the Molokai Coffee plantation, or a delicious trip to Purdy’s Macadamia Farm.

Beaches & Outdoors

If your image of paradise includes miles of secluded sands and sparkling waters, you will be amazed to find that picture-perfect shores await you…full as people are few. For the perfect day on the sand, the west end beaches are most likely where any local will point you in the summer and east end beaches in the winter. Papohaku Beach, located on the west end is a sensational beach is three miles in length and as wide as 100 yards! As it’s the second largest in the entire state, you’re sure to find plenty of room to spread out your towel and soak in the serenity.

You’ll find no end to the ways you can enjoy the Island’s varied coastline. Spend your days sailing, windsurfing, snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing, kayaking, or boogie boarding your way around the Island’s many coves, inlets, and wide-open shores.

Golf

Golfing on Molokai is as unassuming as you might expect it to be. At the lovely Ironwood Hills Golf Course, there are no tee times. No golf pros. Not even a clubhouse. Talk about a relaxing round! Just take your time and enjoy the cool, upcountry air and splendid views from this unique course originally created for Del Monte executives. Or try your luck at the Kaluakoi Golf Course, currently a 9-hole course, located in the Kaluakoi Resort just a few minutes drive from the Sheraton Molokai Lodge and Beach Village. This mountain side course will challenge and delight all golfers.

For golf on a grander scale, a short hop to Lanai or Maui will let you play some of the finest courses on the planet and make it back to Molokai in plenty of time to catch a world-famous sunset.

Outdoors & Adventure

Molokai is famous around the world for its virtually unlimited range of outdoor activities, including some of the best mountain biking anywhere.

Hiking is arguably the best way to discover the wonders of the island, and there are uncounted miles of trails‡long pristine tide pools to thrilling trails along the famous cliffs to spellbinding explorations of Kamakou Preserve on the slopes of the Molokai’s highest mountain. This 2,774-acre rainforest is filled with hundreds of native plants and birds.

Also unique to Molokai are its miles of pristine barrier reefs. Ideal for exploration by snorkel, scuba, or kayak, the reefs are a protected underwater wilderness bursting with vibrant sea life and spectacular coral formations.

Some of the best adventures on Molokai are to be found only on horseback. Gallop through miles of whispering forests, along sun-drenched coasts, across stunning inland plains?enuine Hawaiian paniolo (cowboy).

Deep-sea fishing excursions are also a major draw here, and several charter companies will take you from Kaunakakai Harbor into the heart of big-game fishing territory. And for a one-of-a-kind adventure, take the 90-minute trip down the cliffs above the Kalaupapa Settlement.

Despite its proximity to both Oahu and Maui, Molokai has earned itself a reputation as being hard to reach.

However, although locals complain that because the airport is too small to cope with large aircraft it can be difficult to fly in or out for the weekend, tourists prepared to be flexible are unlikely to experience problems in reserving a flight.

Molokai’s main airport, outside Ho’olehua in the center of the island, is currently served by direct flights from Oahu and Maui only, though it’s easy enough to connect with flights to the other Hawaiian islands. Aloha Air offers the most daily flights: eight from Honolulu and two from Kahului on Maui. Hawaiian Airlines has two daily services from Honolulu.

Several lesser operators fly twin-engine planes to Molokai. Pacific Wings (tel 567-6814 on Molokai, 248-7700 on Maui, or 1-888/575-4546, www.pacificwings.com) operates one or two scheduled flights each day to and from both Honolulu and Kahului on Maui. In addition, two charter companies provide on-demand flights. The endearing Molokai Air Shuttle (tel 545-4988 on Oahu, 567-6847 on Molokai) flies between Honolulu and Molokai for $60 round-trip - it’s such a no-frills outfit that as you take off one passenger has to sit next to the pilot and hold the door open to provide some cool air (there’s air-conditioning). Paragon Air (tel 1-800/428-1231) connects Molokai with any airport on Maui or Lanai.

Non-stop, direct or connecting flights are available to Hawaii from all major and regional airports in North America. From cities on the West Coast, the flight time to Honolulu is approximately 4 ½ - 5 hours. From Chicago, non-stop flights to Honolulu are 8 hours, and from New York, non-stop flights to Honolulu are approximately 10 ½ hours.

During the past several years, more non-stop flights have become available to Hawaii’s “Neighbor Islands” of Maui, Kauai and the Big Island of Hawaii from cities along the West Coast. Inter-island flights to all Neighbor Islands depart regularly from Honolulu International Airport and flight times run just 20 - 35 minutes, making island hopping simple and convenient.

Our Airline Partners Serving Hawaii:

ATA Airlines

Delta Airlines

United Airlines

Hawaiian Airlines

American Airlines

Aloha Airlines