Nightlife

Things To Do in Oahu At Night

Have you seen the green flash? It’s a fluorescent lime­green twinkle that brightens the horizon for an instant at sunset, a magical start for the night!

On Oahu there’s plenty of magic after dark — from luau (no “s”) and dinner cruises to hula by torchlight, hot nightclub action, cool jazz, heavenly slack­key guitar, and more. By land, sea or bar, if you’re in the mood for fun, you’ll find fun things to do in Oahu at night with the help of OahuToday.

Nighttime fun starts even before night itself. The best luau are outside of Waikiki, and hotel pick­ups begin around 4:30. Even the bus rides are entertaining, with drivers and escorts singing, playing ukulele, telling jokes and sharing their personal aloha all the way to the North Shore or west side. The Polynesian Cultural Center’s Alii Luau is a big hit, and its “Ha: Breath of Life” show is nothing less than spectacular. Germaine’s Luau is a true family affair, where tonight’s hula dancer is likely to be following in her mother’s and even grandmother’s (bare) footsteps. Fun!

To say that everyone should go on a dinner cruise is a bit overbearing, but we’ll say it anyway. Or at least a sunset catamaran cruise, whether off Waikiki or Ko Olina. Viewing Oahu from the sea is altogether wonderful, and watching the twinkling city lights come alive is like watching a supernatural nocturnal being awaken after a good day’s rest. Even before then, being just a bit closer to the green flash increases your odds of seeing it!

Waikiki is a street party from dinnertime through bedtime. Three nights a week, torchlighting and free hula at the Kuhio Beach hula mound kick­start the action. Every night, numerous hotel bars and lounges feature Hawaiian entertainment, as do some shopping centers. The traditional Hawaiian song and dance at Halekulani’s House Without a Key and the legendary Mai Tai Bar at The Royal Hawaiian are especially notable. Throughout Waikiki, people­watching and window­shopping are stellar.

The big news on Kalakaua Avenue, Waikiki’s main drag and our version of Rodeo Drive, is the arrival of Blue Note Hawaii, where jazz and island tunes reign supreme. Top international stars make regular stops at the club, which also hosts local legends and the up-­and-­coming.

When looking for fun things to do in Oahu Millennials do well to heed the siren call of downtown Honolulu, whose renaissance continues. There you find some of the island’s top clubs and trendiest restaurants, all a safe taxi ride away. Winners include Bar 35, The Dragon Upstairs and Manifest.

One final note: Every Friday night at 7:45, fireworks explode above the Hilton Hawaiian Village, located on the far right of the beach as you look out at sea. For ten minutes or so, colors spill across the waters off Waikiki, painting the end of our work week with the magic of the weekend to come!