Entertainment comes in many forms in Hawai‘i – and with tourism at the heart of the state’s economy, islanders want every visitor to feel entertained. Unsurprisingly, Oahu is the busiest island at night, with hip bars and sleek nightclubs. In all of the major tourist areas, you can find musicians in venues ranging from hotel bars to intimate clubs.
Gathering of the Kings Luau
Leonardo
Hawaiian entertainment
For the full-scale Hawai‘i cultural experience, sign on for a lu’au. The best pick you up, drive you to a beautiful oceanfront location, and provide dinner and a show, complete with dancing, jokes and music. They can be expensive and a little bit cheesy, but it’s an experience not to be missed. The best include Paradise Cove Luau on Oahu (www.paradisecove.com), Maui Nui Luau at Black Rock on Maui (www.sheraton-maui.com/dining/sunsetluau), Gathering of the Kings Luau at the Fairmont on Hawai‘i Island (www.gatheringofthekings.com) and the Grand Hyatt Kauai Luau on Kauai.
For a more casual experience, Hawaiian hula and music is alive and well. Hawai‘i’s slack key guitar, unlike anything else in the world, can be heard at nearly every hotel on Friday and Saturday evenings and there Hawaiian music concerts occur frequently at the Waikiki Shell, an outdoor amphitheater in Kapiolani Park.
First Friday in Wailuku
Hawaii Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson
Sunset cruises
A number of sunset cruise companies depart from major ports on all four major islands; some, however, are better than others. These cruises, often called “booze cruises”, usually include a drink or two in the price of the tour and last around an hour. On Oahu, the Alii Kai Catamaran (http://aliikaicatamaran.com) is a giant ship designed to look like an ancient Polynesian vessel. On Maui, check out the Hula Girl Dinner Cruise (http://sailingmaui.com), a catamaran with a VIP lounge near the captain’s fly bridge. On Hawaii Island, the “Evening on the Reef Glass Bottom Dinner Cruise”, from Blue Sea Cruises (http://blueseacruisesinc.com), is designed around dolphin-spotting and sunset.
Bars and nightclubs
Bars in Hawaii generally come in three flavors: swanky, dive and tiki. For the swanky spots, all of which are located in hotels, you’ll need to wear long pants and sometimes even shoes, but elsewhere attire is casual; you can really pull up a barstool in your swimsuit. The best of these are in Waikiki – Sky Bar and the Library at the Modern are the best places for dancing – and, on Maui, in Wailea, Lahaina and Kaanapali. The Big Island and Kauai are more likely to have hotel and dive bars – check out Tahiti Nui (for more information, click here) in Hanalei and Lava Lava Beach Club at Waikoloa (for more information, click here). The tiki bars are worth traveling a bit to see, because you’ll truly feel like you’re in old Hawai‘i. Head to La Mariana Sailing Club (for more information, click here}) on Oahu for a Daddy’s Rum Punch, an incredible sunset and people at the bar who might actually be pirates. It is simply the best in the state, and conveniently located near the airport.
Arts and drinks
Arts and libations come together at many evening events across the islands. These are a mix of learning more about arts and culture while socializing with the locals. Some of these include Art After Dark at the Honolulu Art Museum on the last Friday of each month (http://honolulumuseum.org/events/art_after_dark) and First Friday in Chinatown on Oahu, at Holualoa on the Big Island, and in Makawao on Maui, all of which start around sunset and run through the evening for various lengths of time.
Hula in Hawai‘I
The following hula performances, sponsored by hotels and shopping centers and offer a free taste of this traditional Hawaiian dance. They don’t require a long bus ride to a lu’au, and are located close to Waikiki hotels.
Kuhio Beach Hula Show (Tue, Thu, Sat 6.30–7.30pm), at the beachside hula mound where Uluniu Street meets Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki.
Helumoa (Sat 6–6.30pm), at Royal Hawaiian Center’s Royal Grove’s hula kahiko (ancient-style hula). There are also free hula lessons at Helumoa (Tue 11am, Thu 4pm). The sessions are led by Puake‘ala Mann, a greatly-respected kumu (teacher) hula.
Ku Ha‘aheo, to Cherish with Pride (Tue 4.30–6pm), at Waikiki Beach Walk, takes place on the Plaza Lawn on Lewers Street, in front of Yardhouse Restaurant.
Ala Moana’s Hula Show (Mon–Sat 1–1.20pm), the most regularly occurring hula show, happens at the mall’s center stage. The free show was created by noted kumu hula Kapu Dalire-Moe and is a nice compliment to your shopping experience.