Nicknamed ‘the gathering place’, Oahu is hands-down the most popular island in the Aloha State, pulling in something like five million annual visitors thanks to bucket-list attractions like Waikiki Beach, Pearl Harbor, Halona Blowhole, the Dole pineapple plantation and the epic Diamond Head crater. There’s bags of fun to be had in the sun here, and perhaps even more in the evening, when dazzling tropical sunsets herald thrilling after-dark activities that include traditional luau shows, bar-hopping, dinner cruises and night dives, though not necessarily all at the same time! Read on for our guide to all the best things to do in Oahu at night time…
Give your Insta a Glow Up
Oahu sunsets are among the most spectacular in the world, all deep burnished coppers, bronzes, golds and rust-reds. Be the envy of your friends back home by filling your IG to the brim with dusky snaps nabbed on a photo tour of Oahu’s glorious coastline. Most guided tours will include stops for photo opps at must-see Oahu hotspots including Hanauma Bay, Makapu’u Lookout and Halona Blowhole, and many will even come with expert guides who can tutor you in capturing the most Insta-worthy shots on your phone as the sun sets over the Pacific.
Sip a Sunset Mai Tai at Duke’s
With its citrusy blend of lime, sweet orgeat syrup, orange curaçao and mule’s kick of rum, the Mai Tai is a Hawaii must-try. The unofficial state drink is ubiquitous in the bars and resorts of Waikiki Beach. So hit up the legendary Duke’s for some of the best sundowners in town, accompanied by unparalleled views of Diamond Head and the bay. Booking is recommended!
Take in a Traditional Luau
Another popular night time activity in Oahu is the traditional Polynesian luau. You’ll see these vibrant shows advertised everywhere, with mega-resorts like Diamond Cove hosting the most lavish. These resort show are undoubtedly great for those with big families and deep pockets but can be a little OTT. For something a little less bombastic and a lot more authentic, seek out a family-run luau, where music, dancing, dinner, colorful costumes and aloha spirit take center stage. You’re also far more likely to get a chance to actively participate in the fun, making you feel like, well, a part of the family.
Kalakaua Avenue Adventures
Honolulu’s bustling main thoroughfare is a palm-lined riot of souvenir stores, street performers and shopping arcades. The atmosphere here is particularly electric at night, when the skyscrapers light up like Christmas trees and eye-popping neon signs beckon tropical-shirt-clad tourists into bars and restaurants. Take a stroll after dark to soak up the atmosphere and pause for the occasional refreshing Mai Tai or Blue Hawaii cocktail. After all, it’s important to stay hydrated in this heat.
Sunset Stretches
You don’t have to be a seasoned yogi to get a kick out of a sunset stretching session on the beach. Yoga is big business in Hawaii so there are plenty of beginner classes out there to choose from. Bust out your best downward-facing dog in the shadow of Diamond Head; do the bridge beneath the beach banyans; or corpse by candlelight on Kailua Beach.
Cool Crepuscular Critters
Honolulu Zoo is Oahu’s premier family attraction. First opened way back in 1877 (ostensibly to house King David Kalakaua’s bird collection), it’s now home to well over 1,000 critters and is the only zoo within about 2,400 miles (the next nearest being in California!). Take the kids on a fun twilight tour of the enclosures on Saturday evenings, when the daytime shift is winding down and the creatures of the night are just waking up. Expect to meet ferociously cute fennec foxes, majestic black rhinos, fearsome Burmese pythons, sleepy Aldabra giant tortoises and more on this two-hour guided adventure.
Sunset Dinner Cruise
Live Hawaiian music and dancing, sensational views of the Oahu skyline and Diamond Head crater, and a lavish dinner of steak and seafood: a sunset cruise is one of the most pleasant starts to a great night out in Oahu. Sip colorful tropical cocktails on deck as your vessel bobs gently in balmy ocean breezes, with those technicolor evening skies providing the picture-perfect backdrop. Friday night cruisers will also catch the weekly fireworks display on the shore at Waikiki Beach.
Can’t Fight the Moonlight
Oahu’s monthly full moon creates ideal conditions for night hikes, its startlingly bright glow bathing the island’s hills and valleys in buttery yellow light. Find a local guide who can take you on an after-dark adventure along the windward coast to the gleaming white beacon that is Makapu’u Lighthouse, with stunning moonlit views of Koko Head and the shimmering Pacific Ocean along the way. Or tackle Diamond Head itself, and gaze back down at the twinkling lights of Honolulu from the rim of its beautifully forested crater. For a truly memorable Oahu experience, join the monthly moonlight tour at the botanical garden in Waimea Valley, when a specialist guide walks you through flourishing tropical gardens to the crashing waterfall. Magical.
Deep Deep Down
Certified divers, rejoice! Night dives in Oahu’s gin-clear waters are extremely popular, and give you the opportunity to spot reef sharks, Hawaiian green sea turtles, yellow tangs and eagle rays gliding among the coral reefs. Dive during the winter season and you might even be lucky enough to get close to a migrating humpback whale or two, their majesty undimmed in the underwater gloom.
Sample the Oahu Nightlife
There’s so much going on at night in Oahu that it’s difficult to know where to start. Hit up the tiki bars in Waikiki for sundowners and snacks, or check out the hipper-than-thou enclave of nearby Kaka’ako, with its colorful street art and lively dive bars (keep eyes peeled too for cool gallery lates and other arty events here). The Hawaii outpost of NYC’s legendary Blue Note brings live jazz and blues to the Outrigger resort nightly, while catching the awesome Rock-A -Hula show at the Royal Hawaiian Center is practically a rite of passage for Oahu vacationers.
Save on activities and attractions in Oahu
Save on admission to Oahu attractions with Go City. Check out @GoCity on Instagram for the latest top tips and attraction info.
Stu caught the travel bug at an early age, thanks to childhood road trips to the south of France squeezed into the back of a Ford Cortina with two brothers and a Sony Walkman. Now a freelance writer living on the Norfolk coast, Stu has produced content for travel giants including Frommer’s, British Airways, Expedia, Mr & Mrs Smith, and now Go City. His most memorable travel experiences include drinking kava with the locals in Fiji and pranging a taxi driver’s car in the Honduran capital.
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