Things to do in Oahu at Night Time

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 ops 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. 

When local, do local things! Kona is a mainstay in the Hawaii brewing scene, with their fresh and fruity selection of craft ales the perfect complement to some island sun. But don’t take our word for it - head to Kona Brewing Pub on the Koko Marina, try a 20oz beer flight, and see what all the fuss is about! With a ton of open-air seating, you can soak in the sunset while sipping up a storm seaside. After a long day of exploring and adventuring, it’s a great way to take a load off as the sun goes down. 

Another popular nighttime activity in Oahu is the traditional Polynesian luau. You’ll see these vibrant shows advertised everywhere, with resorts like Sea Life Park hosting the most lavish. These resort shows 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. 

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. 

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. 

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.

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, where a specialist guide walks you through flourishing tropical gardens to the crashing waterfall. Magical. 

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. 

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.