Morning
Morning
Stop #1: Bear in mind that many of Oahu’s New Year’s Eve celebrations don’t kick in until late in the evening so, if you’re up with the sunrise, you’re going to be in for the long haul. But don’t let that put you off giving your legs a good morning stretch. Indeed, a sunrise hike up the iconic Diamond Head crater is just about the best way to start *any* day on Oahu. Book an early slot in advance to secure your spot and you’ll be rewarded with far-reaching views to Honolulu, Waikiki Beach and beyond. Who knows, you might even spot a migrating gray whale cruising the warm waters far below.
Stop #2: Diamond Head is a relatively unchallenging hike, meaning even the most relaxed rambler can be up to the crater and back in a couple of hours. Perfect timing, in other words, for a well-earned Honolulu brunch. Pancakes and bloody marys at Waikiki’s sea-view Monkeypod Kitchen or the legendary Duke’s for the win.
Stop #3: Hit the road for the inland city of Mililani, where the annual New Year pineapple drop (an aloha-style nod to the Times Square ball drop) takes place in the center between 10AM and 1PM. This is a fun family affair, with celebratory live performances and a whopping 12-foot pineapple which drops at precisely 12 noon.
Afternoon
Afternoon
Stop #1: It’s all about taking it easy and conserving energy for the main event as the long afternoon stretches out ahead of you. Mosey over to the Windward Coast, where the Secret Island at Kualoa Ranch is a picture-perfect paradise of golden sands, jungle-clad mountains and gin-clear waters. Dip your toes, play beach ping-pong or take yourself off for a little nap in one of the hammocks.
Top tip: morning or afternoon entry to the Secret Island beach is included with a Go City Oahu pass, which can save you up to 50% on Oahu’s top tours, activities and attractions. Find out more here.
A little further south, Hanauma Bay Nature Preserve presents a lovely alternative option for your afternoon activity. Surrounded by emerald-green hills, this pristine reserve is home to more than 400 species of marine critters. Grab your snorkel and dive in for close encounters with a kaleidoscope of colorful creatures, including sea turtles, tangs, butterflyfish and box jellyfish.
Stop #2: Didn’t get a chance to squeeze in some shut-eye on your beachy afternoon? Now’s the time to head back to your accommodation for a reviving siesta, the better to prepare you for the fun evening ahead…
Evening
Evening
Stop #1: No prizes for guessing that all the best Oahu and Honolulu New Year’s Eve action is centered around Waikiki Beach. Your first port of call should be sundowners on the sand, an ideal opportunity to fill your Insta feed with skies the color of rust and technicolor cocktails from one of the many tiki bars. Try a citrusy Mai Tai with its powerful rum kick or enjoy the tropical taste of a classic Blue Hawaiian against that perfect Diamond Head backdrop.
Stop #2: There are stacks of Waikiki and Honolulu dining options for New Year’s Eve, from seafront surf and turf to French fine dining and takeout poke bowls. New Year’s Eve festivities kick off around 7PM on the Grand Lanai at Waikiki’s International Market Place, and include several dining options plus a fashion show, live entertainment, a midnight pineapple drop, and waterfront views of the fireworks. New Year's Eve on the Grand Lanai is free but you’ll need to book well in advance to bag a table at one of the restaurants there.
Or you could opt instead for a blockbuster Oahu luau with traditional music and dance and lavish Polynesian buffet banquets. Our New Year’s Eve favorites include:
- Ka Moana Luau at Honolulu’s iconic art-deco Aloha Tower, a retired art-deco lighthouse. This sea-faring epic is included with the All-Inclusive Oahu pass from Go City.
- The awesome Rock-A-Hula show at the Royal Hawaiian Center is practically a rite of passage for Oahu vacationers; their midnight luau on New Year’s Eve includes a spectacular virtual fireworks display.
- Waikiki Starlight Luau at Hilton Hawaiian Village hosts a fun (if pricey) New Year’s Eve party with all the usual trimmings: hula dancers, fire-knife performers and smoky, melt-in-the-mouth kalua pork.
- The Royal Hawaiian Hotel hosts a New Year’s Eve luau and promises superb oceanfront views of the midnight fireworks.
Stop #3: Of course, all of the above entertainments and activities are mere hors d'oeuvres and amuse bouches to Oahu’s main New Year’s Eve event. That’s right: we’re talking about the epic technicolor fireworks display that lights up the night sky over Waikiki Beach on the stroke of midnight. The pyrotechnics spectacular actually launches from a barge out on the water, creating stunning reflections in the surf below. The display is visible for miles around, meaning you can enjoy the show from a number of different vantage points. Rooftop Honolulu restaurants and cocktail bars are a popular choice. Likewise the array of party boats that cruise the bay, and include food, drinks, shows and live DJs as part of the package. Try the likes of Atlantis Cruises and the Star of Honolulu if this sounds like your bag. Or, you know, just stick to the beach itself. But, above all, be sure to have a very hau'oli makahiki hou!
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.
