10 Best Things to Do After Dinner in Honolulu

Fireworks on Waikiki Beach are a great way to spend a Friday night. For years, the Hilton Hawaiian Village has been hosting a free fireworks show on the beach around sundown. The spectacle is so impressive that it can be seen in the nearby Ala Moana and Ward areas. If you want a good spot, get to the beach early with blankets and find a viewing area between the Hilton Hawaiian Village and Outrigger Reef resorts. The show lasts about 10 minutes, so you’ll still have plenty of time for more nightlife. Waikiki Beach is only 3 miles from city centre Honolulu.

Karaoke is really popular in Hawaii, so you’ll have plenty of karaoke bars to choose from in Honolulu. You’ll find a bit of everything, from lounge-style karaoke bars with craft cocktails and speciality shots to charming dive bars with karaoke on the main floor and in private rooms. If you’re still hungry after dinner, some karaoke bars offer small bites, starters, and full meals with Hawaiian staple foods. For the best time, try to visit the bars during happy hour for cheap cocktails and shots to lose your stage fright.

The Eat the Street Festival is a popular festival that’s a delight for foodies. For a great night out on the town, have a light dinner and head to Eat the Street for a wide selection of food trucks with all kinds of local fare. You can sample a bit of everything at the Eat the Street Festival, from caramel mini donuts to lemongrass chicken banh mi to tacos, representing foods from Asian, Portuguese, Filipino, and Hawaiian culinary culture. Other highlights include retail shops, balloon art, face painting, music battles, and waterslides. The monthly festival takes place in the Kaka'ako district, just a mile and half from the centre of city centre Honolulu.

The Honolulu Zoo Twilight Tour is the perfect after-dinner activity for families with kids. On Friday and Saturday nights, the zoo hosts Twilight Tours for a small group experience of the animal park after dark. The tour lasts 2 hours and takes you through some of the zoo’s behind-the-scenes animal care, such as the routines for when the animals sleep and when the nocturnal animals wake up. You’ll also learn about the zoo’s conservation efforts and animal behaviour. The tour includes light refreshments. The zoo is found about 4 miles south of city centre.

The Moon Walk in Waimea Valley is a unique way to experience the landscape after dark. The moon holds a lot of significance for native Hawaiians and is celebrated on the tour of Waimea Valley’s botanical garden. When you visit, you’ll have a few hours to see the moon, walk the botanical garden, and experience a beautiful waterfall and landscape after dark. The Moon Walk in Waimea Valley also offers a buffet dinner option catered by the Ke Nui Kitchen at the Proud Peacock. You'll find Waimea Valley on Oahu's North Shore, about an hour from city centre Honolulu.

Night swimming is a lovely way to enjoy the balmy climate and twilight beauty of Hawaii. If you’re fortunate enough to have a holiday rental or hotel with an on-site pool, there’s no better way to end your evening than with a refreshing swim under the stars. Some resorts offer pools with ambient lighting, poolside cocktails, and other perks that make the evening romantic and memorable.That said, it’s best to avoid swimming at the beach at dusk or after dark due to natural hazards.

Attending a luau is a great way to immerse yourself in local culture and experience Hawaiian food and music. Luaus are typically celebrations for family milestones, but you’ll also find luaus all over that welcome visitors to the islands. Many local hotels, parks, and attractions host luaus that are open to the public. While each offers its own unique spin on the tradition, most luaus feature Kalua pig cooked in an earthen oven along with poi, coconut pudding, and other Hawaiian fare. You’ll also listen to Hawaiian music and see a hula performance that tells of the islands’ history.

Blue Note Hawaii, located in the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, is one of the finest jazz clubs on the islands and a fun way to end your night. The club, just 15 minutes from city centre Honolulu, features a variety of live music acts throughout the year including jazz performances, local bands, prominent musicians, and comedy shows. Some past performers include Henry Kapono & Robi Kahakalau, the Peter Apo Band, and Paula Fuga. The club also hosts tributes to jazz legends, popular bands, and famous singers, including Etta James and Michael Bublé.

A cocktail cruise perfectly combines nightlife and the natural beauty of the sunset for an evening out. Honolulu offers a variety of cruises from different tour operators, so you can have an open-bar booze cruise, a party cruise, a romantic cocktail cruise, and more. One of the best features of a cocktail cruise is experiencing the sunset over Waikiki and Diamond Head while you sip cocktails. Some cruises offer starters or dinner options as well. If you’re single, be sure to check out party cruises where you can mingle with other travellers and locals.

ArtAfterDark at the Honolulu Museum of Art is a themed art event at the museum with cocktails and museum exhibits. Held on the last Friday of each month from January through October, ArtAfterDark features new exhibits and party themes that celebrate art and build community. When you visit the ArtAfterDark art party, you’ll be surrounded by other art enthusiasts and museum staff to discuss the artwork and learn about the local art community. Be sure to check the theme for your trip dates and get a ticket in advance. The museum is about a mile southeast of the centre of Honolulu.