10 Things to Do at Night in Oahu

There's plenty to see and do on Oahu, Hawaii's most populous and cosmopolitan island, both day and night. Beach bars, dinner cruises and dance 'til the candles burn out parties are just some of the things you'll find all over the island.

During the night on Oahu, you can attend a Luau party, where in addition to enjoying the shows and music, you'll taste delicious local dishes. You will also have the opportunity to experience the hula dance, both in its traditional and modern versions. Are you ready to enjoy the night in Oahu?

If you visit the Hawaiian island of Oahu you can't miss the traditional Luau parties, where you 'll experience a different kind of night and learn more about the island's culture.

At these celebrations you can sample traditional foods such as kalua pig, lomi lomi salmon, laulau, poi or poke, while listening to live traditional music and enjoying the famous hula dance.

Kalua pork is one of the most popular dishes at these celebrations. It is cooked in an oven made under the ground, called an imu, on which the pig is placed wrapped in tano leaves. It is cooked with the steam rising from the oven.

Originally, Luaus were family celebrations held on special occasions, which were eventually opened to visitors.

In ancient times, for religious reasons, women did not eat with men until King Kamehameha II broke with this tradition. This gave birth to Luau parties, which still retain many of their traditional elements.

In Hawaii, Luau is often used as a synonym for party or celebration, so some are more traditional than others. When you arrive at these celebrations, a lei is placed around your neck to welcome you. A lei is a garland made of natural flowers, vine leaves or ferns.

These garlands are general displays of affection and are often given as gifts, for example, to congratulate someone or to say goodbye.

Hula is a traditional Hawaiian and Polynesian dance, often performed at Luau parties.

Dancers and warriors dance to the rhythm of percussion instruments and traditional chants, which originally told stories of kings and gods. These dances are often seen at festivals, bars or hotels.

Hulakahiko was originally the name of the dance, when stories about the creation of the world or its gods were told and passed down from generation to generation. At that time, it was accompanied by instruments such as gourd or coconut drums, rattles or the Lli Lli, made of volcanic stones, among others.

The version we can enjoy today, and which has been adapted to our times, is the hula auana, which is accompanied by the ukulele, guitar or bass.

In hula dancing, each movement has a meaning, i.e. it conveys an emotion or an idea.

Traditionally the dances were performed by men, and later women's dances emerged. This is why it is believed that the first hula were performed by warriors to show loyalty to their superiors.

Some hula shows on Oahu

There's a free sunset hula show at Kuhio Beach Hula on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 6.30pm to 7.30pm near Waikiki Beach.

If you visit Oahu in spring, you can attend the World Invitational Hula Festival or the Merrie Monarch Festival, and if you go in June you can enjoy the King Kamehameha Hula Competition.

After a day at the beach, the many food trucks on Oahu's North Shore offer a wide variety of food to pamper your taste buds- from pizza to tacos, Thai food and, of course, drinks.

If you're looking for good food but don't want to go to a fancy restaurant, Food Trucks offer variety and lower prices.

Food Trucks are, as the name suggests, trucks converted into food stalls, decorated in a colourful and cheerful manner. Many of them also have a mini fair with clothing, souvenirs or accessories. Tables are set out in the open air so you can enjoy the delicious dishes they serve.

Some food trucks, such as Impossibles Pizza, move along Kamehameha Street in Haleiwa, i.e. they really are on wheels, but most stay in fixed locations.

Food trucks serve one type of food in particular: tacos or shrimp, Thai food or desserts, acai or Mexican food. There is something for everyone, including vegans and vegetarians. It's ideal for a group and highly recommended for a taste of the local food.

More about North Shore

The North Shore is 48 kilometres (30 miles) from Honolulu, about an hour's drive from Honolulu. It stretches for 11 kilometres (7 miles). If you're wondering what to do on Oahu's North Sh ore, it's one of the most famous surfing spots for its giant waves.

When the waves are calm you can also snorkel or scuba dive, and it's also known for its incredible jungle valleys.

Waikiki is a neighbourhood where you can find numerous restaurants, bars, nightclubs, concert halls and all kinds of nightlife.

It is located on the south shore of Honolulu and is home to Oahu's most famous beach, Waikiki Beach. It's arguably the most cosmopolitan neighbourhood on the island, where you'll have the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. Many people even say it's the best place to party in Hawaii.

Many of these bars and restaurants overlook the beach, such as Michel's at the Colony Surf, which boasts one of the best views of the beach since its founding in 1962.

Many offer music and dance performances under the stars, such as the renowned Mai Tai bar. The gastronomic offer is really varied: seafood, sushi, steak, pasta, tapas, and much more.

When it comes to gastronomy, Roy's restaurant or Eating House 1849, both by renowned chef Roy Yamaguchi, and Morimoto Asia by chef Masaharu Morimoto are the must.

I recommend you to visit this site so that you don't miss any important event in Waikiki.

Yard House Rock Bar

Yard House is one of the must-visit bars for beer lovers from all over the world. The many taps of draft beer on tap will make it hard to decide on just one and will keep your curiosity piqued all night long.

The bar has a variety of local, imported, seasonal and special edition draught beers: the selection is renewed frequently.

It also offers a varied menu with American dishes, seafood and grilled burgers, among others. To liven up the evening, the bar offers its own selection of music, especially classic and alternative rock.

If there's one thing everyone wants to do on Oahu, it's set sail on a luxury cruise. The good news is that you can embark from sunset on Oahu' s best cruises to enjoy an amazing dinner on the waves.

The sea all around you, great music, drinks flowing, unforgettable sunsets and, if you're lucky, dolphins leaping in the moonlight.

There are options to suit all budgets, from cruises to smaller vessels. Some also include shows or live music. It's a great plan for a romantic dinner or a more relaxed dinner with family and/or friends, in a beautiful natural setting that is sure to leave you with fond memories.

Another option for those looking for more fun is to embark on a party cruise. These wave parties are very popular on Oahu, and some even feature a live DJ. It's definitely one of the favourite options for partying on Oahu.

Honolulu is the hub of Oahu and where the island's nightlife is most concentrated. It's probably the first place you visit when you arrive on the island of Oahu.

Honolulu is a city on the south shore of Oahu with tall buildings and all the attractions of a big city.

In this city you will find a lot of bars, discos, pubs and also theatres and concert halls. If you're looking for a fun night out, this is where you'll find the most variety, from a quiet dinner listening to live jazz to a disco with DJs that will have you dancing the night away.

Discotheques and nightclubs

Here are some of the best places to dance until late that you can find in Honolulu, although there are many more and the list may be updated over time.

• M Nightclub: Here you can dine and dance until 4am. You will find concerts and live DJs.
• Addiction Nightclub: live music and DJs from 10.30 pm to 3 am.
• Zanzabar open from 9 pm to 4 am on weekends. In addition to a dance floor, it offers salsa classes and comedy shows.
• Fusion Waikiki: club open daily until 4 am. Has pool tables, drag shows and karaoke.
• Rumours: 70's, 80's and 90's music, karaoke, projections until 3.30 am.

Comedy U

If it's all about laughter, Comedy U offers unlimited laughs from Tuesday to Thursday. It often organises competitions and comedy battles. And if you're up for it, after the show you can take the microphone and make your own presentation.

The Brewseum

The Brewseum is an ideal brewery for history lovers. As well as being a brewery, it is also a museum of the Second World War, with a huge collection of objects such as photos, posters, uniforms, weapons, etc. that were donated by war veterans.

It is a picturesque bar where you can have your beers delivered in an aeroplane propeller and have fun browsing around while you learn a bit of history. You can even take pictures in a military jeep or go into their mysterious basement, which you can access with a password.

Kapahulu Avenue is renowned for offering some of the best food in Honolulu. If you're looking for a taste of Oahu's traditional foods, take a stroll down this avenue where you'll find something for everyone, from gourmet dishes to fast food and delicious desserts.

There are restaurants specialising in seafood or chicken, such as Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Mexican food places like Taco Bell, others specialising in ramen like Onoya ramen, and many more. There are even restaurants where you can order from your car.

If there's one place that's reminiscent of Las Vegas, it's the top floor of the Royal Hawaiian Center where the incredible Rock-a-hula show is performed.

On stage you'll see tributes to artists of all time, from the 1920s to today, such as Elvis Presley or Michael Jackson, dancers dancing with fire knives, hula dances, and other musical performances. The show includes dinner with local and vegetarian options.

If you want to experience the nightlife on Oahu, you can't miss Chinatown, Honolulu's Chinatown.

Today it's a place to eat local food, attend a concert, visit art galleries and see musicals, among many other events. It is a neighbourhood with a more artistic feel, and an interesting history.

Chinatown is one of the oldest Chinatowns in the United States, having been founded by immigrants in the mid-1800s when they travelled to work on the sugar plantations.

It was also the place of choice for sailors to hang out when they came to the island on business after months of not setting foot on the mainland. Chinatown became a red-light district during World War II, but that's in the past.

Some of the best restaurants in Chinatown are:

• The pig and the lady (Vietnamese food).
• Lucky Belly (ramen).
• Opal Thai (Thai food).
• J Dolans (pizzas).
• Mei Sum Dim Sum (Cantonese food).

For drinks later in the evening there are live music options at The Dragon Upstairs, pool tables at Proof Social Club, drag shows at Scarlet, one of the island's gay bars, over 150 beers and local DJs at Bar 35 and many, many more.

Hotel Street

Hotel Street is the main street in Chinatown and is lined with bars and pubs. You'll see many historic buildings marked with plaques and there's even an old sign for the old Hubba Hubba bar, a burlesque and striptease bar that closed in the 1990s.

If your trip falls on the first Friday of the month, be sure to head down this street for the First Friday Block Party where you'll see art exhibits, shows, live music and, of course, food and drinks circulating.

Smith's Union Bar

Smith's Union Bar is one of the most historic bars on Oahu, and indeed in all of Hawaii, founded by Joe Halley and his wife Gail in 1934 and still retains its old decor. It is believed to have been a favourite bar of the sailors on the USS Arizona. It's a bar where you can drink beer on the cheap and sing karaoke if your throat doesn't get cold.

Hawaii Theatre

The Hawaii Theatre is one of the oldest theatres on Oahu, having opened in 1922. With its neoclassical architectural style, it is considered a building of historical value on the island.

On its website you'll find complete information about the performances, concerts and lectures that take place there. If you are looking for a quiet night out, the theatre is always a good option.

The Ala Moana Center is one of Honolulu's largest shopping malls and is located in the Ala Moana neighbourhood.

On weekends, starting at dusk, there are free hula shows and/or live music. It also has about 160 restaurants where you can dine early and others that are open until midnight, such as Buffalo Wild Wings.

It's a huge mall, with brightly lit courtyards and arcades, water fountains and four floors with about 350 shops. If you're lucky, you might even be able to take part in a free hula class.

More info on the mall

• Address: 1450 Ala Moana Boulevard
• Hours: 11 am to 7 pm. Shops, bars and restaurants have specific hours.