Top things to do

Like Hawaii’s version of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, the Bishop Museum showcases a remarkable array of cultural and natural history exhibits. It is often ranked as the finest Polynesian anthropologi…

No other place evokes a more poignant sense of Hawaii’s history. The palace was built under King David Kalakaua in 1882. At that time, the Hawaiian monarchy observed many of the diplomatic protocols of the Victorian…

This exceptional fine-arts museum may be the biggest surprise of your trip to Oʻahu. The museum, dating to 1927, has a classical facade that’s invitingly open and airy, with galleries branching off a series of garde…

With its vibrant, thought-provoking collections, this public art museum brings together traditional and contemporary art from Hawaii’s multiethnic communities. The museum inhabits a grand 1928 Spanish Mission Reviva…

The commercial heart of Chinatown revolves around its markets and food shops. Noodle factories, pastry shops and produce stalls line the narrow sidewalks, always crowded with cart-pushing grandmothers and errand-run…

At this hillside park, sweeping views extend from Diamond Head on the left, across Waikiki and downtown Honolulu, to the Waiʻanae Range on the right. The sprawling UH Manoa campus is easily recognized by its sports …

One of Oʻahu’s big-gun chefs, Alan Wong offers his creative interpretations of Hawaii Regional Cuisine (HRC; Hawaii’s homegrown cuisine) with a menu inspired by the state's diverse ethnic cultures. Emphasis is on fr…

One of the greatest hole-in-the-wall restaurants in Honolulu, head to Ethel's for the tastiest food and the homely atmosphere. This bustling, cash-only place has 24 seats and six parking spots, and both are usually …

The Doris Duke Theatre shows a mind-bending array of experimental, alternative, retro-classic and art-house films, especially ground-breaking documentaries, inside the Honolulu Museum of Art. The theater also hosts …

If you’re a big fan of vintage tiki wares and 20th-century Hawaiiana books, you’ll fall in love with this little Chinatown antiques shop. Thoughtfully collected treasures include jewelry and ukuleles, silk aloha shi…