Best Arts and Culture Places in Oahu

"The “I Love Art” room is temporarily closed (the hands-on exploration with blocks, puzzles, magnetic tiles, a felt board and magnetic bulletin board, PVC pipes, books and stations are off-limits as part of enhanced safety measures) but the museum is still always free. Keiki can visit the galleries or take a walk through the sculpture garden outside to find Mr. Chickenpants and other friends. Open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m."

"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 Revival–style building, formerly a YMCA and today a nationally registered historic site. The museum is also home to a lovely gift shop and an excellent cafe, Artizen by MW."

"The Hawaii State Art Museum has three galleries along with an outdoor exhibition space that showcases temporary as well as permanent art selection. The permanent collection consists of 132 art pieces made by 105 artists. The collection dates from the 1960’s and includes the art-work of some of the most popular sculptors, ceramicists and print makers."

"A rich collection of art from Asia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific Islands, Africa, and South America, the John Young Museum of Art on the campus of University of Hawaii at Mānoa is sure to intrigue art and history lovers alike. The objects represent a broad range of history from Neolithic pottery jars from 3000–2000 B.C.E. to a ceramic kendi from the early Ming Dynasty (14th century). John Young Museum of Art, Social Science Research Institute 2500 Dole St Honolulu, HI USA +1 808-956-3634"

"A short walk downhill from the UH Campus Center, the John Young Museum of Art features 20th-century Hawaii painter John Young’s collection of artifacts from the Pacific islands, Africa, Asia and Mesoamerica, mostly ceramics, pottery and sculpture. The museum has a lovely outdoor courtyard and hosts excellent special exhibitions – often with Hawaii themes."

"Located at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, this museum features an outstanding collection that includes ceramic sculptures, wood carvings and bronze pieces dating back to ancient times."

"Stepping inside the exclusive Vintage Cave in Honolulu, you’d never know you were on the bottom floor of a bustling shopping mall. With the cavernous stone architecture and an impressive collection of Italian artwork for decor, this is high-end fine dining at its best. Previously only open to those willing to shell out a small fortune on club membership, Vintage Cave recently began offering reservations for their coursed menus to the public as well."

"A luxuriant, exclusive wine club rests inside the sprawling Ala Moana Center, the world’s largest open-air shopping mall. The Vintage Cave Club is an extravagant, dimly-lit tasting room with eye-popping local art, colorful chandeliers, and repurposed brick walls. Reservations are a must."

"One of Oahu's priciest and most exclusive and creative dining options is Vintage Cave, a luxurious, art-filled reinvention of what was once...Read More"

"SNAP A 'GRAM AT THE KAKAAKO STREET MURALS Kakaako is a commercial and retail district in Honolulu where you can find beautiful street murals—and at least one or two people posing for their perfect Instagram shots at all times. Each of the Kakaako street murals is unique, and every season new layers of paint are added, making them ever-transforming kaleidoscopes of beauty. Just like you and me."

"As its name implies, this party happens on the first Friday of every month. Downtown shuts down and turns North Hotel St. into a massive block party. This is one of the rare instances where most of the young Oahu residents come out of the woodwork and get drunk together."

"Other popular attractions in the Honolulu area include the Ala Moana Center (a large, open-air shopping mall), Waikiki Aquarium, Honolulu Zoo, Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii, Punchbowl Crater (site of the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific) and an assortment of golf courses. Day 2 – North Shore Road Trip"

"This Center celebrates and educates the public about the ever-evolving Japanese-American experience in Hawaii. It offers a wide range of programs, classes, festivals and exhibitions throughout the year."

"After slicing into some high-quality USDA prime meat, heat things up with a little flambe, because nothing says showstopper like your dessert lit on fire, table side. Choose from chocolate lovers, bananas Foster, cherries jubilee, or Sinatra’s strawberry flame, and watch as servers prepare your ice cream dessert on a bed of fresh fruit and set it ablaze until the sugar caramelizes on top. If dessert pyrotechnics aren’t your thing, Hy’s offers non-flaming desserts such as flourless chocolate cake, molten lava cake, coconut crème brûlée and homemade cheesecake."

"Murphy’s Bar and Grill is in Honolulu’s financial district, just one block away from the waterfront. This establishment, originally known as the Royal Hotel, has been around since 1891. It used to be a welcoming place for mariners, businessmen, locals and even royalty – in fact, King Kalakaua frequented the hotel."

"The colorful facade of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort, with a distinctive mosaic tile Rainbow Mural spanning the height of the structure, can be seen far and wide in Waikiki. The resort opened in 1955 and is currently one of the largest hotels in the United States outside of Las Vegas, with 3,386 rooms and suites. This iconic resort sits on the widest stretch of the beach on 22 acres, featuring five sparkling pools, including the largest, a beachfront Super Pool, and the Paradise Pool with a waterslide, as well as the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon for kayaking and paddleboarding."

"Located on Kaneohe Bay, the Paradise Bay Resort offers views of the Koolau Mountain Range an outdoor pool, and a hot tub. A complimentary daily deluxe breakfast is offered. Each room and suite is furnished with a flat-screen TV with cable channels, seating area and an electronics docking station."

"And at a sprawling 22 acres, the name village, doesn't quite do it justice. The resort has seven towers (some are exclusively timeshare). The Rainbow Tower is the closest to the beach and the aptly named Alii Tower has the best rooms and most exclusive services."

"Located on Ford Island at Pearl Harbor, this museum takes visitors back in time to Pearl Harbor in the 1940s. The tour of the museum starts at Hangar 37, a former seaplane hangar that survived the attack on Pearl Harbor."

"Central Oahu: Battleship Missouri, USS Arizona, Pacific Aviation Museum, & more Windward Coast: Hanauma Bay Snorkeling, Sea Life Park, Kualoa Ranch & more"