When booking a vacation to Honolulu you think sea, sun, and sand and thankfully that is what you get nine times out of ten!
However, depending on the day and time of year, dark clouds and rain can make an appearance for a few hours but that does not mean the vacation needs to be put on pause.
The state capital has plenty of attractions that can be enjoyed regardless of the weather and here are ten examples that we recommend doing in Honolulu when it rains.
Here are 10 activities we recommend you check out if you see rain in your forecast during vacation!
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1) Visit Iolani Palace
Location: 364 S King St, Honolulu, HI 96813
Hours Open: Tuesday- Saturday 9am-4pm; closed Sunday and Mondays
Iolani Palace is a great way to spend an afternoon learning about Royal Hawaiian history as well as enjoying the artworks, memorabilia and architecture that the Palace has to offer.
Built in 1882 and the United States’ only Palace today, it served as a symbol of promise for the Kingdom of Hawaii and was home to their last two monarchs; King Kalakaua and Queen Lili’uokalani.
Interior restoration efforts took place in the 1930s and 1960s and the beauty of the Palace was opened to the public in 1978.
A number of public bus routes will take you from Waikiki towards the Palace and the Waikiki trolley also passes by for easy access. A day pass will cost anywhere from $25-49 for an adult and $9 for children.
2) Visit The Pearl Harbor Memorial
Location: 1 Arizona Memorial Pl, Honolulu, HI 96818
Hours Open: every day from 7am-5pm
Pearl Harbor is one of the most infamous sites that Oahu has to offer and is a good way to spend an afternoon in rain or shine to learn of events that took place that morning and to commemorate those who lost their lives.
An attack that took place here on December 7th, 1941 by Japan’s Imperial army catapulted the United States into the Second World War and changed the course of history in the 20th century.
Though still an active military base, the site offers a great opportunity to learn about the world events leading up to the attack as well as the attack itself through various interactive museums, motion pictures, and tours. The memorial is a 45-minute bus ride from Waikiki or a 30-minute drive with parking available for visitors.
3) Get a Lomi Lomi Massage
Anyone visiting Hawaii on vacation should seek out a Lomi Lomi massage and doing so while the weather outside is unfavorable seems like the perfect opportunity. Lomi Lomi is a form of kneading massage that has evolved over many generations throughout Polynesia and Hawaii and many local massage parlors throughout Oahu will offer them.
Promoting deep relaxation embodies a huge part of Hawaiian culture and treating yourself to this world-famous massage is the perfect way to channel your ‘Aloha spirit’. Groupon deals are worth looking out for good prices but each massage usually costs between $80-100.
4) Visit the Byodo-In Temple
Location: 47-200 Kahekili Hwy, Kaneohe, HI 96744
Hours Open: open every day from 8:30am-4:30pm
Byodo In is a beautiful Buddhist temple located at the foot of the Ko’olau mountain range that can be quite tranquil to be at whilst it’s raining.
Built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Japanese immigration to Hawaii, the temple is located in a lush garden featuring meditation niches and a reflecting pond that is home to swans, doves, peacocks, and hundreds of Koi carp.
Byodo In temple is a non-practicing Buddhist temple that welcomes visitors of all faiths for an afternoon of peace and to enjoy the beauty of the grounds. Parking is available at the grounds and tickets to enter the temple are $5 for adults and $2 for children.
5) Visit The Honolulu Art Museum
Location: 900 South Beretania Street, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96814
Hours Open: Thursday- Sunday from 10am-6pm (Thursday and Sunday) and 10am-9pm (Friday and Saturday)
Honolulu is home to an art museum featuring more than 50,000 works of art spanning 5,000 years from across the globe.
The museum is comprised of a series of galleries surrounding several courtyards and features two cafes to have food and a drink in between viewings. The collection is particularly strong in paintings from China and Japan, ceramics from Korea, as well as Buddhist and Southeast Asian sculpture.
The Honolulu Art Museum contains a variety of beautiful artworks and serves to educate guests on their history in an insightful and thought-provoking manner. Admission to the museum is $20 per person but given the number of different galleries on offer, it is good value for money and an excellent way to kill a couple of hours before the sun returns!
6) Shop Around Ala Moana Mall
Location: 1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814
Hours Open: Every day from 8am-10pm
Honolulu is home to the eighth-largest shopping mall in the United States and is a great place to visit during a downpour.
Known simply as ‘Ala Moana,’ the mall is open air and sheltered from the rain and offers great restaurants and a wide variety of stores to cater to everybody. There is also a bowling alley called Lucky Strike in the mall that features music as well as an arcade which is a fun way to spend a couple of hours indoors. The mall is just a few minutes away from Waikiki and is easily accessible by numerous bus routes.
7) Visit The Waikiki Aquarium
Location: 2777 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Hours Open: Every day from 9am-5pm
A great way to keep everyone of all ages happy is to take a trip to the aquarium within the Waikiki area. Built in 1904, the aquarium is one of the oldest in the United States and boasts 13 display areas that feature nearly 4,000 different marine species.
The aquarium staff are very helpful in providing insight throughout the displays and there are also fun interactive classes to get involved in for everyone to further understand and appreciate marine life. The aquarium is a walkable distance from most Waikiki hotels and tickets will cost $12 for adults, $5 for kids, and children under 3 years of age get in for free.
8) Take a Hawaiian Cooking Class
Cooking classes are a great indoor activity to do in Hawaii either during the day or in the evening.
Hawaiian-style cooking classes are often held in beautiful coastal homes and will leave you with some authentic local recipes and a wonderful keepsake from your vacation. Evening classes often involve eating your freshly cooked meal at a communal table along with a glass of wine, beer, or beverage of your choice, and is a nice alternative to eating out at a restaurant. Cooking classes in Honolulu typically range from $80 to $150 per person.
9) Visit The Bishop Museum
Location: 1525 Bernice St, Honolulu, HI 96817
Hours Open: Every day from 9am-5pm
Spend an afternoon immersing yourself in Hawaiian history and culture at the Bishop Museum in Honolulu.
Founded over 100 years ago and three stories high, the museum was originally used to store family treasures and heirlooms of the Kamehameha dynasty but today it serves to preserve history and to educate the public.
The Bishop Museum is the largest museum in the state and features an extensive collection of specimens and educational experiences which will keep kids engaged too. The museum is located in Kalihi in Honolulu and will take 45 mins by bus from Waikiki with tickets costing approximately $25 per person.
10) Shop Around The International Market Place
Location: 2330 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Hours Open: Every day from 11am-9pm
The International Market place is an open-air and sheltered shopping center with over one hundred Oahu stores and restaurants.
A recent renovation has turned the area into a beautiful shopping location that includes waterfall features, a banyan tree, and other Hawaiian landscape features that offer a unique vacation shopping experience.
The International Market Place is located in Waikiki and is more easily accessible either on foot or by bus as parking can be difficult to find in the area.
