12 Date Night Ideas on Oʻahu

Hawaiʻi is one of the most romantic places on the planet. Couples love to get married, honeymoon and celebrate anniversaries here. Oʻahu, in particular, has a variety of places to romance your partner, whether that’s a quiet dinner at a fine-dining restaurant or a sunset picnic at the beach.

Here are 12 date-night ideas—for Valentine’s Day or just because.

1. Dine at Sunset by the Ocean

The view at 53 By the Sea.
Photo: Courtesy of 53 By the Sea

There’s nothing more romantic than watching the sunset—and it’s even better with a glass of wine. Treat your date to an evening at an upscale restaurant with views of the ocean. 53 By the Sea in Kakaʻako boasts floor-to-ceiling windows with breathtaking views of Oʻahu’s south shore, and its menu boasts a decadent lineup of seafood, pastas and prime steaks. One of restaurant’s most popular items is the Seafood Platter ($150) with king crab legs, Kauaʻi shrimp, fresh oysters and whole lobster served with two kinds of sauces. Hōkū’s at The Kāhala Hotel & Resort has a luxe tasting menu that’s sure to impressive, with a wine list and ocean views to match.

2. Stroll on the Beach

A romantic stroll on Lanikai Beach.
Photo: Getty Images/Maridav

It’s always a good idea to walk on a beach in Hawaiʻi, but it can be especially romantic in the early mornings or at dusk, just when the sun sets and the stars light up the sky. Lanikai Beach, with its picturesque views of the Nā Mokulua (twin islands) offshore, has long been a favorite for couples. But nearby Kailua Beach is a great choice, too, with way more sandy real estate to find a quiet spot to watch the sunrise.

3. Watch the Friday Night Fireworks in Waikīkī

Photo: Courtesy of Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort

Since 1998 the Hilton Hawaiian Village has been lighting up the skies over Waikīkī with a fireworks show every Friday starting at 7:45 p.m. (And it’s free!) Get to the lagoon fronting the hotel early with a picnic dinner—FYI: You can’t drink alcohol on the beach—or make reservations for the corner table at the The Signature Prime Steak & Seafood, located on the 36th floor of the Ala Moana Hotel. It’s got the best views of the fireworks—not to mention an impressive menu of steaks and seafood dishes—that will undoubtedly wow your date.

4. Sip a Mai Tai and Listen to Live Hawaiian Music

Nightly hula show at House Without a Key.
Photo: Courtesy of Halekūlani

If you’re looking for a more relaxing evening with your love, consider light pūpū and cocktails at the iconic House Without a Key, the oceanfront restaurant at the Halekūlani in Waikīkī. Sit back and listen to live Hawaiian music, which starts at 5 p.m., while the sun dips below the horizon. Hula runs from 6 to 8 p.m. The sunset cocktail menu features a variety of pūpū including limu soy ʻahi poke, ʻahi tataki, seafood roll and hoisin coconut ribs. And don’t forget the restaurant’s signature mai tai.

5. Take a Charcuterie Class

 

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What’s better than taking a class where you learn something? Taking a class where you can actually eat what you’ve learned how to make. Some hotels offer cooking and baking classes, Bubbly & Bleu in Kaimukī has courses in charcuterie boards. Learn how to build your own boards with meats, cheeses and other accoutrement—and eat it after! Classes are $85 per person.

6. Drink Wine and Paint

If art’s more your thing, sign up for a painting class—preferably one with wine. Paint and Sip Honolulu hosts fun, instructional classes where you learn how to paint something—a tropical plant, a Hawaiʻi landscape—while sipping on wine or cocktails. Not only will you learn a new skill, but you’ll leave with a work of art you and your date created.

7. Get a Couples’ Massage

Book a massage for date night.
Photo: Courtesy of Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson

Unwind with a relaxing and rejuvenating massage—for both of you. Many spas offer de-stressing packages for couples, so you can enjoy a quiet moment together. Abhasa Spa at the Royal Hawaiian in Waikīkī has a couple’s package ($650 for two) that combines an 80-minute rhythmic lomi lomi massage with either a foot massage, scalp massage or mini facial. Laniwai at the Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, offers serveral different treatment packages for couples; the ʻŌhiʻa Lehua “Love Story” for Two ($255 per person) includes a custom signature tropical exfoliation followed by a lomi lomi massage.

8. Splurge on an Omakase Dinner

Miyazaki A5 wagyu steak from Mugen in Waikīkī.
Photo: Courtesy of Mugen

To some, nothing says love more than an evening of decadent, delicious food. Impress your date with an omakase dinner, a Japanese term that describes a meal consisting of dishes selected by the chef. If your date loves sushi, book a table at Sushi Ginza Onodera, an omakase-only sushi restaurant where dinners start at $200 per person and consist of high-quality sashimi, sushi, seasonal appetizers and desserts. Or make a reservation at Mugen, the signature restaurant at the luxe Espacio in Waikīkī. The current 5-course menu ($180 per person; wine pairings are an additional cost) features options like poke and caviar, wagyu beef tartare, Kona kampachi, Australian white Alba lamb and lobster risotto. The French-Japanese-inspired restaurant is intimate and it boasts a rare collection of wines, many of which are exclusive to the restaurant.

9. Hike and Picnic with a View

Heading to the summit of Wiliwilinui Trail on Oʻahu.
Photo: Getty Images/David Carr

If you’re date likes adventure, plan a day hiking one of Oʻahu’s many summit trails—and pack a picnic lunch. Some popular hikes—with views and spots to sit and eat—include Wiliwilinui Ridge Trail (3 miles round trip, 2 to 4 hours), Puʻu Pia in Mānoa (2 miles round trip, 90 minutes) and Kaʻiwa Ridge (Lanikai Pillbox) in Lanikai (2 miles round trip, 90 minutes).

10. Wander a Botanical Garden

Find this kapok tree (Ceiba pentandra) at Foster Botanical Garden on Oʻahu.
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Oʻahu boasts five city-run botanical gardens, and each one has its own unique ecosystems and plants. Foster Botanical Garden is a 14-acre garden within walking distance of Downtown Honolulu, with an impressive collection of tropical plants and mature trees, including the Bo tree, the tree under which Buddha was enlightened. The 400-acre Hoʻomaluhia Botanical Garden in Kāneʻohe in Windward Oʻahu has campsites, hiking trails and a 32-acre lake teeming with fish. Not a city garden, Lyon Aboretum in Mānoa is a 200-acre garden that boasts 7 miles of hikingn trails and more than 6,000 tropical and sub-tropical plant species.

11. Sail on a Catamaran

Enjoy views of Waikīkī from a catamaran.
Photo: Courtesy of Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority/Tor Johnson

Imagine this: You and your date on a sunset sail on a catamaran, sipping cocktails and enjoying views of Waikīkī. Moana Sunset Sailing Co. offers two-hour sails aboard its 55-foot luxury sailing catamaran. The boat glides along Oʻahu’s southern coast during sunset. Enjoy the views with a locally brewed beer, sparkling wine or a cocktail made with local spirits. During winter months you may be able to spot humpback whales, too.

12. Walk Through a Sunflower Field

The sunflower field at Waimānalo Country Farms opens in the spring.
Photo: Getty Images/Michael Young / 500px

Walking through a sunflower field, holding hands, is super romantic. And starting in the spring, fields on Oʻahu will open for the season. Waimānalo Country Farms offers whole sunflower experiences, from farm-fresh foods, nighttime visits and plenty of places to snap photos for Instagram. Reservations are required.