As befits a city of one million people, Honolulu has a real nightlife scene. And no, it's not that mass-produced kind that comes out of the likes of Hard Rock Café or the House of Blues. Oahu has so many local goings-on you'll need the free entertainment guide, Honolulu Weekly (honoluluweekly.com), to keep track of them all.

As on Hawaii's other islands, the evening on Oahu doesn't get started until the daily ritual of sunset watching is duly observed. Anywhere on Waikiki Beach is a good place to partake in the sight, but the House Without a Key the patio bar at the Halekulani Hotel, is an exceptional one. As the sun dissolves into the Pacific and you melt into a superbly mixed mai tai, Kanoe Miller or Debbie Nakanelua (both former Miss Hawaiis), hula dance to live Hawaiian music beneath the century-old kiawe tree.

Stay at House for live jazz (10:15 p.m. to midnight), or move on to hot spots like Tiki's Grill & Bar (2570 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, 808-923-8454) and, of course, Don Ho's Island Grill (Aloha Tower, Honolulu, 808-528-0807) for live music. Along with Hawaii's first brewpub, Gordon Biersch (1 Aloha Tower Drive, Suite 1123, Honolulu, 808-599-4877), these spots are located at the Aloha Tower Marketplace, which is something of a favorite pub crawling spot for in-the-know locals. Downtown's Anna Banana's (2440 S. Beretania St., 808-946-5190) has been a local favorite for live rock and blues from Thursday to Saturday nights, especially for college students attending nearby University of Hawaii at Manoa.

If you're already downtown and want to keep the party going, then you're in luck—this area is also the place for late-night clubbing. The college-age crowd packs the dance floor at Pipeline Café (805 Pohukaina St., Honolulu, 808-589-1999). Beyond student antics, are you? Then you'll feel more at home at Rumours Nightclub (Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson Drive, Honolulu, 808-955-4811), where DJs spin hits from the '60s, '70s and '80s and you can sit back and sip on your cocktail without feeling forced to bust a move. If you're looking for something a bit more upscale, head for The Green Room (1121 Nu'uanu Ave., Honolulu, 808-521-2900). Pretty young things flock to this slick spot inside Indigo Restaurant, either for the well-made martinis, hot music (Wednesday night jazz, a monthly dancehall party), a menu of delicious bar fare or, of course, the view—Honolulu's hottest.

Your opinion matters – Complete our brief video survey

Featured Videos

Activities

Activities
The North Shore is located to the north of Oahu, and contains six of the world's best surfing locations. Check out this Travel Channel clip for a close-up look.

Where to Stay and Dine

Where to Stay and Dine
Coral reefs protect Sunset beach, and creates a front-row seat to one of Hawaii's best view of the sunset. Take a look at this clip to learn more about Sunset beach.

Nightlife

Nightlife
Waikiki is a world-famous tourist attraction, and has earned a special place in American visions of paradise. Take a look at this Travel Channel clip to learn more.