17 of the best · Hawaiʻi, USA
The Bishop Museum, the Honolulu Museum of Art, Shangri La and Capitol Modern; the Hawaii Theatre of 1922, the opera and the symphony; the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival; the Merrie Monarch and the Aloha Festivals.
Our 17 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated November 2026
Browse by type
Three Hawaiʻi moments we keep going back to: Diamond Head at opening time, sunset on the terrace of House Without a Key, and a morning at Pearl Harbor.
Hawaiian and Pacific history
Hawaiʻi’s museum of natural and cultural history, named for Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.
Courtyards and collections
Honolulu’s museum of art, with the Doris Duke Theatre and the tours to Shangri La.
Doris Duke’s house
Doris Duke’s house of Islamic art on the shore below Diamond Head, by guided tour.
Hula, the museums, the stages and the film festival.
The back story
The Bishop Museum, the Honolulu Museum of Art and Doris Duke’s Shangri La, Capitol Modern, the Hawaii Theatre of 1922, the opera, the symphony, the Merrie Monarch hula festival and the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival: Hawaiʻi’s arts.
Visual arts
From the Hawaiian Hall to Doris Duke’s Islamic art.
Hawaiian and Pacific history
Hawaiʻi’s museum of natural and cultural history, named for Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.
The state’s collection
The state’s own art collection downtown, with no entry charge.
Courtyards and collections
Honolulu’s museum of art, with the Doris Duke Theatre and the tours to Shangri La.
Doris Duke’s house
Doris Duke’s house of Islamic art on the shore below Diamond Head, by guided tour.
A royal palace, a historic church and a temple under the cliffs.
Built in 1882
The palace of Hawaiʻi’s last reigning monarchs, the only official royal residence in the United States.
Honolulu’s historic church
Honolulu’s historic church near ʻIolani Palace, still a place of worship.
Performing arts
The islands’ orchestra.
The islands’ orchestra
The orchestra of the islands, with its season of concerts in Honolulu.
Honolulu’s stage since 1922.
Since 1922
The restored theatre of 1922 on Bethel Street, the “Pride of the Pacific”.
More than 175 main-stage operas since 1961.
Since 1961
Honolulu’s opera company, with more than 175 main-stage productions since 1961.
The November festival and the screens; see also Hawaiʻi on film.
Each November
Asian, Pacific and world cinema each November, now in its 46th edition.
Folk & cultural traditions
Island books and craft, the aloha shirt and Hawaiian classes.
Hula and culture
Hawaiian cultural classes and hula in the heart of Waikīkī.
Hula in Hilo each spring, aloha in Waikīkī each September.
Each September
Hawaiʻi’s September celebration of its culture, 80 years old in 2026.
Hula, each spring
The great hula festival of Hilo, named for King Kalākaua, the “Merrie Monarch”.
