The summer season is upon us now. Kids are out of school. Summer vacations are in full swing. And flocks of new visitors are coming to Hawaii to experience that “aloha” feeling. First stop is Waikiki Beach.
The world-famous beach receives nearly 6 million visitors each year. And the summer months of June, July, and August, often peaks out with the highest number of visitors.
Looking ahead to the summer now, we have listed a few activities below worth noting. As the sun goes down and cool trade winds come in off the Pacific, enjoy these free activities making your visit to Hawaii a little extra special.
Sunset on the Beach
A summer tradition from years past, “Sunset on the Beach” has recently returned bringing family movies to a huge screen for all to enjoy. It’s located at Queen’s Surf Beach which is where the volleyball nets are directly in front of the Honolulu Zoo. Sunset on the Beach happens once a month on a Saturday (see schedule below) and begins at 4:30pm. Musical entertainment from local artists starts around 5:00pm. There are plenty of games for the kids and lots of delicious food from local restaurants. And after the sun goes down, the hit movie for the night begins playing around 7:00pm.
Sunset on the Beach has already begun its summer series earlier in May with the movie “Manoa” on May 11th. Below is a schedule for the remainder of the summer and the movies that are playing:
June 15 – Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse
July 6 – Mary Poppins Returns
August 10 – Coco
September 14 – Up
Hula Shows
The hula dance is a common practice among local Hawaiian’s, and there are many dancers across the islands who put on shows for both locals and visitors to enjoy. The most well-known in Waikiki would be the shows performed at the Kuhio Beach Hula Mound. Hawaii’s finest dancers presents authentic Hawaiian music along with narratives telling stories of Hawaii’s history and culture.
The Kuhio Beach Hula Show is located near the Duke Kahanamoku statue, which is just diagonally across from the Hyatt Regency Hotel. The shows are performed three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays from 6:30pm-7:30pm. But get there early in order to ensure a good seat. Most people begin arriving about 30 minutes before the show. The only seating is on the grass, so you may want to bring a towel or beach mat too.
Aloha Friday Fireworks
A weekly tradition that began in 1988, the Hilton Hawaiian Village puts on a free fireworks show every Friday night. It’s the best way to start the weekend right.
The fireworks are shot from near the lagoon located just behind Hilton Hawaiian Village. But you can see the show from anywhere along Waikiki Beach. For an even closer look, head down to Fort Derussy Beach Park and walk along the beach path towards the Hilton. Or even grab a table at Tropics Bar & Grill for some food and drinks, which is just steps away from the lagoon.
Throughout the year, the friday night fireworks have always started at 7:45pm. But during the summer months, they will begin at 8:00pm due to longer daylight hours.
Image By: Hyatt Regency
