When it comes to planning beautiful dates, Hawaiʻi is hard to beat. For art lovers, specifically, the most memorable experiences can go beyond ocean views and dinner reservations. The islands offer numerous ways to connect through creativity, culture, and storytelling. You just have to know where to go.
1. Wander a Local Art Museum or Gallery
You can spend an afternoon at the Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMa), where contemporary exhibits sit alongside traditional works, or explore the Capitol Modern: The Hawaiʻi State Art Museum, which exclusively features work from Hawaiʻi artists (plus it’s free to enter!).
Don’t forget about The Arts at Marks Garage in downtown, the artist-run nonprofit community arts center that showcases 12 multidisciplinary exhibitions a year and over 150 performances, lectures, screenings, and workshops.
2. Sketch or Paint During Sunset
Taking a picture of Hawaiʻi’s iconic sunsets is one thing, recreating them by hand is another. If you and your significant other are up for the challenge, bring a small notebook or watercolor set and head to a park.
Somewhere like Kapiʻolani Park, where Diamond Head provides a dramatic backdrop, or Tantalus Lookout for sweeping views over Honolulu. Slowing down and observing color and light together make for an intimate experience, no matter how rough your drawings look.
3. Take a Hands-On Art Class Together
If you love creating things side by side, a hands-on art class should be at the top of the list. Learn how to draw at Downtown Art Center, throw a pot in Chinatown’s Mudd Studio, or paint your heart out at the Zwick Academy of Fine Art. You’ll leave with something handmade and a shared experience that’s more memorable than a typical night out.
4. Watch the Big Screen
Local cinephiles can attend screenings at the annual Hawaiʻi International Film Festival in the fall or one of the Waikiki Sunset on the Beach events in the summer. For any day of the week, you can always rely on your local movie theater.
If you prefer to stay at home, a simple, DIY indoor (or outdoor with your own projector) movie night works just as well. Bonus points if you watch films rooted in the islands or created by a local filmmaker.
5. Browse a Local Bookstore
A day at the bookstore is always an adventure so why not make it a date? Aside from the only Barnes & Noble at Ala Moana Mall, be sure to check out the multiple independent bookstores on the island. That should include Da Shop: Books + Curiosities in Kaimuki, Native Books Hawaiʻi in Chinatown, Village Books & Music at Ward Centre, and more.
You’ll find works from lots of local authors, Oceania-focused titles, and maybe even one-of-a-kind music selects, toys, and stationery. Make it playful by picking a story within your favorite genres to read to each other later.
6. Attend a Local Art Opening or Creative Event
If you or your partner is a real people person, art openings and pop-up shows are sure to deliver big energy and conversation. Events like First Fridays or World Wide Walls brings together artists and curious supporters who love engaging in all things creative and supporting the local art scene. Turn a date into something that feels connected to the community, not just each other.
7. Immerse in the Story of a Stage Production
Elevate a dinner date from good to great with a dazzling live performance. Whether you’re catching a Broadway show at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center or a local production at Diamond Head Theater or Manoa Valley Theatre, you can’t go wrong with engaging with a shared story on stage. Don’t forget to also look out for shows at the Kumu Kahua Theatre and the Kennedy Theatre at UH Mānoa.
