Local Expert
Brenda Yun
I'm a surfer girl and freelance writer who can't seem to get enough out of life abroad. Despite my frequent travels, my life in Hawaii (namely, my six-year old pug Iris) keeps me grounded. Here…
I'm a surfer girl and freelance writer who can't seem to get enough out of life abroad. Despite my frequent travels, my life in Hawaii (namely, my six-year old pug Iris) keeps me grounded. Here in Honolulu, buildings pop up like tourists wearing tacky aloha shirts, shops come and go like the trade winds (but ABC stores never close), traffic is part of keeping Hawaiian time--there's no wonder the speed limit is 50, but the feeling of stepping off the plane and walking in the open air to the baggage claim is unmistakable.
I heart Hawaii. I heart spam musubi and plate lunch. I heart crowded line ups at Diamond Head and Straight Outs. I heart Bruddah Iz. I heart the feeling of shedding skin as I drive through pineapple fields in to Haleiwa. The pot of gold is found in the Rainbow State. Hop on over to the "Rock" and see.
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Honolulu Academy of Art
Make a whole day of it! The Honolulu Academy of Art is well worth a fully day's activities and really packs a punch with its world-class art exhibitions -- both permanent and temporary -- as well as its gorgeously built Doris Duke Theater, attached to it on Kinau Street. The best way to enjoy your visit would be to start in the museum, take a lunch break in the popular Pavillion Cafe (which serves some of the best healthy lunches in town), watch a matinee film in the Theater and then, if you plan ahead, pay a visit to Doris Duke's lovely home in Diamond Head.
If you time it right, you can even make a night of it by enjoying an evening of music and dancing at the Academy's "Art After Dark" events, which take place from 6-9 p.m. every last Friday of the month. These are always enjoyable social events that draw big crowds.
Whatever your interests, this museum should not be missed!