10 Best Things to Do in Honolulu When it Rains

The Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center is a child-focused museum with interactive exhibits that encourage children to use their senses. Located south of downtown, the museum is the perfect place to take the family on a rainy day.

Each of the museum’s 6 exhibits encourages different sensory exploration, such as “Fantastic You,” which helps children learn about the functions of the body. You’ll also find “Your Town,” a role-playing exhibit that teaches about community through roles like firefighter and mechanic, and “Your Rainbow World,” a cultural exhibit that teaches children about customs in other countries.

The Hawaii State Art Museum is a fascinating museum with permanent and rotating exhibits on Hawaiian and Pacific-Island art. Located in the downtown area, the museum is a treasured museum of the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts.

You’ll find 3 galleries in the museum that highlight Hawaii’s cultural traditions through Hawaiian artists. Though the collection features a variety of artistic movements, styles, and media, it showcases how the multicultural makeup of Hawaii influenced local artists. Some of the highlights include works by Tadashi Sato, Toshiko Takaezu, and Satoru Abe.

The Ala Moana Shopping Center is an open-air shopping mall that offers a variety of high-end and casual brands for fashion, shoes, accessories, electronics, and more. Located in the Ala Moana neighborhood, just 9 minutes from downtown, Ala Moana is a popular shopping destination outside the busy downtown area.

You could shop a range of well-known brands at Ala Moana, including Alexander McQueen, Burberry, and Chanel, as well as casual brands like J. Crew and Madewell. The shopping center also has a public amphitheater with concerts and traditional hula dances.

The Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum is a fascinating aviation museum and historic site dedicated to World War II and the attack on Pearl Harbor. Located on Ford Island, about 15 minutes from downtown, the museum is one of several historic sites related to the attack.

The original hangar from the attack, Hangar 37, is one of the museum’s exhibit spaces and features flight simulators, a store, and 9 exhibits of aircraft and memorabilia. Hangar 79 is the restoration wing, but it holds many of the museum’s treasured aircraft, such as the Flying Tigers exhibit and a Japanese A6M2-21 Zero. You’ll also see the Boeing N2S-3 Stearman that was used by former president George H.W. Bush for flight training.

The Honolulu Museum of Art is a vast art museum that holds a collection of Asian and Pan-Pacific art. Located southeast of downtown, the museum offers exhibits, guided tours, workshops, gallery classes, and children’s creative activities.

The museum has a massive collection of artwork that contains over 50,000 pieces. Some of the works date back to the 18th century and feature expedition artists like John Webber and Robert Dampier. You’ll also see paintings, watercolors, prints, photographs, and drawings from artists like Isami Doi, Georgia O’Keeffe, Ansel Adams, and Madge Tennent.

The Bishop Museum is a museum of history and science that features one of the largest collections of Polynesian cultural artifacts. Located 5 minutes from downtown, the Bishop Museum is also home to the Richard T. Mamiya Science Adventure Center, a child-focused learning and exploration center.

The museum is a hub of island arts, culture, and natural history. The campus has a planetarium that’s used for astronomical sciences and shows, an entomology research center with millions of insect specimens, and an archives library. Another highlight is the Kaimiloa Expedition exhibit, which holds artifacts and samples from the famed expedition to explore the inaccessible areas of the Pacific.

Hawaii Theatre is a historic performing arts theater that hosts stage shows, concerts, and other performances. Located in the downtown area, just minutes from downtown, the Hawaii Theatre is a treasured landmark from 1922.

The interior of the theater is one of its biggest draws and features Moorish ornamentation, Byzantine and Corinthian touches, beaux-arts architectural touches, a gilded dome, and an art gallery. Along with booking a show, you could also take a guided tour of the theater to learn more about its history and cultural significance.

The Movie Museum is a charming movie theater and museum that plays old films, foreign films, and new releases. Located southeast of downtown in the Kaimuki neighborhood, the treasured theater is a little-known gem in the city.

The theater has limited seating, but the majority of the seats are comfortable Barcaloungers. The movie schedule is sent by email, so be sure to check what’s on for your trip. When you visit, stop in the rental spot to check out the selection of rare and obscure videos and DVDs.

Diamond Head Theatre is a spectacular performing arts center that hosts musicals, stage productions, comedy shows, and performing arts classes. Located on the slope of Diamond Head, just 14 minutes from downtown, the theater has been in operation since 1915.

Each season, the Diamond Head Theatre offers 6 mainstage productions and major musicals. The theater also offers acting, voice, and dance classes for children and adults, as well as occasional workshops. You can check the schedule for your trip to see what’s on.

Fun Factory is an exciting arcade with video games, redemption games, and prizes for the whole family. With several locations near Honolulu, you’ll have plenty of choices for how to spend a rainy day in Hawaii.

You’ll find something for everyone at Fun Factory, including vintage-style arcade games, skill games, kiddie games, and video games. When you play, you collect tickets that can be exchanged for a variety of great prizes in the redemption center. Different tickets are available for purchase, giving you opportunities for unlimited gameplay or discounted tokens.