Your Guide to the Perfect Weekend in Honolulu: Oct. 29–Nov. 4, 2026
Surf in costume, dance at a Hindu celebration, see an ominous opera, watch a manta ray documentary and more.
Photo: Ranasha Kanahele, Courtesy of Jamie O’Brien Surf Experience
Turtle Bay Halloween Surf-Off
Saturday, Oct. 31, 1 to 7 p.m.
It’s a surf contest where your creativity and costume count just as much as your surfing ability. Register to paddle out or watch the spectacle from shore, then enjoy face painting and DJ beats while the sun sets. The event is a benefit for Kahuku High School’s surf team.
Family-friendly, $20 surfer registration, free for spectators, The Ritz-Carlton O‘ahu, Turtle Bay, 57-091 Kamehameha Highway, Kahuku, jobsurfexperience.com, @jamieobriensurfexperience
SEE ALSO: All the Spooky, Scary, Tricksy Halloween Fun on O‘ahu
Photo: Courtesy of Honolulu Museum of Art
HoMA Nights: Celebrating Navratri
Friday, Oct. 30, 5 to 9 p.m.
This week’s pau hana event at Honolulu Museum of Art spotlights the South Asian festival honoring women and empowerment. Tour the Jhamandas Watumull Gallery of Indian Art, vibe to live music, decorate a pair of dandiya sticks for the community folk dance and snack on vegetarian Indian street food.
Family-friendly, $35 general admission, $15 child admission, 900 S. Beretania St., Makiki, honolulumuseum.org, @honolulumuseum
SEE ALSO: Where to Find Spoopy Halloween Treats on O‘ahu
Photo: Courtesy of Hawai‘i Opera Theatre
The Shining
Friday, Oct. 30, 7:30 p.m.
Saturday, Oct. 31, 4 p.m.
Set a spine-tingling tone for Halloween weekend at this opera based on Stephen King’s bestselling novel. The psychological suspense thriller about a family’s stay in a haunted hotel is brought to the stage by Hawai‘i Opera Theatre, Opera Parallèle and Portland Opera, accompanied by Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra. Dress up for the costume contest in the lobby prior to each show.
$35–$130, use code HORROR25 for 25% off tickets, Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall, 777 Ward Ave., Kaka‘ako, hawaiiopera.org, @hawaiioperatheatre
SEE ALSO: Pumpkin Patches and Fall Festivals on O‘ahu
Photo: Courtesy of Hawai‘i’s Shop Local Pop-Up
Hawai‘i’s Shop Local Pop-Up
Saturday, Oct. 31, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Shop local and show some love for Hawai‘i’s small businesses at this one-day market. Browse handcrafted jewelry, apparel, gifts, sweet treats and more from talented local entrepreneurs. Bring the whole family for fun activities at the American Savings Bank booth, and if you’re an ASB Visa Debit Cardholder, you can take advantage of exclusive offers.
Family-friendly, free admission, Pearlridge Center, Mauka, Uptown, 98-1005 Moanalua Road, ‘Aiea, @hawaiishoplocal
SEE ALSO: Things to Do on O‘ahu in October 2026
Photo: Courtesy of Rhumbline Media
The Last Dive
Sunday, Nov. 1, 4 p.m.
Catch the Hawai‘i premiere of this documentary that won Best Documentary Cinematography at the 2025 Tribeca Film Festival. Follow Terry Kennedy on a journey to reconnect with Willy, a giant manta ray he befriended decades ago off Mexico’s San Benedicto Island. You’ll learn about the fascinating intelligence of these ocean giants and why protecting them matters.
$18, Hawai‘i Theatre, 1130 Bethel St., Chinatown, hawaiitheatre.com, @hawaiitheatre
SEE ALSO: What to Watch at This Year’s Hawai‘i International Film Festival
Laura Dornbush is a regular contributor to HONOLULU Magazine. @ldornbush
