Best of HONOLULU 2023: The Best Entertainment and Getaways on O‘ahu

SEE ALSO: Best of HONOLULU 2023

• The Best Food and Drinks on O‘ahu
• The Best Shopping on O‘ahu
• The Best of Fitness and Outdoor on O‘ahu
• The Best of HONOLULU Family on O‘ahu
• The Best Services on O‘ahu

Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Best Place to Channel Your Rage

There are only so many places in this world where you can scream at the top of your lungs and whale on unsuspecting office equipment, appliances and kitchenware with a sledgehammer without alarming anyone. And since 2021, Honolulu’s only rage room, Break’N Anger, has offered that catharsis behind a red door in Kaka‘ako. Choose your items to obliterate; suit up in coveralls, gloves and a face shield; select your weapons of destruction and head into 45 minutes of pure deliverance. It’s a smashing good time capped by a few minutes of decompression in the Zen Lounge upstairs before heading back to civilized life. —KV 

1008 Kawaiaha‘o St., (808) 888-2630, breaknanger.com, @breaknanger 

Best LGBTQIA+ Bar/Club

Reader Pick

Downtown’s high-energy and inclusive club, Scarlet Honolulu, is home to the famous “Pineapple Stage” that holds drag shows every weekend. With multiple bars and two large dance floors, it’s no surprise this LGBTQIA+ bar also won Best Club for Dancing. “I think Scarlet created a space that made gay, trans and drag something to be universally celebrated in Hawai‘i,” says Tiffany Toki, bartender at Scarlet. Whether you want to dance the night away or be entertained by one of the many talented performers who grace the stage, Scarlet is a fun, diverse spot for a weekend night out. —JS 

80 S. Pauahi St., scarlethonolulu.com, @scarlethnl

Best Place to See an Eclectic Mix of Events

Historic Hawai‘i Theatre frequently dazzles us with its engaging mix of events. One night, the Hawai‘i Symphony Orchestra takes the stage with the Honolulu Jazz Quartet and Hawaiian music icon Keola Beamer. A month later, Bernadette Peters belts Broadway tunes. Perhaps you go for comedy, “The Moth” radio hour, Beatles music or Grammy Award-winning Kalani Pe‘a’s stunning May Day show. That diversity is intentional. “We feel it’s critical to support a healthy local culture and arts environment and not swing all the way into mainland-based traveling shows,” says Gregory Dunn, Hawai‘i Theatre Center’s president and CEO. And revenue generated by the visiting shows helps the nonprofit underwrite the use of the theater by local groups as it receives no operational funding from the city or state. Bravo! —RD

1130 Bethel St., (808) 528-0506, hawaiitheatre.com, @hawaiitheatre

The Rest of the Best: Reader Picks

Best Community Theater

Winner: Diamond Head Theatre
520 Makapu‘u Ave., (808) 733-0274, diamondheadtheatre.com, @diamondheadtheatre

Finalist: Mānoa Valley Theatre
2833 E. Mānoa Road, (808) 988-6131, manoavalleytheatre.com, @manoavalleytheatre

Best Club for Dancing

Winner: Scarlet Honolulu
80 S. Pauahi St., (808) 744-0210, scarlethonolulu.com, @scarlethnl

Finalist: The District
1349 Kapi‘olani Blvd., (808) 949-1349, thedistricthi.com, @thedistricthi

Best Hotel for a Staycation

Winner: Four Seasons Resort O‘ahu at Ko Olina
92-1001 Olani St., Kapolei, (808) 679-0079, fourseasons.com, @fsoahu

Finalist: Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa
92-1185 Ali‘inui Drive, Kapolei, (866) 443-4763, disneyaulani.com, @disneyaulani

Best LGBTQIA+ Bar/Club

Finalist: Hula’s Bar & Lei Stand
134 Kapahulu Ave., (808) 923-0669, hulas.com, @hulaswaikiki

Best Live Music Venue

Winner: Blue Note Hawai‘i
2335 Kalākaua Ave., (808) 777-4890, bluenotehawaii.com, @bluenotehawaii

Finalist: Waikīkī Shell
2805 Monsarrat Ave., (808) 768-5400, blaisdellcenter.com, @blaisdellcenter

Best Movie Theater

Winner: Consolidated Theatres – Ward
1044 Auahi St., (808) 594-7044, consolidatedtheatres.com, @consolidatedhi

Finalist: Consolidated Theatres – Kāhala
4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Suite 3080, (808) 733-6243, consolidatedtheatres.com, @consolidatedhi

Best Place to Hold a Celebration

Winner: Natsunoya Tea House
1935 Makanani Drive, (808) 595-4488, natsunoyahawaii.com

Finalist: Hy’s Steak House
2440 Kūhiō Ave., (808) 922-5555, hyswaikiki.com, @hyshawaii

Best Place to Pau Hana

Winner: Moku Kitchen
660 Ala Moana Blvd., (808) 591-6658, mokukitchen.com, @mokukitchen

Finalist: Hana Koa Brewing Co.
962 Kawaiaha‘o St., (808) 591-2337, hanakoabrewing.com, @hanakoabrewing

Best Place to Celebrate an Anniversary

Winner: Hy’s Steak House
2440 Kūhiō Ave., (808) 922-5555, hyswaikiki.com, @hyshawaii

Finalist: Roy’s
Multiple locations, royyamaguchi.com, @royshawaii

Best Place to Play Tourist

Winner: Waikīkī Beach

Finalist: Kualoa Ranch
49-560 Kamehameha Highway, Kāne‘ohe, (808) 237-7321, kualoa.com, @kualoaranch

Best Place to See Art

Winner: Honolulu Museum of Art
900 S. Beretania St., (808) 532-8700, honolulumuseum.org, @honolulumuseum

Finalist: Hawai‘i State Art Museum
250 S. Hotel St., Second Floor, (808) 586-0900, hisam.hawaii.gov, @hawaiistateartmuseum

Best Place to Take Out-of-Towners

Winner: Polynesian Cultural Center
55-370 Kamehameha Highway, Lā‘ie, 1 (800) 367-7060, polynesia.com, @polynesianculturalctr

Finalist: North Shore

Best Radio Station

Winner: 92.3 KSSK
AM 590, FM 92.3, ksskradio.iheart.com, @ksskhawaii

Finalist: Hawai‘i Public Radio
HPR-1: 88.1 KHPR, HPR-2: 89.3 KIPO, hawaiipublicradio.org, @wearehpr