Where to go to meet other singles in Honolulu (for any age)
Whether you’re in your 70s and looking to make new friends, or in your 30s and hoping to find “the one,” check out these social scenes across Honolulu.
If you’re in your 20s…
Eat the Street. Photo: Courtesy Eat the Street
Eat the Street
This once-a-month food-truck rally, featuring dozens of local vendors, each pumping out ono food with the month’s ingredient (garlic, bacon, tomato, etc.), draws in hundreds. Strike up a conversation in line. What may start off as sharing a waffledog could lead to so much more.
555 South St., streetgrindz.com.
Moose McGillycuddy’s Waikiki
Need to make rent, but still want to party? Then Moose’s Dollar Night with mixed drinks from $1 to $3 on Tuesday may be the place for you. It is especially popular among international exchange students, so it may also be a good opportunity to brush up on your language skills.
310 Lewers Street, 923-0751, Dollar Night starts at 7 p.m.
First Friday
This monthly event brings crowds of art-enthusiasts—or people who just want to party—to Chinatown’s art galleries and bars.
SoHo
Get ready to dance at SoHo on Wednesday nights after 11 p.m. and on First Friday. A warning to older singles: this club sometimes has 18-and-over events.
80 S. Pauahi St., Chinatown.
If you’re in your 30s…
Art After Dark. Photo: Christian Vetter
Art and Flea
This monthly market at Fresh Café is perfect for the hipster and art/vintage wares-loving crowd. There’s also live music and food and drinks from the café.
837 Queen St., artandflea.com.
Art After Dark
For the first 10 months of the year, the Honolulu Academy of Arts hosts Art After Dark on the last Friday of each month. Each month has a new theme, such as this month’s (October 2012) “Freak Out!” where you can bust out your Halloween costume, meander through galleries and listen to DJs while you eat, drink and dance the evening away.
Real a Gastropub. Photo: Martha Cheng
Bar 35
Readers voted Bar 35 as the best bar for singles in our 2010 Best Bars issue. Need we say more?
35 N. Hotel St.
HiSpeed Dating
“People think speed dating is for desperate people, but it’s not,” says Nancy Do, who started HI Speed Dating. Do has helped match people up, and start new friendships. HI Speed Dating takes place at Bar 35 every third Thursday. It’s $27 per person, including a drink and slices of the bar’s popular flat-bread pizza. Do has themed events, such as Christian and pet-lovers’ nights and for certain ages. October 18 is Christian night, and November 15 is for ages 30 to 40.
Little Gay Book
Head over to Hula’s Bar and Lei Stand for women-only speed dating. Too nervous to come up with questions? Organizer and matchmaker Shelley Simpson can help craft insightful ones beyond “What do you do for a living,” or “What’s your favorite color?” This month’s event is Oct. 24 from 7 to 9 p.m.—the next ones are Nov. 14 and Dec. 19—but come early, beforehand Simpson will hold a short how-to-flirt demo.
littlegaybook.com/events, registration is $20, which includes a cocktail. Only 12 can register at a time, due to space.
Real a Gastropub
Hang around other craft beer lovers at this relatively new hotspot and get into a conversation about breweries. Order a sampler of 4.5 ounce pours, and you’re bound to make a few friends.
1020 Auahi St., 596-2526. realgastropub.com.
Pearl. Photo: Mike Keany
If you’re in your 40s…
Pearl Honolulu
The age group at Pearl averages around 30-40, but who said looking a little younger (or a little older) breaks the rules? Try the after work happy hour between 4:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. or visit on every last Saturday of the month for an event called Beautiful.
Hookipa Terrace 3rd Level, Ala Moana Center, 944-8000, pearlhawaii.com.
Rumours Nightclub
Whether you’re looking for a young’un dancing in the cages, or a mature adult shuffling across the dance floor, this nightclub covers every age group.
Ala Moana Hotel, 410 Atkinson Drive.
Sarento’s Waikiki
On Tuesday evenings, Sarento’s restaurant turns into a social live jazz scene among the 40-and-up crowd. Match that with Sarento’s haute cuisine, and you have a winning night, with or without meeting someone (though we hope you do!).
Visit dancindaveproductions.com for a list of the upcoming performers.
Whole Foods Kailua
Stop wearing your sweats to the grocery store, and start paying attention to the people around you. Compare nutrition facts on your whole grain bagel. Reach for the same organic head of lettuce. Do get into a conversation about fruit. Grocery shopping can be flirtatious and fun.
629 Kailua Road, Suite 100, 263-6800, Mon. through Sun. 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Lewers Lounge. Photo: Courtesy The Halekulani.
If you’re in your 50s…
Honolulu Museum Art Classes
If you’re looking for something a little more hands-on, take a ceramic, sculpture, painting, drawing or printmaking class from the Honolulu Museum, where you’ll no doubt meet smart, like-minded people like yourself.
honolulumuseum.org/learn/classes.
Lewers Lounge
This piano bar at the Halekulani Hotel exudes class and sophistication. Visit on the weekend for live jazz and some of the town’s best cocktails. Dress to impress. 8:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Halekulani Hotel, 2199 Kalia Rd., 923-2311.
The Plaza Club
This club located atop Pioneer Plaza may be members-only most of the time, but there are still a couple nights out of the month where the public is allowed to mingle with its people. Visit on the First Fridays of the month, and view an art gallery showing, or visit on Third Thursdays for its jazz night. (Also recommended: get a membership!)
Pioneer Plaza, 900 Fort Street Mall, 20th and 21st Floor, 521-8905, theplazaclub.com.
Chaine des Rotisseurs
With age comes refined tastes, and because of that, the Chaine des Rotisseurs may be a society you consider joining. These members are foodies, chefs, sommeliers and anyone else who have a love for food and wine.
bailliages2.chaineus.org/honolulu/index.html.
If you’re in your 60s and upwards…
Hawaii Ballroom Dance Association. Photo: Christian Vetter
Elks Lodge
At the edge of Waikiki, The Elks Lodge is popular among retirees. Singles love its large restaurant and bar with ample room to meet other singles, while staring out at its stunning view of the open ocean. But, you have to become a member first.
Hawaii Ballroom Dance Association
This association has some of Honolulu’s most fun and vibrant group of individuals. Become a member and learn how to waltz your partner across the floor, or join the association at one of its public socials.
The Dragon Upstairs. Photo: Courtesy The Dragon Upstairs
Hawaii Opera Theatre
The 2012-2013 season is just starting, so it’s a perfect time to take up this hobby, if you aren’t an opera-lover already. Performances draw crowds… and, maybe a single person—or two—for you.
Manoa Valley Theatre
Known for its off-Broadway performances, Manoa Valley Theatre draws a large crowd of seniors each season.
The Dragon Upstairs
Another great location to listen to jazz, The Dragon Upstairs is a fun, and cozy, venue to drink a glass of wine and catch a live 5-person jazz band. Call ahead for its schedule.
1038 Nuuanu Ave., 526-1411, thedragonupstairs.com.
Other recommendations:
- Visit a dog park, with your dog.
- Join a gym.
- Hike, or exercise, at Koko Head.
- Frequent Starbucks.
- Shop at a Farmer’s Market every weekend.
- Get season passes to a UH sport.
- Become an active volunteer of your favorite nonprofit.
- Take up running.
