Lots of variety to choose from Very over priced…read more More expensive than our high end stores and not all high priced stuff has good quality. There are unique items that you won't find wise where. I like the cultural things. It's very over crowded and the lines to get there were over a mile and hours long

This is the 2nd time I went to MIH (Made in Hawaii) and this time was better (personally for me)…read more Here are two tips I highly recommend BEFORE you attend. 1. Plan to go later in the day I went around 2:00ish and the line to get in was only 5 minutes long. I also bought my tickets ahead time to expedite the process of getting checked in. 2. DO YOUR RESEARCH I highly recommend researching which vendors are going and what booth they will be at. Once you get that information, look at the map and make a route. Then once you hit all the places you want to go to you can explore. I feel like people get so overwhelmed from not knowing where to go.. So honestly, just research ahead of time and make your life easier!! I kind of wish they made time-slots like during COVID time to avoid overcrowding, but I guess to each their own.

Make a plan for Spam Jam. That's my advice to get the most out of this event. It's always fun, but…read moreit gets crowded quickly, so what I do is look at the list of vendors and check out what they'll be offering ahead of time. I even go to their Instagram because a lot of times they will show pictures and describe the items in more detail. So then I have a plan going into Spam Jam of the things that are must-eat and then the "maybe I'll get this if I have room" stuff. This year, I really wanted funnel cakes, which had been listed online as part of the menu, but when I got to that vendor's tent, there were no funnel cakes, just spiral potatoes, gandules, and some other things. So no funnel cake for me. I kind of hate when the listing online shows things that will be there that are not even offered when you get there. I did get delicious hula pie topped with candied Spam from Duke's along with a teriyaki katsu sandwich from Duke's, which was interesting because it had both pineapple tidbits as well as raisins (?!) but the raisins kind of oddly worked. My favorite was Il Gelato's caramel Spam gelato topped with Spam toffee, which was delicious! There are several Il Gelato locations near my place so I will be checking them out later on for sure. I also enjoyed birria tacos from Skybox Taphouse. I got the queso birria tacos for $9 for 2 tacos, which I thought was reasonable. My husband got the two "hellfire" tacos for $14 which were (1) too hot for me and (2) I couldn't tell why they were $5 more than my tacos. Other than the heat and including two large jalapenos, I couldn't tell what inside them merited a $5 increase. A fun time hopefully had by all. We enjoyed our celebratory day of Spam!

A great event, with lots of retail and food booths, supported by specialty Spam dishes at various…read morerestaurants, roaming photo ops, entertainment, and happy people. Hawai'i Foodbank also thanks everyone for their support! We arrived a tad late, it was a busy day - so we just missed the drone show, and most spam specialties were sold out. Those that weren't still had long lines, so YAY it was a success! This was our first time at the Waikiki Spam Jam, and we were happy to miss the super big crowd. We just wanted to check this out, and we're very glad we did! Mahalo to all the volunteers, vendors, security, and HPD for helping create and make this a wonderful and safe event for everyone to enjoy!!!

We took our school age children to the Imaginarium and it was amazing. From the discovery center to…read morewatching the show. I highly recommend other school age programs to utilize this program. It was very hands on and informative for a great price.

My keiki enjoy coming here to learn about the current stars seen in the particular month. The…read moreauditorium is spacious and always has enough seats so people can spread out. We will be looking to do more of the other shows offered here as well.

I've been to about half a dozen luaus on Oahu over the past few years, and Rock-A-Hula is now my…read morefavorite by far! Unlike the others, this is one I'll remember for a long time. The buffet was surprisingly delicious. My favorites were the tofu salad, mac salad, stir-fried noodles, fish, and the pork. Everything was packed with flavor. I'm usually not a dessert person, but the coconut jelly was absolutely amazing. As for the drinks, one Mai Tai had me feeling relaxed, and two had me feeling really good! The highlight of the night was definitely the theater show. It was 90 minutes of nonstop entertainment with incredible live singing, Hawaiian dancing, and amazing performances. It's basically a Las Vegas show! Elvis absolutely stole the show. I was ready to jump out of my seat and start dancing in my slippers! Michael Jackson's Thriller and Billie Jean performances were also incredible. From the outstanding performers to the friendly staff and how well everything was organized, Rock-A-Hula delivered an unforgettable experience. If you're trying to decide which luau to see in Waikiki, this would be my top recommendation!

If you're looking for something different from a traditional Hawaiian luau, Rock-A-Hula Waikiki is…read morea fantastic option. Located in the Royal Hawaiian. Rather than focusing only on a traditional luau, the show takes you on a journey through the history of Hawaiian music and entertainment. It begins with beautiful hula, Hawaiian chants, and Polynesian performances, then transitions through the evolution of music in Hawaii as different cultures influenced the islands over the decades. The centerpiece of the performance is Elvis Presley, celebrating his special connection to Hawaii through his concerts and movies filmed on the islands. Guests have the opportunity to meet the performers and take photos with the singers, dancers at the end of the show. I loves every minute!

The theater has been closed ever since the pandemic started in 2020 and hasn't opened except for…read morespecial meetings.

At $4.50 per ticket, you're seeing a movie in the theater that's been out for a while. The…read moreconcessions are average - definitely cheaper than off-base. Sodas, popcorn, candy. You do, however, get what you pay for - just watched a movie here last night (I think our 3rd time at this theater) and I could hear this clicking sound every time there was a quiet scene... it really took away from the movie, in my opinion. It sounded like as the reel was spinning, it was knocking into something every go around. Anyway, it's a nice cheap place to catch that movie that you missed out on a couple of weeks ago! Sometimes it's not very tidy, but at least it doesn't stink, and it's not usually full unless it's the theater's first showing of a REALLY popular movie.

The memory of being parked at Magic Island, the perfect spot at 7:20pm with unobstructed views from…read morea distance. At times, I rode the city bus into Waikīkī to be on the beach or better yet, on resort property to watch the pre-show at the Hilton Super Pool. That was me, years ago when I used to live on O'ahu. To watch fireworks at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, on a Friday night at 7:45pm. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ It's 2026, many years later and now residing on the Big Island of Hawai'i where I was born and raised. Traveling to O'ahu recently, I decided to select overnight accommodations specifically on a Friday night at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. To enjoy the fireworks show. Staying on-site gave me zero logistical hassles, walking right from my hotel room avoiding pre 'n post show traffic on the roads and sidewalks. By watching the fireworks from the comfort of a private balcony/lanai, it allowed me to avoid crowds and skip the time of securing a spot on the beach or within the resort property. Dining reservations were made months in advance. It's 7:24pm and there's a massive crowd already on the beach fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village for the 7:45pm fireworks show. If you're not a registered resort guest, take the time to secure a spot here. Then, venture on-property to enjoy the resort offerings for a cocktail or snack, enjoy live entertainment or shop at one of the many boutiques. The open shoreline in-front of the resort provides perfect, unobstructed views. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ It's 7:45pm. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ As the controlled explosions, those brilliant colors fill the sky above the Hilton Hawaiian Village, a sense of emotion comes over me. Filled with nostalgia, I began to remember watching fireworks while growing up in my hometown with my family. Along with those special summer trips to Disneyland. A tear began to roll down my cheek as the visual spectacle continued. Once I passed the emotional stage, my adrenaline started to kick-in with the booming sounds. As I began to anticipate what colors, what flashes of light and shapes will appear before me. A thrilling high, a deep euphoria from fireworks in the Waikīkī sky. My eyes, frozen in-position as the sensation of wonder begins to pull me out of my worries. Brilliant chrysanthemums, electric blues and pinks, ruby reds and golden yellows bursts in the horizon, as flares rain down sparks and create a dazzling light show. The deep, echoing booms resonate across the sand and water, followed by a "crackle" and "hiss". Amplifying this visual, multi sensory experience. It captures my attention, sparks wonder and amazement. A smile appears, I can't believe I'm actually here. Watching it live with such an amazing viewpoint, I've waited years for this. As each firework shell is mounted on the white sand beach in-front of the balcony I'm perched on, a feeling of gratitude comes over me as the dazzling display comes to an end. What a spectacular finale. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Watch the show from a distance, time your arrival accordingly to obtain that perfect viewing spot. Or venture into Waikīkī and join the crowd on the beach hours before as you take a dip in the ocean, then venture on resort property to explore. Become a registered guest at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and enjoy the fireworks show from your balcony, from exclusive viewing areas for resort/dining guests. The sensory combination of light and sound, allow it to capture your emotions and trigger childhood memories. Like it did for me. As the sky transitions from darkness to brilliant bursts of color, let it symbolize a new chapter of hope, unity and fresh beginnings. Right here at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, every Friday night at 7:45pm. (photos and videos of the fireworks were taken from my iPhone)

Watching the weekly Friday fireworks show from Magic Island is totally worth it and gives you a…read morefantastic panoramic view. We sat on the rocks by the water facing the Hilton hotel, and while the show only lasted 5 minutes, someone right next to us played Katy Perry's "Firework" to set the mood. I can easily see why locals prefer heading to the island instead of the crowded Waikiki beaches, especially since the crowds here were minimal. If you decide to go, keep in mind that parking can be tough with people constantly circling the lot, so it is definitely best to take an Uber or just walk over.

What a great opportunity to see several Ghibli movies at the Historic Hawaii Theater. Guessing…read morethat most people attending have already seen the movies at least on DVD, but to see it on the movie screen is a great treat that cannot be missed. The real question for many is which movie to see (if not all, right?)- in our case we decided to see "Spirited Away". This has always been a personal favorite and we were lucky to have seen it when it first came to the big screen in 2002. They also have special items for sale on the second floor connected with the Miyazaki movies. Many talented artists have their wares displayed for purchase (Support local!) and as a bonus- they have a free photo booth that takes three pics and includes a Film festival header pic. Nice memento of the festival. Side note: We have been to Hawaii Theater on many occasions but for live performances. Back in the day, before it was saved from being demolished I would go to see Saturday morning kids movies and monster/ Science fiction movies in middle school. The theater is great, restored to it's former glory. The sound system is great, the ushers, concessionaires, and everyone connected with the program is top notch and mostly volunteers. This is a well run operation and is a great venue to enjoy live performances and film presentations. The Miyazaki Ghibli Festival presented by the Hawaii Theater Center is indeed special and very enjoyable. There is one more movie offering on Sunday, 7/10. Check it out if you can. Mahalos to Yelp and the Hawaii Theater Center for the comp. tickets. A great movie opportunity that we really enjoyed.

Here with Nicole S. on the last day of Miyazaki film festival! Totoro, dubbed in English subtitles,…read morethis is such a great end to the series this week. Shout out to Art + Flea for putting this event on with with the help of Hawaii Theater! Some food vendors outside, with a semi-long line for tickets at the box office. I really liked being able to pickup tickets at Will Call! Thanks Yelp!! I really liked seeing so many kids and families here to spend sometime together and watch this timeless classic.

we went to mcdonald's drive through and bought pancakes and they didn't give us any butter knife or…read morefork of syrup either absolutely nothing, how dare they do that to us when we go go there almost everyday to buy food from them and they leave out the essentials like that, omg!!! i want to report them to the better business bureau too now for doing this to us this isn't the first time they've done this to us before either too, omg!!!

When i was asked to go I thought nah because they're not very scary. When I saw the Facebook page…read moreand saw how well the costumes were I thought maybe it can still be a good adventure. I have to say this was a good scare. The costumes, props and effects were spot on. Many places are super dark like you can't see your hand 5 inches from your face. I had to take creepy small steps just to feel my way and get through this. Actors were professionally made up. it was difficult to tell if it was a dummy or not. I'm not one to scare easy but this place got me to jump twice. They have learned well how to guide people to the positions where they want them to be to get a good scare. And then when you think it's over, it's just like the in the movies. It ain't. hahahahha Some food trucks are set up in the parking lot so you can grab a bite to eat. Parking is across the street at West Marines. They have security there too for the safety of your vehicle. $15 will get you in but we decided to get the $20 Fast Pass to bypass the line. Special thanks to Kevin for setting this up again this year. Highly, highly recommend everyone going to check this out. Well worth it and better than most of the haunts out there.