What to Do Before or After Your: Waikiki Beach Sail
If your evening plans include a sunset sail off Waikiki Beach, you’ve got a whole stretch of Honolulu’s most famous shoreline to work with beforehand. Na Hoku’s Waikiki Sunset Sail departs from the sand in front of Duke’s, so almost everything on this list is a short walk from where you’ll board. Here’s how to fill the day before the boat pushes off, or the evening after you step back onto the sand.
Look down: the Waikiki Historic Trail runs under your feet
Most people walk right past this without noticing. A series of bronze surfboard markers line the sidewalk from one end of Waikiki Beach to the other, each with a short story about the area, from ancient Hawaiian history to the early days of beach tourism. Walking the full trail takes twenty or thirty minutes and is a good way to get your bearings if this is your first time here.
Duke Kahanamoku’s statue, Kuhio Beach
The bronze figure of Duke Kahanamoku, the Olympic swimmer who helped bring surfing to the world stage, stands arms-out on Kuhio Beach, usually draped in fresh flower lei left by whoever passed through that day. It’s one of the most photographed spots on the island, and if you’re walking the beach toward your sail, it’s directly on the way.
Kuhio Beach for the afternoon
A seawall keeps the water calm here, which makes Kuhio Beach an easy place to spend a few hours before an evening sail. Grab a mat, settle in near the Duke statue, and watch the catamarans head out ahead of you.
Want fewer crowds? Try Kaimana Beach
Walk a little further toward Diamond Head and you’ll hit Kaimana Beach, next to the Waikiki Aquarium. The crowd here skews local, the water stays calm, and there’s actual shade from a row of trees, something in short supply elsewhere along Waikiki. Good option for a slower morning before you sail.
Liliha Bakery, for something to go
Need a snack you can eat on the move? Liliha Bakery’s Waikiki location at the International Market Place turns out cream puffs, malasadas, and other local bakery staples that travel well if you’re squeezing a sail between other plans.
A Mai Tai and a hula show at House Without a Key
Down the beach at the Halekulani, House Without a Key has been a sunset tradition for decades: live Hawaiian music, hula performed at the water’s edge as the sun drops. If your sail departs later in the evening, stop in beforehand for a drink and some old Hawaii atmosphere before walking over to board.
Dinner on the sand at Hula Grill Waikiki
Hula Grill sits right on the beach with an open-air lanai looking out at the same water your sail will cross later. The menu leans into modern Hawaiian regional cooking, and the location makes it easy to eat first and sail second, or flip the order after you dock.
Save room for hula pie
Duke’s, the restaurant our sail departs in front of, makes the hula pie that half of Waikiki seems to be eating at any given moment: macadamia nut ice cream, chocolate cookie crust, hot fudge, built to share. Since you’ll already be standing in front of the restaurant when you dock, this is the easiest dessert decision you’ll make all trip.
Worth the drive: Iolani Palace
If you’re building a fuller day around your sail, Iolani Palace sits a short drive away in downtown Honolulu, the only official royal residence on U.S. soil. Tours walk through the history of the Hawaiian monarchy and pair naturally with a morning of sightseeing ahead of an evening on the water.
What to Do Before or After Your: Kewalo Basin Sail
Na Hoku’s Kewalo Basin Harbor Sunset Sail departs from Pier F23, in the middle of Kaka’ako, one of Honolulu’s fastest-changing neighborhoods and one of its most walkable. Skip the beach crowds and spend your day here instead, then come back after you dock for dinner and a walk along the water.
A coffee stop at Westman Cafe
Starting your day on the Waikiki side before heading to the harbor? Westman Cafe is a small, reliable stop to fuel up before you make your way over to Kaka’ako.
Ala Moana Beach Park, a few minutes on foot
Ala Moana Regional Park is one of Honolulu’s largest stretches of green space, with a long, protected swimming beach and shaded lawns running along the water. Swim, picnic, or just stretch out on the grass and watch the boats come and go before your sail.
Magic Island, for the view
At the far end of Ala Moana Beach Park, a man-made peninsula called Magic Island juts into the water and gives you one of the better sunset angles in town, looking out toward Diamond Head. Close enough to the harbor that you can walk from here straight to the boat, so if your sail departs later, start here.
Food trucks, wherever you end up
Kaka’ako and the streets around Ala Moana have a steady lineup of food trucks serving poke bowls, plate lunches, and shave ice, and you’ll find a similar scene if you’re coming from Waikiki, especially along Kalakaua Avenue. Easy, casual, and no reservation needed.
Ward Village shopping is next door
Kewalo Basin Harbor sits beside Ward Village, Kaka’ako’s shopping and dining center, with restaurants, boutiques, and a movie theater all within a few blocks. Works equally well as a pre-sail meal or a post-sail dinner once you’re back on dry land.
Saturday Mornings bring the Farmers Market
The Kaka’ako Farmers Market runs Saturday mornings near Ward Village, with local produce, prepared food, and crafts. It wraps up earlier in the day, so plan it alongside an evening sail on the same day rather than counting on it right before boarding.
Foster Botanical Garden, a short drive toward downtown
Some of the oldest and largest tropical trees in Hawaii grow at the Foster Botanical Garden, and the shade makes it a welcome change of pace on a hot sunny morning, a calmer counterpoint if you want something quieter before an afternoon or evening sail.