Oahu Amusement Parks
Even going to an arcade or theme park in Hawaii feels different somehow. Although many of Oahu’s entertainment palaces offer the same in technology and atmosphere, they also provide a change of pace from the beach lifestyle that locals appreciate. You might need a break from the waves too after a tough day of surfing or a particularly brutal sunburn.
Affordable Amusements: What could be more special (or more weird) than going ice skating on a tropical island? While for many of us ice rinks seem fairly mundane, especially in winter months, in Hawaii it’s a big deal to see that much ice in one place. Check out the Ice Palace, a local favorite in Honolulu. This rink is fully outfitted with everything you’d expect, from a skate shop to a skate school. The Ice Palace even hosts adult and kids’ hockey teams—something you’d never expect to see in Hawaii. The Ice Palace is a great place for a quick cool down or even a unique birthday party idea. As in the grand tradition of ice rinks, the Palace also features a selection of video games for a break off of the ice. Admission is only $8.75 per person, and you get in free if you are just chaperoning your kids but not skating yourself. There are also great group rates available.
Mid-Priced Fun: The Fun Factory has many locations on the mainland, but its largest territory is on the Hawaiian islands. On Oahu, there are six Fun Factory Locations for maximum fun. The arcade and game center is set up using the classic token system. Kids can buy token cards at different levels, then run amok using up their tokens in exchange for tickets that will hopefully earn them prizes. Games in the Fun Factory include classic video games and more active games like air hockey and skee-ball. There’s no minimum to spend on tokens, but expect to spend at least $30 per kid for a fully loaded card that will last them a while.
Big Time Thrills: If having fun is serious business in your family, you may be willing to invest a little more for a full day of excitement. Stop by Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park in Kapolei for some wet and wild fun outside of the ocean. The huge water park offers plenty of stomach-dropping rides as well as a more low-key kids’ section. A favorite is the Cliffhanger, which features a 6 ft. drop on two parallel slides. Adults get in to the park for $40 and kids for $30, and be prepared to pay for the park’s food as well, as they do not allow outside food.
If you’ve had enough of the water and would rather watch someone (or something) else do the swimming, try Sea Life Park in Waimanalo, where you can learn all there is to know about sea creatures including dolphins, penguins and sea turtles. The main attraction at Sea Life Park is definitely the series of dolphin shows, where the dexterous sea mammals will wow you with their flips and tricks. The shows at the park are all designed to be educational as well as fun, so you’ll learn about the animals’ natural habitats, diets and personalities. Adults pay $29 to enter for a whole day and kids under 11 pay $19.