While it might seem like an unusual thing to hear, rain can be a blessing in Honolulu. Far from spoiling your vacation, it could give you the chance to explore indoor attractions that you might otherwise ignore in your quest to enjoy the sand and the surf that draws so many tourists each year.
Local Food
With loads of fresh fish in the native diet, eating in Hawaii can be very healthy. Ahi tuna, mahi mahi, ono, shaved ice with azuki beans, lomi salmon, poi, luau and haupia are all indigenous Hawaiian specialties that can be sampled at area restaurants. If it starts to rain, duck into one of them, such as Hoku’s on the east side of town, and experience an authentic Hawaiian meal. The shaved ice for dessert is dairy-free and fat-free, but has protein and fiber due to the beans--not to mention sweet and delicious.
Museums
Take advantage of the poor weather to take a break and educate yourself about Hawaii and enjoy worldwide culture. The Hawaii State Art Museum enables you to come into contact with the artists of Hawaii, past and present, while the Honolulu Academy of Arts features work by Modernist masters such as Van Gogh, Picasso, Gauguin, Cezanne, Monet and Modigliani. The Bishop Museum on the west side of town is set in a large complex of buildings and contains numerous artifacts related to Hawaii’s history and culture; you could easily spend an entire day walking through the buildings for some indoor exercise on a rainy day.
Indoor Fitness
Stick to your fitness regimen no matter what the weather happens to bring at one of Honolulu’s fitness studios. The city has branches of both the YWCA and 24 Hour Fitness. Meridian Sports Club offers Pilates training, cardio kickboxing and aerobics courses.
Health Spas
Relax, refresh and rejuvenate your aching muscles and joints with a rainy afternoon well spent at one of Honolulu’s health spas. Ampy’s Day Spa has been going for more than 30 years and offers facials, body massages, body treatments and hand and foot care. At Spa Pure, you can experience a personal warm granite sauna with herbal steam. Massage Thailand Hawaii offers Thai, Swedish, deep tissue, Lomi Lomi and oil massages. Quick Spa Waikiki specializes in Hawaiian medicinal body treatments, facial skincare and massage therapy.
Planning Ahead
November is typically the rainiest time of year in Honolulu and it is also the hurricane season, though it should be noted that as of 2010, Hawaii had not experienced a hurricane since 1992.
References
- “Honolulu, Waikiki & Oahu”; Lonely Planet; 2009
- “The Rough Guide to Hawaii”; Greg Ward; 2007
- Spa Pure
- Massage Thailand Hawaii
- Quick Spa Waikiki
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