A Scarily Good Guide to Halloween in Honolulu
Hawaii is famous for its endless summers, but we know how to have a blast in all seasons. We’ve rounded up three Halloween events in Honolulu that will have you screaming Alo-aaaah!
Nightmare Pop-Up Bar, October 1—31
Kick off the fright nights with a visit to Nightmare, a Halloween-themed pop-up bar that’s open this month only in the Ala Moana Pacific Center. Born from the macabre minds behind the Haunted Plantation and Unlocked Escape Room, Nightmare (formerly known as Ghost Bar) serves up mysterious potions like the Witches’ Brew and Vampire Bite. Seasonal craft beers are also available to sip as you ready your nerves for the ghoulish month to come.
Nightmare is open seven days a week from 5pm until midnight. Reservations are not accepted, so feel free to walk in … if you dare.
Hallowbaloo, Saturday, October 28
Don’t miss Hallowbaloo, the annual arts and music festival that has been transforming Honolulu’s Chinatown Arts District into a bloodcurdling blowout for 14 years running. Costumed revelers pack the streets beginning at 5pm to enjoy live music, food trucks, and giveaways from local businesses. More than 25 craft beers and seltzers will be on tap, and 10+ nearby nightclubs will host monster mashes from 9pm until 2am.
Tickets start as low as $15, but for a few dollars extra you can nab VIP club passes or a craft beer wristband that comes with a souvenir beer stein and five free tastings. All events are 21+ and tickets sell out fast, so don’t delay.
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Waikiki Street Party, October 31
We like to keep things informal in Hawaii, so it’s only fitting that the biggest Halloween bash of the year is unofficial. Locals and tourists alike descend on Kalakaua Avenue to flaunt their most fearsome costumes and ring in All Hallows’ Eve. Many restaurants and bars offer food and drink specials, and thousands of people throng the streets for some good old-fashioned dress-up bar hopping.
The event has no official start time, but things tend to get going when the sun sets around 6pm. Just don’t plan to drive all the way to Kalakaua Avenue. Bumper-to-bumper traffic will have you sitting behind the wheel in that Barbie costume that you worked so hard to perfect.
Written by Chris, a local expert guide for Waikiki Crawling. A historian on the lam from the world of academia, Chris enjoys gardening, hiking, and playing at open mic nights after one too many beers. Want to learn more about Honolulu’s hidden history? Join us on an Aloha Pub Crawl!