Live-music venues worth the trip in Honolulu, Hawaii

The Tom Moffatt Waikiki Shell is an outdoor amphitheater beside Kapiolani Park in Honolulu, and its own site calls it “a premier outdoor concert venue” set “against the iconic backdrop of Diamond Head”.

The Neal S. Blaisdell Arena is the indoor arena at the Blaisdell Center in Honolulu, and its own site says it “is suitable for concerts, sporting events, large meetings, conventions, consumer shows, family shows, and other specialty events.”

Hawaii Theatre is a 1922 theater on Bethel Street in downtown Honolulu, and its own site calls it “a popular venue for national touring shows, theatre, concerts, industrials, film, television”.

The Republik is a music venue on Kapiolani Boulevard in Honolulu, and its own site says concertgoers 21 and over can enter its Safehouse Lounge before doors open to “the concert hall side of the venue”. Its own site adds that there are “typically opening artists” before the headliner takes the stage.

Blue Note Hawaii is a jazz club one floor up in the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort at 2335 Kalakaua Avenue in Honolulu, and its own site bills it as “Hawaii’s Premier Live Music Venue”, a “326-seat facility” that “showcases nightly performances in an intimate setting.”

Dragon Upstairs is a bar on Nuuanu Avenue in Honolulu, and its own site calls it “a premier live music venue” that blends “the vibe of a night bar with the energy of a night club”.

Duke’s Waikiki is a restaurant and bar at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort on Kalakaua Avenue in Honolulu that hosts live music, and its own site posts “Live Music Hours” alongside its restaurant hours.

House Without A Key is the Halekulani hotel’s poolside restaurant on Kalia Road in Waikiki, and its own site says it is “known for its sunset cocktails and live Hawaiian music”.

Kani Ka Pila Grille sits beside the pool at the Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort on Kalia Road in Honolulu, and its own site promises “nightly live Hawaiian music with contemporary artists” on “its legendary stage”.

Kapono’s at The Lounge is a restaurant and live-music venue on Keahole Street in Honolulu’s Hawaii Kai, and its own site calls it “Hawai’i Kai’s new waterfront home for Good Music, Good Food & Good Times”, a collaboration that “introduces a fresh chapter for Hawai’i’s live music scene”.

Kelley O’Neil’s is an Irish pub on Lewers Street in Waikiki, and its own site promises “live music every night” from “local and touring artists”.

Lewers Lounge is a cocktail lounge inside the Halekulani hotel on Kalia Road in Waikiki, and its own site says it offers “live light jazz music performances nightly”.

Mai Tai’s is an open-air bar on the fourth floor of Ala Moana Center in Honolulu, and its own site promises “local live music 7 nights a week” with no cover.

Secret Spot is a restaurant on Kuhio Avenue in Honolulu with live local music, and its own site says it is “breathing seven days a week with the rhythm of local musicians, artists, and creators.”