Things to Do in Honolulu

The servicemen of Pearl Harbor's naval and air base were taking some much-needed R and R between early morning repairs inside Hangar 37 when suddenly they heard a buzzing overhead. Their ears weren't foreign to the rapidly approaching sound with the humming of their own planes and battleships periodically filling the air, but this instance proved to be drastically different. Thunderous explosions soon overtook Pearl Harbor and the U.S.S. Arizona struggled to stay afloat as the Imperial Japanese Navy delivered a surprise military strike, which resulted in one of the most devastating attacks on American soil. With a mission to preserve the history of this tragic event, Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor opened that very same hangar to the public, hundreds of feet from where ships burned and men courageously fought more than 70 years ago.

Hangar 37's 42,000-square-foot space currently houses many of the museum's World War II artifacts, which include B-25B bombers, naval planes, and Korean War MiGs. Also open to the public, Hangar 79 displays the actual bullet holes that pierced its windows during the attack, while an authentic WWII maintenance shop contains an exhibit that explains how WWII planes ran on Lucky Strike cigarette materials. Visitors can experience the museum's ever-evolving collection of exhibits––which has included segments dedicated to Amelia Earhart and the Flying Tigers––through guided tours in both hangars and submerse themselves in the virtual world of the museum's combat flight simulator.

Praised by CityVoters as the best course in western Washington, Avalon Golf Links lays out three nines that offer eye-pleasing glimpses of the Skagit Valley below. Though each nine conceals its own unique set of obstacles, every 1 of the 27 holes place golfers amid a picturesque sweep of Northwestern flora, challenging them to bend shots around towering evergreens and send drives screaming against the backdrop of the Olympic and Cascade ranges. The North Nine bookends the toughest stretch on the course in holes four through seven, a rigorous test requiring approaches as steady as the hand of a neurosurgeon playing Operation. Though short in comparison, the West Nine is notable for its tight fairways and frequent East-to-West orientation, yielding panoramic views of the Cascade Mountains. The South Nine punishes poor approaches with challenging greens, where balls frequently run away from their owners when struck too firmly or distracted by a particularly attractive goose egg.

After testing mind and body over 18 holes, Avalon's Sweet Bite Cafe stands at the ready to refuel tuckered-out golfers with breakfast served starting at 7:30 a.m. on weekends and sandwiches served starting at 11 a.m.

Course at a Glance:

• Three nine-hole, par 36 courses

• Total length up to 6,803 yards from the back tees

• Course rating up to 72.3 from the back tees

• Course slope up to 126 from the back tees

• Four sets of tees

• Designed by Robert Muir Graves

Rylan Lizares learned Brazilian jujitsu at the hands of Professor Pedro Sauer, and it's Sauer's instruction method that Lizares now shares through his studio, Gracie Technics Jiu-Jitsu Academy. Lizares focuses on providing students with the exact same education in grappling that he had, teaching everything from the basics of combat to the most advanced submission holds. Professional UFC fighter Max Halloway supplements this education with kickboxing classes, teaching students effective combinations of strikes known to make punching bags grow eyes for the express purpose of crying.

The 800 teddy bears at Teddy Bear World Hawaii might appear to be alive, but they're actually animatronic. The museum packs its 20,000 square feet with colorful scenes of the bears reenacting famous scenes from history, such as the first space shuttle launch, the construction of Mount Rushmore, and the day stuffed animals gained the right to vote. Complementing the historical exhibits are famous works of art reinterpreted to include bears, a dinosaur-themed exhibit, and the Save The Planet section that details how global warming may affect the planet’s future. The building also houses a fully animated Elvis show, where a teddy bear version of the king performs a song-and-dance routine rivaled only by Elvis’s short stint as a basketball mascot.

By foot and by car, Oahu Ghost Tours explores the island's spookiest spots during three unique experiences infused with riveting bits of Hawaiian history. Despite measures to preserve sacred areas, Oahu's growth into a buzzing metropolis has sometimes come at the expense of its ancient past. Buildings stretch skyward atop burial grounds, and roadways weave through caves filled with the remains and cherished stamp collections of beloved ancestors. Through rich storytelling, eyewitness accounts, and expert knowledge in the supernatural, Oahu Ghost Tours' guides lead groups on investigations of those disturbed sites, including the scene of a chilling modern-day murder and the infamous Morgan's Corner.

Green flags set tires squealing inside Podium Raceway Hawaii's 44,000-square-foot facility as up to 12 drivers jockey the emission-free electric karts for a podium finish. Two straightaways send floored pedals toward top speeds of up to 45 miles per hour, and four hairpin turns test karts’ handling and drivers’ ability to steer with their ponytails. Drivers can take to the track during individual races, professionally taught clinics, or as part of a league that doles out prizes to its speediest participants.