Rainy Day Activities on O‘ahu That Are Actually Fun
Rain on O‘ahu doesn't have to derail your whole day. The island has a solid indoor scene — you just have to know where to look. Here are 10 rainy-day activities on O‘ahu, starting with the one most visitors never find.
1. Indoor Drift Karting at ʻOhana Driftlab
If you're going to be inside anyway, you might as well be drifting. ʻOhana Driftlab is O‘ahu's only drift kart experience — fully indoor, climate-controlled, and built for exactly this kind of day. Located at the Shops at Dole Cannery (right next to Regal Cinemas), the track runs rain or shine, hurricane season or not. Rated 5★ on Google. Drift karts are different from go-karts. These karts are purpose-built to slide, spin, and drift through corners — forward, sideways, even backwards once you get a feel for it. Sessions run 15 minutes and about 25–40 laps. The learning curve is short. What makes it work for a mixed group on a rainy afternoon:
Keiki karts for ages 3 and up are dedicated kid track, slower speeds, full supervision so parents can actually relax
‘Ohana karts for ages 6 and up are the same kart fits kids and adults, which means everyone rides, nobody watches
Competitive challenges are the longest drift, fastest lap, most linked drifts. It stops being "driving in circles" very quickly.
Kart cams for shareable POV footage
Cosmic blacklight mode, claw machines, and Gachas between sessions
Some people come for one session. Most end up booking two. Kama‘aina and military discounts available. Sessions start at $10 for keiki, $25 for ‘Ohana karts. No reservations needed for walk-in sessions — just show up.
Follow us on Instagram @OhanaDriftLab to make sure we don’t have a private party scheduled when you want to drop-in.
📍 735 Iwilei Rd, Honolulu
2. Ice Palace
This one surprises people. Honolulu has an ice skating rink. Ice Palace is a fun rainy-day option for families and groups — skate rentals included, small arcade, snack bar. It's not a polished tourist attraction, which is exactly what makes it feel like something a local would take you to. 📍 4510 Salt Lake Blvd, Honolulu
3. iTrampoline Hawaii
iTrampoline is the go-to when kids need to burn something off. Trampoline courts, dodgeball, slam dunk basketball, laser tag — more than enough to fill two hours. Party packages available for groups. Located in Waipahu, about 20 minutes west of Waikiki. Best for kids 6 and up. 📍 94-157 Leoleo St, Waipahu
4. Bishop Museum
If you're going to do one museum on O‘ahu, this is the one. The Bishop Museum holds the largest collection of Hawaiian artifacts in the world — and that's actually saying something. The Science Adventure Center is the crowd-pleaser for kids: a walk-in volcano, hands-on exhibits, planetarium show. Adults tend to disappear into the Hawaiian Hall, which is three floors of artifacts, genealogy, and oral history you won't find anywhere else on the island. Plan 2–3 hours. The gift shop is worth the browse. 📍 1525 Bernice St, Honolulu
5. ‘Iolani Palace
The only royal palace on American soil, and worth the hour it takes. ‘Iolani Palace was home to King Kalākaua and Queen Liliʻuokalani — and the guided audio tour through the restored rooms gives you real context for Hawaiian history rather than the sanitized version most attractions hand you. Self-guided tours cover the upper floor. Docent-led tours go deeper. Check hours before you go — they're limited. 📍 364 S King St, Honolulu
6. Waikiki Aquarium
Small, focused, and better than it sounds. The Waikiki Aquarium covers Hawaiian and Pacific marine life specifically — jellyfish displays, reef fish, monk seals — so you're seeing what actually lives in the water outside, not a generic global collection. Takes about 90 minutes and works well with young kids. Walking distance from most Waikiki hotels. 📍 2777 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu
7. Honolulu Museum of Art (HoMA)
HoMA is consistently underrated. The collection spans Asian, European, Hawaiian, and American art — over 50,000 works — in a beautiful courtyard building in downtown Honolulu. Most visitors to O‘ahu never make it here, which means it's rarely crowded. The café is a good place to slow down mid-visit. Free for kids under 18. Third Sunday of each month has free family activities. 📍 900 S Beretania St, Honolulu
8. Ala Moana Center
The largest open-air mall in the world is more covered than it looks. Ala Moana has indoor corridors connecting most major stores, plus a full food court and anchor restaurants. Not exactly a destination — but if you're walking off the rain somewhere, the food options here span Raising Cane's to sit-down Hawaiian plate lunch. Hard to be bored. 📍 1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu
9. Regal Cinemas at Dole Cannery
ʻOhana Driftlab is in Dole Cannery. Regal Cinemas is 200 feet away. Visitors do both in the same afternoon — drift first, movie after, or flip the order. No driving in the rain between stops, no traffic, no extra parking. The afternoon basically plans itself. First-run movies, standard concessions. A solid anchor if the rain settles in for the day. 📍 1001 Dole Cannery, Honolulu
10. Escape Rooms Honolulu
Honolulu has a handful of solid escape room options. The Escape Game at Ala Moana is the most polished — production values closer to a theme park than a DIY puzzle room. Chambers Escape Games is another local option worth checking. 60-minute rooms, groups of 2–8. Book ahead — weekend slots fill fast, especially when it rains. 📍 Various Honolulu locations — check The Escape Game Honolulu or Chambers Escape Games
Frequently Asked Questions
Does it rain a lot in O‘ahu? More than most visitors expect — especially June through November during hurricane season. Showers can roll in quickly and last anywhere from 20 minutes to all day. The windward (east) side gets significantly more rain than Waikiki or the leeward coast, so where you're staying matters.
What's open in Honolulu when it's raining?
Everything on this list runs regardless of weather. ʻOhana Driftlab, Ice Palace, iTrampoline, and the escape rooms are fully indoor. ‘Iolani Palace, the museums and aquarium are indoor. Ala Moana Center is largely covered.
Is there indoor go-karting or drift karting in Honolulu?
Yes — ʻOhana Driftlab at the Shops at Dole Cannery (735 Iwilei Rd, Ste 120) is O‘ahu's only drift kart experience and it's fully indoors. Sessions start at $10 for keiki (ages 3+) and $25 for 'Ohana karts (ages 6+). No reservations needed for walk-in sessions.
What can kids do indoors in Honolulu?
For active options: ʻOhana Driftlab (ages 3+), iTrampoline (ages 6+), and Ice Palace. For educational options: Bishop Museum's Science Adventure Center is the top pick for ages 5–12, and Waikiki Aquarium works well with younger kids. All of these are manageable with children.
Are there rainy day activities in Oahu for adults?
Plenty. ʻOhana Driftlab runs adult sessions are the competitive challenges (fastest lap, longest drift, cleanest overtake) make it engaging on its own, not just something you do with kids. HoMA and ‘Iolani Palace are strong cultural options. Escape rooms work well for adult groups. Karaoke bars carry you into the evening if the rain sticks around.
Rain won't ruin your day on O‘ahu — unless you spend it standing on a wet beach waiting for it to stop. Start at ʻOhana Driftlab and work from there.