Originally Posted by
SeattleAl
Actually, it is no big deal to go to a luau if travelling solo. Nobody is checking to see if you have a +1, and anyone who is should be minding their own business. That said, it is just having a drink on the beach, watching them take a pig out of the pit, lining up for a buffet dinner, and then watching a Hawaiian dance show, the kind that is very common in Hawaii.
Beaches - the very finest beach in Hawaii, and maybe the world is Lanikai Beach. More accessible is Sandy Beach, and I am very fond of Wahiawa - a convenient stopping point when driving around the island. I also love driving all the way up the west coast to Kaena Point State Park. It is very remote there, with a great pounding surf.
Food - I happen to love the Chinese food and Japanese Ramen that they have in Honolulu. It is better than in most cities in the US. The sushi is superb, and they have some great steakhouses.
Souvenirs - There's an ABC store on every street corner. Souvenirs galore.
Lanikai is nice, but it's not THAT nice. On Oahu alone, I prefer Kailua next door (although I heard that Kailua lost a lot of sand in a recent storm). Bellows is also nice. Also, in the summer I prefer Waimea, but you can't swim it when the 20 footers are rolling in during the winter. On the Big Island, I prefer Mauna Kea and Punalu'u, and Hapuna is also nice (but not as nice as the adjacent Mauna Kea). And that doesn't even cover Maui and Kaua'i, which are strewn with great beaches.
And if you think Lanikai is the best beach in the world, might I suggest you spend some time in Thailand, at Railay Bay or Tonsai.