Date Night Market: Honolulu Harbor Nights

When you’re bored with dinner and a movie and when Netflix and chill means too much couch time, a date night at the night market is what you need. Popular weekly events that have been popping up around Honolulu bring together ‘ono food and hungry eaters in the cool night air–perfect for a fun date night.

Market: Honolulu Harbor Nights
When: Fridays, 4 to 9 p.m.
Where: Hakuone, 1011 Ala Moana Blvd.
Parking: Free onsite
Instagram: @honoluluharbornights

SEE ALSO: Date Night Market: $60 Feast for Two at Pearlridge’s Village Night Market

If you’re looking for a unique date night that’s fun and budget-friendly, Honolulu Harbor Nights in Kaka‘ako is the perfect choice. Not only do you get to try delicious street food from various vendors, but you can soak up an atmosphere filled with live music and fireworks if you time it right. Here’s how you can have a memorable dinner for two for $60.

We arrive just before 7 p.m., and the market is buzzing. We start with a fresh beverage: Aloha Sugar Cane Juice’s pineapple juice ($8) is sweet, tangy and incredibly refreshing.

Photo: Lucas Kamata Leal de Souza

Now, we need an appetizer to get our taste buds going. Da Hub is the spot for just that. We order poke crispy rice balls, half spicy and half normal. The portion is surprisingly big for only $8–so big that we can barely pick them up with chopsticks. The poke is fresh, and the crispy rice adds a satisfying crunch. Surprisingly, the spicy poke wins me over.

Photo: Lucas Kamata Leal de Souza

Live music kicks off at 7:05 p.m., adding a nice rhythm to the evening; however, seating on the deck fills up fast. If you’re planning on sitting down to eat, claim a spot early or be prepared to eat standing.

But it doesn’t slow our appetite for Rux Food Truck’s barbecue pork bao with loaded fries ($20.50). The bao is soft, pillowy and packed with tender, juicy pork. The fries are an unexpected delight—crisp and smothered in garlic, onions, sauce and even more meat. We need more spots that serve potatoes like these.

Photo: Lucas Kamata Leal de Souza

We’re finishing the last bites of our appetizer when Waikīkī’s Friday night fireworks light up the sky at 7:45 p.m. Above the market’s tents and lights glittering off the nearby harbor, this is a magical backdrop.

Photo: Lucas Kamata Leal de Souza

By now, we’re feeling the need for some vegetables in our system, so we can’t pass up the vegetarian falafel shawarma ($15.71) from Kababa Mama. The falafel is crispy and tender, wrapped in a soft pita with plenty of fresh veggies and tangy sauces. It’s a fantastic plant-based option that leaves us full and feeling somewhat healthier.

Photo: Lucas Kamata Leal de Souza

For the grand finale, we indulge in some of my Brazilian childhood favorites from Brahi Bites and Bowls. Our Brazilian coxinha (a deep-fried chicken croquette) and brigadeiros (chocolate truffles) are $11.47. The coxinha is crunchy, with a perfect cheese pull, but a little salty; while the brigadeiro is decadently rich and sweet. It’s the perfect way to end the night.

Photo: Lucas Kamata Leal de Souza

I’ll admit, we went a little over budget ending at $63.68. But with a wide range of flavors and cuisines packed into one night, I’d say it was well worth the extra $3.68. Honolulu Harbor Nights’ eclectic mix also includes Corn Onoz’s elote, Thai food from The Elephant Shack and many more vendors, offering lots of choices for a memorable date night. Plus, it’s the only one with a fireworks show!

As we make our way home, we are already planning our next Date Night Market at Ono Grindz and Makeke in ‘Ewa Beach.

SEE ALSO: Date Night Market: A $60 Sunset Date at ‘Ono Grindz & Mākeke