If you are reading this, you may have come here from Pinterest, or elsewhere, because you are wondering what is the one thing I think every visitor to O’ahu must do, especially when visiting the island in the winter. 

Now that may sound a little bossy, but hear me out. You absolutely don’t have to join in the fun, totally cool but the truth is, you may miss out. 

Miss out on what?  Let me share why I think you most definitely should consider a trip to the Ice Palace in Aiea for some ice skating fun.  Yes, you read that right. 

Ice Skating in the tropics. This may sound as surreal and strange as the Jamaican bob sledding  team who was featured in the movie Cool Runnings. 

When I read guides to O’ahu, I have to be honest. Pretty much all of them will share the same must sees and things to do. From Dole Plantation to a Movie set tour at the Ko’olau Ranch. 

And while all these guides are correct, I wouldn’t feel right not telling you about heading to the ice palace, especially if you are visiting the islands in the winter. 

Why in the winter you may want to know?

Clearly ice skating is a winter sport, but that’s not even the reason. 

I say this, knowing that winters on the island can be quite wet. The winter season 24/25 is forecasted to be a wetter than normal season. That means a lot of outdoor activities you may have planned, may actually get rained out. 

Now you can always stay at the hotel or go to a mall. You can, and absolutely should, visit a museum. We also got indoor play areas, especially wonderful if you got little kids. But play areas are usually a bit boring for parents. 

You know what’s not boring for parents? Ice skating with the kids. It’s frosty, wintery fun, and you can escape the rain for a while. 

The ice skating rink does get quite busy in winter, especially during holiday season and school breaks, weekends. But don’t shy away from it just because it gets busy. It’s also one of the spots that is very little visited by visitors to the island, that means you’ll be able to share an activity you did here that most of your friends, who also had visited O’ahu at some point, hadn’t done. Imagine the bragging rights, eh. 

The public skating hours to the rink do vary, so please check out their webpage for time and dates & all other info you may need at https://www.icepalacehawaii.com/
Tickets per skater are $18 at the door, that includes skate rental. If you don’t plan on skating. There is no charge for no-skating parents chaperoning their children. Bring extra cash for a hot cocoa, tea or coffee and some food.

Outside food is not allowed at the rink, they do however sell Pizza, Hot Dogs, Nachos and snacks at the snack bar. 

I hope you found this a helpful and inspiring post for your upcoming Hawai’i vacation & if you see me at the ice rink this winter, make sure to come say hi.