Ice Skating at the Ice Palace

For a truly cool night on Oahu, there's only one place to go: the Ice Palace in Halawa. While this might sound like a catchy slogan, it is a literal truth because Ice Palace is the only ice rink on Oahu.

Not surprisingly, a state renowned for its beaches and warm weather does not have a high demand for ice skating, a definite cold weather activity. The closest Hawai'i residents come to ice is as a complement to their drinks. Still, Ice Palace is a popular location to hold birthday parties and other get-togethers.

During free skating, the rink is divided into two areas. One side is specifically roped off and designated for kids learning how to skate. There, walkers are available to assist youngsters trying to get the hang of moving on ice.

Meanwhile, the other side of the rink is used for free skating by older, more experienced skaters. On this side, skaters are free to do laps at their own pace. Every few minutes, the house DJ will stop the music and invite all the skaters to play games like the Hokey Pokey or four corners or limbo.

For those who prefer staying on warmer ground, Ice Palace also has numerous arcade games scattered throughout the building. Games like Dance, Dance, Revolution and Time Cop are just some of those waiting to take your quarters.

Like all skating rinks, the ice needs to be resurfaced periodically, and so skaters are ushered off the ice to make room for the Zamboni. These intermissions are an ideal time to visit the snack bar and grab a hamburger or some nachos. Of course, when locals want something to warm them up on cold days, they order a bowl of Saimin, a local version of ramen noodles. Only Saimin is a much, much finer quality noodle than the ones favored by college students.

- Jason Kamimoto