10 Reasons to Visit Honolulu

You don't have to leave America to find white sand beaches, volcanoes, and active Polynesian culture—you only have to leave the continental United States. Hawaii offers a wildly different travel experience than any other you'll find in the States but without the potential for ex-patriotism. Real reasons to be proud to be an American right here!

But seriously, traveling to Hawaii is bucket-list status. Still, no visit to the archipelago would be complete without a trip to Honolulu, the state's capital. Located on the island of Oʻahu, the city is a bustling metropolis full of great art and fantastic food.

Here are 10 reasons to visit Honolulu. You won't want to miss a single one.

Address: 1775 Ala Moana Blvd.
Website: themodernhonolulu.com

Boutique hotels on the island get no better than The Modern. If you've partied/stayed at the Mondrian in NYC, then you already know what it is: sleek chicness, smooth clientele, and gorgeous rooms. Photos don't do justice to the immaculate grounds, the beautiful pools, and incredible view. The lights of Honolulu gleam off the marina like jewelry. But don't break your neck looking out the windows—break your neck checking out the ladies partying at Addiction, the club in the basement.

Address: 1775 Ala Moana Blvd.
Website: addictionnightclub.com

Deep in the basement of the Modern you'll find Addiction. Not in some metaphorical sense—literally, there's a club full of good sounds and attractive people called Addiction nestled below the rooms. All the debauchery of Vegas but without the cheap seediness (plus the ocean right outside!) makes this club a welcome addition to Honolulu's nightlife scene.

Address: 1157 Bethel St.
Website: mojobarbershop.com

Every city needs a dope spot where a guy can get a haircut and a straight-razor shave in a comfortably hip environment. In Honolulu, Mojo is that place. The shop also satisfies your need for a drink—while waiting for your chair to open up, you get to crack open a complimentary cold brew. Suds and a haircut, just two bits.

Address: 831 Queen St.
Website: freshcafehi.com

Kaka'ako, an industrial district in Honolulu, is fast becoming the bohemian heart of the city. With the latest hours of any coffee shop in the city, Fresh is one such business making Kaka'ako such a vital part of Hawaii's capital. Fresh emphasizes locavore eating and drinking habits, and also enriches the community via art and live music. Loft in Space, the cafe's gallery and performance venue, features everything from art to poetry readings. Come and be inspired.

Address: 691 Auahi St.
Website: interislandterminal.org/rd

A non-profit bookstore, coffee shop, and screening room affiliated with Interisland Terminal, an organization that brings the best in contemporary art, design, and film to Honolulu, R&D is another sign of vitality in the Kaka'ako neighborhood. The selection of books is impeccable; no music geek, cinephile, or lit lover will leave here empty handed. If you're a joe junkie, know that the baristas are on point—these folks know beans. Lose yourself for hours in here.

Address: 1349 Kapiolani Blvd.
Website: vloungehawaii.com

Monday through Saturday, from 5 p.m. to 4 a.m., V-Lounge serves chewy, thin-crust pizza that rivals the titans of the East, Lombardi's and Grimaldi's. Venezuelan-American chef Alejandro “Aker” Briceno runs the kitchen, constantly questing for the perfect pizza. Whether you like your pie with thick mounds of shaved prosciutto or just fresh mozzarella and sauce, V-Lounge is nearly there: the ideal slice.

Address: 108 Hekili St., Kailua
Website: primahawaii.com

Just a quick look at the menu for this new Italian fusion restaurant ensures that all the bases are covered: locally-sourced, slow food with an emphasis on sharing plates and exciting combinations of flavors. For instance, one item on the menu—the "Buffalo" clams with duck confit—uses Frank's Red Hot, a fact Prima proudly points out on the menu. Unpretentious and delicious can be tough to come by. If you're not eating at Prima, that is.

Address: 900 South Beretania St.
Website: honoluluacademy.org

Having recently merged with The Contemporary Museum, the Honolulu Academy of Arts continues to make good on the institution's promise to make modern art more readily available to the public. In addition to the 300-year-old Hawaiian artifacts and 20th-century Maui landscapes that the Academy of Arts was known for, the combined collection now features work from Francis Bacon, Kara Walker, and Gregory Crewdson. Check out the "Anxiety's Edge" exhibition, running now through August 31, 2012.

Address: 1154 Nuuanu Ave.
Website: thehumanimagination.info

Located in Honolulu's Chinatown, the neighborhood where, historically speaking, sailors showed up to get screwed, stewed, and tattooed, the Human Imagination is a boutique clothing shop and art gallery. In4mation stocks the handsome, well-organized shelves. The layout is super-clean; not a cap sits out of formation. Check in often for new local art shows in the gallery space; the art is just as dope as the clothing.

Address: (They'll let you know when you book time there.)
Website: utopium-estate.com

Utopium rings off 50 acres of pristine Hawaiian real estate to create a sanctuary for creative thought. The highlight amid the greenery is the Mobius House, a homestead shaped like a Mobius strip that boasts five suites, a commons area capable of accommodating 75 people, a full kitchen, library, and more. Though hotels are wonderful for certain things (reinvigorating sex, meeting drunk strangers at the bar, or some combination of those two), they rarely offer undisturbed time for creating. Which is exactly what makes Utopium Estate so special.