Date doctor is in

By Catherine E. Toth
Advertiser Staff Writer

A kayak for two can be a romantic ocean getaway off Lanikai. Advertiser library photos

A loaf of bread, a waterfall, and thou: Pack a picnic and stroll to Maunawili Falls for a little nature bonding with your date. It's about a 2-mile hike in. You can also try one of the many other scenic trails on O'ahu.

Looking for the nightlife? The Feng Shui Ultralounge is a party every Saturday night at Ciao Mein in Waikiki.

ArtafterDark happens once a month at the Honolulu Academy of Arts. It's an evening party of music and art, with varying themes. Art Smart on June 24 features a poetry slam.

Snorkel me, my sweet. Hanauma Bay is a premier reef rubbernecking site, so grab your gear and enjoy it together.

Sunset on the Beach is free, if you're strapped for cash. There's a movie. And food if you're willing to part with a few bucks.

You're in Hawai'i, so if you haven't tried surfing, you and your date can learn together from a Waikiki beachboy (or take a North Shore class). It's retro and recreational. And something you can then say you've tried.

It's Friday and you've (actually) got a date.

The outfit's picked. You've brushed your teeth. You've even taken out money from the ATM.

But you're stuck.

The problem?

You have no idea what to do.

Dinner and movie?

Nah, such a cliche.

Watch videos at home?

Too boring.

You need a plan, and time is running out.

This is our advice: Know yourself, then plan accordingly.

If you love the outdoors, organize a hike. If you love eating at new places, make reservations at a restaurant that just opened. If you love playing poker, well, you know what to do.

Picking something you enjoy will ease your nervousness about the night and open your date to a different (and, you hope, enjoyable) experience.

Here are our suggestions for dates this summer, all based on how you live your life.

Partier? Early riser? Completely broke?

We got you covered.

So grab your date and get going.

Reach Catherine E. Toth at ctoth@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8103.

If you're broke

• There's nothing cheaper than free. Plan a day hike that's not too strenuous and doesn't require crampons. Try these: Manoa Falls, an easy 1-mile ascent in lush Manoa Valley that ends at a waterfall; or Maunawili Falls, a nearly 2-mile hike to a swimming hole. Bring water and snacks such as granola bars and dried fruit. Visit www.hawaiitrails.org for more hike ideas.
• Spend the day snorkeling at Hanauma Bay. Summer hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. except on Tuesdays, when the bay is closed. At only $1 per car to park — free admission to the nature preserve if you're kama'aina — this is a cheap date in nice wrapping. Call 396-4229.
• Grab two bentos and head for Sunset on the Beach. The next events are June 18-19 and 25-26; they begin at 4 p.m. and feature food booths, entertainment and movies after the sun goes down. Best thing about it? It's free. Call 923-1094.

If you just got paid

• Seduce your date with jazz. The 12th annual Hawaii International Jazz Festival offers a jam-packed lineup, including Grammy-nominated pianists Makoto Ozone and Don Grusin, and Grammy-winning saxophonist Scott Marin, July 29 and 30 at the Hawai'i Theatre. Tickets range from $25 to $50. Call 528-0506 for tickets or visit www.hawaiijazz.com.
• Grab your date and check out the new Da' FlowRider at Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park in Kapolei. The $1 million wave machine provides 40 feet of consistent wave action. And, of course, there are other rides. Admission is $34.99 per person, $31.99 for kama'aina. Call 674-9283, ext. 107, or visit www.hawaiianwaters.com.
• Dish the cash on show tickets. See one of the remaining performances of "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" at Diamond Head Theatre. The show runs today through Sunday and June 11-12. Tickets range from $12 to $42. Call 733-0274 or visit www.diamondheadtheatre. com. Or nab two tickets for "The Graduate," playing today through June 19 at Manoa Valley Theatre. Tickets are $25 ($15 if you're 25 or younger). Call 988-6131 or visit www.manoavalleytheatre.com.

If you're a night owl

• Or a dancin' fool. Get your milkshake on at the Wonder Lounge at the W Honolulu today or tomorrow, with DJs spinning from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. 21 and older. $10 cover. Call 922-3734.
• Or a poolside lounger. Head for the Feng Shui Ultralounge at Ciao Mein at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki. Party starts at 9:30 p.m. every Saturday. 21 and older. $10 cover. Call 957-0303 or visit www.ciaomein.com.
• Or you just love martinis. Check out Martini Madness at Indigo Eurasian Cuisine for the biggest and baddest $2.75 martinis. Try its award-winning sake martini and mandarin cosmo. 4 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays. Call 521-2900 or visit www.indigo-hawaii.com.

If you're artsy

• Invite your date to ARTafterDARK, a kind of themed party at the Honolulu Academy of Arts on the last Friday of every month. June 24 is Art Smart, featuring a poetry slam and live music. July 29's event — Cool Nights, Hot Jazz — boasts local jazz and blues musicians and a Starbucks cappuccino bar. Havana Heat on Aug. 26 is headlined by Grammy-nominated Latin band Son Caribe, salsa lessons and Mexican-inspired food. Party starts at 6 p.m. Cost is $7 for nonmuseum members. Call 532-8724 or visit www.artafterdark.org.
• Ditch work early and hit First Friday: Honolulu's downtown gallery walk starts at 5 p.m. today. This self-guided tour of two dozen art spots in Chinatown is leisurely enough for chatting and interesting enough to enjoy. And it's free. Call 521-2903 or see www.artsatmarks.com.
• Head for ArtSpree 2005, a free, all-day event at the Contemporary Museum July 9. It will feature workshops, demonstrations and performances. Call 526-1322 or visit www.tcmhi.org.

If you love animals

• Round up your pets and hit the pavement for a good cause. PetWalk 2005, a benefit for the Hawaiian Humane Society, starts at 7 a.m. June 12 at Ala Moana Beach Park. Call 946-2187 ext. 225 or visit www.hawaiianhumane.org.
• Discover O'ahu's reefs and tidepools with Waikiki Aquarium naturalists. Exploring the Reef by Day is an educational field trip to spots around the island. Learn about reef conservation and Hawai'i's marine life. Cost is $10 per adult, $8 per child. Call 440-9007 or visit waquarium.otted.hawaii.edu.
• Hook up with the hiking club Paws on the Path on June 25 for a hike up Manana Trail in Pearl City. The free hike starts at 8:30 a.m. Meet at the trail head at the end of Komo Mai Drive. Bring your dog — and your date — for some quality time. Visit www.hawaiianhumane.org or call 946-2187.

If you're a romantic

• Book a sunset dinner for two on the Ali'i Kai Catamaran. Enjoy a buffet dinner, Polynesian entertainment and dancing for $60.42 ($39.27 for kama'aina). Departs from Pier 5 at Aloha Tower Marketplace and cruises off Waikiki. Call 539-9400.
• Relax under the stars — and maybe see a comet collision — at the Bishop Museum on July 3, the night a NASA space probe is expected to collide with Comet Tempel 1. The event begins at 5:30 p.m. It's expected to be quite a celestial show. Bring binoculars and telescopes. Admission is $3. Call 847-3511.
• Take a romantic Moon Walk at the Waimea Valley Audubon Center. The next moonlit stroll is scheduled for July 10 at 7:30 p.m. A guided tour offers a glimpse of rare night-blooming flowers. Walkers — and lovers — are welcome to explore the garden on their own. Just bring flashlights. Cost is $5. Call 638-9199.

If you're a morning person

• Make reservations for two at the Plumeria Beach House for Sunday brunch, which runs from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Soak up the great view — it's on the beach fronting the Kahala Mandarin Oriental — and indulge in everything from sushi to seafood. Then walk off those waffles with a stroll along the beach. Cost is $38. Call 739-8760.
• Catch the sunrise on the trail to the Makapu'u Lighthouse. It's a moderately steep but easy paved walk from Kalaniana'ole Highway to the top, where the view is unmatched. Sun's up around 5:45 a.m. Pack a small breakfast — bagels are good — for two. And remember to lock your car.
• Get up early and save the environment. Invite your date to the Ka Iwi Beach Cleanup, sponsored by the Sierra Club, Hawai'i chapter, on June 26. Meet at 8 a.m. near the restrooms at Sandy Beach. Bring water and sunscreen. (Bags and gloves are provided.) Call 537-9019 or visit www.hi.sierraclub.org.

If you're a foodie

• Grab your date and taste-test the menus of two dozen restaurants at the 14th annual Taste of Honolulu, June 24 to 26, at the Honolulu civic center grounds. Guaranteed, your date will find something to eat here at the state's largest outdoor food festival. Admission is $3. Visit www.taste808.com.
• Get your senses going at the Garlic & Ginger Festival of Hawai'i at Ward Warehouse. Try garlic ice cream or get a garlic massage at this event, which takes place 4 to 10 p.m. Aug. 10. Your date will be impressed. Cost is $3. The event benefits the American Red Cross Hawai'i Chapter and Palama Settlement. Call 545-4195 or visit garlicfestivalhawaii.com.
• Show off — or sharpen — your cooking skills at a culinary class at the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hawaii. Master posh desserts (June 4, $115) or create your own backyard barbecue menu (July 2, $75) under the direction of executive sous chef Milan Drager. Classes are held every Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Call 739-8780.

If you're active

• Wax up your boards and hit the surf. Or if you've never done it before, take a surfing lesson. It costs about $30 to learn in Waikiki from skilled beachboys. Or if you're adventurous, paddle out on the North Shore. Surf N Sea in Hale'iwa offers surfing lessons at 1 p.m. daily. It's $75 for a two-hour session. Longboard rentals are $7 for the first hour, $6 for each additional hour. Call 637-9887 or visit www.surfnsea.com.
• Rent kayaks in Kailua and take a trip to the Mokulua Islets off Lanikai Beach. Kailua Sailboards & Kayaks rents kayaks for a half-day at $39 for a single, $49 double. Full-day rentals will cost $49 for single kayaks, $59 for a double. Call 262-2555 or visit www.kailuasailboards.com.
• Give your date the best view — the hard way. Learn to rock climb with Climb Aloha. Get schooled in proper equipment use, rappeling techniques and safety. Group lessons cost $65 per person, $55 for kama'aina. The six-hour intro class takes place at Makapu'u Point. Call 387-7825 or visit www.climbaloha.com.

If you're on a diet

• Spend the morning with your date at the Farmers' Market at Kapi'olani Community College on Saturdays. The market opens at 7:30 a.m. Pick up some low-fat oatcakes, fresh organic veggies and fresh ginger ale — and feel no guilt. Visit www.hfbf.org.
• Burn calories walking in Chinatown. On the Culinary Tour of Chinatown, visit noodle shops, dim-sum parlors and bakeries, led by food writer Anthony Chang. The two-hour tour starts at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday mornings. Cost is $10, including samples and snacks. Call 533-3181.
• Meet your date for lunch at the Contemporary CafÚ inside the Contemporary Museum in Makiki. Dine on a refreshing soba noodle salad ($8.75), a hijiki tofu burger ($8.95) or a grilled veggie sandwich ($8.95). Have some gelato ($3) for dessert. The cafe is open for lunch every day except Mondays. Call 523-3362 for information or visit www.tcmhi.org to see the menu.

If you want to make an impression

• Show your date some sharks. One option: North Shore Shark Adventures in Hale'iwa, which takes divers three miles out to sea, puts them into cages and chums the water. See gray reef, sandbar and hammerhead sharks. Maybe sea turtles and dolphins, too. It's pricey — $120 for a cage tour — but unforgettable. Call 228-5900 or visit www.hawaiisharkadventures.com.
• Impress your date with the ultimate pampering. Book a couples' massage at the JW Marriot Ihilani Resort & Spa at Ko Olina. Cost is about $300 for two, which includes use of its 35,000-square-foot facility. Think sauna and whirlpool. Call 679-0079.
• Everybody loves Ray Romano. Hopefully your date will, too. Romano's coming to Hawai'i for a couple of shows, 7:30 p.m. June 11-12 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall. Tickets are $35 to $55. Call (877) 750-4400, www.ticketmaster.com.

If you're culturally inclined

• Make plans to take part in the 26th annual Pan-Pacific Festival, which runs June 10-12 at various spots on O'ahu. The matsuri celebrates all things Japanese, with drumming, dancing, music and a parade. Start with the Pan-Pacific Ho'olaule'a along Kalakaua Avenue on June 10, from 6:40 p.m. Free. Visit www.pan-pacific-festival.com.
• Enjoy Hawaiian music at the Waikiki Aquarium's outdoor concert series, Ke Kani O Ke Kai, on Tuesdays this summer. Na Palapalai with Sonny Ching's hula halau performs on June 28, Hapa on July 12 and Na Leo Pilimehana on July 26. Doors open at 6 p.m., performance starts at 7 p.m. The aquarium galleries and exhibits will be open, too. Cost is $18. Proceeds benefit a future Northwestern Hawaiian Islands exhibit. Call 923-9741 or visit waquarium.otted.hawaii.edu.
• Take your date to Kapi'olani Park for the 13th annual Warrior Society Pow Wow, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today and tomorrow, for Native American drumming, dancing, singing, crafts and food. Free. Call 545-2119.

If you two have never met

• Keep it low-key and informal. Meet for coffee at Coffee Talk on Wai'alae Avenue or Mocha Java at Ward Centre. Afternoons are best.
• Invite your date to game night with your friends. Keeps the pressure off. The added bonus: Your friends can rate your date. Some suggestions for games: Pictionary and Cranium. Poker is always good, too.
• Organize a bowling night at Kam Bowl in Kalihi and bring your friends. There are usually open lanes on the weekends. Cost is $2.75 per person, $2.90 after 6 p.m. If the date works out, head over to Kapiolani Coffee Shop, in the bowling alley, for the island's best oxtail soup ($9.95). It's open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The next date, though, you're on your own.