I was going to recommend an Alaskan cruise since I loved mine so much last summer and you live in a very different climate, but since you are pulling travel off the table Here are some other suggestions:

Make a party or dinner party with some friends. Meet at a restaurant or have something catered at your place.

Do something on your bucket list.

Helicopter ride around the islands.

Dinner cruise.

Or, do nothing. I don’t usually do anything special for my birthday. I do great things all year and my birthday is at a terrible time during the year; first week of January. I do birthday month and treat myself and my husband to stuff all month as it comes up. A little easier about spending money, buying more on impulse that month like an expensive meal out, new outfit, gift for my husband. I guess my gift on my birthday is freeing myself mentally for a month from overthinking expenditures. It’s fun.

Yes, travel is out. I’m going to the mainland for a big family reunion at the end of May, and that is very expensive. However, the helicopter ride piqued my interest. I could view the volcano up close. There are cruises that take boats right down to where the lava flow enters the ocean, which is another fun idea. Thank you.

Hrrmph! Want us to plan the day but we aren’t invited!

You should spoil yourself totally. You have had such a busy time recently.

What about a spa for some pampering early in the day? Make the first part of the day just for you.

Go out for lunch with some special friends, perhaps visit a museum or a garden. Something you love to do but haven’t for a long time. Doesn’t have to be expensive. You could even make lunch a picnic but each of your friends brings one thing to share.

For the evening, well you love the theatre. See a play, or a musical, something you will love. Then dinner with your special other (I hope he can spend some of your birthday with you) on his own or with friends if you prefer.

Finish up doing whatever you fancy with your special other.

@Bellatrix I said that not everyone was invited. ; – )

I love picnics. I love great sprawling events laid out on the lawn. That’s a good one.

As far as theater goes, I’ll most likely be knee deep in the summer Shakespeare in the Park production, so I’ll cherish having a day off.

Getting my special other involved is the top of the list. : – )

When is your birthday? Mine is next Tuesday and I have to work and I have meetings :-( I’ve been a spoiled brat and said if I have to go to a meeting I expect cake to be provided :D Then my children will visit in the evening to have dinner with me.

My family and I are going to see a comedian in the city after we share some turkish food on the Friday to celebrate properly.

You have to do something special in the evening. Since you don’t see him too often, what about a candle lit dinner overlooking the ocean somewhere? I don’t know if you can afford it but even a night in a special place. Do you have a friend who is a fabulous cook? Could you ask them to help you turn it into a wonderful night by preparing some food you can just heat up and serve by candlelight? I’m sure you can cook, but it’s your day so you don’t want to be slaving over a hot stove.

Personally, I’d finish with a bath together by candlelight…

@Bellatrix Happy early birthday! Many happy returns of the day.

My birthday is our Independence Day here in the US, July 4th. I’m turning 50.

I give everyone permission to celebrate the anniversary of my birth with parades, and picnics, and cook-outs, and fireworks! Enjoy!

Thanks Jake. What a great day to be born! And a fabulous birthday event too :-)

@Hawaii_Jake Geez sounds like we will be celebrating your birthday, so we are all invited, maybe you didn’t invite us but it’s obviously an open invitation :p

There has got to be something for us err I mean you to do! :)

Try taking in a few of the attractions in your area.

Try to come up with something you’ve always secretly wanted to do and make iot happen. That’s what I’m counseling myself for an upcoming milestone birthday.

@Hawaii_Jake have you been to the top of the Kilauea ?

Do you have a handheld GPS? I can work out something that would be fun and memorable and in your area.

Spa day at a resort with a few friends followed by an elegant evening picnic somewhere and then a sleepover with a special someone?

Spend the whole day in drag, i’m sure you’ll look simply fabulous darling.

A catered dinner party is a lot of fun. Pick a great venue. There’s not work for you so you can just enjoy the party.

@janbb, I get soooo tired of that day after day.

@Pachyderm_In_The_Room…and you always wake up with a headache, sore neck, and back cramps. I hate it when that happens.

My daughter went sky diving for thirty. Are you a thrill seeker? What’s on your bucket list?
Have you learned to scuba dive yet?

@Pachyderm_In_The_Room You should have told me; I’ll plan something else for next time. But I was getting tired of the elephant footprints in the butter.

@LuckyGuy, yeah, and that’s the good stuff.
@janbb, well, butter than nuthin’.

@Hawaii_Jake the fireworks will definitely be in your honor!

On your birthday, you might consider celebrating each hour (of an allotted period) at the 50-minute mark. Ideally, someone else would do this for you, but you can self-celebrate, too. These mini-celebrations can be something small or something grand, as you wish. It really sustains the memory of the milestone.

Of course, you could look at giving to others in “50 ways” on your birthday, as well. But that might not be as much fun ;-)

I had a friend who asked friends to help her fund random acts of kindness for her birthday then spent the day doing surprising nice things for people.

My fiancé‘s milestone birthday is in less than a month, and neither if us are big on parties so I was glad that he declined when I asked him several months ago if he wanted me to organize a shindig. Instead, I have planned dinner at one of the premiere restaurants in New York City, and front row seats to one of his favorite artists perform at Carnegie Hall. We go into NYC often, so that’s not an extravagance for us, just a very nice evening together.

I forget, are you on Oahu? How about a Dinner Cruise

Because I love Japanese gardens, I would enjoy going to see the Byodo-In Temple

I’m sure you like to eat. Here is a list of the 2012 Hale Aina Award winning restaurants from Honolulu Magazine

If you’d like to get out into the wilderness (but not too far and without too much stress and strain) here are 3 relatively easy, but lovely Oahu Hiking Trails. Maybe pick up a Plate Lunch on the way. This is a casual way to spend the day.

Maybe you’d like to spend a few days at a bed and breakfast this one sounds nice. Paradise Bay Resort

And here are 5 Romantic Hotels

Whatever you end up doing, have a great time!

Schedule a colonoscopy and PSA test.

Thank you, all, for the great ideas and the laughs. I should say thanks to all except @LuckyGuy. My doctor has already mentioned what turning 50 has in store for me, and I dread it.

All the other answers are fluff, fun, and optional. Mine is the only one you must follow.
I wish someone had given me that advice when I turned 50.

Now bend over!

Have you taken the helicopter ride over the Haleakala crater?
Fireworks from above them is an interesting experience.

@Sunny2 I’m on the wrong island to see Haleakala. I could take the helicopter over Kilauea, though, and that sounds very interesting.

The helicopter ride alone, if you haven’t had one, is thrilling and educational. Afterwards you’ll know how it feels when you read a story that involves one. Since I did it, I’ve had dreams in which I flew one.

@Hawaii_Jake Re: @LuckyGuy‘s suggestion:

Once at a physical, as my doc was getting out the rubber gloves, he said “Well, let’s get this over with”.

My response was something I learned from my mother. She would say it when I would make outlandish suggestions: “Let’s not, and say we did”’.

To my surprise he said OK and we didn’t. BUT, in the interest of full disclosure, this has only worked once. I have not had any luck since that one time. But hey, it’s worth a try.

@Hawaii_Jake any chance you can get a bj in a glass elevator?

Just asking.