Aloha and welcome to our annual Waikiki Christmas guide! Here, you will find all you need to plan the perfect Waikiki Christmas holiday.
Venues don’t typically announce what they are hosting for the coming holiday until November or December. So, this page will be in transition until December. As we update this page for the upcoming New Year’s Eve, we will note those events with 2024 at the end of that listing.
In the meantime, it is helpful for you to look through the events that were held this past Christmas. Most events are repeated each year, so there’s a good chance the venues will host a similar event for Christmas 2024.
We recommend you bookmark this page and make a note in your calendar to start checking for updates in November. Additionally, subscribe to our free newsletters to stay up to date on Hawaii travel news, advice and our ever-popular Aloha Friday Photos feature. Newsletter subscribers will be alerted when this page is fully up to date. We typically issue two newsletters per week. You are free to unsubscribe at any time. To get your free subscription, carefully enter your email address at this link.
If your idea of a winter wonderland includes sun, sand and gently swaying palm trees, then Waikiki Beach is the place for you! It’s a wonderful place to experience the Christmas season with Aloha.
To help you make your holiday plans, we compiled our annual Waikiki Christmas list that’s now fully up to date for Christmas 2023! Here, you’ll find a list of special events to do to get you into the Mele Kalikimaka spirit along with great places to dine in celebration of the season.
We’ve organized all the special Christmas events and dining options as follows:
* Take a stroll through the many Waikiki hotel lobbies to see their Christmas decorations. See examples of Waikiki Christmas decorations from years past. (Free)
* The Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki has beautiful Christmas displays including a 34-foot Christmas tree in the Royal Grove. The center hosts holiday performances and Santa arrives for photos. These special holiday events are scheduled to take place from 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays and Saturdays through December 23rd. Check this link for more details and updates. (Free)
* See the amazing Christmas sand sculptures at their porte cochere and lobby areas of the Sheraton Waikiki
. (Free)* Ala Moana Center, Hawaii’s largest shopping mall, will be decorated for the season. Locals and visitors delight in seeing the traditional 50-foot “Big Santa” structure atop the center’s makai parking deck overlooking Ala Moana Boulevard. The center hosts holiday hula performances on Centerstage daily at 5:00 p.m. On Sundays, Ala Moana Center hosts a Keiki (children’s) Hula Show at 1:00 p.m. See this link for more information. (Free)
* Waikiki Beach Walk hosts live Christmas music and hula performances for the Seven Days of Christmas Holiday Mele Showcase. Performances will run nightly from December 19 through the 25th at 6pm. This Christmas Mele event is free. See this link for more information. (Free)
* Blue Note Hawaii at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort hosts several Christmas concerts:
* The International Market Place hosts a Gift of Mele with a free holiday concert featuring Hawaii artist Anuhea. This concert will be held on December 20th at 6:30pm to 8pm on Queen’s Court within the International Market Place. (Free)
* Honolulu Zoo’s Holidays with the Animals event is back for 2023 on December 16th.
* See the Honolulu City Lights and displays in downtown Honolulu in and around the grounds of the Honolulu Hale at 530 S King Street. This annual display is free and open to the public from December 2 through December 29. The displays are nice to see in the day, but we enjoy seeing the lights at night. When open, be sure and go inside the Honolulu Hale to see amazing Christmas trees decorated by organizations and the local community. Since downtown Honolulu isn’t walkable from Waikiki. If you do not have a rental car, here are some ways to see the Honolulu City Lights from Waikiki:
* On the North Shore, in Laie, the Hukilau Marketplace is hosting fun and free events that kids of all ages will enjoy. Their Christmas decorations and festive lights along with live entertainment can be enjoyed by all. Santa Claus will be on hand for photos. Kids will particularly enjoy the Christmas train rides. These activities will be held nightly from 6pm to 8:30pm from December 15th through 22nd. See this link for more information. Note that the Hukilau Marketplace is adjacent to the Polynesian Cultural Center, which is a fun place to visit to learn about the Polynesian cultures. (See our review on the Polynesian Cultural Center.) Use this link to get 10%-off your entrance fee.
* Enjoy Show Aloha Land which is a ride/drive through Christmas light show at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. The show boasts more than 2.5 million LED lights. (For an idea of this show, see this KHON2 segment.) See the Frequently Asked Questions for more information and to book tickets. Note that this is in Honolulu, but not near Waikiki. Check for public transport options via TheBus.
* Over on the west side of Oahu, Kapolei is decked out in Christmas lights and decorations with the 2023 theme of “A Westside Wonderland.” This festive spot is most convenient for folks staying in Ko Olina. Learn more about Kapeolei City Lights. (Free)
* At Hawaii Theater in Honolulu, Hawaii musician Kalani Pe’a will perform Kalani Pe’a’s Hawaiian Christmas Show on December 23 at 7:00pm. See this link for more information and tickets.
* Football fans can catch the Hawaii Bowl is on December 23rd at 5:30 p.m. HST.
* College basketball fans can catch the hoops action of the Diamond Head Classic on December 21, 22 and 24.
Many restaurants will be offering delicious Christmas menus — most with traditional foods, but with a lovely Hawaii-spin on Christmas staples. We’ve created a new page listing restaurants in and near Waikiki for Christmas dining.
Some restaurants book up in early to mid-December. So, we recommend you look at that Waikiki Christmas dining page and aim to book by late November.
A fun new trend that seems to be going on throughout the USA is pop-up Christmas bars. Some of them have over-the-top decorations and holiday-inspired cocktails and mocktails served in festive barware.
Here are Waikiki’s top pop-up Christmas bars:
For something that you probably can’t experience back home, a luau on Christmas can offer both a fun experience and an opportunity to learn about the culture. We have two different lists – one for luau options in Waikiki and one for luau options outside of Waikiki with transportation offered with an additional fee outside of Waikiki.
Here are some luau companies in Waikiki that will be hosting a luau on Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day:
Here are luau companies outside of Waikiki that are operating at Christmas with an option of adding transportation from Waikiki:
Here are churches that are in the Waikiki area that will be holding special Christmas Eve and/or Christmas Day services.
* Waikiki Beach Gathering, which is also known as “Church on da Beach” holds “Christmas Eve service on da beach.” This special event is called ‘Twas the Night. Gathering time is at 6:30pm at the beach by 2729 Kalakaua Avenue. See this link for more information.
* Harbor Church Honolulu holds their Christmas Eve services on December 24th this year. See this link for more information.
* St. Augustine by-the-sea Catholic church holds mass on Christmas Eve (5pm and 8pm) and on Christmas Day (6am, 8am, 10am, 5pm). Check their schedule of services is listed on their website.
* Waikiki Baptist Church – Christmas Eve worship services at 9am and again at 10:45am.
* St Mark’s Honolulu Episcopal Church – holds Lauds of the Nativity on Christmas Eve morning at 10:30am. Then, in the evening, they host Christmas Eve Solemn Midnight Mass at 11pm. On Christmas Day, Lauds starts at 10:30am followed by Procession and Solemn Mass at 11am. See this link for more information.
* Fort DeRussy Chapel across from Hale Koa Hotel will host Christmas Eve service at 5pm.
* Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Waikiki holds Christmas Eve Candle Light service at 6pm. Prior to the Christmas Eve Candle Light service, the church invites you to sing Christmas Carols at 5pm in front of Eaton Square.
* For more Christmas Eve services, check with the concierge at your hotel and/or pick up a copy of the Star-Advertiser, which usually has Christmas Eve service information, when you’re on the island.
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