Sleigh your way through Hawaiʻi’s festive season with our guide to Oʻahu’s best 2026 Christmas events, from holiday markets and light displays to island-style feasts.
Christmas Things to Do on Oʻahu in 2026
Browse this extensive list of Christmas events, activities and celebrations across Oʻahu.
Table of Contents
Make the Most of Your Christmas Trip
Christmas on Oʻahu
Christmas Day in Hawaiʻi takes place on Friday, December 25, 2026.
With its Christian origins honoring the birth of Jesus Christ, Christmas has evolved into a season of joy, unity and generosity, celebrated with heartfelt traditions, festive decorations and gift exchanges.
What is Christmas like in Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi?
Christmas is a wonderful time to visit — Hawaiʻi’s holiday spirit shines brightly from late November through December, reflected in the sights and sounds of island-style traditions.
Oʻahu goes all out with decorations, especially in Waikīkī, where coconut trees sparkle with red bows and lights and “Mele Kalikimaka,” the Hawaiian way to say Merry Christmas, fills the air.
Holiday markets are the perfect place to go gift shopping, while supporting local Hawaiʻi small businesses. Seasonal treats start showing up islandwide, from cookies to local desserts.
Families can enjoy sandcastle displays, photos with Santa in aloha wear throwing a shaka 🤙 and other kid-friendly fun at shopping centers, including viewing Ala Moana Center’s Big Santa.
For adults, Christmas pop-up bars bring festive cheer! And when it comes to your holiday meal, let Oʻahu’s restaurants handle it — many offer spectacular buffets and prix fixe menus.
See the Honolulu City Lights
Experience the Holiday City Lights in Downtown Honolulu — a month-long celebration featuring decorated trees, Shaka Santa, Tūtū Mele, Mele Kalikimaka blocks and local vendors.
- Hawaiʻi Christmas Trolley Honolulu City Lights (available to book closer to the date)
Swap Turkey for a Lūʻau This Christmas
For a special Christmas evening, try a lūʻau. While most stay true to Hawaiian cuisine, some may add yuletide flair. The following lūʻau remain open on Christmas Eve and Day.
Santa Photos
The Santa photo experiences below are from last year. We’ll update this list with 2026 dates and booking details as reservations open.
- Where is Santa? Pictures at Ala Moana Center (20 Nov-24 Dec)
- Photos with Santa at Ka Makana Aliʻi
- Photos with Santa! at Kahala Mall
- Santa Photos at Windward Mall
- Photos with Santa at International Market Place
- Free Photos with Aloha Santa at Royal Hawaiian Center
- Christmas Mini Sessions at Kualoa Regional Park
Christmas Pop-Up Bars
Cheers to the season at Honolulu’s Christmas pop-up bars, where holiday magic meets tropical flair. Sip festive cocktails surrounded by dazzling décor, cozy lights and a cheerful atmosphere!
The pop-up bars below are from last year, and we’ll update the list with 2026 dates and details as they’re announced.
- Christmas Grinch Bar at Aloha Mamacita
- Christmas Lodge at Pearlridge Center
- Honolulu’s Official Holiday Bar Crawl
- Makana Holiday Bar at ʻAlohilani Resort
- Secret Santa Pop-up Lounge in Chinatown
- Sleigh My Name – SKY Waikiki’s Christmas Pop-Up Bar
- Spirits of the Season at Prince Waikiki
- The Christmas Bar Hawaii
- The Naughty List Lounge at The Boardroom Kailua
- The Winter Garden Room at Romer House
- Yules Truly at Yours Truly Honolulu
- Christmas Vibes at Vintage Books Hawaii Speakeasy
Christmas Events Calendar
Various December 2026
- Book a Christmas Carriage Ride *email hnlhorse@gmail.com
- Buy ornaments at Waikīkī Christmas Stores
- Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical (19-22 Nov, 25 Nov, 27-29 Nov)
- Hawai’i Holiday Craft & Gift Fair (30-31 Oct, 1 Nov & 18-20 Dec)
- Holiday Lights Tour 2026 (6-31 Dec)
- Islandwide Crafts & Food Expo (27-29 Nov)
- Kapolei City Lights (28 Nov-3 Jan)
- Moʻolelo Studios: Christmas Spectacular 2026 (4-22 Dec)
- Peruse sandcastle displays at Sheraton Waikiki Beach Resort
- Royal Hawaiian Band Performances
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice (1 Dec-3 Jan)
- View Ala Moana Center’s iconic Big Santa
- Whale Season (Dec-May)
Sat 28 November 2026
Tue 1 December 2026
- Honolulu City Lights
- Kapolei City Lights
- Tree Lighting Ceremony & Toys for Keiki at OUTRIGGER
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Wed 2 December 2026
- Holiday Brass: Chamber Music Hawaiʻi
- Honolulu City Lights
- Kapolei City Lights
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Thu 3 December 2026
- Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
- Merry Christmas to You With Henry Kapono
- Honolulu City Lights
- Kaimukī Christmas Parade & Tree Lighting
- Kapolei City Lights
- Merry Christmas to You With Henry Kapono
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Fri 4 December 2026
- Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
- Honolulu City Lights
- Kapolei City Lights
- Wahiawa Town Santa Parade
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Sat 5 December 2026
- A VeryMerryFest
- Aliʻiolani Craft Fair
- Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
- Honolulu City Lights Opening Night Party
- Kaimukī Holiday Craft Fair
- Kapolei City Lights
- Mayor’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony/Parade
- Honolulu City Lights
- Kāneʻohe Christmas Parade
- Mililani Ohana Holiday Parade
- Santa Arrives on Canoe out the front of the OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beach Resort at 9am
- Waianae Coast Rotary Community Christmas Parade
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Sun 6 December 2026
- Aloha Home Market in Kailua
- A VeryMerryFest
- Aloha Home Market in Kailua
- Dr. Seuss’s How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
- Honolulu City Lights
- Ho’okena for the Holidays
- Jingle Rock Run at Kakaʻako Waterfront Park
- Kapolei City Lights
- Mānoa Community Christmas Parade
- Pearl City Christmas Parade
- Santa Hat 5K & 1M Family Fun Run/Walk
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Mon 7 December 2026
- Honolulu City Lights
- Kapolei City Lights
- Pearl Harbor Memorial Anniversary Parade
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
- Waikīkī Makers Market
Tue 8 December 2026
- Honolulu City Lights
- Kapolei City Lights
- McKinley High School Band & Orchestra Winter Craft & Gift Fair
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Wed 9 December 2026
Thu 10 December 2026
- Debbie Gibson – Winterlicious
- Honolulu City Lights
- Kapahulu-Moiliili Christmas Parade
- Kapolei City Lights
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Fri 11 December 2026
- Haleʻiwa Town Christmas Parade
- Kama‘āina Christmas 2026
- Kapolei City Lights
- Nightmare Before Xmas
- Honolulu City Lights
- The Blessed Night Market
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Sat 12 December 2026
- A Downtown Family Christmas Parade
- ʻAiea Christmas Parade & Family Fun Fair
- Breakfast with Santa at Kani Ka Pila Grille
- Christmas On The Avenue
- Dive’n’Movie featuring The Grinch
- Ewa Beach Lions Club Christmas Parade
- Holiday 2026 JCCH Craft & Collectibles Fair
- Honolulu City Lights
- Kalākaua Merrie Mile
- Kapolei City Lights
- Mahalo I Kau Kumu Holiday Gift Fair & School Supply Drive for Teachers
- Mele Kalikimaka Marketplace
- Santa & Friends Hawaiian Wonderland
- The Nutcracker by Ballet Hawaiʻi
- Waimanalo Christmas Parade
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Sun 13 December 2026
- Aloha Home Market in Kailua
- Butterfly Tea at The Veranda
- Honolulu City Lights
- Island Crafters Market
- Kapolei City Lights
- Mele Kalikimaka Marketplace
- The Nutcracker by Ballet Hawaiʻi
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Mon 14 December 2026
Tue 15 December 2026
Wed 16 December 2026
- Hapa Holiday Extravaganza
- Honolulu City Lights
- Kapolei City Lights
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Thu 17 December 2026
Fri 18 December 2026
- Cars & Coffee Hawaii After Dark – Holiday Edition!
- Candlelight Concert: Christmas Carols on Strings
- Hawai’i Holiday Craft & Gift Fair
- Honolulu City Lights
- Hoops in Hawaiʻi Classic
- Kapolei City Lights
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Sat 19 December 2026
- Elf in Concert: Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra
- Hawai’i Holiday Craft & Gift Fair
- Honolulu City Lights
- Hoops in Hawaiʻi Classic
- Kapolei City Lights
- Made With Aloha Gift Fair
- Moanalua Christmas Parade
- The 5th Annual Kalani Peʻa Hawaiian Christmas Show
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
- Whitmore Christmas Village Parade
Sun 20 December 2026
- Aloha Home Market in Kailua
- Elf in Concert: Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra
- Hawai’i Holiday Craft & Gift Fair
- Hawaii Tiki Bowl 2026
- Honolulu City Lights
- Hoops in Hawaiʻi Classic
- Kapolei City Lights
- Made With Aloha Gift Fair
- Olomana Christmas Parade
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Mon 21 December 2026
- Christmas Stocking Contest at A’o Cultural Center
- Honolulu City Lights
- Hoops in Hawaiʻi Classic
- Kapolei City Lights
- Robert Cazimero’s Christmas Week Show!
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Tue 22 December 2026
- Honolulu City Lights
- Hoops in Hawaiʻi Classic
- Kapolei City Lights
- Robert Cazimero’s Christmas Week Show!
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Wed 23 December 2026
- Christmas Cookie Decoration at A’o Cultural Center
- Honolulu City Lights
- Kapolei City Lights
- Robert Cazimero’s Christmas Week Show!
- The Magical Mystery Show!
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Thu 24 December 2026
- 2026 Sheraton Hawaiʻi Bowl
- Charlie Brown Christmas
- Christmas Storytelling by the General Manager at Herb Kane Lounge
- Honolulu City Lights
- Kapolei City Lights
- Robert Cazimero’s Christmas Eve Show!
- Robert Cazimero’s Christmas Week Show!
- Sheraton Hawaiʻi Bowl
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Fri 25 December 2026
- Charlie Brown Christmas
- Cookies & Hot Cocoa at Herb Kane Lounge
- Honolulu City Lights
- Kapolei City Lights
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Sat 26 December 2026
Sun 27 December 2026
- Honolulu City Lights
- Kapolei City Lights
- Rocky Mountain High Experience®: A John Denver Christmas
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Mon 28 December 2026
Tue 29 December 2026
Wed 30 December 2026
- Honolulu City Lights
- Kapolei City Lights
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
- WAR: New Year’s Celebration
Thu 31 December 2026
- Dark Side of the Beach NYE
- Honolulu City Lights
- Kapolei City Lights
- PHAMily Fun Day: Kids New Year’s Zulu Time
- Tom Segura Live at the Blaisdell Concert Hall
- Waikīkī Beach New Year’s Eve fireworks show
- WAR: New Year’s Celebration
- Twas the Light Before Christmas on Ice
Christmas Meals
Christmas Buffets
Thu 24 December 2026
- Christmas Eve Dinner at The Buffet at The Hyatt
Fri 25 December 2026
- Christmas Day Dinner at The Buffet at The Hyatt
- Christmas Dinner Buffet at Beachhouse at Moana Surfrider
- Christmas Celebratory Feast at Jade Dynasty Chinese Restaurant
Christmas Prix Fixe Menus
Thu 24 December 2026
- Christmas Eve Dinner at 53 By The Sea
- Christmas Eve Holiday Menu at Merriman’s Honolulu
Fri 25 December 2026
- Christmas Day Holiday Menu at Merriman’s Honolulu
- Christmas Dinner at Roy’s Hawaii Kai
- Christmas Dinner at 53 By The Sea
Christmas To-Go Meals
December 2026
- Hy’s Christmas Eve & Christmas Day ʻOhana Feast-To-Go (order ASAP, pick-up o 24 Dec & 25 Dec)
- Christmas Lūʻau Package Meal To Go from Zippy’s Hawaiʻi (orders open soon)
- Christmas Special at Island Country Markets
Christmas Themed Treats
December 2026
- Holiday Menu at Starbucks
INSIDE TIP: As Christmas approaches, watch for more event announcements and bookmark this page for updates. Some events may require advance reservations or tickets. While we strive for accuracy, please confirm details with organizers as dates, times and pricing may change.
Hosting an event on Oʻahu? We’d love to feature it! Please send your event details to aloha@waikikibeachstays.com, and we’ll gladly add it to our listings.
