It may be hard to believe, but there are certainly signs winter has arrived in Hawaiʻi. On Oʻahu, you know it’s the holiday season when a jolly 21-foot Santa Clause is throwing a shaka outside of Honolulu Hale.
The annual Honolulu City Lights is one of the most anticipated festivals every year. Residents and visitors are invited to explore larger-than-life Christmas themed displays, which adorn Downtown for more than a month. The City and County of Honolulu, in partnership with the Friends of Honolulu City Lights, will launch the 2025 Honolulu City Lights on Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025.
The festivities for the 41st celebration kick off with a block part at 4 p.m. this Saturday on Punchbowl Street and throughout the Frank F. Fasi Civic Grounds.
As the Public Workers’ Electric Light Parade passes Honolulu Hale at 6:30 p.m., Mayor Rick Blangiardi will illuminate the holiday tree and light displays that are decorating the grounds. Thomas Square Park will also be lit at 6:30 p.m., connecting a festive glow across Honolulu.
Leading up to the festivities, there will be a free concert by the Royal Hawaiian Band at the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall at 7 p.m. on Friday, Nov. 28.
The 2-hour concert, Kalikimaka Hoʻomau, features a stellar lineup of beloved Hawaiʻi artists, including Grammy-nominated, 21-time Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award winner Henry Kapono; two-time Grammy nominee and multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award recipient Raiatea Helm; the Kamehameha Schools Children’s Chorus; and other special guests.
Creating a full evening of music, lights and seasonal cheer, the City and County of Honolulu will light up Thomas Square at 6 p.m. on Friday as a festive preview for concertgoers to enjoy before and after the concert.
For those unable to attend in person, the concert will be livestreamed on hawaiinewsnow.com and will air on KHNL, allowing viewers across the Islands to enjoy the performance from home.
“Music has a way of bringing people together, and there is something truly special about the way our community celebrates the holidays,” said Mayor Rick Blangiardi in a news release. “This free concert is a gift to our residents and families—an invitation to come together, enjoy world-class local talent, and feel the spirit of the season in our city.”
This non-ticketed event is free and open to the public. Doors to the Blaisdell Concert Hall will open at 6 p.m. Seating is first-come, first-served.
Additional information and a full schedule of events are available at HNLcitylights.com.
