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 […]
*This story was originally published on Nov. 8, 2023, and was updated in November 2025. While traveling in the winter anywhere else in the world may subject visitors to colder weather, snow and darker days, Hawaiʻi sees tropical weather and perfectly sunny weather even in December and January. Sure, it may rain a bit
The holidays are officially in full swing! While there’s no drastic change between seasons here in the Islands, there are still plenty of ways to feel the holiday spirit and celebrate. From wandering through a winter wonderland to sipping cocktails at Christmas-themed bars, these attractions and pop-up activities on Oʻahu will help you get into
You know there’s something in the air when you see a jolly 21-foot Santa Claus flashing a sky-high shaka outside Honolulu Hale. Although there’s no sled riding or frosted windowpanes and the weather outside isn’t frightful, Hawaiʻi is still full of holiday cheer. After all, it’s the most magical time of the year. READ MORE:
While many Christmas and holiday events took a year off in 2020 due to COVID-19, they’ve returned this year in full force. So if your holly jolly itinerary is looking a bit blank, then you’ll want to check out some of these festive affairs that only come around once a year. Honolulu City Lights Now
The holidays will be a little less jolly this year, as the City & County of Honolulu has decided to scale back its annual Honolulu City Lights festivities to stop large social gatherings in an effort to minimize the chance of a coronavirus outbreak. The biggest—and most necessary—omission will be the opening night festivities. This includes
Hawaii is unique in so many ways, from our always-tropical weather to the blending of diverse cultures. We celebrate the holiday season a little differently, too. For starters, our year-round sunshine means we can don board shorts and bikinis and go surfing on Christmas morning—and maybe even catch Hawaiian Santas throw shakas from outrigger canoes. Here
It may not be cold outside and most places in the islands will never have a white Christmas, but here in Hawaii, we celebrate Christmas with plenty of cheer. Honolulu’s signature monthlong annual holiday celebration, Honolulu City Lights, is the place to go in December if you’re on Oahu. It’s where you can walk through
Did you know Santa’s elves are real? At least, in Hawaii they are. But instead of working at a toy factory at the North Pole, these holiday helpers work in government buildings, juggling their day jobs as Honolulu city employees with their holiday seasonal assignments. And while they might not be making toys for the
