Are you thinking about heading to Hawaii for Christmas? Keep scrolling to find out the best hotels to spend Christmas in Hawaii that really know how to get into the holiday spirit!
This post about the best hotels for a Hawaii Christmas vacation was written by Hawaii travel expert Marcie Cheung and contains affiliate links which means if you purchase something from one of my affiliate links, I may earn a small commission that goes back into maintaining this blog.
Planning a Christmas vacation to Hawaii? Smart choice. While everyone back home is scraping ice off their windshields, you’ll be building sandmen on the beach (yes, that’s a thing here).
But here’s what you need to know: Not all Hawaii hotels are created equal when it comes to Christmas. Some just string up a few lights and call it festive.
The hotels I’m sharing below? They go all out with Santa arriving by canoe, gingerbread house competitions, holiday luaus, and decorations that’ll make you want to take a million photos.
I’ve narrowed this down to the 10 best hotels across the islands that really know how to celebrate Christmas, Hawaiian style. These are the places where your kids will remember their tropical holiday for years to come.
Quick Christmas in Hawaii Tips
Is Christmas expensive in Hawaii?
Yes. Hotel rates during the Christmas period run about 20-30% higher than the rest of the year. Expect to pay anywhere from $300-$800+ per night depending on the property. The good news? Many hotels include activities and events in your stay.
Best island for Christmas?
Oahu has the most Christmas events and generally lower hotel rates than Maui or Kauai. That said, every island offers something special during the holidays.
Note about Maui: After the 2023 fires, Lahaina town is still rebuilding. However, the resort areas in Wailea, Kihei, and Kapalua were unaffected and are fully operational with all their usual holiday magic. The rest of Maui’s coastline is ready to welcome you.
Best Christmas Hotels on Oahu
Hilton Hawaiian Village
I stayed at the Hilton Hawaiian Village during Christmas a few years back, and honestly, it set the bar high for every other Hawaii Christmas since.
The moment you walk onto the property, you’re hit with decorations everywhere. We’re talking Christmas trees, lights strung through palm trees, holiday music drifting through the open-air lobbies. Waikiki gets really festive during the holidays, and this hotel captures that energy perfectly.
The Hilton runs Christmas activities from mid-December through Christmas Day. Kids can make ornaments, create holiday-themed kukui nut bracelets, and write letters to Santa (there’s an actual mailbox for this).
They host holiday movie nights on the beach, which is such a cool experience when you’re used to watching Christmas movies while it’s snowing outside.
On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, they hold luaus right on the lawn. You can also get holiday photos on Santa’s sleigh, attend lei-making sessions, and catch hula lessons. The restaurants do special holiday menus if you want a proper sit-down Christmas dinner.
Budget: Mid-range to moderate luxury ($400-600/night during Christmas). Check the latest rates and availability.
Moana Surfrider
If you want full-on Christmas overload in the best way possible, the Moana Surfrider is it.
Every corner of this hotel gets decorated. The lobby, the columns wrapped in greenery with red bows, the enormous tree… it’s basically a Christmas catalog come to life.
During your stay, you can do breakfast with Santa (book this early, it fills up fast). They also offer a Christmas-themed afternoon tea service, which feels fancy but is actually really fun with kids. The New Hope Adult Choir performs Christmas carols in the lobby in early December.
For Christmas Day, there’s a brunch buffet at the Beachhouse and a special Christmas dinner. One of the coolest things about this hotel is Santa’s Pen, the year-round Christmas store. You can grab Hawaii-themed ornaments to take home as souvenirs.
Budget: Upscale ($500-700/night during Christmas). Check the latest rates and availability.
Sheraton Waikiki
The Sheraton Waikiki has something you won’t find anywhere else: incredible Christmas sand sculptures.
Since 2007, artists from Sandsational have been creating these massive, detailed sculptures throughout the hotel. Picture Santa with Mrs. Claus, snowmen families, Santa checking his naughty and nice list… all carved from sand.
Even if you don’t stay here, swing by to see them.
The hotel also runs a 12 Days of Christmas program with different activities each day. Think lei-making, crafts, hula lessons, and live musical performances. The restaurant Kai Market serves a special Christmas dinner.
Plus, you’re steps from Waikiki Beach, which gets pretty lively during the holidays.
Budget: Mid-range ($400-550/night during Christmas). Check the latest rates and availability.
Royal Hawaiian Hotel
Called the “Pink Palace” for obvious reasons, the Royal Hawaiian goes pink for Christmas too. The whole property gets decked out in holiday decor (yes, with pink accents), including a stunning pink Christmas tree that makes for incredible family photos.
They offer a Royal Hawaiian Christmas dinner at Azure restaurant on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Their 12 Days of Christmas program includes activities like lauhala ornament weaving, holiday flower lei making, festive bracelet making, and Santa arriving on a canoe to greet the kids.
The Royal Hawaiian also creates a massive sand sculpture each year. It’s an Instagram moment waiting to happen.
Budget: Upscale ($550-750/night during Christmas). Check the latest rates and availablity.
Best Christmas Hotels on Maui
Important note: The resort areas in Wailea and Kapalua were unaffected by the 2023 fires and are fully operational. Lahaina town itself is still in recovery.
Grand Wailea Maui
This is hands-down one of the best places to spend Christmas in Maui. The Grand Wailea goes big with a special Christmas tree lighting ceremony in early December, followed by a holiday marketplace where local vendors sell Made on Maui products (perfect for gift shopping).
Throughout the month, they hold special festive luaus. Kids get their own dedicated holiday activities including sand art, spa salt blend making, and ornament decorating. On December 23rd and 24th, Santa’s Candyshop sets up with tons of holiday treats.
Christmas Eve morning, Santa arrives on a canoe in the Pacific Ocean. Afterward, kids traditionally make Hawaiian snowmen in the sand. On Christmas Day, there are church services in the chapel and a special holiday brunch.
The property itself is massive with incredible pools and waterslides, so even outside the Christmas events, there’s plenty to keep everyone entertained.
Budget: Luxury ($700-900/night during Christmas). Check the latest rates and availability.
Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
The Four Seasons decorates with lights and holiday decor throughout the property. Their on-site restaurants, Ferraro’s and Spago, offer special holiday menus on Christmas Day.
What makes this place special is the evening holiday activities for kids, from cookie decorating to Hawaiian Christmas movie nights. On Christmas Eve morning at 10:00 AM, head to Wailea Beach where Santa arrives on an outrigger canoe. You can even request a Christmas tree for your room.
The Four Seasons is known for exceptional service year-round, and they bring that same attention to detail to their holiday programming.
Budget: Luxury ($800-1000+/night during Christmas). Check the latest rates and availability.
The Ritz-Carlton Maui, Kapalua
The Ritz-Carlton holds a special Christmas tree lighting ceremony in early December complete with handmade gingerbread houses, Santa visits, live music, and hula dancing for kids. There are craft booths, photo ops with Santa, and hot cocoa.
After the lighting ceremony, the hotel continues with holiday events through Christmas. You can get special holiday coffee drinks like peppermint mochas and gingerbread lattes. Santa is available for breakfast at Ulana Terrace on select days leading up to Christmas.
The resort spa offers holiday-themed treatments if parents want some downtime while kids are at activities.
Budget: Luxury ($700-950/night during Christmas). Check the latest rates and availablity.
Want to get more tips on spending Christmas on Maui? Read this blog!
Best Christmas Hotel on Kauai
Koloa Landing Resort
The Koloa Landing Resort in Poipu offers one of the best pool and waterslide setups in all the islands, which is reason enough to stay here.
But during Christmas, they add special touches like holiday lights throughout the property and events like gingerbread house decorating.
The on-site restaurant, Holoholo Grill, serves a special Christmas brunch with everything from banana pancakes and fried chicken to poke, ribs, a ramen bar, and gingerbread cookies. It’s a nice mix of traditional holiday foods and Hawaiian specialties.
Poipu Beach is great for families year-round, and during Christmas, you’re close to Kauai’s Lights on Rice Parade and other island holiday events.
Budget: Mid-range to upscale ($450-650/night during Christmas). Check the latest rates and availabilty.
Check out my Koloa Landing Resort review HERE.
Best Christmas Hotels on the Big Island
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
The Four Seasons Hualalai offers a Christmas buffet dinner with both traditional and Hawaiian dishes. The resort location is perfect for whale-watching season, which starts in December.
Kids can watch Christmas movies under the stars, including classics like The Grinch. Santa makes special appearances during various activities. For active families, they host a Jingle Bell Run on December 23rd.
The property is known for being one of the most luxurious in Hawaii, and if you’re looking to splurge for a special Christmas, this is a top choice.
Budget: Ultra-luxury ($900-1200+/night during Christmas). Check the latest rates and availability.
Hilton Waikoloa Village
Want to see Santa ride a canoe escorted by dolphins? The Hilton Waikoloa Village makes it happen. Santa arrives on Christmas Day bringing treats to share with kids, and you can get photos with him.
Throughout the day, you can enjoy special holiday food offerings. On Christmas Eve, there’s a church service, caroling in the lobby, and Santa appears at the pool. Dinner features a special Christmas luau.
Other activities include gingerbread decorating, holiday coloring, an elf scavenger hunt, hot chocolate stations, and candy canes everywhere. The property also has a monorail and boats to get around, which kids think is the coolest thing ever.
Budget: Mid-range ($400-600/night during Christmas). Check the latest rates and availabilty.
Check out my Hilton Waikoloa Village review HERE.
Fairmont Orchid
The Fairmont Orchid lights up with holiday decorations throughout the property. All the on-site restaurants offer special holiday food options throughout the season.
Instead of a traditional tree lighting, the Fairmont does a torch lighting ceremony with a special hula performance. It’s a beautiful Hawaiian twist on Christmas traditions.
Kids and families can make their own gingerbread houses, create their own shaved ice, enjoy ice cream hours, and attend holiday movie nights. Adults can make bath bombs or sugar scrubs for free and book holiday spa treatments.
On Christmas Eve, Santa arrives at Pauoa Bay on a canoe pulled by elves in Santa hats.
Budget: Upscale ($600-800/night during Christmas). Check the latest rates and availability.
Check out my Fairmont Orchid review HERE.
Hawaii For Christmas FAQs
Absolutely. Yes, it’s more expensive and busier than other times of year. But escaping winter weather to celebrate Christmas on a beach, watching Santa arrive by canoe, and seeing your kids experience a truly unique holiday? Worth every penny. The hotels really commit to making it special.
Plan on rates being 20-30% higher than normal. A hotel that typically runs $300/night might be $400-450 during Christmas week. Luxury resorts can easily hit $800-1000/night. Book as early as possible to lock in better rates.
Most activities included with your hotel stay don’t require reservations. However, special dining experiences (like breakfast with Santa or Christmas Day dinners) should be booked as soon as possible. These fill up months in advance.
Lahaina town is still rebuilding after the 2023 fires. However, the resort areas where these hotels are located (Wailea, Kihei, Kapalua) were unaffected. These areas are fully open and operating normally.
Final Thoughts
Christmas in Hawaii is different from anything you’ll experience on the mainland. Instead of bundling up to go caroling, you’re in shorts watching Santa paddle ashore.
Instead of a white Christmas, you get blue skies and 80-degree weather. And instead of sitting inside by the fireplace, you’re building sandmen on the beach.
Any of these hotels will give your family an unforgettable Hawaiian Christmas. The key is picking the island and price point that works best for you, then booking early to snag those holiday rates before they climb even higher.
Ready to trade snow for sand this Christmas?
Looking for more Hawaii Christmas content? Find out the best Hawaiian Christmas traditions, where to see Christmas lights in Hawaii, best Hawaiian Christmas music, where to see Santa in Hawaii, ultimate Christmas packing list for Hawaii, and best Waikiki Christmas activities!
