Planning a trip to Hawaii in December and want to get into the holiday spirit before you go? Keep scrolling to check out the most festive Christmas movies set in Hawaii!
This list of Christmas movies set in Hawaii 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.
Look, I get it. You’re probably buried under three feet of snow right now, dreaming about spending Christmas somewhere warm. Or maybe you’re planning a Hawaii trip in December and want to get in the island holiday spirit.
Either way, I’ve got you covered with the best Christmas movies filmed in Hawaii.
And honestly? Watching Christmas unfold with palm trees and beaches instead of snow and fireplaces hits different. There’s something magical about seeing how the islands celebrate the holidays.
The Classic Ones You Need to Watch
Tis The Season: A Hawaiian Christmas Story (1994)
This 45-minute gem came out in 1994, and it’s probably the most heartfelt Hawaii Christmas movie out there.
The story follows a family dealing with some serious pre-Christmas stress. Kimo just lost his job, his wife’s working double shifts, and their daughter Heather is learning what Christmas really means when times are tough.
Enter Mrs. Livingston, who turns out to be their guardian angel (literally). She helps Kimo land a new job and makes sure Heather gets her Christmas wish. The whole thing was filmed on Oahu, including this stunning scene at Honolulu City Lights.
Fun behind-the-scenes story: the director wanted to film at City Hall when all the Christmas lights were up (free quarter-million-dollar set, right?).
But the mayor showed up unexpectedly on a weekend evening, found someone parked in his spot, and kicked the entire crew off the property. They had to scramble and film everything in one night instead of two. Talk about Christmas drama.
Same Time, Next Christmas (2019)
This one’s my favorite. They filmed it all over Oahu in December 2019, mostly at Turtle Bay Resort (you’ll also spot Kawela Bay, Waimea Falls, and Kahala Resort).
Here’s the story: Olivia and Jeff meet as kids when both their families vacation at the same Hawaiian resort every Christmas. They become best friends, then more than friends as teenagers. But Jeff’s family stops coming, and they lose touch.
Fast forward to adulthood, and they both show up at the same resort on the same Christmas. Only now Olivia’s engaged to a businessman named Gregg, and Jeff’s navigating a complicated situation with his daughter’s mom.
The cast is solid. Lea Michele plays Olivia, Charles Michael Davis is Jeff, and Bryan Greenberg plays the boyfriend. You get to see actual Hawaiian Christmas traditions throughout the movie, which is pretty cool if you’re curious about how locals celebrate.
It’s streaming on YouTube if you want to watch it. Not gonna lie, it’s a feel-good romantic movie that’ll make you want to book a flight to Hawaii immediately.
Jim Nabors’ Christmas in Hawaii (1981)
This one’s a total throwback. Jim Nabors (who lived in Hawaii) hosted this hour-long Christmas special featuring Carol Burnett and Tom Selleck. It’s more of a musical variety show than a movie, with performances by the Brothers Cazimero and the Honolulu Boys Choir.
If you’re into nostalgic Christmas specials with that vintage TV vibe, this is worth tracking down. You can watch it on Hawaii News Now.
Frank DeLima’s Hawaiian Christmas Carol (1982)
Ever wondered what A Christmas Carol would look like set in Hawaii? Frank DeLima made that happen in 1982. He plays multiple characters (as Frank DeLima does), and the Scrooge character is a restaurant owner named Mr. Hu. Don Ho and Mel Cabang make cameos.
Fair warning: it’s got that early 80s local Hawaii comedy style with lots of pidgin and cultural jokes. Some people find it hilarious and charming, others think it hasn’t aged well. But if you’re familiar with Hawaii’s local comedy scene, you’ll probably appreciate it.
The Disney Channel Episode
Okay, technically not a movie, but worth mentioning. “Jessie’s Aloha Holidays with Parker & Joey” is the season 3 finale of the Disney show Jessie. It’s actually a crossover with “Liv and Maddie” and runs about an hour.
In this episode, Jessie lands a role on a fake show called Aloha Crime and takes the kids she babysits to Hawaii for filming. It aired back in November 2014, and you can catch it on Disney Plus.
My kids loved this one when they were younger, so if you’re traveling to Hawaii with kids and want to get them excited, this is a good option.
What About Hallmark?
Here’s the thing about Hallmark movies. They’ve filmed a bunch in Hawaii, but most aren’t specifically Christmas movies. They’re just romantic movies that happen to be set in paradise. Still, if you’re doing a Hawaii movie marathon, these are worth adding to your list:
- Groundswell
- Two Tickets to Paradise
- You Had Me at Aloha
- Aloha with Love
- Love For Real
- Hidden Gems
- Aloha Heart
They all follow the classic Hallmark formula (workaholic meets laid-back island person, sparks fly, etc.), but the Hawaii backdrop makes them fun to watch.
And honestly, Hallmark keeps filming more movies in Hawaii every year, so this list will probably keep growing.
Quick Answers to Questions You’re Probably Wondering
Are there a lot of movies filmed in Hawaii?
Over 100 at this point. Everything from Jurassic Park to 50 First Dates to Finding Ohana. The islands are basically a giant film set.
What’s Christmas like in Hawaii?
It’s beautiful, honestly. The weather cools down a bit (but you’ll still have sunshine and warm days). You’ll see Christmas decorations everywhere, but mixed with palm trees and beaches. It’s this weird, wonderful combination of traditional Christmas vibes and tropical paradise. Totally worth experiencing if you get the chance.
Where was Same Time, Next Christmas filmed?
Primarily Turtle Bay Resort on Oahu’s North Shore, but they also shot at Kahala Hotel, various beaches, and even some “Cincinnati” scenes at a bank in downtown Honolulu.
My Two Cents
If you can only watch one movie from this list, go with Same Time, Next Christmas. It actually shows Hawaiian Christmas traditions, has beautiful scenery, and tells a decent story. Plus, at 90 minutes, it won’t eat up your whole evening.
Tis The Season is great if you want something more emotional and family-focused. And if you’re into vintage TV specials or local Hawaii humor, definitely check out the Jim Nabors and Frank DeLima ones (though those might be harder to find).
Now grab some Hawaiian hurricane popcorn, pour yourself something festive, and enjoy your tropical Christmas movie night. And if you’re actually planning a Hawaii trip in December, check out my other guides on where to see Santa in Hawaii and Christmas traditions in the islands.
Mele Kalikimaka!
Looking for more Hawaii Christmas content? Check out where to see Santa in Hawaii, where to watch the Nutcracker in Hawaii, Must-Experience Hawaiian Christmas Traditions, and my Hawaii Christmas packing list!
