Are you looking for things to do in Hawaii for New Years? Keep scrolling for my top picks for how to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Hawaii this year.
This guide to how to celebrate New Year’s Eve 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.
Are you heading to Hawaii for New Years?
Read on to find out which Hawaii New Years Eve events are happening this year, so if you are going to Hawaii for New Year, you can know how to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Hawaii this year!
There is still a lot of fun Hawaii NYE stuff planned throughout the islands as well as some great deals at hotels and resorts. So don’t miss out on all of these amazing New Years Eve in Hawaii activities!
There is no better way to ring in the new year than with a celebration of epic proportions. And there’s no place that does it bigger or better than Hawaii!
So get ready because we have everything you need right here, including tips on where to stay and things not to miss when visiting Hawaii on December 31st. It’s time for some fun in the sun and we can help make sure it happens!
Keep scrolling to find out the best things to do in Hawaii for New Year’s Eve.
Want to skip all the planning and just access my detailed Hawaii Itineraries, complete with daily schedules, kid-friendly activities, and travel hacks? Click the button below.
Will There Be Any New Year’s Eve Events in Hawaii?
Aome bars, restaurants, clubs, and other places are open and are preparing for New Year’s celebrations.
Here are some great things to do for a happy New Year in Hawaii! This guide will go through each of the main islands in Hawaii with a list of the fun Hawaiian New Year traditions and fun events.
You’ll have a blast celebrating New Years Hawaii-style!
New Year’s Eve on Oahu
Here are a few Oahu New Years Eve events happening all over Oahu that you can enjoy to celebrate a Hawaii New Year’s this year.
Waikiki Beach Fireworks
On New Year’s Eve in Waikiki, you will find a beautiful firework display. The fireworks begin right at midnight and are set up on a boat out on the ocean. The Waikiki firework show is between 8-10 minutes.
The Waikiki New Years fireworks will have palm trees, colorful leaves, willows, and many cooler Hawaiian-style designs. This is a fireworks display you may not have seen before!
You will be able to see the fireworks all along Waikiki Beach. Around 100,000 people usually come to watch these fireworks. It is one of Oahu’s biggest New Year’s Eve shows!
Even if you can’t go to the beach in person, you will still be able to see the fireworks in Waikiki New Year’s Eve from afar to enjoy.
Waikiki Starlight Luau
Also on Waikiki during New Year is the Starlight Luau at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It is the only outdoor luau in Waikiki. Enjoy the sunset and beautiful skies while watching the hula and fire knife dancers. This starts at 5 pm.
Enjoy the dancers and a delicious Hawaiian dinner for this Hawaii New Years tradition.
New Year’s Eve at Tiki’s Grill and Bar
If you are spending New Year’s Eve in Honolulu, be sure to check out Tiki’s Grill and Bar. They usually have a little celebration called New Year’s Eve party that is pretty awesome.
This Honolulu New Years Eve celebration includes a 4-course meal with some of the most delicious food you’ll ever taste on the island. The meal also has special wine-paired as well to add to your celebration.
After dinner, you can head to the NYE party that has dancing, drinks, a midnight toast, and so much more. You must reserve your tickets and table well in advance, so I would start right away! It’s another great New Year’s Eve event in Hawaii that you don’t want to miss.
The Star of Honolulu Dinner Cruise
Try the Star of Honolulu Dinner Cruise for their New Year’s Eve Celebration Cruise if you want to enjoy your fireworks out on the ocean. During your cruise, you will enjoy wonderful hula dancing, live jazz, and a beautiful 65 Years of Aloha show.
You will also get a champagne toast and see the fireworks on the ocean. Dinner features a delicious 3-course meal along with premium beverages. Kids and adults are welcome on this cruise. Private seating and additional enhancements are also available.
This is definitely one of the top Hawaii New Years cruises to enojy! Read our full Star of Honolulu review.
Rock-A-Hula
We are so excited this event is once again happening! There are three different dinner and champagne packages to choose from for this event. There will be a countdown with visual fireworks on a video screen during Rock-A-Hula as well.
This is a show that includes live music, dancing, and a show. It is a lot of fun that both adults and children can enjoy. Rock-A-Hula starts at 9:00 pm and goes on until midnight. Enjoy a delicious dinner and show this New Year’s Eve in Honolulu at Rock a Hula.
It’s another one of the cool things to do on New Year’s Eve in Oahu. Read my full Rock-A-Hula review.
Hoku’s New Years Eve Dinner
Enjoy an 8-course dinner at Hoku’s, which is located at Kahala Resort for another Hawaii New Year celebration.
The entire meal looks mouth-watering and delicious. Check out the full menu HERE.
Ko Olina Fireworks
You can usually find some fireworks happening along the Ko Olina lagoons throughout the night.
The Ritz-Carlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay New Years Eve Hawaii Fun
The Ritz-Carlton O’ahu, Turtle Bay offers a couple of great activities for December 31st.
First off, you can enjoy the “Alaia’s New Year’s Eve Prix Fixe Dinner.”
It offers a four-course meal with appetizers and desserts that are absolutely delicious. It’s perfect for couples who want to enjoy a Hawaiian Happy New Year.
At midnight, you can also experience some of the best North Shore Oahu New Years fireworks here too!
Maui New Year’s Eve
Are you spending New Year’s Eve on Maui? Here are all the fun celebrations to enjoy on New Year’s Eve in Maui this year!
Pacific Whale Foundation
Many other cruises celebrate New Year’s Eve in Maui. The Pacific Whale Foundation helps organize these cruises. Cruises usually sell out very early, so be sure to book in advance to enjoy a unique way to start your New Year on a great foot.
This is a great Hawaii New Year’s Eve cruise on Maui to enjoy some drinks and watch the fireworks out on the ocean.
Grand Wailea Fireworks
The Grand Wailea Hawaii New Year fireworks are some of the best on the island of Maui!
First off, families of all ages can enjoy a family movie night to start off the New Year countdown. Following the movie, you can watch the fireworks that take off on Wailea Beach.
Learn more information HERE.
Alii Nui Maui New Year’s Cruise
The Alii Nui Maui cruise takes off from Maalaea Harbor and is a few hours long. You’ll get a dinner buffet with prime rib, ahi, and chicken. There is also a full bar too!
Once it’s time, you will get to enjoy some of the best views of the fireworks in Maui.
New Years Dinner at Montage Kapalua Bay
If you are looking for a place to eat for New Year’s in Hawaii, check out this dinner at Montage Kapalua Bay.
It has a four-course meal filled with delicious seafood you will love. However, there are tons of options, so you can find something everyone will enjoy.
Ritz Carlton Maui Hawaii on New Years
At the Ritz Carlton, you will find a few fun ways to have a happy New Year Hawaiian style!
First off, you can enjoy a New Years Eve dinner that will sure to delight all your taste buds. Once you are finished, head to the Alaloa Lounge for a special concert, followed by dancing and live music until it is midnight!
New Year’s Eve in Big Island
Check out some of the main New Year’s Eve events that you can enjoy during your vacation on the Big Island!
Hilo Bay Fireworks
On Hilo Bay, you will be able to enjoy seeing some fireworks. This Hilo Bay fireworks New Years Eve show will start around midnight and will be around 15 minutes long. Luckily, you can see the fireworks from far away, so you can still enjoy it if you aren’t able to go to the bay physically.
Grand Naniloa Resort
The Grand Naniloa Resort has a big party for New Year.
There is a coconut ball drop right at midnight. You can then enjoy the Hilo Bay fireworks mentioned above. Enjoy a free movie night on the lawn before the fireworks show. Or grab a ticket to have fun with their Big Island NYE concert.
There will also be live streams of the other firework celebrations to enjoy while at this party. There will be a live concert and some good food at this Hilo New Years Eve event!
At 10:30 pm, you can also enjoy a unique paddleboard experience. Some spectators will be able to ride on a paddleboard under the moonlight and then enjoy the fireworks out on the ocean! A complimentary champagne toast is also given.
This is one of the biggest Hawaii New Year events on the Big Island, so be sure to get your tickets ahead of time.
Mauna Lani Resort
The Mauna Lani Resort has plenty of fun New Year’s Eve celebrations to enjoy. These celebrations start on December 26th and go until January 1st. Some activities include morning yoga, paddle boarding, luau’s, hula dancing, and so much more.
On December 31st, enjoy a special 7-course meal at Canoe House. Then at 8 pm, enjoy fireworks and live music along the beach.
Fairmont Orchid New Years Eve Luau
Another one of the Hawaii New Year’s traditions is to attend a traditional Hawaiian feast to ring in the new year, and the Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island does just that.
This luau takes place under the stars along the South Kohala Coast and has some delicious food, live music, and a spectacular hula show.
Hilton Waikoloa Village Fireworks and Luau
You can also enjoy a fun New Year’s Eve luau and firework show at the Hilton Waikoloa Village.
Located at the Lagoon Lanai, head out and enjoy a wonderful dinner and luau. Afterward, you will enjoy a fireworks display across the saltwater lagoon. It’s quite beautiful!
If you still want to have some fun, there will be more entertainment and fun at the Kona Tap Room.
New Year’s Eve in Kauai
Here are our top choices of fun places to spend your Kauai New Years Eve. This smaller beautiful island still has many fun options!
Poipu Beach Fireworks
Every year there is a free New Year’s Eve celebration at Poipu Beach in Koloa, Hawaii. This event is also family-friendly making it a great place to visit if you have little ones during your vacation.
First off, bring your lawn chairs and blankets to enjoy a movie. Then, at 8:15 pm, the fireworks show will begin.
Food trucks will also be around to enjoy some delicious food during the show and fireworks. You can also enjoy some nice live music.
Lihue Fireworks
At the Vidinha stadium, you can typically see some pretty awesome fireworks. What is nice about this event is that you enjoy the fireworks right from your car. It is usually $10 per vehicle, and all the proceeds go to the Hawaii Food Bank.
Bring your own food and drinks and enjoy beautiful fireworks from the comfort of your car.
1 Hotel Hanalei Bay New Years Celebration
At the 1 Hotel Hanalei Bay, you will find a fantastic Hanalei New Years Eve event.
Here you can enjoy a live DJ, dancing, a champagne bar, fire dancing, and so much more.
It will be a great event for couples to enjoy!
NYE in Hawaii FAQs
There are lots of fun Hawaiian New Year’s traditions, but the most popular is, of course, the tons of Hawaii New Years fireworks! You will find countless firework displays all over each island to celebrate the new year.
Happy New Year can be said like Hau’oli (happy) Makahiki (year) Hou (new).
The Hawaii weather in December is a bit cooler and rainier than in the summer months. It’s helpful to bring a pair of long pants and a light sweater or rain jacket for the evenings. But, you’ll still be able to enjoy the beach and your hotel pool.
The absolute best thing to do in Hawaii in winter is go whale watching. Maui is the best island for whale watching, however, there are boat tours on all the islands that will get you close to humpback whales. Another fun thing to do in Hawaii for Christmas is to check out the Christmas lights and go shopping.
It’s helpful to bring a pair of pants, a rain jacket, closed-toe shoes, and a large-brimmed hat. This will help you during rainy/muddy weather. It’s also helpful if you do any adventures like horseback riding or an ATV tour.
I would say Oahu probably has the most Hawaiian New Years traditions to enjoy all over the island. But there are tons of great ways to spend New Years in Hawaii on any of the islands!
Hawaii New Year’s Events Wrap Up
Hopefully, you will enjoy ringing in the New Year on Hawaii. If all else fails, who wouldn’t love to relax under the sun at the beach to start off their year? I know I sure would!
Please note that things are likely to change, and some events may even be canceled from now until New Year’s Eve. We will do our best to update to keep this current!
Enjoy all of the Hawaii New Year traditions!