Are you planning a trip to Hawaii in December and want to know where to see Christmas lights in Hawaii? Keep scrolling to find out how to see Hawaii Christmas lights for a magical trip.
This post about where to see Christmas lights in Hawaii in December 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 December trip to Hawaii and wondering if you can still get into the holiday spirit? Oh yes, you absolutely can! Hawaii does Christmas in the most unique way, mixing traditional holiday vibes with that island aloha spirit.
I’ll be honest with you: when we first started coming to Hawaii for the holidays, I wasn’t sure what to expect. Would there be any Christmas lights? Would it feel festive without the cold weather?
Turns out, Hawaii knows how to do the holidays RIGHT. We’re talking synchronized light shows, boat parades with decorated vessels cruising through marinas, and even a 50-foot Christmas tree that’ll make your jaw drop.
Here’s everything you need to know about where to catch the best Christmas lights across the islands.
Christmas Lights on Oahu
Oahu is where most of the action happens during the holidays, and honestly, you could spend your entire December vacation just hopping from one light display to another.
Honolulu City Lights
This is THE big one, and if you only have time for one Christmas light experience on Oahu, make it this. The Friends of Honolulu City Lights puts on this massive free display every December at Honolulu Hale (that’s city hall, for those of us not fluent in Hawaiian yet).
This year is their 40th anniversary, so they went all out. We’re talking a 250-foot lighted tunnel you can walk through, 50 illuminated trees scattered around the grounds, and their famous Shaka Santa throwing shakas instead of peace signs. My kids lose it every time they see Tutu Mele (Mrs. Claus) and the Snow Family.
The opening night on December 7th is a whole event with a block party starting at 4 PM and the Public Workers’ Electric Light Parade at 6:15 PM.
But here’s my tip: if you want to avoid the opening night crowds, just come any other day in December. The displays are up from 8 AM to 10 PM through December 31st, and it’s still magical without the chaos.
‘Twas the Light Before Christmas (NEW!)
Okay, this is brand new and pretty cool. The Hawaii Convention Center has this immersive holiday experience running from November 22 through December 30. It’s 32,000 square feet of themed rooms, light displays, and interactive stuff.
They’ve got a magical Fir Forest, a bamboo room, giant projection rooms, snow globe photo ops, and even light tunnels you can walk through. Plus, there’s a soft play area for the little ones and a “Naughty or Nice” selfie station that my kids thought was hilarious.
It’s not free (tickets start at $26.99 for adults and $14.99 for kids), but if you’re looking for an indoor activity that’s air-conditioned and Instagram-worthy, this is it. They even have special events like Pajama Party Tuesdays and Toddler Time mornings.
Waikiki Trolley Holiday Lights Tour
Want someone else to handle the driving? The Waikiki Trolley runs holiday light tours from December 8-30. You hop on a decorated double-decker bus at Aloha Tower, ride through downtown to see all the lights, and spend about 45 minutes at Honolulu Hale.
The best part? They include hot cocoa, photos with Santa (and his “grumpy green friend” aka the Grinch), and holiday games. Tickets are around $20-30 depending on where you book, and it beats trying to find parking downtown during the holidays.
Kaneohe Christmas Lights
Head over to the windward side and you’ll find Namoku Street, which locals call “Christmas Tree Lane.” Houses here go absolutely wild with decorations. We’ve seen 9-foot bears on trains, Santa on rooftops, and even a Where’s Waldo themed house.
The 60th Annual Kaneohe Christmas Parade happens on December 7 at 9 AM, running from Haiku Road near Windward Mall to Castle High School. If you’re up early (which, let’s be real, you probably will be thanks to the time difference), this is a fun way to kick off the holiday season.
There’s also a house at 45-229 Nakuluai Street with handcrafted wooden Disney characters worked into their Christmas decorations. We spotted Harry Potter, Kung Fu Panda, and Dora when we drove by.
Kailua Christmas Lights
The big deal in Kailua is Akumu Street, specifically the house at 1170 Akumu Street. This place has over 10,000 lights synchronized to Christmas music. They run the show from 6-8:30 PM Monday through Thursday, and 6-9:30 PM Friday through Sunday.
Another house worth checking out is 255 Kuupua Street with their “It’s a Small World” theme. They’ve decorated it with lights showing children from all over the world, spreading a message of unity and peace. It’s actually really sweet and different from the typical Santa and reindeer setup.
Kapolei City Lights
Kapolei’s celebration kicks off on November 30 with a block party from 5-9 PM near Kapolei Hale. There’s a holiday parade at 6 PM with about 70 floats, plus they’ve got this incredible 50-foot LED Christmas tree donated by Show Aloha Challenge.
What I love about this one is that the decorations stay up through January 5, so if you’re visiting during that weird week between Christmas and New Year’s when you’re not sure what to do with yourself, boom, there’s your plan. Hours are Monday-Thursday 7:30 AM to 8 PM, and Friday-Sunday 10 AM to 10 PM.
Polynesian Cultural Center
Up in Laie, the PCC does Christmas right. From December 16-21, they’re hosting Christmas at Hukilau Marketplace from 6-8 PM. It’s free and includes twinkling lights, a train ride (kids love this), live entertainment, a scavenger hunt, and Santa visits.
Even better? On December 15 and 22 from 3-6 PM, they’re doing Winter Wonderland events where families can play in REAL SNOW. In Hawaii. Let that sink in. My kids, who’ve only seen snow in movies, absolutely freaked out.
Also, drive around BYU Hawaii’s campus while you’re there. The whole place gets decorated and it’s gorgeous.
Ewa Gentry (Don’t Miss This!)
The Wagoner Family at 91-214 Kamaehu Way puts on what might be the most impressive residential light show on the island. This isn’t just some lights thrown up on the house.
This is a full HOUR-LONG synchronized light show with music playing through a TV they set up in their front yard.
The show runs from 5:30-10 PM nightly until December 26, and people literally bring folding chairs to sit and watch the whole thing. The playlist includes Disney songs, Hawaiian music, and patriotic tunes all synced to the lights.
It’s become such a big deal that the whole Ewa Gentry neighborhood gets into it, so you can walk the wide, kid-friendly sidewalks and see tons of decorated houses.
While you’re in the area, check out Pukanala and Noelo streets where most homes are also decked out.
Hawaii Kai Christmas Boat Parade
This one’s different and super fun. On December 14 at sunset (around 5:30 PM), decorated boats cruise through Hawaii Kai Marina all lit up with Christmas lights. Some have live music, dancers, and crazy creative themes.
The best part? It’s totally free to watch. You can grab a spot at Hawaii Kai Towne Center, Koko Marina Center, or Hawaii Kai Shopping Center. Some people watch from waterfront restaurants like Kona Brewing Company.
Just get there early because parking fills up fast, and plan for about a 3-hour window since there are sometimes gaps between boats.
Other Oahu Spots Worth Checking Out
Aiea has their Christmas Parade and Family Fun Fair on December 14 starting at 9 AM. The parade runs through the streets followed by a fair with food, games, and holiday shopping.
Pearl City does their Annual Christmas Parade and Cruz Night on December 1 at 4 PM. The parade goes from Momilani Elementary to Pearl City Shopping Center, followed by a car show from 5-8 PM. They decorate with characters like Lilo and Stitch, Little Mermaid, and Thomas the Train.
Ewa Beach has a couple of things going on. The Ewa Beach Lions Club Christmas Parade is a longstanding tradition (check their website for 2024 dates). Plus, there’s Da Ohana Christmas Light Show at 91-6523 Kapolei Parkway with over 49,000 LED lights, a 20-foot Christmas tree, and a snow machine.
Waikele is famous for Anapau Place, where multiple houses coordinate their light displays for synchronized shows. This street was even featured on ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight” back in 2014. The street typically closes to traffic during showtimes for safety.
Christmas Lights on Maui
Maui keeps it a bit simpler than Oahu, but what they do, they do beautifully.
Grand Wailea
The Grand Wailea Resort goes all out during Christmas. The entire property gets decorated with lights, they have a massive Christmas tree in the lobby area, and lights strung over trees throughout the resort grounds.
The coolest part? They build a full gingerbread house village in the front lobby. It’s elaborate and smells amazing. Even if you’re not staying there, it’s worth popping in to check out the decorations.
Christmas Lights on Kauai
Kauai Festival of Lights
This is Kauai’s big holiday event. The Festival of Lights is completely free and has this adorable “Santa’s Gone Kauaiian” theme. Local teens create “Trash to Treasure” decorations, turning recycled materials into holiday art.
Look for the Hokulea Aloha Tree and the “If Can, Can” tree (very local saying, that one). They even have SPAM can trees and a surfer Santa because, well, it’s Hawaii. The creativity here is off the charts.
Christmas Lights on the Big Island
Punalights
This Big Island tradition started in 2008 and has grown every year. It’s a synchronized light and music show at someone’s house, and they post their nightly playlist on their Facebook page.
Sometimes it’s holiday music, sometimes it’s just regular songs they’ve synced to the lights. Either way, it’s cool to watch.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
The park hosts Holidays in Kahuku on December 7 from 9 AM to 3 PM at the Kahuku Visitor Contact Station. It’s free and has holiday-themed activities for all ages.
From November 29 to December 31, the Volcano Art Center Gallery has their “Christmas in the Country” wreath exhibition featuring wreaths created by local artists.
The park itself is beautiful during the holidays, and you can see the glowing volcanic activity as a pretty unique Christmas backdrop.
Kona Christmas House
At 75-6202 Piena Place, you’ll find 30,000 lights, a 23-foot Christmas tree, interactive displays, a walk-in snow globe, and a train. The owner started this back in 2005 and keeps adding more each year. It’s one of the most impressive residential displays on the Big Island.
Ocean View House
The house at 92-9150 Lehua Lane is another residential display that goes huge every year. Homeowner Kaida Houvener transforms the property into a massive light display. The road sometimes closes to traffic during viewing hours because it gets so crowded. Check for 2025 details closer to the holidays.
Common Questions About Christmas in Hawaii
Yes! You’ll hear Hawaiian Christmas carols everywhere, see Santa in aloha shirts throwing shakas, and can even build sandmen on the beach instead of snowmen. It’s different from a mainland Christmas, but it’s special in its own way.
Not gonna lie, yes. Airfare spikes mid-December and stays high through New Year’s Day. Hotels and car rentals also jack up their prices. If you can be flexible with your dates and book early, you can save some money. But expect to pay more than usual.
Absolutely! The water might feel a bit cooler than summer, and hotel pools can be chilly, but you can definitely still swim. Sunrise is later and sunset is earlier, so plan your beach time for the middle of the day when it’s warmest.
Yes! Waikiki participates in the whole Honolulu City Lights celebration, with decorations throughout the town and neighborhoods. It’s one of the best spots to experience holiday lights on Oahu.
My Take on Hawaii Christmas Lights
Look, Hawaii Christmas is just different. You won’t get snow or that crisp winter air that makes hot chocolate taste better.
But what you will get is something pretty magical: palm trees wrapped in lights, boat parades instead of sleigh rides, and the warm ocean breeze while you’re looking at Christmas displays.
Every year we come back to Hawaii for the holidays, and every year my kids ask if we can do it again. The combination of beach days and Christmas lights hits different. You can literally spend the morning snorkeling with sea turtles and the evening watching synchronized light shows.
The neighborhoods really get into it too. These aren’t just displays thrown up for tourists. These are families and communities who genuinely love the holidays and want to spread joy.
You’ll see local creativity everywhere, from SPAM can trees to surfer Santas to displays that blend Hawaiian culture with Christmas traditions.
Start with Honolulu City Lights if you’re short on time. It’s free, it’s massive, and it’s right in the city so you can combine it with dinner somewhere nearby.
If you have more time, definitely hit up some of the neighborhood displays, especially Ewa Gentry and the Hawaii Kai boat parade. Those feel more local and less touristy.
And if you’re traveling with little kids? They’ll love the PCC’s snow experience and the Waikiki Trolley tour. Both are designed with families in mind and take some of the stress out of getting around.
Whatever you choose, just remember to embrace the Hawaiian version of Christmas. It might not look like the Hallmark movies, but it’s pretty darn special.
Looking for more posts about Christmas in Hawaii? Find out what to do in Hawaii in December, what it’s like to spend Christmas in Hawaii, where to see the Nutcracker in Hawaii, what to add to your Hawaii packing list for Christmas, how to celebrate New Year’s Eve in Hawaii, and the best Waikiki Christmas activities!
