Christmas in Oahu – Holiday Things to Do & Fun Seasonal Activities

You can enjoy festive holiday parades, an abundant Christmas marketplace, special musical performances, and plenty of opportunities to meet Santa.

UPDATED JANUARY 2025
By Katie Sagal
Hawaii Christmas

If you’re fortunate enough to be spending part of the winter holiday season in Oahu, we promise not to be too envious. While many may not expect much holiday cheer from this tropical paradise, Oahu abounds with delightful Christmastime attractions and activities. 

Our list of the best holiday things to do in Oahu includes: 

  • Honolulu City Lights 
  • Ballet Hawaii’s The Nutcracker 
  • Festival of Lights Christmas Boat Parade 
  • Hawaii Symphony Orchestra 
  • Chinatown Winter Walk 
  • Mele Kalikimaka Marketplace 
  • Christmas in Polynesia 
  • And more! 
Honolulu Christmas

Honolulu City Lights

One of the most festive sights in Oahu is the brilliant display of lights anchored by a large central tree hosted by the Honolulu City Hall. On opening night, the mayor will illuminate the Christmas Tree, kicking off a series of special holiday events that take place for the rest of the evening. Marvel at the cheerful holiday parade, get free photos with Santa, enjoy a delightful holiday concert, and more.

Ballet Hawaii’s The Nutcracker

You may think you know The Nutcracker, but we’d wager a bet that you’ve never seen a performance quite like this. Ballet Hawaii re-imagines this Christmas classic by changing the setting to the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1858 and introducing none other than Queen Lili’uokalani in a central role. You can also expect brilliant tropical flowers and Hawaiian fauna to make a special appearance in this twist on everyone’s favorite Christmas play.

Festival of Lights Christmas Boat Parade

A beloved annual tradition, the Festival of Lights Boat Parade combines holiday spirit and Oahu’s maritime culture. Held at Hawaii Kai Towne Center, this family-friendly event features live entertainment including hula dances and a musical performance by the United States Air Force Band of the Pacific.

Christmas palm tree in Hawaii

Hawaii Symphony Orchestra

The annual holiday concert as performed by the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra is another delightful tradition on Oahu. Featuring themes such as A Very Merry Holiday Pops, visitors can expect a wide selection of holiday favorites played with gusto and Hawaiian flair. The venue is also a historic one—the Hawaii Theatre dates back to 1922 and boasts a gorgeous interior.

Chinatown Winter Walk

Every year, this cultural district transforms into a Christmas wonderland - it's a must-see! More than 40 local merchants decorate their shop windows for the holidays, each competing with the others in terms of who can boast the best, brightest, and most festive décor. Take a self-guided walking tour of the area to soak up the holiday spirit and get some Christmas shopping done.

Lights in Hawaii

Christmas at Ala Moana

The biggest and best shopping center on Oahu, Ala Moana boasts a wonderful selection of Christmastime activities for the whole family. Kids can get their photos taken with Santa and everyone can enjoy the abundance of holiday décor that brings the entire mall into the Christmas spirit. And of course, this is a great opportunity to get plenty of holiday shopping crossed off.

Ala Moana

Mele Kalikimaka Marketplace

Held at the Blaisdell Expo Center, this annual Christmas marketplace boasts over 100 different vendors offering unique gifts for the whole family and live entertainment. Find special Hawaiian wares ranging from local crafts, works of art, and jewelry to authentic Hawaiian food and drink. While the adults are shopping, the kids can enjoy a gingerbread workshop and the opportunity to greet Santa and his most famous reindeer, Rudolph.

Christmas in Polynesia

Each December the island’s most popular attraction celebrates Christmas in a big way. Visitors can enjoy a Christmas canoe ride alongside other seasonal local activities, like a scavenger hunt, a holiday train ride, and plenty of Polynesian goodies. Don’t forget to hit up the Hukilau Marketplace at the Polynesian Cultural Center for some authentic Polynesian and Hawaiian gift ideas.

More Festive Things to Do in Oahu 

  • Bring the whole family to run or walk the charitable Jingle Rock Run 

  • Catch Santa as he comes ashore in a canoe at Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort 

  • Enjoy a festive holiday luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center 

  • Get your holiday shopping done at the Waikiki Christmas Store 

  • Marvel at the grand Christmas displays at the Royal Hawaiian Center in Waikiki 

  • Say hi to the Strolling Santa at the International Market Place 

  • Snap photos of the exquisite Christmas sand sculptures at the Sheraton Waikiki 

  • Visit the Winter Wishes Holiday Festival at the Waikiki Convention Center 

Santa surfing in Hawaii

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Katie Sagal
Go City Travel Expert

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Relaxing Things to do in Oahu

How do you like to relax? For some, volcano boarding is absolutely the most mindful activity available. For others, bungee jumping from a helicopter barely troubles the heart rate. But for most normal folks, relaxation means vacations! Golden beaches! Cocktails! Stunning tropical sunsets! In other words: the good life! You’ll find all this and then some on Oahu, which remains the Aloha State’s most popular island thanks to world-class natural attractions including Waikiki Beach, the Diamond Head Crater and Hanauma Bay. So, throw on your loudest Hawaiian shirt, fix yourself a Mai Tai, and dive in for our guide to all the most relaxing things to do in Hawaii. Hit the Beach This one’s a no-brainer. After all nothing screams ‘relaxation’ quite like lying spreadeagled on sunkissed sands, slathered in factor 50; paperback in one hand and pina colada in the other. Am I right? So here’s the good news: Oahu boasts some 100 miles of coastline, with a wide variety of secluded (and not-so-secluded) beaches, coves and bays to choose from. Here’s are three of the best: Waikiki Beach Oahu’s best known and most popular beach is a Hawaii bucket-lister. Can you even say you’ve been to Hawaii if you haven’t sipped fruity, rum-laced Mai Tai from a Waikiki Beach tiki bar, while taking endless selfies against that stunning Diamond Head backdrop? No, dear reader, you cannot. The legendary Duke’s is the connoisseur's choice for classy cocktails with a view. Or don Jackie O-sized sunglasses and bag yourself a choice sandy spot for seafront people-watching: wannabe Kardashians, lobster-colored Europeans and novice surfers wiping out in the shallows are the order of the day here.  Hanauma Bay Soft golden sand, an appealingly curvaceous shoreline, emerald-green hills and crystal-clear waters: Hanauma Bay has it all. The marine ecosystem here is home to some 400+ species: we’re talking green sea turtles, box jellyfish, tinselly Christmas wrasses and the reef triggerfish (or ‘humuhumunukunukuapuaa’ – try saying that after a couple of pina coladas) making it great for snorkeling. Note that access to this stunning sheltered cove is limited in order to protect the reef and wildlife here, so be sure to book your slot well in advance. Mokoli'i Island Make like Moses and stroll across the isthmus to Mokoli'i Island (aka the Chinaman’s Hat) at low tide. This cone-shaped lava formation is accessible from Kualoa Regional Park and promises cute coves, clear waters and kaleidoscopes of marine critters. Note that you can still get there at high tide, but may require a kayak. Check out our guide to becoming a fully fledged Oahu beach bum here. Life on the Ocean Wave Relaxing on the deck of an Oahu catamaran is as much a Hawaii rite of passage as guzzling shave ice, catching a traditional luau show or wearing a floral lei to dinner. There are plenty of catamaran and yacht tours available, from straightforward excursions to snorkeling hotspots like Turtle Canyon and Shark’s Cove to decadent bells-and-whistles experiences fit for a king (or queen): think gourmet seafood lunches, bottomless bubbly, on-board massage and the like (sounds awful, right?). You can access several such sea-faring options and save up to 50% with an Oahu pass from Go City. Perhaps you also find surfing relaxing? Paddle boarding? Kayaking? Water parks? Well, each to their own, we say. In which case you’ll find you can also make merry with the Oahu pass, with many equipment rental options and even lessons available.  Find out more and get your pass here. Rather more relaxing than all that (if you ask us) is the opportunity to enjoy live Hawaiian music and dancing as you dine lavishly on steak and seafood (with cocktails, natch) on a sunset cruise around the bay. It’s a fine way to kick off your Waikiki night out, with those fiery twilight skies (and bonus fireworks on Fridays) providing the best backdrop for all those #humblebrag vacation selfies.  Lace up your Boots Whaddya mean hiking up a mountain in 90-degree heat isn’t your idea of relaxation? Here’s your chance to escape the tanned tourist hordes at Waikiki Beach and instead switch off, commune with nature and generally enjoy some ‘you’ time. Oahu is a tropical volcanic island so it stands to reason that there are all manner of great hikes to be had, from gentle waterfall wanders to mildly more challenging volcano climbs. Here are three you might fancy trying: Diamond Head If you only tick off one Oahu hike, make it the iconic Diamond Head, the dormant volcanic cone whose gentle green slopes dominate the eastern end of Waikiki Beach. Good news: the walk isn’t particularly taxing, and the rewards upon reaching the rim of its 3,500-foot-diameter crater are immense, with panoramic views along the island’s southeastern shores, from Koko Head to Wai'anae. Take a good set of binoculars during the winter months and you might even spot a migrating humpback whale or two in the waters far below. Note that as with Hanauma Bay, there’s a slot-booking system aimed at preventing overcrowding and preserving the ecosystem. Shoot for the earliest slots of the day for superb sunrise views and more comfortable temperatures.  Makapu’u Lighthouse The trail that leads along the windward coast, taking in both the spectacular Hālona Blowhole and the gleaming Oahu icon that is the Makapu’u Lighthouse, is another perennial Oahu favorite. A gentle stroll along the paved track reveals extraordinary panoramas of Koko Head, Koko Crater and indeed the entire southern coastline of Oahu. At the summit: an opportunity to climb the 46-foot landmark with its distinctive red cap and far-reaching Pacific views. Waimea Valley Here’s one for the botany buffs. The North Shore’s Waimea Valley is 1,875 acres of picture-perfect parkland, with walking trails that take in wildflower meadows, grassy knolls and archaeological sites galore. At the heart of all this is an epic botanical garden that contains around 5,000 species of plants and flowers across 50-or-so themed zones. Ogle everything from delicate hibiscus to gnarly sky-high cacti before following the trail to the mighty Waimea Falls for a cooling and oh-so-relaxing dip. The monthly full moon tour of the garden and falls, accompanied by a specialist guide, is particularly enchanting. Feeling Relaxed? Now you’ve got a feel for some of the most relaxing things to do in Oahu, take the stress out of your sightseeing plans with an Oahu attraction pass from Go City. Choose from All-Inclusive or Explorer options for savings of up to 50% on catamaran cruises, snorkeling trips, guided hikes, island tours, and much more, including many of the activities and attractions mentioned above. Find out more about the Go Oahu pass and get yours here.
Stuart Bak
Stuart Bak

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