December is a sweet month for spending time on Oahu. Holiday lights flicker across downtown, the North Shore’s surf season is in full swing and humpback whales start cruising offshore. We pulled together the best December events and evergreen attractions—city light strolls, surf watching, museum days, culture-filled evenings and coastal outings with plenty of foodie stops. Ready? Let’s plan your Oahu December!
Honolulu city lights at Honolulu Hale
Downtown glows all month with Honolulu City Lights, a cheerful celebration that makes every evening feel festive. Start at Honolulu Hale, where giant Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele wave from the lawn, lighted trees line the path and whimsical displays fill the courtyard. The atmosphere feels laid back and welcoming—families posing for photos, friends pointing to favorite trees, and kids gasping at every sparkling detail. On the first Saturday of December, the opening night parade and tree lighting set the tone for the season, with marching bands and a chorus of oohs and aahs when the switch flips.
We love how this event turns a stroll into a holiday memory. Wander through the interior displays to see decorated trees created by city departments and community groups—each one tells a little story. Outside, food trucks and vendors pop up on select nights with snacks that match the season. Think malasadas dusted in sugar, teriyaki plates, and hot cocoa for the kids.
Tips for timing: arrive right after sunset to catch the soft glow and cooler air, then linger as the lights reach full sparkle in the dark. Consider pairing your stroll with a Waikiki Trolley Holiday Lights route on select evenings if you fancy a seated spin past decorated streets.
North Shore surf season: Pipeline to Sunset
December means surf on Oahu’s North Shore. Banzai Pipeline, Sunset Beach and Haleiwa Ali‘i Beach Park come alive with winter swells, and the viewing becomes a day out worth planning. When waves run, spectators gather along the bike path and sand berms with tripods, fresh lei and breakfast sandwiches, sharing gasps as surfers drop into turquoise barrels. On days with smaller swells, the show still delivers—groms practicing in the shorebreak, photographers swapping tips and families cheering from beach mats.
We like to build a simple surf-watching loop. Start at Ehukai Beach Park for Pipeline, where the wave forms close to shore, then drive to Sunset Beach for long, rippable lines. Wrap with Haleiwa for a mellow finish and easy food stops. Haleiwa Store Lots keeps everyone fed—Matsumoto Shave Ice for a colorful dessert, Kua ‘Aina for avocado burgers or Haleiwa Bowls for fruit-packed acai. If competition windows open in December, you’ll see scaffolds, scoreboards and a little extra buzz—check the surf calendar for dates and updates.
Whale watching from shore: Makapu‘u Point and coastal lookouts
Whale watching from shore: Makapu‘u Point and coastal lookouts
December marks the start of humpback whale season, and Oahu offers excellent shore-based viewing. One of the best spots sits at the end of the Makapu‘u Point Lighthouse Trail, a paved path that climbs to a sweeping overlook. Bring binoculars, settle by the railing, and scan for spouts, pectoral slaps and tail flukes. On a calm morning, you can track whales for minutes at a time as they rise and dive in steady rhythms. The bright red cap of the lighthouse below adds a pop of color, while offshore islets shelter seabirds that wheel over the big blue.
If you prefer a lower climb with a quick payoff, pull into the Makapu‘u Lookout along Kalanianaole Highway or pause at Lanai Lookout and Halona Blowhole for elevated views. Each spot doubles as a scenic stop even if the whales play coy that day.
Round out your coastal loop with a visit to Sea Life Park for marine talks and close-up looks at native species, then refuel in Waimanalo: Ono Steaks and Shrimp Shack serves garlicky plates perfect after a breezy hike, and Ai Love Nalo offers plant-forward bowls that travel well for a beach picnic.
Pearl Harbor in December: remembrance and discovery
December 7 shapes Oahu’s calendar, and a visit to Pearl Harbor this month carries extra resonance. Begin at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial visitor center, where galleries and outdoor exhibits provide a thoughtful walkthrough of the events of 1941 and the years that followed. If timings align, take the boat to the USS Arizona Memorial for a quiet moment out on the bay. Rangers and volunteers share context with care, and the open design frames the water in a way that focuses attention and respect.
To deepen the experience, add time aboard the Battleship Missouri Memorial to stand on the surrender deck and explore a floating city of systems, the Pacific Fleet Submarine Museum to tour USS Bowfin and learn about life under the surface, and the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum to step into historic hangars and trace flight technology across eras.
Festive evenings at Polynesian Cultural Center
Cooler evenings make December a great time to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center in Lā‘ie. Six island villages—Hawai‘i, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji and Aotearoa—invite you to try short, hands-on activities and watch lively demonstrations. Stamp a kapa-inspired pattern, learn a basic hula step, try twirling a poi ball and watch coconut husking demonstrations. The canoe pageant floats by at midday, and a relaxed canoe ride offers an easy pause with lagoon reflections and soft light.
As the sun drops, dinner sets the mood. The Hukilau Marketplace next door serves casual plates—kalua pork, grilled fish, fresh smoothies—and desserts like malasadas and pineapple whip under twinkle lights. Inside the center, evening shows bring chant, dance and storytelling together with gentle drama and a big finale.
Plan a mid-afternoon arrival, then drift into dinner and the show. If you’re staying on the North Shore, pair the experience with a morning surf-watching session or a trip to Waimea Valley.
Kualoa Ranch: movie sites, fishpond and Secret Island
Kualoa Ranch wraps big scenery and thoughtful experiences into one stunning day, with December’s softer sun painting the Ko‘olau Range in warm tones. Hop on the Hollywood Movie Sites ride to roll through Ka‘a‘awa Valley and match real backdrops to favorite films and shows. Guides point out exact angles and share behind-the-scenes stories while you soak up the breeze and enjoy the sound of birds across the meadows.
If you love history and engineering, book the Ancient Fishpond and Garden tour at Moli‘i Fishpond. A guided boat glide carries you across brackish water as hosts explain how sluice gates assist with the harvest. On land, a walk through lo‘i kalo connects aquaculture to agriculture and the mountain-to-sea system that supported communities for centuries. Prefer sand between your toes? Secret Island sets you up with hammocks, kayaks and calm water for a low-stress beach session and stunning views of Mokoli‘i islet.
Food and gifts come easy here. The ranch café serves Kualoa beef burgers, garlic shrimp and salads with farm greens, and the store highlights KualoaGrown products like jerky, honey and other seasonal produce—perfect for snacks and take-home treats. Add a stop at Waiāhole Poi Factory on the way back for kalua pork, chicken long rice and the Sweet Lady dessert—warm kulolo with a scoop of haupia ice cream. You’ll leave full, happy and crammed full of great vacation stories.
Museum day: Bishop Museum highlights and Honolulu Museum of Art
Museum day: Bishop Museum highlights and Honolulu Museum of Art
December can deliver passing showers, which makes a museum day practical as well as fun. Start at Bishop Museum, where the Science Adventure Center turns island geology, weather and ocean systems into hands-on demos. Walk through a ‘lava tube’, test wave and wind models, and chat with educators who make concepts stick. Hawaiian Hall anchors the visit with three floors of culture and history beneath a suspended whale—tools, featherwork, kapa and navigation stories that connect craft to community. Check the J. Watumull Planetarium schedule for wayfinding and seasonal sky shows—humpback season pairs nicely with a night-sky refresher.
Next, switch gears at the Honolulu Museum of Art. Galleries move from Japanese woodblock prints and South Asian sculpture to European painting and contemporary Pacific works, so you can trace technique across the centuries. Courtyards add calm between rooms, koi drift in shallow pools and rotating exhibitions keep things fresh. If your dates line up with film programs at the Doris Duke Theatre, add a screening for a cozy, popcorn-fueled afternoon.
Holiday shopping: Ala Moana Center and Ward Village
December shopping on Oahu is a breeze. Ala Moana Center blends global brands and local shops across broad walkways with live performances on the central stage. We like a simple plan: start with essentials, then browse island-made gifts at spots like House of Mana Up for mac nut butters, chili pepper water, local chocolate, and skincare rooted in kukui and ‘awa. Foodland Farms on the ground level packs a poke bar—shoyu ahi over warm rice fuels a focused loop—and shelves of snacks worth taking home.
A short hop brings you to Ward Village and South Shore Market for local-boutique browsing—Hawai‘i-made candles, prints with wave lines and ridge silhouettes, easy dresses and shirts, and unique cards that keep your gift stack personal. Kaka‘ako Farmers Market on Saturdays adds small-batch hot sauces, pickles, cacao bars and mochi doughnuts to the mix. Between shops, plan a sit-down break: Merriman’s Honolulu serves crisp gnocchi and island fish with a pineapple margarita, while Istanbul Hawaii plates meze in a sunlit room. For quick bites, Redfish by Foodland builds custom poke bowls with limu and spicy mayo.
Waikiki December highlights: hula, marathon, and New Year fireworks
Waikiki sparkles in December. The Kuhio Beach Hula Mound hosts free evening hula on select nights with torch lighting, live musicians and hosts who share stories that add meaning to the movement. Arrive a little early with a light mat for a front-row patch of lawn, then drift to Kalakaua Avenue for a dessert stroll—Marukame Udon for slurps, Island Vintage Coffee for Kona cold brew or Musubi Cafe Iyasume for a snack to-go.
Honolulu Marathon weekend takes place early in the month. If you’re cheering, stake out a spot near Ala Moana, Waikiki or Kapiolani Park to applaud runners as they cruise past. After the finish, head to Queen’s Beach for a salty cooldown or Kapiolani Park for a shaded picnic with malasadas from Leonard’s Bakery. The vibe remains upbeat all weekend, with plenty of places to refuel within steps of the course.
Close out the year with New Year’s Eve fireworks over Waikiki Beach. They usually pop at midnight with bursts reflected on the water and a chorus of cheers along the shore. Plan an early dinner at Royal Hawaiian Center or International Market Place—grab poke, ramen or katsu sandwiches—then find a spot on the sand or along the seawall. You’ll close out the year with sandy toes, a phone full of sparkly snaps, and a smile that carries into January.
Looking for more Oahu inspiration? Check out the best places to shop on Oahu and discover the island’s most kid-friendly attractions.
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