There are so many Oahu Christmas events to make the season festive! I’ve surveyed dozens of people who have lived here longer than me about the best things to do with kids – what’s worth it and what’s not.
I’m most impressed with the number of older Christmas movies playing on the big screen in both Honolulu & Kanehoe. Make sure you check out the links for dates & times!
Some big events in December you should look out for are the Van Triple Crown of Surfing, Christmas Luau, Honolulu City Lights, Pearl Harbor Anniversary Events (Dec 7 only!)
I’ve created a few different categories based on what you’re looking for, links for just about everything and a chronological order so you don’t miss anything!
If you’ve got something I should add, email me at alison@alisonbellphotographer.com!
Table of Contents
Hi! I’m Alison, your chaos coordinator, toddler briber, and parent commiserator. Oh! And Oahu family photographer!
As the ringleader of my own 4-boy circus, I know how hard getting family photos can be.
I run my photo session like a party. I give you something TO DO so you don’t feel awkward wondering, “Where do I put my HANDS?!”
Dad is playing with the kids, everyone forgets what’s ACTUALLY happening, and you look amazing bc you’re actually enjoying yourself. #whoknewphotoscouldbefun
Fast. Fun. Done.
Oahu Christmas Events: Holiday Markets
Weekly markets are frequent around Oahu, all the more during the holiday season! Vendors have been prepping for months by now to have stock for these special occasions.
Aloha Home Market Holiday Markets
Home to the original Aloha Home Market, the Kailua Market has been operating since 2018. The market runs from 9am-2pm in the covered parking lot on the makai end of Uluniu Street”
Alohahomemarket.com
34th Islandwide Christmas Crafts & Food Expo
- Nov 24-26
- Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, Honolulu
- $6-8 admission
Hawaii Holiday Craft & Gift Fair
- Dec 8-10
- Admission $5, military & 7 and under are free
- Blaisdell Center Exhibition Hall
Mele Kalikmaka Marketplace & Gingerbread Workshop
- Dec 9 & 10
- $3-4 admission
- Blaisdell Exhibition Hall
Season’s Best Holiday Craft Fair
- Dec 15-16
- $3 admission
- Blaisdell Exhibition Hall
Oahu Christmas Lights
Lights, lights lights! Oahu Christmas events wouldn’t be complete without drive through, trolley rides or walk the city streets in Honolulu. There are options everywhere.
- Parade through Honolulu Dec 2
- Tree lighting ceremoney Dec 2
- Block Party, Dec 2 starting at 4pm
- Trolley Rides, $20-$30 for 2 hour rides
- Lights are up all December
- Aloha Stadium
- Drive through lights
- $34.94 per person
- Snow tubing
- Train rides
- Santa
- Bubble Zone
- Snow
- Inflatables
Oahu Christmas Events
These events are limited events that happen in December – parades, shopping, and more.
Waikiki Holiday Parade – Torchlight Parade
- Always Black Friday
- Dec 2
- 9-11a
- Windward Mall to Castle High School
- 59 Years and running!
- Dec 2 at 6pm
- Block Party at 4p
- Mayor’s Tree lighting Ceremony
- City Department Tree Exhibit
- Holiday Wreath Contest
- From the website: “The celebration kicks off with a block party at 4:00 p.m., on Punchbowl Street and across the Frank F. Fasi Civic Grounds, featuring food vendors and live entertainment. At 6:00 pm the Public Workers’ Electric Light Parade will start from AÊ»ala Park and the Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony will begin at the front of Honolulu Hale. After the tree lighting ceremony, the City Department Tree Exhibit and the Holiday Wreath Contest Exhibit at Honolulu Hale will officially open to the public.”
- Dec 2
- 9am
- Milliani High School
CocoKeaholi Christmas Wreath Workshop
- Dec 3, 1-4p
- Downtown Honolulu
- Dec 7
- 4:30-7:30
Diamond Head Theatre’s A Charlie Brown Christmas
- Dec 7-23
- $15-$35
- Diamond Head Theatre
- Dec 8
- 6-9pm
- Weed Circle to Haleiwa Beach Park
Kaimuki Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting
- Dec 9
- 6p
- Dec 9
- Outrigger Resort Waikiki
- 9am – arrival is free
- Breakfast with Santa $15-36
Ugly Sweater Paw-ty
- Dec 9
- 10-2p, judging at 1p
- Hawaii Doggie Bakery
- Dec 9
- Parade at 6p
- Block party with local food trucks, vendors & live music
- Dec 9
- 7:30-12:30
- Dec 16 6-8:30p
Marine Corps Band Holiday Concert Series Hale Koa Hotel
- Wed Dec 13
- 4p Banyan Tree
- 6:30 Luau Stage, doors open at 6p
- Hale Koa Hotel in Honolulu
- Follow the MARFORPAC Band for details
- Dec 16
- 8-11a
- Ewa Beach
- $20-45
Make a Wish Hawaii Jingle Rock Run 5k
- Dec 17
- 3-9p
- $25-40
- Dec 22, 23, 24
- Hilton Hawaiian Village’s Bali Oceanfront- Santa arrives on a canoe!
- $35-$65
- Breakfast buffet
- Picture with Santa
- Dec 23-24
- 1-7p
- FREE – BYO Camera, animals welcome
Christmas Movie Showings
Get tickets, showings and more details for Kailua movies here.
For Honolulu Consolidated Theatre showtimes & tickets click here.
- Dec 2
- Consolidated Theatres, Honolulu
The Grinch
- Dec 3 & 4
- Windward Mall Regal Theatre, Kailua
Max Lucado’s Because of Bethlehem
- Dec 5 & 6
- Windward Mall Regal Theatre, Kailua
- Dec 6
- Consolidated Theatres, Honolulu
Love Actually
- Dec 8 – for one week
- Windward Mall Regal Theatre, Kailua
A Christmas Story
- Dec 10 & 13
- Windward Mall Regal Theatre, Kailua
Its A Wonderful Life
- Dec 13
- Consolidated Theatres, Honolulu
A Christmas with The Chosen
- Dec 12-17
- Windward Mall Regal Theatre, Kailua
December Events In Chronological Order
All the same events listed above but arranged in chronological order so you can find what’s happening whenever you’re reading this!
Dec 2 Mililani Christmas Parade
Dec 2 Kanehoe Christmas Parade
Dec 3 CocoKeaholi Christmas Wreath Workshop
Dec 3, 10, & 17 Aloha Home Market Holiday Markets
Dec 7 Kailua Town Sip & Shop
Dec 7-23 Diamond Head Theater: A Charlie Brown Christmas
Dec 8-10 Hawaii Holiday Craft & Gift Fair
Dec 9 Santa arrives in Waikiki by Canoe
Dec 9 Ugly Christmas Sweater Paw-ty
Dec 9 Kapolani City Lights
Dec 9 Mele Kalikmaka Marketplace & Gingerbread Workshop
Dec 13 Marine Corps Band plays at Hale Koa
Dec 14, 15 Marine Coprs Band plays at MCBH Chapel *base access required
Dec 15 -16 Season’s Best Holiday Craft Fair
Dec 16 Hawaii Kai Boat Parade
Dec 16 Santa 5k Fun Run
Dec 17 Make A Wish Hawaii Jingle Rock Run
Dec 22, 23, 24 Breakfast with Santa at Hilton Hawaiian Village
Dec 23, 24 – Kapolei Commons Photobus
Traveling to Oahu? Get more tips & tricks here!
- Top 5 Reasons You MUST Do a Morning Photoshoot In Hawaii
- Recreate Your Trip Forever: Disney Aulani Photos for Extended Families
- Top 14: Where to Eat In Kailua Oahu
- 2023 Fun Oahu Christmas Events for Families
- 14 Tips If You’re Visiting Oahu for the First Time
- Disney Aulani Photopass: Is it Worth It?
If you’re in the Portland area, check out this post on Portland Pediatrician about finding the right pediatrician for your family.
I'm a USMC spouse, South Carolina native, recovering homeschool mama of a 4 boy circus. They've taught me the most important facet of family photography: KEEP IT FUN!
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Such a great list of fun holiday activities! This is the best time of the year! So much fun stuff to do. Thanks for putting together such a comprehensive list of holiday activities.
What a fantastic list of the Christmas events to attend in Oahu!
Thank you so much!
This is the perfect resource for families in Oahu to get in the holiday spirit! Thanks for sharing!
I knew it’d be helpful if my neighbors were asking for it!