Honolulu City Lights 2026
Honolulu City Lights is Oʻahu’s signature holiday celebration, and in 2026 Opening Night falls on Saturday, December 5. The opening ceremony in front of Honolulu Hale begins at 5:30 p.m., the city’s 50-foot holiday tree lights up at around 6 p.m. and the Public Workers’ Electric Light Parade makes its way along King Street past Honolulu Hale.
After Opening Night, the tree and displays on the Frank F. Fasi Civic Center grounds light up every evening at around 6 p.m. and stay lit through December. It is a relaxed evening out once the opening crowds have passed. Honolulu Hale is about 3.5 miles from Romer House, and getting there is easy:
- By bus: TheBus from Kūhiō Avenue reaches Honolulu Hale in around 25 minutes
- By car or rideshare: around 10 minutes in light traffic. Allow extra time on Opening Night, when the parade takes over King Street
Christmas Events in Waikīkī
The holiday season in Waikīkī starts the day after Thanksgiving with the Waikīkī Holiday Parade on Friday, November 27, which follows Kalākaua Avenue from Fort DeRussy to Kapiʻolani Park. Our guide to Hawaii in November covers Thanksgiving week in more detail. From there, December fills up quickly. A few favorites to look out for:
- Royal Hawaiian Center Holiday Kick-Off: on Wednesday, November 25 from 5 p.m., Aloha Santa arrives at the Royal Grove to light the center’s holiday tree, with hula and live Hawaiian music. Royal Hawaiian Center is around a 9-minute walk from Romer House, and Santa is back for weekly holiday performances and complimentary photos through December 19
- Holiday shows at Blue Note Hawaiʻi: the Kalākaua Avenue jazz club, around a 7-minute walk from Romer House, celebrates the season with island holiday concerts from Henry Kapono on December 3 and Hoʻokena on December 6, plus A Charlie Brown Christmas on December 24 and 25
Christmas Dining in Waikīkī
Christmas Eve falls on a Thursday and Christmas Day on a Friday in 2026, and both are show nights for Le Petit Chef Honolulu, the immersive 3D dinner experience right here at Romer House. As each course arrives, the world’s smallest chef springs to life across your table, a festive way to make a holiday dinner part of the celebration without leaving the House. Shows run Thursday to Sunday with limited seating, and restaurants across Waikīkī book up fast over the holidays, so reserve early.
Before dinner, join a free beginner hula class at Hula Happy Hour in The Backyard, or head to The Lei Stand for Sunset Sessions, with $8 signature cocktails and pupus to share. Start Christmas morning slowly with breakfast at 855-ALOHA, served daily from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. Holiday schedules can change, so check what’s on at the House before you plan your evening.
Honolulu Marathon Weekend
December is also marathon month. The 2026 Honolulu Marathon takes place on Sunday, December 13, with a 5 a.m. start and a finish line in Kapiʻolani Park. Expect road closures across Waikīkī on race morning, and plenty of atmosphere along Kalākaua Avenue whether you are running or cheering. Our marathon guide covers the route, packet pickup and getting around on race weekend.
Whale Season in Waikīkī
December falls within humpback whale season in Hawaiian waters. According to NOAA’s Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary, the whales are generally present from November through April, with peak season from January to March. Early-season sightings are possible, and a boat tour from Waikīkī is the easiest way to look for them.
