Christmas in Hawaii

[Pamplemousse]

For those of you who have been to The Hawaiian Islands at Christmas- do you have a favorite island? Favorite things to do that time of year?

 

[DeniseM]

I don't think the activities change much for the Holidays, because on the Avg., winter is only 6 degrees cooler than summer. So you can still do all the outside activities. I know some families that say the trip and activities are everyone's Christmas present and don't take presents. Probably depends on the age of the kids.

Which island you prefer really isn't related to Christmas - most people usually prefer one or two specific islands, because every island has its one distinct personality.

Be aware that airfare is sky high at that time of year, and it's crowded - this is a very popular holiday destination and all the kids are out of school.

 

[Pamplemousse]

I don't think the activities change much for the Holidays, because on the Avg., winter is only 6 degrees cooler than summer. So you can still do all the outside activities. I know some families that say the trip and activities are everyone's Christmas present and don't take presents. Probably depends on the age of the kids.

Which island you prefer really isn't related to Christmas - most people usually prefer one or two specific islands, because every island has its one distinct personality.

Be aware that airfare is sky high at that time of year, and it's crowded - this is a very popular holiday destination and all the kids are out of school.

Thank you Denise.
I guess I was wondering if there was anything special for Christmas that someone might know about- sometimes gardens put on special light shows or there are special performances or maybe a particular resort has something special going on.
We’ve been everyplace but Maui, but in summer.

 

[Tamaradarann]

Thank you Denise.
I guess I was wondering if there was anything special for Christmas that someone might know about- sometimes gardens put on special light shows or there are special performances or maybe a particular resort has something special going on.
We’ve been everyplace but Maui, but in summer.

The Iolani Palace, the Palace of the Hawaii Monarchy, in Downtown Honolulu is lite up for Christmas. Waikiki is so overly lite up all the time that while there are trees and other decorations it is hard to notice. The are New Years Eve Fireworks over the Ocean in the center of Waikiki.

 

[dsmrp]

Individual fireworks are really big for the locals at New Year's eve. Can burn up a lot of money pretty fast, but fun and noisy
As Denise mentions, airfare is sky-high. I flew back a few years ago to visit my mother after Christmas.
I did get the airfare kind of "last minute" (2 months in advance) and the cheapest RT flights to/from West Coast was low $900s pp.
and that was flying a red-eye return on New Year's eve. Flight was packed too!

 

[Pamplemousse]

The Iolani Palace, the Palace of the Hawaii Monarchy, in Downtown Honolulu is lite up for Christmas. Waikiki is so overly lite up all the time that while there are trees and other decorations it is hard to notice. The are New Years Eve Fireworks over the Ocean in the center of Waikiki.

Thanks.
For anyone watching this thread- I was able to find some great info on TripAdvisor- have a look there.

 

[jacknsara]

Aloha,
For several years up until very recently, we stayed at Kauai Beach Villas & Shearwater where we own over both Christmas and New Years on into middle or late January.
Occupancy rates at hotels, rental condos and timeshares is very high. Get your car reservation early since they may run out and expect to pay more (we didn't have to pay more due to employee/retiree benefit of getting corporate rate). Expect chronic traffic congestion and parking challenges near popular beaches. Your lodging's pool, hot tub and barbeque grills are likely to be used more around those holidays than a week later in January.
I realize this doesn't answer your question, but any time is a good time to be in Hawaii. Different folks like to do different things. If you know what you want to do and those things require reservations, just be sure to make the critical reservations well before you depart from home.
Jack

 

[Tamaradarann]

I realize this doesn't answer your question, but any time is a good time to be in Hawaii. Different folks like to do different things. If you know what you want to do and those things require reservations, just be sure to make the critical reservations well before you depart from home.
Jack

I like this thought about Hawaii. Anytime is good so we don't go when it is good in Hawaii, we go when we want to be away from Long Island which is the cold winter. We have friends that just moved to Phoenix who would go in the winter when they lived in Virginia. Now they are going to go in the summer since the 100-120 degree summer temperatures in Phoenix are not desirable, and the 60-70 degree temperatures in the winter are not so bad.

 

[Ralph Sir Edward]

I agree with Tamaradarann. When I was on the Big Island during Christmas/New Year's in 1999/2000, Christmas seemed to be very "ho hum", New Year's was a lot of fireworks. But I like to go back when the weather is too cold back home. Usually in January, because there is so much more competition for reservations in February. (March here is gardening season. . . )

 

[Pamplemousse]

Thank you both for your comments.
We have been to Hawaii before (all islands except Maui).
So this wouldn’t be our once in a lifetime Hawaiian trip.

The last 2 weeks of December are the only ones our family can travel together and we have been going away then over the past few years and doing Christmas that way.

I was just looking for recommendation for anything special that might be going on at that time.

 

[sun starved Gayle]

We were on the Big Island for two weeks at Christmas 12 years ago with our two then teen-aged daughters and loved it. Part of my family attended a beautiful outdoor service at a small historic church right on the ocean near Kona on Christmas Eve. I'm sorry but I can't think of the name. Very memorable. Another memorable event was spending most of Christmas Eve day in the emergency room after my daughter was bit by an eel while snorkeling near Two Step. That is the reason only part of the family was at the church service.