The Mesmerizing Christmas Display In Hawaii With Over 80,000 Glittering Lights

Do you know that one house that goes all out for Christmas and is well-known across town? Many people affectionately refer to it as the "Griswold House" as a nod to one of our favorite holiday classics, Christmas Vacation. Well, in Hawaii, we don’t just have a single house: there is an entire street that gets decked out in lights every December and puts on one of the best holiday light shows, known as the Waikele Christmas Lights, on Oahu. The Waikele Christmas Lights 2023 is one of the most beloved Christmas traditions in Hawaii, and it's a display you won’t want to miss.

Known as the Waikele Christmas Lights, this street in central Oahu holds nothing back when it comes to holiday cheer. The entire street transforms into a magical wonderland every year, and you won’t want to miss it.

The Waikele Christmas Lights began more than 20 years ago with one family and a single strand of Christmas lights but has since become a major event attracting families from across the island. The extensive synchronized light show now features more than 80,000 LED lights and five miles of electrical wiring all controlled by a computer that orchestrates the lights to dance to the music.

There are two different light shows, which alternate daily, and last approximately 38 minutes before they begin again. And yes, it is as magical as it sounds.

The display attracts visitors from across the island, and the show is so impressive that it was actually featured on the ABC special, "The Great Christmas Light Fight" in 2015.

From polar bears and snowmen to flamingos and pigs, you’ll find all kinds of crazy lights on display.

Fun fact: the entire lights show is powered by the sun. Solar panels produce more than enough electricity during the day to power the lights at night. How cool is that?

The lights are displayed nightly from December 1 to 31 from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., so you have plenty of time to check out the magic for yourself before the lights are shut off for another year.

Don’t worry if you can’t make it, though: this incredible footage of the Waikele Christmas Lights might not be quite as magical as it is in person, but it’s a good substitute if you live on one of the neighboring islands.

The street is closed to vehicular traffic during showtimes, and we hope you can find parking in the surrounding neighborhood. Visit Google Maps for directions to Anapua Place, and check out the Waikele Christmas Lights Facebook page for more information about the Waikele Christmas Lights 2023. For another incredible holiday lights display in Hawaii, check out the beautiful and mesmerizing Honolulu City Lights.

Have you ever seen this incredible display? What are your favorite Christmas traditions in Hawaii? We'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments. If you're looking for more things to do during winter in Hawaii, check out our previous article. And if you have travelers in your life, our holiday gift guide has something for each and every one of them.