Posted in Hawaii
November 29, 2016
Here Are The 10 Most Enchanting, Magical Christmas Towns In Hawaii
Celebrating Christmas without snow or cold weather may seem weird for some, but it’s normal practice in Hawaii, and we certainly make up for a lack of snow with incredible Christmas displays, light parades, and celebrations sure to put even the most Grinch-like people into the holiday spirit. While the Hawaiian Islands as a whole celebrate Christmas beautifully – from snowmen made out of the sand on Kauai beaches to the snow-topped Mauna Kea on Hawaii Island – there are a few Hawaiian cities and towns that are a little merrier this holiday season.
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Honolulu City Lights is perhaps the largest Christmas celebration across the state. The event began in 1985 when former Mayor Frank F. Fasi held a free event that featured holiday lights and a concert on the main lawn, and lights that stretched downtown to the civic center. This year’s event will begin Saturday, December 3 and run through January 1.
The Ritz Carlton in Kapalua has got the right idea – what is better than admiring beautifully decorated Christmas trees from the swimming pool? The entire resort is decked out for the holidays – from the hotel lobby to the expansive swimming pools – and there are a variety of holiday festivities throughout the month of December. This is the perfect spot for a Christmas getaway, regardless of where you call home.
Home to Brigham Young University’s Hawaii campus and the Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie is a small town with a lot of Christmas spirit. Christmas in Polynesia brings a winter wonderland to Hawaii, complete with a canoe ride to admire the center’s beautiful lights, live musical performances that pay tribute to holiday traditions around the world, arts and crafts, and photos with Santa.
Waimea is the place to be on the Big Island December 3. The 21th annual Waimea Lighted Christmas Parade starts at 6 p.m., and features enchanting floats decked with twinkling lights. After the parade, a large Christmas party at Hofgaard Park will feature live music and entertainment.
While technically not a town, ships and submarines with homeports in Hawaii participate in the annual Pearl Harbor Holiday Festival of Lights. Evening boat tours offer service members, their families, and DoD civilians closeup views of the decorations and lights.
From the 31st annual Christmas parade to a variety of Christmas concerts and a lighted boat parade, Kailua-Kona is full of holiday spirit. Join in the festivities for the parade Saturday, December 10 at 5 p.m.
This neighborhood goes all out for Christmas, putting together an extensive synchronized light show. It is so impressive that it was actually featured on the ABC special, “The Great Christmas Light Fight” in 2015.
Though Christmas lights make their way into all areas of Lahaina, the best Christmas light display is definitely at Banyan Tree Park. The banyan tree – planted in 1873 and the oldest in the state – is covered in colored lights, making for one magical experience.
Every December, Oahu’s “second city” is taken over by the Kapolei City Lights, a Christmas event that began in 2001 and keeps getting bigger every year. In addition to the annual parade, which will be held Saturday, December 10 this year, Kapolei Hale will be decked out with Christmas cheer through January 1.
If you will be spending the holiday season on Kauai, Lihue is the place to be. The annual Kauai Festival of Lights is a magnificent display of holiday cheer – from fantastic themed trees to Hawaiian-inspired decorations, all with the help of local artisans, and using recycled materials whenever possible. The lights are set to be illuminated December 2 at 6 p.m.
Don’t forget to check out these 8 Christmas light displays, and add your favorites to your holiday calendar! Mele Kalikimaka, everybody!
