Hawaii Travel Podcast: Hawaii Travel Tips & Things to Do in Hawaii for Your Hawaii Vacation Planning | Hawaii’s Best Travel

What Christmas in Hawaii Is Really Like (and What to Expect)

• Bryan Murphy — Certified Hawaii Travel Expert & Owner of Hawaii’s Best Travel | Hawaii Travel Podcast • Episode 196

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Have you ever wondered if Christmas in Hawaii is worth the hype or just another overpriced tourist trap?

If you're dreaming of trading snow for sand this holiday season, you need to know what actually happens when Christmas meets the islands.

👉 Hit play now to discover how locals celebrate Christmas Hawaiian-style and what you need to book months in advance to avoid missing out.

If you've ever wondered how to experience an authentic Hawaiian Christmas without the tourist mistakes, this episode is for you.

You'll learn exactly what to expect, from Santa arriving by outrigger canoe to Christmas morning surf sessions, plus the insider tips that'll save you money and stress.

In this episode of Hawaii's Best, we break down everything about celebrating Christmas in Hawaii so you can plan the perfect tropical holiday without the guesswork.

👉 In this episode, you will:

  • Discover unique Hawaiian Christmas traditions like Shaka Santa, beachside luaus, and how locals blend island culture with holiday spirit
  • Learn which Christmas events and luaus to book early (they sell out months ahead) and where to find the best celebrations on each island
  • Get practical planning tips for peak season travel, including when to book, what to pack, and how to save money while still catching all the festivities

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Scroll up ⬆️ and hit play now to plan your Hawaiian Christmas the right way before everything books up.

💻Related blog posts:

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🤓Chapters:

  • 1:24 Unique Hawaiian Christmas Traditions
  • 2:03 Christmas Luaus
  • 2:22 Outdoor Christmas Activities
  • 3:48 Beach Celebrations and Surfing
  • 5:02 Holiday Events Across the Islands
  • 5:57 Top Tips for Planning Your Hawaii Christmas Vacation

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This Hawaii travel podcast is for travelers looking to plan a trip to Hawaii. Discover travel tips, itineraries, and traveling tips & hacks with guides to help you explore Hawaii. Whether you’re planning a Hawaii vacation to the islands, dreaming of a Hawaiian getaway, or visiting Honolulu, Maui, Kauai, Oahu, or Big Island we’ll help you travel with aloha.

Edge of the Ocean, Stick Figure (w/ permission)
Ukulele and Chill, Coby G (w/ permission)
Talk Story, Hawaiian Style Band (w/ permission)

196_What Christmas in Hawaii Is Really Like (and What to Expect)


[00:00:00] Bryan Murphy: Have you ever dreamed about spending Christmas in Hawaii? I did last year. And was it worth it? What do you need to know? In today's episode, we're diving into all of that and everything you need to know about experiencing a Hawaiian Christmas. Let's go.

[00:00:18] Announcement: Aloha. Welcome to Hava East. Best here. You'll learn what to know before traveling as we discover Hawaiian culture. Local businesses and the experiences that make Hawaii one of the most incredible places in the world. And now your host, Brian Murphy.

[00:00:36] Bryan Murphy: Welcome back to Hawaii's Best. Today we're talking all about celebrating Christmas in Hawaii, and you're thinking about spending Christmas in Hawaii but aren't quite sure what to expect.

[00:00:45] Bryan Murphy: Then this episode is definitely for you. One of the things I love most about Christmas in Hawaii is Tower Blends traditional holiday spirit with unique island culture. And instead of bundling up in winter coats and sipping hot cocoa by the fire you are wearing board shorts sipping to mi tie, and watching Santa arrive on Waikiki Beach in an outrigger canoe throwing chaka to everyone on the shore.

[00:01:07] Bryan Murphy: Well, maybe that's an over exaggeration, but it's possible. We spent Christmas in Hawaii before, and it was awesome, honestly, but it was a fun experience spending Christmas in Hawaii as a family. Now I go deeper into this topic on a blog post that I'll link in the description of this episode.

[00:01:24] Bryan Murphy: So let's talk about some of the unique Hawaiian Christmas traditions that you'll find in the islands.

[00:01:29] Bryan Murphy: First up is Santa's arrival, and no, it's not by chimney. There's no sleigh involved in Hawaii. Santa rides by outrigger canoe wearing aloha shirt and throwing shakas to everyone on the beach. You can check out these canoe arrivals throughout December with probably the most famous one happening right on Waikiki Beach At Honolulu Hale, you'll find the famous Shaka Santa in Tutu Mele on display.

[00:01:54] Bryan Murphy: It's become such an iconic photo spot that you really can't miss it. If you're on Oahu during the holidays, and I'll be sure I'll post a pic of this in the show notes.

[00:02:03] Bryan Murphy: Christmas Luaus blend traditional holiday dishes with Hawaiian favorites. You'll find Kalua pork and lo lmi salmon served alongside of holiday ham.

[00:02:12] Bryan Murphy: And trust me, it works. It's so good. Plus many hotels and resorts offer special Christmas luaus with Hulu performances in live Hawaiian music.

[00:02:22] Bryan Murphy: One of my favorite things about Christmas in Hawaii is how so much is focused on spinning it in the outdoors. Christmas morning is about surfing sessions and many locals take part in that, as well as beach barbecues.

[00:02:34] Bryan Murphy: Both of those are super common on Christmas. Since Christmas Lou s are so popular, I want to give you more details around what to expect. The Royal Hawaiian and Moana Surf Rider on Waikiki Beach both host some of the best Christmas Lu house. They go all out with decorations, like Christmas lights mixed with tiki torches and Hawaiian music groups performing both holiday songs and traditional Hawaiian music.

[00:02:57] Bryan Murphy: The hula dancers even incorporate some Christmas themes within their performances. But if you want more of a local experience, check out The Paradise Cove Christmas Day Luau on the west side of Oahu in kale. They do traditional luau activities like lei making and pom fron weaving, but with a holiday twist, the food is great and it usually ends up with Santa arriving as well.

[00:03:20] Bryan Murphy: Now, an important tip about any Christmas luau is that they do sell out fast, usually months ahead. Most start taking reservations in July or August, so book early if you want to join one. I know this episode is being released in December and many people start planning ahead a year in advance, six months, nine months in advance.

[00:03:38] Bryan Murphy: So. If you're listening to this right now, isn't too early to look at booking reservations. If you're thinking about spinning Christmas in Hawaii, maybe next year.

[00:03:48] Bryan Murphy: Now, beach and ocean activities are also really fun and unique during Christmas and Hawaii. Christmas Beach activities are what makes Hawaii's holiday season truly special really.

[00:03:59] Bryan Murphy: The water stays around a comfortable 75 to 78 degrees all year, so you'll see lots of people hitting the waves on Christmas morning. Waikiki Beach is perfect for beginners during the winter season, while professional surfers head up to the north shore during the winter. So if you want to go watch some epic waves from a safe distance and see some of the best surfers in the world, be sure to head up to the North Shore during this time of winter on Oahu.

[00:04:26] Bryan Murphy: Family beach celebrations are huge on Christmas groups set up early with popup tents, coolers full of food and drinks, and even kids open presents right on the beach and families spend the whole day swimming, playing beach games, and enjoying Christmas picnics. Mini beaches also offer special Christmas activities.

[00:04:45] Bryan Murphy: Places like Kailua Beach Park and Ala Moana Beach Park get pretty busy with really just people hanging out and experiencing the warm Christmas day. But just remember the sun is still strong during the winter months in Hawaii, so be sure that you bring your. Reef safe sunscreen.

[00:05:02] Bryan Murphy: And there are many fun holiday events and celebrations across the island.

[00:05:05] Bryan Murphy: Each island has its own special celebrations and some of the ones you wanna make sure you check out on Oahu. Honolulu City Lights is the biggest display. The whole Honolulu holiday area turns into a Christmas wonderland with the famous Shaka Santa and Tutu Mele. The festival lights at Kauai's Historic County building is amazing.

[00:05:28] Bryan Murphy: The decorations are made from recycled materials and the building gets completely transformed. It runs from early December through New Year's and over on the big island of Hawaii. The Kailua Kona Christmas Parade is a local favorite. It's got that small town feel with definitely a tropical twist.

[00:05:45] Bryan Murphy: Plenty of others to check out. So if you're visiting, just make sure you get like an event calendar and you see there's plenty of fun events no matter which island you're staying on or what side of the island that you're on.

[00:05:57] Bryan Murphy: So here are my top tips for planning your Christmas vacation. It probably goes without saying, but book everything early, hotels, flights, and restaurants can get super busy during late December through early January.

[00:06:10] Bryan Murphy: So start planning at least six months ahead. Christmas week is peak season in Hawaii, so prices are usually the highest then. If you can come early December, you'll save money and still catch all the festivities that happen in the beginning parts of December. You wanna make sure you make reservations for dinner way ahead of time, especially for Christmas Eve and Christmas day.

[00:06:33] Bryan Murphy: Most restaurants offer special holiday menus, but they do fill up fast. Look at those restaurants that you have in mind on which island you're staying on, and see how far in advance you can book reservations. It's still warm in December in Hawaii, so be sure that you pack accordingly. You wanna pack maybe a light sweater for evenings.

[00:06:55] Bryan Murphy: Don't forget your swimsuit. It's kinda like summer in December in Hawaii. So just be aware of that. So there's so much more. I think I could have gone in into detail and I did that. On our blog about some more tips about spending Hawaii and Christmas. Just want to kind of give you an overview of what to expect.

[00:07:14] Bryan Murphy: It's really a fun time. It's definitely worth doing at least once. And yes, it's busy. Yes, it can be expensive. But if you plan accordingly and take some of these tips and some of the tips that I share over on the blog, I think it'll be a great time to do at least one time. So thanks again for listening to this episode and to find everything that we talked about, go to Hawaii's best travel.com.

[00:07:40] Bryan Murphy: And until next time, my friend me Kcca

[00:07:48] Announcement: Mahalo for listening to this episode of Hawaii's. Best to stay up to date on future episodes. Please subscribe. And visit us@hawaiibesttravel.com.


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