10 Best Things to Do in Winter in Honolulu

Santa paddles is an event where Santa dons aloha shirts and sandals to paddle around in an outrigger canoe in true island style. It's one of Honolulu’s unique Christmas traditions and a must-see for a winter trip in Hawaii. During this event, Santa makes the rounds at venues around Oahu to greet visitors and locals. At the end of his paddling trip, he’ll arrive at Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, about 3 miles south of downtown, in his canoe. Be sure to arrive early to get some pictures of the event.

The Season's Best Craft & Gift Fair is a fun-filled holiday fair with Christmas-themed events and holiday gifts. Perfect for families and finding souvenirs, the fair features handcrafted items from Hawaiian artisans. You’ll find a little bit of everything at the Season’s Best Craft & Gift Fair, including handmade toys, artisan foods, handmade jewelry, handbags, fashion, pet toys, and stocking stuffers. The fair also has an array of holiday decor, including ornaments and wreaths. Be sure to arrive early to take in all the offerings and enter into the prize giveaways that take place all day. The craft fair is held just a mile south of the center of downtown.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is a fun performing arts center all year long, but it features all kinds of holiday-themed events during the winter season. If you want to experience Polynesian Christmas tradition, you can attend island food events, Christmas marketplaces, and live entertainment events at the center, which is located about an hour from downtown Honolulu. Some of the past events include train rides for children, photos with Santa, Christmas canoe rides, holiday-themed scavenger hunts, and more. You’ll also be treated to holiday-themed menu options from the restaurants and marketplace.

The Neal S. Blaisdell Center Concert Hall is a community center with a concert hall, exhibition hall, and other event spaces. During the holiday season, the center hosts holiday-themed events and concerts to get in the Christmas spirit. You can experience a variety of Christmas events at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center in winter, such as Christmas concerts, holiday craft fairs, food festivals, and more. Be sure to check the calendar of events prior to your trip to see what’s on. The concert hall is downtown, about a mile from the city center.

Honolulu City Lights features Santa in Honolulu Hale plus the mayor lighting the city’s Christmas tree, among other festivities. It's a must-see Christmas event and a local holiday tradition that you won't want to miss. It all kicks off with the Electric Lights Parade, a parade with local organizations and school bands playing holiday music and showing off holiday floats. Along with the event itself, you can take in all the decorations with a stroll or trolly tour through the city during the season. See it all in the heart of downtown.

The Amy & Willie Holiday Show is an exciting concert that features the 2 award-winning artists and their band performing popular holiday songs with their own unique style. Officially named the Amy Hanaialii & Willie K Holiday Show, the concert takes place in the historic Hawaii Theatre in downtown, just a half-mile from the center of town. Both Amy and Willie come from diverse musical backgrounds and showcase their versatility in the holiday-themed show. For example, Willie sings an innovative version of the beloved “O Holy Night” Christmas carol. You’ll also be treated to some of their original songs during the concert.

Whale watching is at its best during Hawaii’s winters due to the migration patterns of humpback whales. Though you can see whales all year in Hawaii, January to March is the best time to spot them frolicking in shallow waters on migration. You can book whale-watching tours to travel with experienced guides to the best spots to see whales. If you prefer to stay on the shore, you’ll find prime whale-watching spots along Oahu’s beaches. The Makapu’u Lighthouse on Oahu, a half-hour drive from downtown, is a well-known whale-watching destination.

Surfing at Sunset Beach is a great way to experience the record-breaking swells that occur during Hawaii’s winters. Between November and December, Hawaii’s waves reach incredible heights and are a playground for experienced surfers. Winter is also the best time to catch a surf contest and see some of the best surfers in the world in action. Sunset Beach hosts one of the largest surfing competitions in the world, the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, between November and December. You can arrive early and get a great spot on the shore to see the contest. Sunset Beach is on Oahu's North Shore, about an hour's drive from central Honolulu.

The Mele Kalikimaka Marketplace is a fun-filled Christmas event with gifts, holiday food, live entertainment, and more. You can bring the kids to take photos with Santa and Rudolph, sample island fare in pop-up shops and food stands, and shop for local products. Another highlight of the event is the craft workshop. Ideal for all ages, the craft workshop features a themed craft with supplies and instructions to create your own gift or souvenir to bring back, such as gingerbread men or handmade toys. Visit the market at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center, just a mile southeast of the heart of downtown.

Snowboarding and skiing on Mauna Kea are a fun way to get outdoors during winter since the temperatures reach the ideal skiing and snowboarding temperatures from December to February. You may not think of balmy Hawaii as a place for traditional winter activities, but temps at the peak of Mauna Kea are actually cold all year You’ll have a blanket of powdery snow for skiing and snowboarding while gazing out into the tropical landscape. Keep in mind that there isn’t a rental shop or ski lifts on-site, so you’ll need to bring your own equipment and jacket. Since Mauna Kea is located on the Big Island, you'll need to take a plane, but it's just a 40-minute flight.