Ring in the Year of the Snake With Lion Dances, Firecrackers, Parades and More
Celebrate Lunar New Year and welcome good fortune for 2025 with these festivities across O‘ahu.
In 2025, Lunar New Year falls on Wednesday, Jan. 29. Leading up to that day and into February, there’s a packed line-up of festivities scheduled to welcome the Year of the Snake.
SEE ALSO: Lunar New Year Sweets and Specials Around O‘ahu
Photo: Courtesy of International Market Place
Lunar New Year at International Market Place
Friday, Jan. 24, to Wednesday, Feb. 5
Shoppers who spend $150 or more in same-day receipts at International Market Place can receive a special Year of the Snake gift box from Honolulu Cookie Company. On Saturday, Jan. 25, lion dancing will take place from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Chinese calligraphy from 1 to 3 p.m. and complimentary stargazing from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
International Market Place, 2330 Kalākaua Ave., shopinternationalmarketplace.com, @intlmktplace
SEE ALSO: How to Celebrate Chinese New Year in Hawai‘i
Photo: Courtesy of Chinatown 808
Chinatown Lunar New Year Festival & Parade
Saturday, Jan. 25, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Enjoy lion dances, martial arts demonstrations, food and craft vendors, keiki make-and-take craft activities, live entertainment, bounce houses and a Lunar New Year parade. Food vendors this year include Kapa Hale, Legend Seafood Restaurant, Olay’s Thai Lao Express, Sage Creamery and many more.
The parade will begin at 4:30 p.m. on the Hawai‘i State Capitol lawn with participants dressed up in their best Lunar New Year outfits. If you’re biking there, the Hawai‘i Bicycling League will be providing free bike valet service from 1 to 10 p.m. They’ll even watch your bike for you while you enjoy the festival, so no need to bring locks.
Beretania St., ‘A‘ala Park, Maunakea St. to ‘A‘ala St., parade route from Hawai‘i State Capitol to River St,. chinatown808.com, @chinatown808hi
SEE ALSO: Your Insider Guide to the Chinatown Festival & Parade
Chinese New Year Celebration at Market City
Saturday, Jan. 25, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Watch high-energy lion dancing, popping firecrackers and taiko drumming in the lower level parking lot fronting Ben Franklin Crafts. Enjoy fortune cookies and a Year of the Snake fan giveaway for the first 300 attendees.
Market City Shopping Center, 2919 Kapi‘olani Blvd., marketcityhawaii.com, @marketcityhi
SEE ALSO: 40 Amazing Things to Do
Photo: Courtesy of Town Center of Mililani
Lunar New Year Celebration at Town Center of Mililani
Saturday, Jan. 25, 4:30 to 7 p.m.
Feed the Chinese lion, watch a martial arts demonstration, receive a free keiki snake plush toy and make a Year of the Snake keiki craft, while supplies last.
Town Center of Mililani, 95-1249 Meheula Pkwy, Mililani, towncenterofmililani.com, @townctrmililani
Photo: Courtesy of Hawaii Children’s Discovery Center
Chinese New Year Lion Dance at the Discovery Center
Sunday, Jan. 26, 10:30 a.m.
Celebrate the Year of the Snake with a kid-friendly lion dance performed by the Kuo Min Tang Physical Culture Association, then try out New Year’s crafts and games in the center’s Your Rainbow World gallery.
Hawai‘i Children’s Discovery Center, 111 Ohe St., discoverycenterhawaii.org, @hawaiichildrensdiscoverycenter
Lunar New Year Celebration at Waikele Premium Outlets
Sunday, Jan. 26, 11 a.m.
Enjoy a traditional pole jumping lion dance performance, photo ops and free giveaways (while supplies last) at Waikele Premium Outlets.
Waikele Premium Outlets, Center Stage, near American Eagle and Guess Factory, 94-790 Lumiaina Street, premiumoutlets.com/outlet/waikele, @waikelepo
Photo: Courtesy of Royal Hawaiian Center
Lunar New Year at Royal Hawaiian Center
Tuesday, Jan. 28, through Sunday, Feb. 9
Chinese New Year festivities will take place over two weeks at the Royal Hawaiian Center with cultural activities and a special gift with mall purchase. Catch the lion dance performance on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at 5 p.m. and the acrobatic lion dance on Saturday, Feb. 8, at 6 p.m. See a Chinese calligraphy demonstration on Sunday, Feb. 9, from 3 to 6 p.m. During these two weeks, shoppers who spend a minimum of $750 at Center retailers in the same day may receive a special red envelope from Helumoa Hale Guest Services—prizes range from gift cards to tote bags.
Royal Hawaiian Center, 2201 Kalākaua Ave., royalhawaiiancenter.com, @royalhwnctr
Photo: Courtesy of Ala Moana Center
Lunar New Year Celebration at Ala Moana Center
Wednesday, Jan. 29, through Sunday, Feb. 2
Shop at Ala Moana for good fortune and usher in the Year of the Snake at a wishing wall display where you can write and leave messages. Select retailers will offer exclusive Lunar New Year products, and there will also be gifts with purchases between $500 to $1,000, including limited-edition boat totes, bandanas and gift cards. On Saturday, Feb. 1, the mall will host Chinese calligraphy, lion dancing, traditional drumming and pole jumping demonstrations.
Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Boulevard, alamoanacenter.com, @alamoancenter
Photo: Courtesy of Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club
Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club’s Chinese New Year Celebration
Jan. 30, 31 and Feb. 1, 7:30 p.m.
The Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club will celebrate the new year with festivities over three days. See the lion dance parade through the hotel. The best view will be from Mahina & Sun’s, where you can dine on a special menu ($30), including char sui fried rice, kau yuk, minute chicken and gau gee.
Surfjack Hotel & Swim Club, 412 Lewers St., surfjack.com, @thesurfjack
Photo: Courtesy of Salt at Our Kaka‘ako
Salt at Our Kaka‘ako Lunar New Year Celebration
Saturday, Feb. 1, 11 a.m.
The celebration starts at Salt at Our Kaka‘ako with a martial arts demonstration, a Chinese lion dance and appearances by the 2025 and 2024 Miss Chinatown Hawai‘i Queens. The lion dance will then make its way down to Keawe Retail at 12:30 p.m. and the Shops at Keauhou Lane at 1 p.m.
Salt at Our Kaka‘ako, 691 Auahi St., saltatkakaako.com, @ourkakaako
Photo: Courtesy of the Sing Yung Lion Dragon Lion Dance Association
Lunar New Year at Waikīkī Beach Walk
Saturday, Feb. 1, 4:45 p.m.
Watch the ignition of 5,000 firecrackers and an impressive pole jumping demonstration followed by a lion dance procession. The Sing Yung Dragon and Lion Dance Association will visit the Waikīkī Beach Walk stores and restaurants.
Waikīkī Beach Walk, 227 Lewers St., waikikibeachwalk.com, @waikikibeachwalk
Photo: Courtesy of Windward Mall
Chinese New Year Celebration at Windward Mall
Sunday, Feb. 2, 10 a.m.
Usher in the Year of the Snake with a traditional lion dance, Chinese calligraphy and a martial arts demonstration. From 10 a.m. to noon, master calligrapher Ina Chang will write beautiful good luck fortunes for shoppers. At 4 p.m., Au’s Shaolin Arts will perform in Center Court and go store-to-store with the lions.
Windward Mall, 46-056 Kamehameha Hwy., windwardmall.com, @windwardmall
Lunar New Year Celebration at Ka Makana Ali‘i
Friday, Feb. 7, 2 to 8 p.m.
Marvel at master calligrapher Ina Chang from 2 to 5 p.m., check out the Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association performance at 6 p.m., then follow the lion around the center for a blessing of the stores and restaurants.
Ka Makana Ali‘i, 91-5431 Kapolei Parkway, kamakanaalii.com, @kamakanaalii
Lunar New Year at ‘Ewa Town Center
Saturday, Feb. 8, 10 a.m. to noon
Merchants at ‘Ewa Town Center will celebrate Chinese New Year with a traditional lion dance, Chinese calligraphy demonstration and free crispy gau gee from Taste of Hong Kong.
‘Ewa Town Center, 91-1401 Fort Weaver Rd., ewatowncenter.com, @ewatowncenter
Photo: Courtesy of Kapolei Shopping Center
Chinese New Year at Kapolei Shopping Center
Saturday, Feb. 8, 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Ring in the Year of the Snake with a lion table jumping performance, “feed” the lions and enjoy a complimentary fortune cookie. The Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association troupe will then make their way through the center to bless merchant locations and summon good fortune for the new year.
Kapolei Shopping Center, 590 Farrington Hwy., kapoleishopping.com, @kapoleishoppingctr
Photo: Courtesy of Ward Village
Lunar New Year at Ward Village
Saturday, Feb. 8, noon to 4 p.m.
Lion dance performances will start at noon at the South Shore Market courtyard and continue to perform blessings throughout the neighborhood. Master Chinese calligraphy artist Ina Chang will be onsite at South Shore Market from 1 to 4 p.m.
Ward Village, 1240 Ala Moana Blvd. #200, wardvillage.com, @wardvillage
