Your Insider Guide to Honolulu City Lights
Free, festive fun pops up in two locations this holiday season starting on Saturday, Nov. 29.
Photo: Courtesy of City and County of Honolulu
Big news: this annual month-long celebration kicks off a week earlier this year, which means there’s more time to revel in the festivities. All your beloved family traditions and activities are back with a block party, electric light parade, holiday concert, larger-than-life decorations, keiki train rides and trees galore. But for the first time in Honolulu City Lights’ history, the winter wonderland will illuminate two sites: Honolulu Hale and Thomas Square Park.
Here is everything you need to know about Honolulu City Lights, from where to snap the best family photos to when to bring keiki to meet Santa.
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SEE ALSO: The Ultimate Guide to Holiday Happenings on O‘ahu
Photo: Courtesy of Friends of Honolulu City Lights
What It Is
Now in its 41st year, the festivities are a gift to the community from the City and County of Honolulu in partnership with Friends of Honolulu City Lights and Show Aloha Land—a tradition that started in 1985 by Mayor Frank F. Fasi. Yes, this means that it is free to enjoy! This year’s theme, “Navigating by the Stars,” honors and celebrates the 50th anniversary of Hōkūle‘a, Hawai‘i’s legendary voyaging canoe.
Honolulu Hale and the surrounding civic center grounds will be decorated with a 50-foot Norfolk pine tree and cherished outdoor displays, including Shaka Santa and Tūtū Mele. Heads-up: construction work in the area means not all the outdoor displays will be set up this year. Indoors, admire the City Department Holiday Tree Exhibition and the Holiday Wreath Contest Exhibition. There will also be nightly food vendors.
At Thomas Square Park, the celebration continues as the historic grounds transform into a sparkling fairyland. On select nights, enjoy keiki train rides, bounce houses, rotating craft vendors, food and Santa appearances. However, every evening throughout the season, you can wander through immersive displays of light tunnels, illuminated trees and brilliant holiday features.
Photo: Courtesy of City and County of Honolulu
When and Where
The festivities launch on Saturday, Nov. 29, at 6 p.m. with the Opening Night Tree Lighting Ceremony in front of Honolulu Hale (530 S. King St.). The lights at Honolulu Hale and Thomas Square Park (925 S. Beretania St.) will be illuminated simultaneously. Holiday displays at both locations run through the month of December.
Parking
- Honolulu Hale: Free public parking is available at the civic center parking garage, with entry from the left lane of Beretania Street just past Alapa‘i Street.
- Thomas Square Park: Neal S. Blaisdell Center parking is available for $8 per entry.
Photo: Credit Ron Slauson
Opening Night
On Saturday, Nov. 29, the celebration kicks off at 4 p.m. with a block party featuring local food vendors along Punchbowl Street. The Public Workers’ Electric Light Parade begins at 6:15 p.m. down King Street from River Street to Kawaiaha‘o Street. As the parade passes Honolulu Hale, Mayor Rick Blangiardi will illuminate the holiday tree and lights decorating the grounds. Olympic Gold Medalist Carissa Moore will emcee the ceremony.
The parade features 60 entries, including marchers, floats, vehicles and bands. It will also be live broadcast on ‘Ōlelo 53, so tune in if you want to skip the crowds.
The holiday merriment continues with performances by Lovejack, Jenny Yim, Rickey Kamai, Ryan Perez and Henry Kapono & Friends, including The Boys and The Band, Kala‘e and Kalena Parish and Kailua Music School behind the Mission Memorial Auditorium.
Photo: Credit Ron Slauson
Here’s the schedule for the evening:
4 to 10 p.m. Food booths open on Punchbowl Street
6 p.m. Mayor’s Tree Lighting Ceremony at Honolulu Hale
6:15 p.m. Public Workers’ Electric Light Parade begins at ‘A‘ala Park
6:30 p.m. Decorations illuminated at both Honolulu Hale and Thomas Square Park
7 to 8:30 p.m. Free photos with Santa at Mission Memorial Auditorium
7:30 to 10 p.m. Concert behind Mission Memorial Auditorium
Photo: Credit Ron Slauson
Mark These Dates for the Rest of December
Holiday Wreath Contest Exhibition
Saturday, Nov. 29, 7 to 10 p.m., Lane Gallery Honolulu Hale
Wednesday, Dec. 3, to Sunday, Dec. 28., 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Lane Gallery Honolulu Hale
The City Department Tree Exhibition
Saturday, Nov. 29, 7 to 10 p.m., Honolulu Hale
Sunday, Nov. 30, to Sunday, Dec. 28., 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., Honolulu Hale
Free Photos with Santa
Thomas Square Park: Nov. 30, Dec. 5–7, Dec. 12–14, Dec. 18–25, 5 to 10 p.m.
Honolulu Hale: Dec. 1–4, Dec. 8–11, Dec. 15–17, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Photo: Courtesy of Show Aloha Land
Keiki Train Rides & Bouncerland
Nov. 30, Dec. 5–7, Dec. 12–14, Dec. 18–25, 5 to 10 p.m., Thomas Square Park
Family Movie Nights
Thomas Square Park: Nov. 30, Dec. 5–7, Dec. 12–14, Dec. 18–25, 5 to 10 p.m.
Honolulu Hale: Friday, Dec. 12, and Sunday, Dec. 21, 7 p.m.
Celtic Pipes Performance
Wednesday, Dec. 3, 7 p.m., Honolulu Hale
Ka Pa Hula O Ka Lei Hulu Hiwa
Sunday, Dec. 7, 5:30 p.m., Honolulu Hale
Royal Hawaiian Band
Wednesday, Dec. 10, 6 p.m., Honolulu Hale
Hula Hui O Kapunahala
Saturday, Dec. 13, 5:30 p.m., Honolulu Hale
Holiday Harpist
Sunday, Dec. 14, 5:30 p.m., Honolulu Hale
Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders & Dancers
Thursday, Dec. 18, 6:15 p.m., Honolulu Hale
Free Milk & Cookies Night
Friday, Dec. 19, and Saturday, Dec. 20, 6 p.m., Honolulu Hale
SEE ALSO: Can’t-Miss Local Holiday Markets and Craft Fairs on O‘ahu
Photo: Credit Ron Slauson
Tips
- For even more holiday cheer, attend Kalikimaka Ho‘omau, a free, two-hour concert on Friday, Nov. 28, at Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall, featuring the Royal Hawaiian Band, Henry Kapono, Raiatea Helm, Kamehameha Schools Choir and more.
- Get your 2025 Honolulu City Lights keepsake ornament! Each year, there are new designs that are sold as a fundraiser. Buy them at the event grounds, online or at O‘ahu Macy’s stores, First Hawaiian Bank branches, Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union branches and Diamond Bakery’s Factory Store.
- To avoid parade crowds, view the procession from Chinatown or Downtown. The area in front of Honolulu Hale will be packed! Note, bands will stop performing after they pass Honolulu Hale, so you’ll want to be positioned before Kawaiaha‘o Street.
- Weekday evenings are less busy than weekends, so you’ll have a better chance of getting successful family photos in front of the displays. You could also visit during the day, but won’t get the full effect of the lights.
- Dress in holiday attire and bring light-up toys, glow sticks and jingle bells for a full festive experience.
- Reserve a time in advance to take photos with Santa at Mission Memorial Auditorium to avoid lines.
- Waikīkī Trolley offers open-air bus rides ($37 adult, $27 keiki) to view the downtown lights and Honolulu City Lights, departing from Aloha Tower.
Free, Honolulu City Lights, Honolulu City Lights, Honolulu Hale and Thomas Square Park, Nov. 29 to Dec. 31, opening night on Saturday, Nov. 29, 4 to 10 p.m., honolulucitylights.org, @friendshonolulucitylights
Laura Dornbush is a regular contributor to HONOLULU Magazine. @ldornbush
