Things to Do in December in Hawaii

This month, see the bright lights, fly like an eagle and crack some nuts.

Cinderella

Dec. 2-18

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s classic production comes to Diamond Head Theatre, pumpkin carriage and all. diamondheadtheatre.com.

27th Annual Honolulu City Lights

Dec. 3-Jan. 2

Honolulu City and County’s annual holiday celebration kicks off with the lighting of the traditional 50-foot Christmas tree. Festivities include live music, food vendors and the Electric Light Parade. honolulucitylights.org.

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day

Dec. 7

The Pacific Aviation Museum dedicates the newly stabilized Ford Island Control Tower on the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. pacificaviationmuseum.org.

Billabong Pipe Masters

Dec. 8-20

The world’s best surfers take on the world’s gnarliest wave at the Banzai Pipeline. This year’s event, the culmination of the 2011 Vans Triple Crown of Surfing, runs in memory of the late, four-time Pipe Master Andy Irons. triplecrownofsurfing.com.

Steve Miller Band at Blaisdell Arena

Dec. 9

Everyone’s favorite space cowboy lands at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena for a night of ’70s rock revival. Let’s hope he doesn’t take the money and run. blaisdellcenter.com.

National Cocoa Day

Dec. 13

Sure, it might not get that cold in Hawaii, but who doesn’t love a good cup of hot cocoa? Padovani’s version is a cut above, made with rich Valrhona French chocolate and whole milk. padovanichocolates.com.

The Nutcracker

Dec. 16 – 18

It wouldn’t be Christmas without a staging of this classic winter tale. Chi Cao, the Birmingham Royal Ballet’s principal dancer, joins a cast of 160 for Ballet Hawaii’s 2011 production. Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall, $35 to $75, ballethawaii.org.

Don Tiki

Dec. 17

Exotica lives on. The eclectic brainchild of Hawai‘i musicians Lloyd Kandell and Kit Ebersbach visits the Doris Duke Theatre, playing a mash of jazz, lounge and pop. honoluluacademy.org.