Keeping the Holidays Bright at Honolulu City Lights

Twinkling lights on a tall Christmas with a palm tree and rainbow backdrop–there may not be any snow in sight, but Honolulu City Lights shows how O’ahu does Christmas.
There are many different ways to celebrate the holidays around the world, but Honolulu City Lights has been a well-loved holiday tradition in O’ahu since 1985. Town can get a little crazy during the holidays, but Honolulu City Lights just might be a holiday tradition worth braving the traffic for.

Held annually at Honolulu Hale (City Hall) in Downtown Honolulu, the month-long Honolulu City Lights event melds together the Christmas spirit and the aloha spirit for a unique, family-filled, Christmas-wonderland experience.




The large displays that filled the lawn of city hall–ranging from Christmas carolers, large blocks that spell out “Mele Kalikimaka” to the infamous Shaka Santa–capture an island-style Christmas. But, the festivities were not limited to just the outdoors. Inside the city hall building, holiday wreaths lined the hallways and themed decorated Christmas trees filled the main floor.

As implied by the name, Honolulu City Lights really comes to life after sunset. It’s only when the skies get dark that the Christmas lights on the Honolulu Hale Christmas tree and all of the other holiday displays get to shine.


