Hawaii Travel Made Easy Podcast—Hawaii travel tips, Things to do in Hawaii, Hawaii vacation planning

Christmas in Hawaii: Your Complete Holiday Travel Guide

• Marcie Cheung • Episode 59

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Holiday Travel to Hawaii 2025: Tips, Insights, and Must-Do Events

Join us in this episode as we discuss the ins and outs of spending the holidays in Hawaii in 2025. From cost breakdowns and strategic planning tips to must-see events and memorable traditions, we cover every aspect of making your holiday in paradise magical. Get ready to swap snow for sand, explore unique local cultures, and create unforgettable memories. Whether you're a first-timer or a seasoned visitor, our insights and recommendations will help you navigate the complexities of holiday travel to Hawaii. Aloha!

00:00 Introduction: Spending the Holidays in Paradise
01:02 The Realities of Holiday Travel Costs
02:39 Weather and Crowds: What to Expect
03:42 Embracing the Magic of a Hawaiian Christmas
04:20 Must-See Holiday Events in 2025
05:41 Tips for Planning Your Hawaiian Holiday
06:40 Making the Most of New Year's Eve in Hawaii
09:46 Common Mistakes to Avoid
10:48 Creating New Traditions and Supporting Local
11:59 Conclusion: Making Memories in Hawaii

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Hey there, Hawaii Dreamers. Welcome back to the podcast. Today we're jumping into something I get asked about constantly spending the holidays in paradise. Picture this swapping snow boots for flip flops, trading a fireplace for a beach bonfire, or watching the sunrise over the Pacific on Christmas morning with coffee and hand. Sounds incredible. Right? It absolutely is, but here's the real talk holiday travel to Hawaii in 2025 is more expensive and complicated than ever before. The good news. With the right strategy, you can still make it magical. I've spent enough holidays in the islands to know what works and what definitely doesn't. From that Christmas Dinner. we ended up at McDonald's because we didn't book ahead to discovering the best poi mochi on Oahu. During New Year's, I've got stories, mishaps, and hard won wisdom to share. So grab your coffee or something tropical if it's five o'clock somewhere, and let's talk about making your Hawaii holiday dreams happen. Let me start with the tough stuff because I want you prepared. There's a cost situation. Hawaii has always been pricey during the holidays, but 2025 is hitting, different hotels are averaging$375 or more per night before taxes, and those taxes brace yourself. Hawaii's combined Hotel tax is currently at about 18%. That's 10.25% state transient accommodations tax, 3% county surcharge plus 4.712%. General excise tax. Starting January, 2026, that state rate jumps to 11%, bringing the total closer to 19%. Do the math. A$500 a night resort room actually costs$590 with taxes during peak holiday weeks. Those same rooms can at 800 to a thousand dollars a night at luxury properties, so you're looking at over$1,100 after taxes. Flights aren't much cheaper. West coast of Hawaii normally runs 400 to$500 round trip, but during Christmas week, expects$800 to$1,200 from the East Coast budget,$900 ish, normally way higher. Around the holidays, the airline landscape changed dramatically. Alaska Airlines completed their acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines in September, 2024, and just two months ago, their loyalty program officially merged into Atmos Rewards. Both brands are still flying, but it's a different game now. Meanwhile, Southwest cut their inner island flights by up to 30% starting this past April. Those cheap$39 to$60 Island hops. Now they're more like$80 to$120. Sometimes way more less competition means higher prices, plain and simple. There's also the weather reality. December through March is Hawaii's rainy season, but don't panic, we're talking quick tropical showers that come and go. Not days of grade Drizzle temperatures drop from the eighties into the seventies, which I know is hardly suffering. Pack a light rain jacket and a bracelet. Some of my favorite Hawaii moments have been walks on the beach right after a shower. When everything smells fresh and the air feels electric, the crowds are real popular spots get absolutely packed. Pearl Harbor, Hanauma Bay, Waikiki Beach, they all feel like Times Square during the holidays. I once waited two hours just to get into Hanauma Bay during Christmas week with my kids, melting down the whole time, book popular activities well ahead and had backup plans ready. Being a good visitor matters for locals. The holidays mean spending time with family while dealing with record tourism. Crowds. Be patient with service workers who are working holidays away from their families. Book local businesses show up with the aloha spirit. Remember, this is their home first, your vacation second. Now, here's where it gets magical Christmas in paradise. It's different in the best way, and this is why it's magical. The vibe is unlike anything else. My first Hawaii Christmas as a teenager completely rewired my brain. Waking up to the blue ocean while silent night. Played with steel guitar, Christmas trees, decorated with shells and plumer. Santa in board. Shorts is definitely weird and wonderful. Local celebrations blend Hawaiian culture with holiday traditions. You'll see Santa arriving by outrigger canoe. Christmas carols sung in Hawaiian Hula dancer ornaments everywhere. I now have an entire collection of Hawaiian Christmas ornaments that transport me back every December. Here are the 2025 holiday events you can't miss. If you're on Oahu, Honolulu City Lights is spectacular. Opening night is Saturday, November 29th, 2025, which is earlier than usual. There is the Public Works electric Light Parade tree lighting, 250 feet of lighted tunnels, 50 illuminated trees, and a cakey train ride. But the best part, it's all free and runs through December. Over in Kapolei, Kapolei City Lights opens December 6th with a block party and parade. This year's theme is season of stars honoring Hawaiian navigation traditions on the big island, the Waimea Twilight Christmas parade. Also December 6th celebrates its 65th year with the theme, A Waimea Christmas birthday celebration. Expect lighted floats, marching bands, and a post parade star party. Also on December 6th, the Holualoa Music and Light Festival transforms his Kona Coffee country village into a twinkle lit wonderland with live music Santa. And the official tree lighting new this year is the tw the light before Christmas on ice, which opens December 4th at Hawaii Convention Center. It's an immersive holiday wonderland with ice skating like displays and a Christmas market on select weekends. And if you're there, December 7th, national Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial is a powerful way to honor history with formal ceremonies that are tributes and moments of silence. Now, if you're thinking about heading to Hawaii for Christmas next year, I have some tips to make it work. Logistically. You'll wanna book everything six to nine months out. I mean, everything, lights, hotels, rental cars, and especially special restaurant reservations that McDonald's Christmas dinner I mentioned, that's what happens when you assume you'll find somewhere to eat. You won't think creatively about Christmas. Traditions open presents on the beach at sunrise. Build Sandman instead of snowmen. Have your Christmas coffee while watching surfers. These become the stories you tell for decades for gifts. If you're traveling with kids, consider things that enhance the trip, snorkeling gear, beach toys, and maybe even an underwater camera. They become part of the adventure rather than stuff you haul around. You can also start your own special traditions. That red swimsuit I wore on Christmas day thinking it would be festive. My family laughed, but now it's a thing. Someone always wears something red to the beach on Christmas. Do gift exchanges on the sand. Maybe have a sunset dinner overlooking the ocean. Make it yours. And don't forget about New Year's. New Year's Eve. Hawaii is spectacular. My favorite memory is right after my husband and I got married, we went to Oahu with his extended family. We stumbled into this Japanese tradition called Fukubukuro at Ala Moana Center. The stores selling mystery bags where you don't know what you're getting. It became this hilarious family bonding experience, comparing treasures and laughing at the randomness. We still talk about it. And if you're on Oahu, Waikiki is the place for New Year's Eve. The fireworks displays over the beach are incredible, like Times Square, but with palm trees and ocean views, other islands have more intimate celebrations that are equally special. My pro tip is to plan transportation ahead. Getting a ride on year's Eve is tough and the Waikiki traffic is intent. Maybe book restaurants within walking distance of your hotel. The best experience sometimes happens at casual spots anyway. Garlic shrimp while watching fireworks over the Pacific is pretty unbeatable. There's also a cool cultural mashup. Hawaii's diversity means New Year's Eve blends Hawaiian, Japanese, Chinese and Filipino traditions. You might see lion dances, taiko drumming, and Hawaiian ceremonies all in one night. And poi mochi, those deep fried balls you can only get around. New Year's are life changing. Every year I hunt down the best ones. Alright, so let me share your game plan of how you can make it all work. My booking timeline is six to nine months ahead for best selection and prices. If you miss that window, sometimes last minute deals pop up two to three weeks before from people canceling, but that's risky with the Alaska Hawaiian merger Complete and their loyalty programs, now unified is Atmos. Rewards plus Southwest. Reduced routes. There's less competition. Be strategic compare packages, but do your math. Sometimes booking separately is cheaper. Check comparison sites and directly with hotels and airlines. Logistics can get overwhelming higher prices, advanced planning, coordinating schedules. If you're feeling stressed, I offer travel consultations specifically for this in a 60 minute session. For$149, we build a comprehensive strategy. Identify the best deals for your dates, and prioritize what to book first. My travel agent partner Kim at Stuffed Suitcase then handles the bookings and ways for planning fee. For folks who already book basics and just need help with activities or itinerary, there's a 30 minute option for$69. Visit Hawaii Travel with kids.com to book. You'll also wanna pack smart. Bring one nice outfit for special dinners and comfortable clothes that work for both beach and casual evening wear. Don't travel with wrapped presents. TSA will unwrap them anyway, so ship gifts ahead, or buy them in Hawaii. Local gifts are more meaningful anyway. I also want you to manage your expectations. This is huge. Holiday travel in Hawaii may be different from your regular vacation and different from traditional holidays at home With record prices, high taxes and industry changes. It's more expensive than ever. Some things won't go as planned. Restaurants will be busier, weather might not cooperate, and the kids might have meltdowns in paradise. Yes, it happens. Stay flexible and remember, you're making memories in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Okay. Now I wanna tell you about some common mistakes that you can avoid. Don't overpack your schedule. Yes, you wanna maximize your trip, but you're also supposed to be relaxing. Don't book every single day. Full leave room for spontaneity and rest. Research local customs beforehand. Understand island time. Be patient and respect the service workers are dealing with holiday crowds while trying to celebrate with their families. There's also the budget reality. Everything costs more during the holidays. With that 18% hotel tax potentially increasing to 19% in January, budget, an extra 30 to 40% beyond your normal expectations. That souvenir trap is real. Those cute Hawaiian Christmas themed items add up fast, set up a budget beforehand and stick to it. There's also the family dynamics to think about with multiple families or generations traveling together. Not everyone celebrates the same way or has the same priorities. Have honest conversations before you go about expectations, budgets, and must do activities. So how can you make the magic happen? Start with building new traditions. Some of my favorite holiday traditions started in Hawaii. Our Christmas morning, beach walk, new Year's Eve. Sunset photos, trying one new local holiday food each trip. Don't try to recreate your mainland holiday. Exactly. Embrace the differences. Have breakfast on the beach ring in the new year with toes in the sand, maybe even snorkel on Christmas morning. You can also support local. This separates magical experiences from just another beach vacation. Seek out authentic local experiences, community Christmas concerts, traditional new year ceremonies, and learning about Hawaiian holiday traditions from locals. Book, local tour guides. Eat at family owned restaurants and shop at local markets. You'll have better experiences and support the community. You might also go off the beaten path. While everyone fights for space at Famous Spots, magic happens at places. Tourists skip. Find a local beach for New Year's Sunrise, attend community holiday events, or ask locals where they celebrate. When Christmas morning, instead of dealing with Waikiki crowds, we drove to this little local beach park where families were having their own celebrations. Our kids played with local kids. We shared food. It was more authentically Hawaiian than anything we could have planned. So here's my bottom line. Holiday travel to Hawaii in 2025 will be different from both your regular vacations and your traditional holidays. It's more expensive, more crowded, and requires more planning, but the memories you'll create and the traditions you'll start, make every bit of effort worthwhile. Whether you're dreaming of building Sandman on Christmas morning, watching fireworks over Waikiki on New Year's Eve, or creating. Whether you're dreaming of building sandman on Christmas morning or watching fireworks over Waikiki on New Year's Eve, Hawaii offers something truly special. Start planning early, like right now. Stay flexible, embrace island ways, and most importantly, remember, you're not just taking a vacation. You're creating stories you'll tell for the rest of your life. I'd love to hear from you. Share your holiday Hawaii stories on social media, or if you're planning your first trip, tell me what you're most excited about. Until then, keep dreaming those Hawaiian holidays. And remember, life's too short for ordinary vacations. Aloha friends, and happy planning.