Christmas Magic in Hawaii: 19 Tips to Plan Your Hawaii Christmas Vacation
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A Hawaii Christmas vacation is one of the busiest times of the year. You will experience crowds and expensive hotels and rental cars. And what about the weather?
Nevertheless, visitors flock to Hawaii from mid-December till the New Year to escape the cold at home and nothing beats palm trees swaying, good surf, and a white sand Christmas.
Our opinion has changed on a Hawaii Christmas vacation over the years. Based on the numbers, we didn’t recommend visiting in December in our Best Time to Visit Hawaii video or our Best Time to Visit Hawaii article. But, there is something oh so romantic about Christmas in Hawaii as we share in this Christmas video.
Here are ways to save on your Hawaii Christmas vacation. But more importantly, ways to make planning this big trip to Hawaii an island breeze.
Is Christmas a Good Time to Go to Hawaii?
Christmas is a good time to go to Hawaii to have a tropical holiday with the family. But, Christmas in Hawaii experiences high hotel and car rental prices, a surge in visitors, and December can be the rainiest month of the year.
Hawaii hotel prices have climbed faster than inflation over the past couple of years. They are expensive due to the increase in demand. And there is big demand during the Christmas season.
By breaking down the visitor count, the costs of a Hawaii Christmas vacation, and the weather, we will see how to plan a Hawaii Christmas vacation. I call these the three Cs of Hawai vacation planning; crowds, costs, and clouds.
The data referenced and in the graphs are from the Hawaii Tourism Authority Research and Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development & Tourism Dashboard.
The Hawaiian Christmas music alone makes it our favorite time of year on the island. I’ll be adding Mele Kalikimaka and other Hawaii Christmas hits to The Hawaii Vacation Guide Spotify playlist. You’ll need a holiday soundtrack for your vacation.
Crowds: Hawaii Can Feel Crowded During Christmas
The fall shoulder season (slow season) ends in mid-November as Hawaii starts to get busy for the Thanksgiving holiday. Thanksgiving till the end of March is considered the winter busy season. And we all know the best Hawaiian island to visit in the winter.
One of the busiest times in Hawaii is the 10-day vacation period from December 22nd to New Year’s Eve.
Daily arrivals are 20% higher than the December average in the days leading up to Christmas as people arrive from across the world, mainly from the west coast of America and Canada, for their Christmas vacation.
The graph shows daily visitor arrivals to the Hawaiian Islands in December and early January. Be prepared for a busy Christmas holiday in Hawaii as those arrivals aren’t departing till after the new year.
Related articles:
Visiting Maui in the Winter: Is it a Good Idea?
Things to Do in Hawaii During Christmas
Hawaii in December: Everything to Know For Your Trip
December has historically been one of the busiest months after the summer high season. But, it can have one of the highest daily average censuses as visitors stay longer during the holiday season.
An interesting thing is the Island of Hawaii (Big Island: how many days should you stay) experiences a surge in visitors for the holidays (Maui vs Big Island for Christmas?). December 2019 was the busiest month on the Big Island. In 2021, December was just behind July for the busiest month.
5 Tips for Managing Christmas Crowds in Hawaii
Be it the holiday season or the peak summer months, here are Hawaii planning tips for managing a busy Hawaii.
- Arrive at the beaches by 9:00 AM to find parking in the public lots
- Make restaurant reservations 4 to 6 months in advance. If you have a favorite place in mind, book it now
- Try take-out to the beach or your hotel – Maui food trucks and Kauai food trucks are the best (no ka ‘oi)
- Avoid rush hour in the morning and afternoon. You’re on vacation, try to drive when commuters aren’t on the road.
- Book your tours early and book them early in your trip in case cancellations happen (aka, bad weather) so you can rebook.
Christmas is at the start of humpback whale season so don’t miss out on the best whale-watching tours!
Another way to avoid the crowds is by following our itineraries. We will show you the best things to do on each island that many others will miss. Click below to learn more.
Cost of a Hawaii Christmas Vacation
You know Christmas isn’t the cheapest month to visit so let’s look at ways to save this holiday season.
Hawaii hotel rates in December were 28% higher ($419) ) compared to the 2021 yearly average ($328). Vacation rentals were 13% higher in December.
Waikiki had the lowest average hotel rates ($267) compared to other resort areas on the islands. Maui was the most expensive at $736 with Wailea topping the list at $1,189 per night on average.
Lodging will be your biggest expense for your Hawaii Christmas vacation. Even if you book a vacation rental for a group, lodging is a huge expense. Save on lodging by staying in Waikiki at a value hotel if a luxury hotel isn’t important to you.
See our article on the Cheapest and Best Hawaiian Island for Christmas for details on hotels, rental cars, and flight costs in December.
6 Tips for Saving on Your Hawaii Christmas Vacation
- Book flights early and shop for deals. How to Get a Cheap Flight to Hawaii.
- 6 ways to save on Hawaii hotels from Erica.
- Rental cars: save with Discount Hawaii Car Rental, Costco, or explore our favorite local rental car companies.
- Save on tours and activities with our Hawaii Vacation Guide coupon codes.
- Consider using credit card points. We’ve been getting deep into travel hacking to save on Hawaii and other destinations with the help of Travely Freely. Use points on Hawaii hotels and flights.
- Have a luxury Hawaii vacation for less with these tips.
Weather During Your Hawaii Holiday
What is the weather like in Hawaii during December? Winter is the rainy season and December is the wettest month in Hawaii.
Hawaii residents are quick to point out that even during the winter, Hawaii is a wonderful place. Hawaii sits in the tropics so the temperate averages are in the high 70s to the 80s even during December. Sure it can rain more often but rains are warm and are usually quick downpours in the morning. Rain brings rainbows so enjoy a little tropical shower.
After living in Maui and Oahu, the biggest drawback to the rainy season is the chance of a 5-day storm system. A large storm can hit the islands causing all-day rain and/or all-day clouds. This is the worst-case scenario for a holiday trip. The odds are in your favor that this won’t happen but mentally prepare yourself.
If you do find yourself in an all-day rain, then Oahu is your best place to be for indoor activities. Oahu has a large selection of museums, shopping centers, and an aquarium to keep you entertained.
See our What to do in Hawaii When it Rains: Things to Do article!
Here are tips for planning around the weather at Christmas.
5 Ways to Manage the Weather for Your Hawaii Christmas
- Stay on the leeward side of the island. The leeward or dry side will have the sunniest days, even during December. Most resorts are located on the leeward coasts.
- Rain and high winds create poor snorkeling conditions so seize the sunny day to snorkel when the weather is good.
- Have a list of rainy-day activities prepared, see our free island travel guides for ideas.
- Pack accordingly! Bring a rain jacket in December. An umbrella is optional. Don’t believe the weather apps, they average the island temperature. Pack for 70 and 80-degree weather.
- Weather conditions change fast in Hawaii. Be careful when out hiking, or swimming in waterfalls, and perhaps rethink that helicopter tour for the summer.
For Maui vacationers, see our Maui in December article for weather details in each resort area.
How to Find That Hawaii Christmas Dinner
Spending Christmas in Hawaii shouldn’t mean you miss out on a Christmas dinner. Here are some tips on finding that perfect Hawaii Christmas dinner.
Resorts are the most convenient places to find a Christmas dinner menu. I recommend you make a reservation at check-in for a fine-dining Christmas feast at your resort. The casual restaurant at the hotel or the poolside grill may also offer a Christmas dinner.
To find a local restaurant offering a dinner menu, check their website starting in mid-November as they will share their holiday dinner plans and menu. Many Hawaii restaurants are closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
The popular locations in the resort areas like Duke’s Merriman’s, Roy’s, Hula Grill, and Tommy Bahamas will be open and serving a Christmas menu.
Hawaiian luaus may also have a special Christmas celebration. See our 14 best luaus in Hawaii (organized by island) to make a reservation.
Things to Do for Christmas in Hawaii
Hawaii is fun for Christmas because of the local parades, hula performances, mele (music), and events around the Hawaiian Islands.
Honolulu has many popular events around City Hall and the malls. For a large list of the annual events, see our Things to Do in Hawaii During Christmas.
Things to Do for New Year’s Eve in Hawaii
The final tip. For New Year’s Eve things to do you are best to stick to Waikiki and Honolulu for a night out.
Hawaii is a sleepy state. Outside of Waikiki and Chinatown, there isn’t a lot of nightlife.
Waikiki has a large fireworks show for New Year’s Eve. Shooting from a barge off Waikiki Beach, enjoy a spectacular show.
The bars, clubs, and resorts will be celebrating the new year. Check with your resort to see if they are hosting a party. The larger hotels, like Turtle Bay on North Shore Oahu, usually have an NYE party. See our list of The Best North Shore Hotels and Vacation Rentals for more options.
Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island stay relatively quiet for NYE. Bars in Kailua-Kona, Big Island and Kihei, Maui will be open to ring in the new year. The resorts may also be hosting parties for NYE.
Hawaii Christmas Vacation Itinerary
With so many planning tips for your Hawaii Christmas vacation, you are hopefully feeling pretty good about coming to Hawaii this winter season. Now, finish your planning with perfect Hawaiian Island itineraries.
Let us show you the best places to go, where to eat at local restaurants, the best beaches, cultural activities, and snorkel spots. Our planned excursion days will make your trip! Learn more about them below!