Hawaii has 4 Christmas events for kids we could confirm for the 2026 season, from Kapolei City Lights: Paniolo Nights & Holiday Lights in Kapolei on November 28 to Honolulu City Lights Opening Night and Public Workers' Electric Light Parade in Honolulu, which runs through December 31. 2 of them are free, and every listing links straight to the host. It is one stop on our guide to Christmas events for kids in every state.
The short version
- 4 kids’ Christmas events confirmed in Hawaii for 2026, in Honolulu and Ocean View
- First: Kapolei City Lights: Paniolo Nights & Holiday Lights, Kapolei, November 28. Runs latest: Kapolei City Lights: Paniolo Nights & Holiday Lights, Kapolei, through January 3
- Free: Kapolei City Lights: Paniolo Nights & Holiday Lights and Honolulu City Lights Opening Night and Public Workers' Electric Light Parade
- Checked on each host’s own page; each listing links straight to it
Below is every event we could confirm, grouped by city, with the date, time, cost and the small things parents ask about (sign-ups, ages, what is included). Looking for a Santa train instead? Those are on our Hawaii Christmas train rides page.
Hawaii Christmas events for kids at a glance
- Kids’ Christmas events
- 4 confirmed for 2026
- Cities
- Honolulu and Ocean View
- Season
- November 28, 2026 to January 3, 2027
- Free events
- 2
- Kinds of events
- holiday parade, holiday event and holiday show
- Last checked
Plan your December
When each Hawaii Christmas event for kids happens
The first is Kapolei City Lights: Paniolo Nights & Holiday Lights in Kapolei on November 28; the last runs to December 31. Each bar spans an event’s dates, not every hour in them, so check the host’s page for times.
- Kapolei City Lights: Paniolo Nights & Holiday LightsKapolei · Nov 28 to Jan 3
- Holidays in KahukuOcean View · Dec 5
- Honolulu City Lights Opening Night and Public Workers' Electric Light ParadeHonolulu · Dec 5 to Dec 31
- The NutcrackerHonolulu · Dec 12 to Dec 13
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in Hawaii? Bring Rally home.
Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. It makes a cozy bedtime story after a big day with Santa. Turn a few pages here.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $16.99 on Amazon.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $16.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Christmas events for kids in Honolulu
3 confirmed events for kids in Honolulu, including nearby Kapolei, soonest first.
Kapolei: Kapolei City Lights: Paniolo Nights & Holiday Lights
Holiday paradeFreeCity and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation · Kapolei
- Host
- City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Kapolei Hale, 1000 Uluohia Street, Kapolei, HI 96707 (near Honolulu)
- When
- Sat November 28 and Sat November 28 (5 to 9 pm), 2026
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages, family friendly
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Kapolei City Lights opens on Saturday, November 28 with a free, family friendly block party on the streets around Kapolei Hale from 5 to 9 pm, featuring local vendors, a holiday car showcase, live music and food. The Holiday Parade, with decorated vehicles, floats and walkers, has historically started at 5:30 pm with the Royal Hawaiian Band leaving Kapolei High School and ending at Kama'aha Avenue.
This year's theme is Paniolo Nights and Holiday Lights, blending Hawai'i's paniolo heritage with holiday sparkle, slack key music and seasonal treats. A 50-foot holiday tree lights up outside the hale, and inside you will find community tree displays from City agencies and neighborhood groups. Families can spread out picnic mats in the open-air courtyard for more entertainment. The decorations stay up from November 28 through January 3. Parking and entertainment details will be announced once confirmed.
Parent tip: Bring a picnic mat for the courtyard. The City says parking details will be posted closer to the event.
See dates and details from City and County of Honolulu Department of Parks and Recreation (opens in a new tab)Honolulu: Honolulu City Lights Opening Night and Public Workers' Electric Light Parade
Holiday paradeFreeFriends of Honolulu City Lights and the City and County of Honolulu · Honolulu
- Host
- Friends of Honolulu City Lights and the City and County of Honolulu (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Honolulu Hale and Frank F. Fasi Civic Center Grounds, 530 S King Street, Honolulu, HI 96813
- When
- Sat December 5 (5:30 pm) and Sun December 6 (8 am to 10 pm), 2026
- Cost
- Free
- Ages
- All ages
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Honolulu City Lights opens on Saturday, December 5 with a ceremony at Honolulu Hale starting at 5:30 pm. The lights on the 50-foot city tree are scheduled to switch on around 6 pm, and the Public Workers' Electric Light Parade steps off at about 6 pm, traveling King Street from River Street to Kawaiahao Street and reaching Honolulu Hale around 6:30 pm. On Opening Night, a free photo with Santa is offered at the Mission Memorial Auditorium.
After Opening Night the displays on the Civic Center grounds are open daily from 8 am to 10 pm through December, and the outdoor lights stay on until dawn. Food vendors set up on Punchbowl Street on Opening Night and on the Civic Center grounds in the evenings through December 30. The event is free, and free public parking is available at the Frank F. Fasi Municipal lot off Beretania Street.
Parent tip: For smaller crowds, watch the parade in Chinatown or downtown between River Street and Fort Street Mall. Park before street closures begin if you plan to watch from Chinatown.
See dates and details from Friends of Honolulu City Lights and the City and County of Honolulu (opens in a new tab)Honolulu: The Nutcracker
Holiday showBallet Hawaii · Honolulu
- Host
- Ballet Hawaii (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall, 777 Ward Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96814
- When
- Sat December 12 and Sun December 13, 2026
- Cost
- Tickets via Blaisdell Box Office and Ticketmaster
- Sign-up
- Required ahead of time
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Ballet Hawaii's Nutcracker retells the holiday classic in the Kingdom of Hawai'i in 1858. The story features Washington Place resident Mary Dominis and a young Lili'uokalani, the garden fills with crown flowers, hibiscus and plumeria, 'i'iwi birds and honu join the cast, the toy soldiers wear uniforms inspired by the Royal Guard, and the Waltz of the Snowflakes takes place on the slopes of Mauna Kea.
Choreographed by Septime Webre, this year's production stars New York City Ballet principal dancers Chun Wai Chan and Indiana Woodward, with guest artists from Eugene Ballet and Sacramento Ballet and a cast of 140 Ballet Hawaii students plus local celebrities. Performances are December 12 and 13 at the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall. Tickets are sold only through the Blaisdell Box Office and Ticketmaster, and show times are listed at the point of sale.
Parent tip: Buy only through the Blaisdell Box Office or Ticketmaster, which the ballet names as its exclusive sellers.
See dates and details from Ballet Hawaii (opens in a new tab)Christmas events for kids in Ocean View
1 confirmed event for kids in Ocean View, soonest first.
Ocean View: Holidays in Kahuku
Holiday eventFriends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park · Ocean View
- Host
- Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (opens in a new tab)
- Where
- Kahuku Unit, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Hawai'i Belt Road (Highway 11), near mile marker 70.5, Ocean View, HI 96737
- When
- Saturday, December 5, 2026, 9 am to 3 pm
- Cost
- Check the host's page
- Confirmed
- On the host’s page, checked
Holidays in Kahuku is an annual community celebration hosted by the Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park at the park's Kahuku Unit in Ka'u, on the Big Island. Organizers say this year will be their biggest yet, with keiki activities, local artisans, live music, food and plenty of holiday cheer.
The event runs from 9 am to 3 pm on Saturday, December 5. The full schedule, vendor lineup and entertainment details have not been posted yet, so check the event page before you make the drive. The Kahuku Unit is a rural section of the national park off Highway 11, so plan on outdoor conditions and bring water, sun protection and layers. It is a good fit for families in Ka'u, Ocean View and the Kona side who want a relaxed holiday outing in the park.
Parent tip: The schedule and lineup are still to come, so recheck the page a week or two before the event.
See dates and details from Friends of Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park (opens in a new tab)Near a state line? Our guides to Christmas events for kids in California, Christmas events for kids in Alaska and Christmas events for kids in Oregon list more confirmed events, and the national search sorts every event by distance from your town.
A story for the drive home
A morning with Santa or an evening of holiday stories tends to end the same way: tired kids, a long drive and one more book before bed. Our picture book follows Rally the corgi on his first train ride to see his grand-paw-rents, and every page is painted by hand. If your family is spending December missing someone, it was written for that too. For the car, print our free corgi and train coloring pages.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
Buy on AmazonHawaii Christmas events for kids: questions parents ask
What Christmas events for kids are in Hawaii in 2026?
We confirmed 4 Christmas events for kids in Hawaii for 2026 on each host’s own page: Kapolei City Lights: Paniolo Nights & Holiday Lights in Kapolei (November 28), Holidays in Kahuku in Ocean View (December 5), Honolulu City Lights Opening Night and Public Workers' Electric Light Parade in Honolulu (December 5) and The Nutcracker in Honolulu (December 12). Every one is listed below with times, cost and a link to the host.
What Christmas events for kids are in Honolulu, Hawaii?
For families in and around Honolulu, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Kapolei City Lights: Paniolo Nights & Holiday Lights (in Kapolei, Opening night Sat, Nov 28, 5 to 9 pm; lights through Jan 3, free); Honolulu City Lights Opening Night and Public Workers' Electric Light Parade (Opening Night Sat, Dec 5 from 5:30 pm; displays daily through December, free); The Nutcracker (Sat and Sun, Dec 12 and 13, tickets via blaisdell box office and ticketmaster). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Honolulu section of this page.
What Christmas events for kids are in Ocean View, Hawaii?
For families in and around Ocean View, the confirmed Christmas events for kids this season are: Holidays in Kahuku (Sat, Dec 5, 9 am to 3 pm, see the host for cost). Details and the host’s link for each are in the Ocean View section of this page.
Are there free Christmas events for kids in Hawaii?
Yes. 2 of the 4 events here are free: Kapolei City Lights: Paniolo Nights & Holiday Lights in Kapolei and Honolulu City Lights Opening Night and Public Workers' Electric Light Parade in Honolulu. Some free events still ask you to register, so check each listing.
Where can kids see Santa in Hawaii this December?
Santa appears at Honolulu City Lights Opening Night and Public Workers' Electric Light Parade in Honolulu (December 5). Times and booking rules are in each event’s listing above.
Are there kids' Christmas events in Hawaii on Christmas Eve or after Christmas?
Yes: Kapolei City Lights: Paniolo Nights & Holiday Lights in Kapolei (through January 3) and Honolulu City Lights Opening Night and Public Workers' Electric Light Parade in Honolulu (through December 31).
How much is Kapolei City Lights: Paniolo Nights & Holiday Lights in Kapolei?
Free. Kapolei City Lights: Paniolo Nights & Holiday Lights is on Sat November 28 and Sat November 28 (5 to 9 pm), 2026 at Kapolei Hale. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
When is Holidays in Kahuku in Ocean View in 2026?
Saturday, December 5, 2026, 9 am to 3 pm, at Kahuku Unit, Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park. The host has not posted a price on its page, so check there before you go.
How much is Honolulu City Lights Opening Night and Public Workers' Electric Light Parade in Honolulu?
Free. Honolulu City Lights Opening Night and Public Workers' Electric Light Parade is on Sat December 5 (5:30 pm) and Sun December 6 (8 am to 10 pm), 2026 at Honolulu Hale and Frank F. Fasi Civic Center Grounds. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
How much is The Nutcracker in Honolulu?
Tickets via Blaisdell Box Office and Ticketmaster. The Nutcracker is on Sat December 12 and Sun December 13, 2026 at Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall. Confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Are there Christmas train rides for kids in Hawaii?
Yes, but they have their own guide. Santa trains and holiday train rides are listed in our Hawaii Christmas train rides guide, so this page sticks to story times, Santa visits and other events off the rails.
How do you confirm these events?
We list an event only after we find this season’s date on the host’s own website or an official city or tourism calendar. We last checked every listing on November 2, 2026. Hosts change details, so always confirm on the host’s page before you go.
Event names belong to their hosts. Rally Takes the Train is a family picture book and is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any host listed here. Confirm dates, times and prices on each host’s own site before you go.
