Waikiki Christmas Special Holiday Dining & Events

We have created an updated list for this year. Click and follow this  —> link for Waikiki Christmas events and dining

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The following list is from 2011 for reference purposes only.

Waikiki will be all aglow with holiday festivities this year. I’ve compiled this list of special Christmas Eve and Christmas Day brunches, dinners and buffets. Along with all the delicious dining, you’ll also find a great list of Christmas displays and entertainment across Waikiki, Honolulu and Oahu.

Before, we dive into our list of things to do and where to go, I want to share a few points of advice first.

• I recommend you make reservations, order tickets, etc. as soon as possible to secure the place and time you like.
• Unless otherwise stated, you can assume that taxes and gratuities are not included in the listed prices.
• Most Waikiki Beach hotel-based restaurants will be open on Christmas day. Check directly with the concierge of your accommodations for their special Christmas meals and events.
• As Christmas approaches, most likely, I’ll be adding more events, so do check back.
• Learn how to say Mele Kalikimaka, Hawaii’s way to say Merry Christmas.

Christmas Eve Dining on Saturday, December 24

Breakfast/Brunch:

* Pacific Beach Hotel’s aquarium-style restaurant Oceanarium will offer a a Christmas Eve Brunch Buffet from 9am to 3pm. The costs are $44.95 per adult and $19.95 per child ages 5 to 12 years old. Use this link to see the brunch buffet menu. For reservations, call (808) 921-6111.

Dinner:

* Hau Tree Lanai at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel offers an elegant prix-fixe, five-course Christmas Eve dinner (menu) for $75 per person or you can order from their Christmas a la carte menu. Hau Tree Lanai offers a romantic, beach front setting that’s about a 15 minute walk from the heart of Waikiki. For reservations, call (808)921-7066.

* Hilton Hawaiian Village presents their Starlight Luau  with a special menu. (Scroll here to view the menu.) Pricing is $98 for adults and $49 for children ages 4 to 11 years old. Lei greeting, dinner buffet, two complimentary select beverages and Polynesian show are included. Upgrade options are available. This unique roof top luau will give you a great vantage point to watching for Santa. For reservations, call (808)941-5828.

* SHOR American Seafood Grill at the Hyatt Waikiki offers a four course dinner special for $59 per person. See this link for reservations and more information.

* Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet at Pikake Terrace of Sheraton Princess Kaiulani will be served from 5pm to 9:30pm. The price is $48 per adult and $24 per child ages 5 to 12 years. See this link for the buffet menu. For reservations please call (808) 921-4600.

* Pacific Beach Hotel’s aquarium-style restaurant Oceanarium will offer a a Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet from 9am to 3pm. The costs are $44.95 per adult and $19.95 per child ages 5 to 12 years old. Use this link to see the dinner buffet menu. For reservations, call (808) 921-6111.

* At the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Bali Steak & Seafood presents a special prix fixe four course menu with a variety of choices available. The price is $75 for adults and $45 for children. Hours of operation are 5:30pm to 9:00pm. For reservations, call 808-941-BALI (2254).

* Rainbow Lanai at Hilton Hawaiian Village presents a dinner buffet from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. (Scroll to view menus.) Christmas Day dinner pricing is $59 for adults and $29 for children (12 and under).

* Tropics Bar & Grill at the Hilton Hawaiian Village will offer a special four course prix fixe dinner for $65 from 5pm to 10pm. (Scroll here to see the prix fixe menu.) Their standard menu will also be available. For reservations,

* Rainbow Lanai at Hilton Hawaiian Village presents a dinner buffet from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. (Scroll to view menus.) Christmas Day dinner pricing is $59 for adults and $29 for children (12 and under). For more information, call (808) 949-4321.

* The Royal Hawaiian’s Monarch Room will present a Christmas Eve dinner buffet (menu) from 5pm to 8:30pm. Pricing is $98 for adults and $63 for children ages 5 to 12. For more information and reservations, call 808.921.4600.

* The Royal Hawaiian’s Azure Restaurant will offer a gourmet four-course dinner for $140 per adult. Children between the ages of 5 to 12 can dine for $40 with the children’s menu. For reservations and more information about this beachfront restaurant, see this link.

* Tiki’s Grill & Bar at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel will offer a  four-course Christmas Eve dinner in a casual atmosphere for $49 per person. See this link to their menu and this link to book online.

* Halekulani’s Orchids and  House Without A Key (one of our favorite places for sunset drinks in Waikiki) will both offer special Christmas Eve menus along with their regular menus. I particularly like the looks of the House Without A Key three course menu for $38. See this link for more information on the Halekulani Christmas holiday menus. Call (808)923-2311 for more information and reservations.

For Christmas Eve activities, events and services, see the listings under the heading “Holiday Activities in Waikiki, Honolulu and Oahu” that’s highlighted in gold below.

Christmas Day Dining on Sunday, December 25

Breakfast/Brunch:

* Pacific Beach Hotel’s aquarium-style restaurant Oceanarium will offer a a Christmas Day Brunch Buffet from 9am to 3pm. The costs are $44.95 per adult and $19.95 per child ages 5 to 12 years old. Use this link to see the brunch buffet menu.  For reservations, call (808) 921-6111.

* Kai Market at the Sheraton Waikiki offers a Christmas buffet brunch from 10:30am to 2pm. See the menu here. Pricing is $65 for adults ($75 with unlimited sparkling wine) and $29 for children ages 4 to 12. For more information and reservations, call (808) 921-4600 or email tdrc.hawaii@starwoodshotels.com

* Moana Surfrider’s Beachhouse will feature a Christmas brunch buffet from 10am to 1:30pm. See the menu here. Pricing is $95 for adults and $55 per child ages 5 – 12. For more information and reservations, call (808) 921-4600 or email tdrc.hawaii@starwoodshotels.com

* The Royal Hawaiian’s Monarch Room will present a Christmas buffet brunch (menu) from 10am to 1:30pm. Pricing is $88 for adults and $57 for children ages 5 to 12.  For more information and reservations, call 808.921.4600.

Dinner:

* SHOR American Seafood Grill at the Hyatt Waikiki offers a four course dinner special for $59 per person. Santa is scheduled to be there for photo opportunities. See this link for reservations and more information.

* Hau Tree Lanai at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel offers an elegant prix-fixe, five-course Christmas dinner (menu) for $75 per person or you can order from their Christmas a la carte menu. Hau Tree Lanai offers a romantic, beach front setting that’s about a 15 minute walk from the heart of Waikiki. For reservations, call (808)921-7066.

* Celebrate Christmas with a luau. Hilton Hawaiian Village presents their Starlight Luau with a special menu. (Scroll here to view the menu.) Pricing is $98 for adults and $49 for children ages 4 to 11 years old. Lei greeting, dinner buffet, two complimentary select beverages and Polynesian show are included. Upgrade options are available. For reservations, call (808)941-5828.

* Pacific Beach Hotel’s aquarium-style restaurant Oceanarium will offer a a Christmas Dinner Buffet from 9am to 3pm. The costs are $44.95 per adult and $19.95 per child ages 5 to 12 years old. Use this link to see the dinner buffet menu. For reservations, call (808) 921-6111.

* At the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Bali Steak & Seafood presents a special prix fixe four course menu with a variety of choices available. The price is $75 for adults and $45 for children. Hours of operation are 5:30pm to 9:00pm. For reservations, call 808-941-BALI (2254).

* Tropics Bar & Grill at the Hilton Hawaiian Village will offer a special four course prix fixe dinner for $65 from 5pm to 10pm. (Scroll here to see the prix fixe menu.) Their standard menu will also be available. For reservations,

* Rainbow Lanai at Hilton Hawaiian Village presents a dinner buffet from 5:30pm to 9:30pm. (Scroll to view menus.) Christmas Day dinner pricing is $59 for adults and $29 for children (12 and under). For more information, call (808) 949-4321.

*  Kai Market at the Sheraton Waikiki will offer a Christmas Day dinner buffet from 5pm to 9:30pm. The menu will feature traditional Christmas dinner with a Hawaiian-style. The price is $69 for adults ($79 with unlimited sparking wine) and $29 for children ages 4 to 12. For more information and reservations, call (808) 921-4600 or email tdrc.hawaii@starwoodshotels.com

* Starting at 5:30pm, the Royal Hawaiian’s Azure Restaurant will offer a gourmet four-course Christmas dinner for $140 per adult and $40 per children ages 5 – 12.  (See this link for the children’s menu.) For reservations and more information about this beachfront restaurant, see this link.

* Christmas Day Dinner Buffet at Pikake Terrace of Sheraton Princess Kaiulani will be served from 5pm to 9:30pm. The price is $48 per adult and $24 per child ages 5 to 12 years. See this link for the buffet menu. For reservations please call (808) 921-4600.

* Tiki’s Grill & Bar at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel will offer a  four-course Christmas dinner in a casual atmosphere for $49 per person. See this link to their menu and this link to book online.

* Halekulani’s Orchids and  House Without A Key (one of our favorite places for sunset drinks in Waikiki) will both offer special Christmas  menus along with their regular menus. I particularly like the looks of the House Without A Key three course menu for $38. See this link for more information on the Halekulani Christmas holiday menus.  (Added 12/9)

Holiday Activities in Waikiki, Honolulu and Oahu

* From now through January 2, downtown Honolulu will be decorated for the season with lights, a 50-foot Norfolk pine, Christmas wreaths, and holiday characters. Honolulu Hale at 530 South King Street is the center for Honolulu City Lights. This annual event is free, but since it isn’t walkable from Waikiki, a great way to get to downtown Honolulu is to take the open top, double decker Aloha Bus or on the Waikiki Trolley. Alternatively, you can use public transportation on Oahu’s TheBus.

*  From December 18 through Christmas Day, Waikiki Beach Walk presents free daily entertainment at their Plaza Stage. Performances are mostly scheduled from 6pm to 7pm with two exceptions. On December 18, the Honolulu Boy Choir will perform special holiday concert from 4pm to 5pm. Also, on Christmas Day, two performances are scheduled beginning at 5pm. Call  808-931-3591 for more information.

* On December 20 and 21, you can have Breakfast with Santa at the Outrigger Reef on the Beach from 8am to 10am.
Guests can enjoy a breakfast buffet that includes scrambled eggs, steamed white rice, country fried potatoes, crispy bacon, Portuguese sausage, assorted pastries, fresh fruits, cereal and a choice of coffee, milk or juice – all for only $22 per person, inclusive of tax, tip and a free photo with Santa; $11.50 for children age 5-11 years old and children 4 years and younger are free. This popular event, which includes picture taking with Santa, balloon art, and face painting, usually sells out so be sure to reserve your seats early. For reservations call (808) 924-4990. This event is open to the general public and validated parking is available for only $5.

* Ala Moana Shopping Center, Hawaii’s largest shopping center, host musical shows, photos with Santa, and candy cane train rides.

* See Waikiki’s grand gingerbread village  on display now through January 2 at the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani lobby. The impressive village is over 14 feet tall and 24 feet wide! It’s constructed with 225 gallons of icing, 140 pounds of dark chocolate, 50 pounds of white chocolate and lots and lots of gingerbread. (See a video of this gingerbread village.) The hotel’s chef and staff  spent more than 750 hours designing and constructing this gift to guests.

*Experience Christmas in Polynesia at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie on Oahu North Shore every Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from December 12-23. Guests will take a 25-minute canoe ride that winds through a live production of Kamakana and the Five Fir Trees, a local adaptation of a popular Christmas story, The Three Fir Trees. Along the route, the grounds will be decked with elaborate Christmas lights, life-size gingerbread houses, and of course the season’s iconic Santa Claus. Tickets are $10 per adult and $8 per child.  Coupons for $2 off the ticket price are available at participating 7-Eleven, Domino’s Pizza, and 76 Gas locations. For more information on prices or to make reservations, call the ticket office at (800) 367-7060.

* On December 21, enjoy a prime rib dinner buffet and a show by the Makaha Sons at the Queen Kapiolani Hotel.  Dinner starts at 6pm followed by the show 7:30pm. Tickets are $65 per person $35 children 3-10 years old. For more information about Makaha Kalikmaka , see this link.

* On December 21 at 6pm, enjoy Christmas caroling sung by Hope Chapel at the International Marketplace in Waikiki.

* If you like college football, you may want to check out the Hawaii Sheraton Bowl in Honolulu on December 24.

* Christmas Eve Church Services:

• Historic Kawaiaha’o Church, know as the Westminster Abby of Hawaii,  in Honolulu will hold two separate Christmas Eve services at 7:30pm and at 10:30pm. (Note this church is near to the Honolulu City Lights described above.)
• Christmas Eve Candlelight Service at Hope Chapel in Waikiki. For more information, see their website.
• Mass is scheduled for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at St Augustine Church By the Sea in Waikiki.

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Staying on Oahu through New Year’s Eve? Check out:  Waikiki & Honolulu 2011/2012 New Year’s Eve Fireworks, Dinners & Events!