Waikiki Christmas 2012 Special Holiday Dining & Events

Looking for what’s in store for the upcoming Christmas season in Waikiki? See our newly, created and regularly updated page at this link —> Waikiki Christmas

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The following information is from 2012 for reference purposes only.

If you’ll be celebrating the holidays at Waikiki Beach you’ll definitely be able to experience the warmth of the season. It’s a beautiful time to be on Oahu.

I’ve compiled this list of special Christmas Eve and Christmas brunches, buffets and dinners. You’ll also find a list of Christmas light displays and entertainment across Waikiki, Honolulu and Oahu. 

Before we move onto the this mega list of places to dine and things to do, I want to share some points of advice.

• I recommend you make reservations, order tickets, etc. as soon as possible to secure the place and time you like. I’ve either listed the reservation contact details or they will be available from the links provided.
• Unless otherwise stated, you can assume that taxes and gratuities are not included in the listed prices. When you make your reservations, please confirm these details.
• As I’ve created the dining lists, I’ve aimed to find restaurants with great views or a unique setting.
• As much as possible, I’ve tried to list the dining options by pricing/value.
• 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.
• Once you arrive on Oahu, pick up a copy of the Star Advertiser, the local newspaper, which may provide additional dining options and events.
• All times, pricing and information are accurately reported at the time of publishing.
• I anticipate that  I’ll be adding more events and dining options, so do check back. Additions will be indicated by the date they were added in gray font.
• Learn how to say Mele Kalikimaka, Hawaii’s way to say Merry Christmas.

Christmas Eve Dining on Monday, December 24

Dinner:

* The elegant oceanfront House Without A Key restaurant at the Halekulani will offer a three-course, prix-fixe menu including Potato and Leek Soup to start, Osso Bucco (veal shanks) with Soft Herb Polenta and Sautéed Zucchini and for dessert, Eggnog Cheesecake with Chestnut Cream. This menu is priced at $39 per person. The regular menu will also be available.  The House Without A Key is one of our favorite places for sunset drinks in Waikiki. They offer fantastic steel guitar trio and graceful hula from 5;30pm to 8:30pm nightly. House Without A Key does not take reservations. (By the way, if you are wondering about Orchids, it’s fully booked.)

* Oceanfront Hula Grill in the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Hotel will be offering their standard menu along with some Christmas specials starting at $29. You can review these special entrees by clicking on the Christmas Menu tab at this link.

* The Oceanarium aquarium-style restaurant setting offers a Christmas Eve buffet dinner from 4pm to 10pm. Cost is $48.95 for adults and $21.95 for children. See the menu here.

* Tiki’s Grill & Bar at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel will offer a four-course, prix-fixe dinner menu for $49 from 5pm to 10:30pm. You can review the menu here. You can navigate to reserve online via this link.

* WAI’OLU Ocean View Lounge at the Trump Hotel Waikiki offers a three-course, prix-fixe dinner menu for $60. See the menu here. (Added 12/12/12)

* DK Steak House at the Marriott Waikiki Beach offers a four-course, prix-fixe dinner menu for $68. See the menu here. (Added 12/12/12)

* Tropics Bar and Grill at the Hilton Hawaiian Village offers a four-course, prix-fixe dinner for $68 for adults and $34 for children. See the menu here. (Added 12/12/12) 

* Bali Steak and Seafood at the Hilton Hawaiian Village offers a five-course, prix-fixe dinner for $80. See the menu here. (Added 12/12/12)

* Hau Tree Lanai at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel offers an elegant prix-fixe, five-course Christmas Eve dinner (menu) for $85 per person or you can order from their Christmas a la carte menu which will be limited for this evening. 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 or book online here.

* Christmas Eve Dinner Buffet at Pikake Terrace of Sheraton Princess Kaiulani will be served from 5pm to 9:30pm. The price is $49.50 per adult and $24.75 per child ages 5 to 12 years. See this link for the buffet menu. For reservations please call (808) 921-4600 or email tdrc.hawaii@starwoodshotels.com

* Nobu Waikiki at the Waikiki Parc is offering a multi-course Christmas Eve dinner for $160. See this link for the menu and reservation details. (Added 12/12/12)

Christmas Day Dining on Tuesday, December 25

Breakfast/Brunch:

* The Oceanarium restaurant that’s set in an aquarium offers a Christmas brunch buffet from 8:30am to 3:00pm. See the menu here. Pricing is $48.95 for adults and $21.95 for children.

* Moana Surfrider’s Beachhouse will feature a Christmas brunch buffet from 9am to 1:30pm. See the menu here. Pricing is $80 for adults and $40 per child ages 5 – 12. For more information and reservations, call (808) 921-4600 or email tdrc.hawaii@starwoodshotels.com

* The Royal Hawaiian offers a Christmas brunch in the Monarch Room from 10am to 2pm. Pricing is $92 per adult and $55 per child. These prices include tax and gratuity. See the menu here. For more information and reservations, call 808.921.4600 or email tdrc.hawaii@starwoodshotels.com.

Christmas Dinners:

* The elegant, oceanfront House Without A Key restaurant at the Halekulani will offer a three-course, prix-fixe menu including Potato and Leek Soup to start, Osso Bucco (veal shanks) with Soft Herb Polenta and Sautéed Zucchini and for dessert, Eggnog Cheesecake with Chestnut Cream. This menu is priced at $39 per person. The regular menu will also be available.  The House Without A Key is one of our favorite places for sunset drinks in Waikiki. They offer fantastic steel guitar trio and graceful hula from 5;30pm to 8:30pm nightly. House Without A Key does not take reservations.

* Oceanfront Hula Grill in the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Hotel will be offering their standard a la carte menu along with some Christmas specials starting at $29. You can review these special entrees by clicking on the Christmas Menu tab at this link.

* Pacific Beach Hotel’s aquarium-style restaurant, Oceanarium will offer a Christmas dinner buffet from 4pm to 10pm. Pricing is $48.95 for adults and $21.95 for children. See the menu here.

* Tiki’s Grill & Bar at the Aston Waikiki Beach Hotel will offer a four-course, prix-fixe dinner menu for $49 from 5pm to 10:30pm. You can review the menu here. You can navigate to reserve online via this link.

* Christmas  Dinner Buffet at Pikake Terrace of Sheraton Princess Kaiulani will be served from 5pm to 9:30pm. The price is $49.50 per adult and $24.75 per child ages 5 to 12 years. See this link for the buffet menu. For reservations please call (808) 921-4600 or email tdrc.hawaii@starwoodshotels.com

* DK Steak House at the Marriott Waikiki Beach offers a four-course, prix-fixe dinner menu for $68. See the menu here. (Added 12/12/12)

* Tropics Bar and Grill at the Hilton Hawaiian Village offers a four-course, prix-fixe dinner for $68 for adults and $34 for children. See the menu here. (Added 12/12/12) 

* Kai Market at the Sheraton Waikiki will offer a Christmas Day dinner buffet from 4:30 pm to 9:30pm. You can review the menu here. The The price is $69 for adults and $34.50 for children ages 6 to 12. For more information and reservations, call (808) 921-4600 or emailtdrc.hawaii@starwoodshotels.com

* In-Yo Cafe at the Trump Hotel Waikiki will offer a five-course Christmas dinner (including sorbet) for $80. See the menu here. (Added 12/12/12)

* Bali Steak and Seafood at the Hilton Hawaiian Village offers a five-course, prix-fixe dinner for $80. See the menu here. (Added 12/12/12)

* Hau Tree Lanai at the New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel offers an elegant prix-fixe, five-course Christmas dinner (menu) for $85 per person or you can order from their Christmas a la carte menu which will be limited for this evening. 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 or book online here.

* The Moana Surfrider’s Beachhouse restaurant will be open for Christmas dinner. Their special a la carte Christmas dinner menu will be available December 1 – 30. For reservations, call (808)921-7066 or book online here.

* The Royal Hawaiian’s Azure Restaurant will offer a gourmet four-course Christmas dinner for $150 per adult and $45 per child ages 5 – 12.  (See this link for the children’s menu.) For reservations and more information about this beachfront restaurant, see this link.

* Nobu Waikiki at the Waikiki Parc is offering a multi-course Christmas dinner for $160. See this link for the menu and reservation details. (Added 12/12/12)

Christmas Activities in Waikiki, Honolulu and Oahu

* See the gingerbread wonderland that took over 800 very careful hours of design and construction. The gingerbread village will be on display in the lobby of the Sheraton Princess Kaiulani through January 2.

* From now through January 1, downtown Honolulu will be decorated for the season with lights, a towering Christmas tree, 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.

* The Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie features a 25-minute canoe ride through “Christmas in Polynesia” with Christmas lights, musical performances, and dancing. From December 17 – 22, canoe rides will run from 6:30pm, nightly from Monday through Saturday. Pricing is $10 per adult and $8 per child. For more information, ticket prices and availability or reservations, visit www.Polynesia.com or call the Polynesian Cultural Center ticket office toll-free at (800) 367-7060. You can also check by the Polynesian Cultural Center Kiosk at the Royal Hawaiian Center. Please note that you will either need to drive or take a bus to Laie for this event. Check out a few more details on our Christmas in Polynesia post.

* Madrigal singers dressed in Victorian attire will perform in the Main Lobby of the Royal Hawaiian from 5:30pm to 6:00pm nightly from December 20 – 25.

* Waikiki Beach Walk will host holiday entertainment nightly from 6pm to 7pm nightly from December 19 – 25 on the Plaza Stage at street level.

* Hawaii’s largest shopping center, Ala Moana, offers Candy Cane Train rides, photos with Santa and Christmas trees lights set to music. You can find all the details of these fun holiday events at this link.

* On December 18, 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.

* College football fans can get their football fix at the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu’s Aloha Stadium. Fresno State will take on SMU on December 24 at 3pm. See this link for more information.

Waikiki & Honolulu Christmas Eve Services

* Hope Chapel Waikiki will hold a Christmas Eve service at 7pm. See this link to Hope Chapel for more information.

* Kawaiaha’o Church in downtown Honolulu will hold Christmas Eve services beginning with ‘A Gift of Music and Dance’ at 6:30pm followed by their Christmas Eve service at 7:00pm. This historic church is known as the Westminster Abbey of the Pacific. I might suggest that attending these services followed by a stroll to see the Honolulu City Lights (listed above in the Christmas Activities section) would make for a beautiful Christmas Eve. (Added 12/5/12)

* Pick up a copy of the Star-Advertiser which should list more Christmas Eve church service options.

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Once again, I anticipate I’ll be adding more Christmas dining options and events as Christmas approaches.

Mele Kalikimaka from GoVisitHawaii.com!

Are you staying in Waikiki through New Year’s Eve? Check out our list of what to do for New Year’s Eve in and around Waikiki.