Three Christmas light displays in and around Honolulu have 2026 dates: all walk-throughs. Three are free. For an early bedtime, the earliest evening start is 5 p.m. at Royal Hawaiian Center Tree Lighting. They’re in Honolulu and Kapolei. Each card has stroller notes where the venue gives them, the 2026 price and a link to tickets.
Last checked · How we choose
Every card has hours, price and what it’s like with a little one.
Little-kid take: Has daytime hours, so it works before nap. Stay until dusk to see the lights come on.
Checked Oct 29 on the official page
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Little-kid take: Free, so it’s an easy one to try for a short visit.
Checked Oct 29 on the official page
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Royal Hawaiian Center, The Royal Grove · 2201 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Little-kid take: Opens at 5 p.m., so an early visit gets you home in time for bedtime.
Checked Oct 29 on the official page
Report a problemNothing is lit yet. Royal Hawaiian Center Tree Lighting opens first, on Nov 25. Kapolei City Lights runs into the new year.
In early December the sun sets around 5:50 p.m. in Honolulu (the dashed line). Here’s when each display opens, on a scale from 4 to 9 p.m.
From 8 a.m. · stay until dusk
Daily 8am–10pm
5 p.m. start · plan about an hour
5 p.m.
No drive-thru with 2026 dates in town yet.
Picks: Honolulu City Lights, Kapolei City Lights, Royal Hawaiian Center Tree Lighting
Mittens on a stringLittle hands get cold fast after dark.
Warm drink in a thermosA treat to look forward to at the halfway point.
Hat and a blanketFor the stroller, or the car once the heat is off.
PJs before you goSo a car-seat nap can turn straight into bedtime.From each venue’s own page. Check whether a price is per car or per person before you book.
| Display | Price | Little kids | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Honolulu City Lights | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Kapolei City Lights | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
| Royal Hawaiian Center Tree Lighting | Free | See the venue | Walk-through |
See all 4 Santa outings in and around Honolulu: breakfasts, photo spots and evening visits, with 2026 prices.
Santa in Honolulu →
Yes. Honolulu City Lights, Kapolei City Lights and Royal Hawaiian Center Tree Lighting are free in 2026.
We didn’t find a drive-thru with 2026 dates yet. Walk-throughs (three here) are better for kids who want to run around.
The earliest evening starts: Royal Hawaiian Center Tree Lighting at 5 p.m. The first hour after opening is the easiest with an early bedtime. For no-late-night options, Honolulu City Lights works in the daytime.
Each listing comes from the venue’s or organizer’s own page, and links to it. We list dates, times and prices only when that page shows them for 2026; anything without posted dates goes in “Dates not posted yet” instead. These were last checked Oct 30, 2026, and we recheck them in early November and again in early December. How we choose and check.
Keep planning: This week in Honolulu · Honolulu city guide · Visiting Honolulu
One short email every Thursday evening with what works for ages 0–6 in Honolulu that weekend, including the Santa and light-show dates worth knowing.
Every year
Each of these comes back every year. Its page keeps the last confirmed dates, and the new ones go up there once they’re posted.
By month
Things to do with kids in Honolulu in November · Things to do with kids in Honolulu in December
More holiday outings
The Nutcracker with kids in Honolulu: 3 shows with 2026 dates, run times, ages and sensory-friendly performances. Christmas markets in Honolulu: 3 markets and winter wonderlands with 2026 dates, hours and stroller notes.
Honolulu City Lights