HONOLULU — It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Honolulu City Lights will once again be held at Frank F. Fasi Civic Center during the month of December.

What You Need To Know

  • Honolulu City Lights starts on Dec. 3 at 5:30 p.m. with the tree lighting ceremony at Honolulu Hale

  • The Public Worker's Electric Light Parade begins the same day at 6 p.m. at Aala Park

  • From Dec. 4 to Dec. 31, the City Employee Christmas Tree Exhibition will be viewable in the Honolulu Hale Courtyard

  • Kapolei City Lights also returns this year at Kapolei Hale with a holiday parade and block party on Dec. 10

The 38th Annual Honolulu City Lights starts at 5:30 p.m. on Dec. 3 with a block party featuring the famous tree lighting ceremony, entertainment, food trucks, Santa’s Village, the wreath contest and photo ops.

This year, the Public Worker’s Electric Light Parade returns with high school marching bands, City agencies and sponsors entertaining crowds. The parade starts at 6 p.m. and runs along King Street from Aala Park to Honolulu Hale. 

“The holiday season is a truly special time of year, and we are thrilled to bring the Honolulu and Kapolei City Lights back to full capacity in 2022,” said Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi in a news release. “We hope you will join us as we revel in the much-anticipated return of the wreath contest in the Honolulu Hale Lane Gallery, photos with Santa, and my personal favorite, the Electric Light Parade. Looking back, we have so much to celebrate in 2022 and even more to look forward to in 2023.”

In past years, more than 75,000 people gather for opening night, according to the Friends of Honolulu City Lights.  

Starting Dec. 4 until the end of the month, the City Employee Christmas Tree Exhibition will be viewable in the Honolulu Hale Courtyard and the Wreath Contest exhibition will be in Lane Gallery. There will also be special activities on select dates. Find more details on the Honolulu City Lights website.

Along with Honolulu City Lights, Kapolei City Lights returns at the Kapolei Hale. The fun begins with the holiday parade and block party on Dec. 10. For more details, click here. 

In 2020, the City and County of Honolulu canceled Honolulu City Lights. Last year, the tree lighting ceremony was back, and it was streamed on Olelo Channel 53, but wasn’t opened to the public. Plus, there were no keiki rides, photos with Santa, holiday concert, wreath contest or opening night parade.  

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii.