Honolulu events & things to do in December 2026
Start with Diamond Head State Monument, Waikīkī Beach and Duke Kahanamoku Statue, plus Foster Botanical Garden. December in Honolulu averages 28°C / 82°F highs, 21°C / 70°F nights, and about 5 rainy days.
Expect 28°C/82°F days and about 5 rainy ones in December. Start with these:
- Diamond Head State Monument★ 4.7 · 17.0k reviewsThe trail climbs a 300,000-year-old tuff crater that the U.S.
- Waikīkī Beach and Duke Kahanamoku Statue★ 4.6 · 4.9k reviewsWaikiki was a 19th-century royal retreat before its hotels made it Hawaii's best-known beach district.
- The Book of MormonDec 1Neal S Blaisdell Concert Hall · Source: SeatGeek
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By TripSapien Research · Updated June 3, 2026
Honolulu in December 2026
Weather
TempTemperature
82°F / 70°F
28°C / 21°C
RainPrecipitation
5d
2.2in · 55mm
LightDaylight
10.7h
Sea
78.3°F
25.7°C
December is warm, festive, and wetter, with holiday Waikiki crowds and bigger winter surf on the North Shore.
Events & festivals
Event calendar- Dec 2
- Dec 3
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Show all 33 events for December
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Holidays, observances & long weekends
Holiday and observance schedules can affect services and venue hours; confirm each place directly.
- Dec 25Christmas DayPublic holiday
- Dec 25-Dec 27Long weekend
About Honolulu
City overview
Honolulu is Oahu's south-shore capital, where Waikiki hotels, Downtown government blocks, and Chinatown markets sit between the Pacific Ocean and the Koolau ridgeline. The traveler frame is compact but varied: Waikiki carries the beach-and-resort stay, Downtown and Chinatown hold the royal and merchant history, and Manoa-Makiki and Eastern Honolulu lead into volcanic craters, gardens, and reef coves.
Food & drink
Honolulu meals move between poke bowls, kalua pork, loco moco, saimin, plate lunch, malasadas, and shave ice without leaving the south shore. Chinatown markets, Helena's Hawaiian Food on North School Street, Leonard's Bakery on Kapahulu Avenue, and the KCC Farmers Market near Diamond Head give the city its best low-friction food map.
Top sights
Ranked for December suitability using weather, setting, ratings, and review volume.
- 1Foster Botanical Garden
- 2Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial
- 3Iolani Palace
- 4Bishop Museum
- 5Honolulu Museum of Art
- 6Ala Moana Center and Ala Moana Beach Park
- 7Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design
- 8Kawaiahao Church
1Foster Botanical Garden
4.6★ · 2,004outdoorOpen dailyHonolulu's oldest botanical garden grew from land Queen Kalama leased to physician William Hillebrand in 1853 and later became a public garden in 1931. The Chinatown-edge site protects cannonball trees, palms, orchids, and the prehistoric-looking corpse flower collection.
Wikipedia
2Pearl Harbor National Memorial and USS Arizona Memorial
4.8★ · 26,843mixedOpen dailyThe white memorial designed by Honolulu architect Alfred Preis opened in 1962 above the USS Arizona, which sank during the 7 December 1941 attack. Boats leave from the visitor center about 18km west of Downtown Honolulu and 30 minutes by car from Waikiki.
Reserve the Navy boat program ahead; same-day standby seats disappear early during school holidays.
3Iolani Palace
4.6★ · 5,931indoorClosed Mon/SunKing Kalakaua opened this American Florentine palace in 1882 with electric lights, telephones, koa staircases, and a throne room for the Hawaiian Kingdom. The palace is in the Capitol District, across King Street from Kawaiahao Church and the Hawaii State Capitol.
Wikipedia
Show 3 more sights
- 4Bishop Museum
- 5Honolulu Museum of Art
- 6Ala Moana Center and Ala Moana Beach Park
Neighborhoods
1Waikīkī
Dense, beach-facing Waikiki is the hotel base for most visitors, with Kalakaua Avenue, Kuhio Beach, the Royal Hawaiian Center, and Diamond Head views packed into a walkable grid.
2Downtown and Capitol District
Downtown Honolulu feels civic and historical, with Iolani Palace, Aliiolani Hale, Kawaiahao Church, and Honolulu Harbor clustered around King Street.
3Chinatown and Arts District
Chinatown mixes lei stands, noodle shops, produce markets, bars, and galleries around Maunakea Street, Hotel Street, and the Hawaii Theatre.
Day trips
55km / 1h by car from Waikiki via H-2 and Kamehameha Highway
Haleiwa and the North Shore
Surf towns, shrimp trucks, Waimea Bay, and winter waves make the North Shore the classic Oahu contrast to Waikiki. Parking pressure is high at sunset and on major surf-contest days.
25km / 35-45min by car from Downtown Honolulu over the Pali Highway
Kailua and Lanikai
Windward beaches, the Mokulua islets, and Kailua town cafes sit beyond the Koolau ridge. Go early because Lanikai street parking and beach access are intentionally limited.
38km / 45min by car from Waikiki via H-3 or Pali Highway
Kualoa Ranch and Kaneohe Bay
The Kaaawa Valley film-site tours, Kaneohe sandbar views, and ancient fishponds show the green windward side of Oahu. Reserve ranch activities ahead in summer and December.
Getting around
TheBus and HOLO card cover Waikiki, Downtown, Ala Moana, Pearl Harbor, and the airport, while Skyline rail currently helps only the western airport-to-Kapolei side. Walking works inside Waikiki and Downtown, but a rental car or rideshare is faster for Diamond Head dawn hikes, Hanauma Bay reservations, and windward-coast day trips.
Planning a Honolulu trip?
Add your dates and we'll check every place for closures, limited hours, and booking needs in December.
Common questions about Honolulu in December
- What to pack for Honolulu in December
Pack for December's weather, not a generic Honolulu checklist.
- Layerable daytime clothes for average highs around 28°C / 82°F.
- A light evening layer because nights average 21°C / 70°F.
- A small umbrella or packable shell for scattered rain across about 5 days.
- How many days do you need in Honolulu
- 4 days covers the main Honolulu highlights at a realistic pace. Add 3 extra days if you want the listed day trips.
- Is Honolulu worth visiting in December
- Yes. December in Honolulu averages 28°C / 82°F highs, 21°C / 70°F nights, and about 5 rainy days.
Ready to plan Honolulu?
You've seen what's on — now get a day-by-day Honolulu plan for December 2026, every place checked for your exact dates.