Celebrating the Holidays on the Big Island

December offers an ideal opportunity to explore the Big Island. It’s one of the islands with the least amount of rainfall during the month and it’s wonderful time to spot whales! Plus, the invitingly warm ocean creates a perfect haven for water sports enthusiasts and beach-goers seeking the delightful feel of the Pacific Ocean beneath their feet.

Since Big Island Villas specialize on the Kohala Coast of the Big Island, we’re going to explore some of the fun things to do on the west side of the island during the December holidays.

Christmas Parades on the Big Island

The Christmas parades around town are definitely a sight to see!

The Waimea Christmas Twilight Parade has been happening since 1960 and is a big part of Waimea Town. Trucks and floats light up the road in this parade, yet no candies are thrown around. This will happen on December 2 this year.

Another fun parade is in Kona is the Kailua-Kona Community Christmas Parade stands out with music and dressed-up dogs. This year it’s happening on December 9.

Kona Christmas House

With over 30,000 lights and interactive displays like falling snow, model trains, a walk-in snow globe, a synchronized lights tree, and a 23-foot mega tree, the Kona Christmas House has become a favorite Big Island tradition since 2005.

Do a simple drive-by or take your time by walking through the yard and enjoying all the festive elements!

Meet Santa

Visit Waikoloa’s Queens’ Marketplace in December is a wonderful place to visit Santa. Be sure to bring your own camera. Click here for details.

Whale Watching for Christmas in Hawaii

The holidays in Hawaii mean whale-watching season! Whale watching is from December through March, making your holiday vacation a good time to see whales. There are a lot of wonderful tour companies that leave from the resorts along the Kohala Coast or down in Kailua-Kona. A good list can be found here: Big Island whale-watching tours.