December brings to mind snowdrifts, the prancing of reindeer and a certain gentleman wandering about in a fuzzy red suit. Get a different perspective on the holiday season when you see this same gentleman, Santa by name, arrive on Waikiki Beach via an outrigger canoe. No red suit. No reindeer. Just a pair of red shorts, an aloha shirt and a lei to complement the snow-white beard. This is just one of the fun things to do in Honolulu in December.
Welcome the Whales
Early December marks the return of the humpback whales to Hawaiian waters. Each year, these marine mammals travel from their feeding grounds off Alaska to give birth, raise their young and to mate. Take a whale watching cruise out of Honolulu to observe these animals as they leap and slap their distinctive tails on the water. Some tour operators offer combination whale watching and snorkeling cruises. You probably will see other marine animals, such as dolphins and green sea turtles, on your cruise.
Enjoy Holiday Lights
Honolulu may suffer from a lack of snow, but that does not diminish the holiday spirit. Each December, the lighting of the 63-foot pine tree in front of Honolulu Hale kicks off the city lights celebration. As part of the festivities, a parade winds through the streets. Watch as police cars, ambulances, fire trucks and private vehicles drive by all done up in lighted Christmas finery. Take a walk through the city and see the animated decorations in the parks and in business storefronts. Admission to the celebration, which includes a holiday concert, is free.
Run a Marathon
Take part in the Honolulu Marathon, traditionally run on the second Sunday in December. The 24-mile race starts at Ala Moana Beach Park on the western end of Waikiki, winds around the resort area, through Kapiolani Park and adjacent neighborhoods and around Diamond Head to the finish line at the bandstand in Kapiolani Park. See Waikiki from a different perspective as you take to the street in your running shoes for a predawn 5 a.m. start. All running levels are welcome. Registration can be done as late as the day before the race.
Honor the Past
Visiting Pearl Harbor at any time during the year is a moving experience. Each year, on December 7, memorial services are held to honor and remember those who died in the attack that heralded the beginning of the War in the Pacific. Visit the long, white winglike Arizona Memorial and throw a lei into the water, a Hawaiian gesture of remembrance. Head over to the USS Missouri. Walk the endless decks of the "Mighty Mo" and see where a torpedo left its mark and where the treaty to end the war with Japan was signed.
Celebrate New Year's Eve
If you want to attend a more formal celebration for the new year, most of the major hotels offer parties with a distinctive Hawaiian flavor. But if you'd rather be closer to nature, pack a picnic supper and head to Waikiki Beach. Go for a late-night swim and then crack open a bottle of sparkling water and watch as the annual fireworks show blazes its way across the sky.
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