31 December 2026 · Oʻahu, Maui and the islands
New Year’s Eve 2026 in Hawaiʻi
In Hawaiʻi the year turns on a warm night by the sea: dinner under the stars, a lūʻau on the sand, a ship off Waikīkī waiting for midnight. Here is every New Year’s Eve event for Thursday 31 December 2026 that we could confirm on the hotels’ and organisers’ own pages on 12 November 2026, from Waikīkī and Kāhala to Ko Olina and Wailea.
Updated November 2026
Waikīkī: Halekulani rings in 2027
Halekulani, the grande dame of Waikīkī, has published its plans under the line “Ring in 2027!”. New Year’s Under the Stars spreads across the hotel: the Kawehewehe Lawn by the sea, live jazz in Lewers Lounge, and a countdown party in the Halekulani Ballroom. Times and prices were not yet printed when we checked; book through the hotel.
Before dinner, The Veranda becomes a rosé and caviar lounge from 3pm to 7pm, with a Champagne and caviar menu or a rosé flight with the chef’s bites. For the first morning of the year, the hotel prepares a Premium Osechi Box for two, the Japanese New Year feast, delivered by In-Room Dining.
Our advice: The Royal Hawaiian next door holds its Dreaming in Pink soirée each New Year’s Eve, but had not published 2026 details when we checked; watch its holiday page.
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand · CC0 via Wikimedia CommonsThe Kahala: a New Year’s Eve lūʻau
Photo Credit
Image courtesy of © Studio Sarah Lou · CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia CommonsBeyond Diamond Head, The Kahala Hotel & Resort celebrates 2026 and welcomes 2027 at the Plumeria Beach House. The New Year’s Eve Lūʻau Dinner seats from 8pm to 8.30pm, with a buffet, a welcome cocktail, a live lūʻau performance and a DJ, at $215 per person plus tax and a 20% service charge, paid in advance. For families, an early dinner buffet seats from 5pm to 5.30pm at $125 per person, plus tax and gratuity.
Hotel guests can also book Alan Wong’s Festive Season Dinner, à la carte from 5pm to 10pm every night from 22 December 2026 to 1 January 2027, by calling the restaurant.
Our advice: the lūʻau sells out; prepay as soon as you are sure of your dates.
At sea: the Star of Honolulu’s midnight cruise
The Star of Honolulu leaves Pier 8 at Aloha Tower Marketplace at 10.15pm on Thursday 31 December 2026 and returns at 12.30am on 1 January 2027, with views of the fireworks and the city lights from the water. There are three choices, all with live entertainment, a Champagne toast and party favours.
Nova, the signature evening, is a four-course dinner of Maine lobster and prime tenderloin with live jazz in a private Super Nova room ($284.65 per adult before tax). Celebration is a three-course dinner of whole Maine lobster and tenderloin with the show Moku Ola ($233.65). The cocktail cruise, with light pūpū and Hawaiian music, is from $125.17. Taxes and a harbour fee are added; return transport from Waikīkī is $19.10 per person.
Our advice: the operator notes that the captain may change the voyage for weather and that fireworks are not guaranteed; check in 45 minutes before sailing.
Star of Honolulu: New Year’s Eve Midnight Cruises
Ko Olina and Maui
On Oʻahu’s west coast, Four Seasons Resort Oʻahu at Ko Olina closes its festive season with a New Year’s Eve celebration, “Ringing in 2027”, with dinner, live entertainment and festivities by the ocean. The resort had not printed its programme or prices in its announcement; call the resort to book.
On Maui, Wailea Beach Resort, Marriott runs its festive season from 23 December 2026 to 2 January 2027. On New Year’s Eve its Te Au Moana lūʻau holds a special edition, with a Champagne toast and fireworks over Wailea Beach.
Our advice: Four Seasons Maui and Hualālai and Montage Kapalua Bay usually celebrate too, but had not published 2026 plans that we could read; ask the concierge when you book.
Four Seasons Oʻahu: festive season 2026 Wailea Beach Resort: holidays
Japanese New Year in Honolulu
Honolulu keeps the Japanese New Year close. The Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi, on South Beretania Street in Mōʻiliʻili, calls mochitsuki, the pounding of rice for mochi, “a cherished New Year’s tradition”. Its first Mochi & Matcha Fest is on Saturday 5 December 2026 from 9am to 1pm, with demonstrations; hands-on workshops are $30 ($20 for members) and need booking.
The centre’s New Year’s ʻOhana Festival, celebrating Hawaiʻi’s local and Japanese New Year traditions, is on Sunday 10 January 2027 from 10am to 3pm, with food, cultural demonstrations, live entertainment and a craft fair; admission is free, the centre says.
Our advice: on 1 January, order Halekulani’s osechi box and spend the morning on the beach.
JCCH: Mochi & Matcha Fest JCCH: New Year’s ʻOhana Festival 2027
Fireworks and practical advice
Hawaiʻi’s tourism board notes that New Year’s in the islands brings parties and fireworks in small towns and large cities alike. The Waikīkī fireworks over the ocean at midnight are a long tradition, but the 2026 details had not been officially published when we checked; we will add them when they are.
Our advice: book dinners and cruises now, as New Year is the busiest week of the year in the islands, and book a car or a room close to where you celebrate, as Kalākaua Avenue fills fast around midnight. Christmas Day 2026 is a Friday.
Hawaiʻi Tourism: Hawaiʻi in winter Christmas in Hawaiʻi
Questions and answers
Are there fireworks in Waikīkī on New Year’s Eve 2026?
Waikīkī traditionally has fireworks over the ocean at midnight, but the 2026 show had not been officially announced on 12 November 2026. The Star of Honolulu’s New Year’s Eve cruise (10.15pm–12.30am from Aloha Tower) sails for the fireworks, though the operator notes they are not guaranteed.
Where can I celebrate New Year’s Eve 2026 in Honolulu?
Halekulani holds New Year’s Under the Stars, with a ballroom countdown party and jazz in Lewers Lounge; The Kahala has a New Year’s Eve lūʻau at the Plumeria Beach House ($215 plus tax and service); and the Star of Honolulu offers three New Year’s Eve cruises from $125.17 before tax.
What New Year traditions are there in Hawaiʻi?
Japanese New Year customs are part of island life: the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaiʻi describes mochi pounding as a cherished New Year’s tradition, and holds its New Year’s ʻOhana Festival on Sunday 10 January 2027 in Mōʻiliʻili, with free admission.
Every event from the venue’s or organiser’s own page (halekulani.com, kahalaresort.com, starofhonolulu.com, press.fourseasons.com, marriott.com for Wailea Beach Resort, jcchawaii.org, gohawaii.com), checked 12 November 2026. Prices are as each venue prints them. Check before you book.