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Although the warm, sunny weather seems to prove otherwise, the holiday season has finally arrived in Hawaii. All around the island, you’ll find houses illuminated with twinkling lights, shopping centers decked out in Christmas decor, and the famous shaka-throwing Santa with his partner, Tūtū Mele, perched outside of Honolulu Hale for the annual City Lights setup.

Of course, many things have changed this year and adjustments have been made to ensure as safe a holiday season as possible, including the recent statewide mask mandate, social distancing markers in most public spaces, and even drive-by light viewings.

Waikiki Beach Walk® has its own schedule of holiday events — some at the Plaza Stage and some digitally on social media — as well as special shopping updates and dining promotions. Read on to see how we’re celebrating!

Center Update for the Holidays

The shopping center will be open every day for any last-minute Christmas shopping or celebratory needs from 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., including Christmas and New Year’s Day.

And just in time for the holidays, we’re pleased to announce the opening of a new pop-up store at Waikiki Beach Walk®: Oasis By Kolohe. Oasis specializes in crafting fine jewelry for everyone with the option to customize pieces through a range of semi-precious stones, chain styles, and metals (including 14k gold fill and sterling silver). Oasis will be open until the end of February on Fridays and Saturdays from 3:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. You may also book a private appointment by messaging them on Instagram (@oasisbykolohe).
 
In addition, Cafe Glace is back from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. daily, so feel free to stop by for a refreshing scoop of gelato, a selection of sweet or savory crepes, or a healthy acai bowl to fuel up.

For a list of the other open shops and restaurants, check out our latest Store Update.
 

12 Days of Giveaways

While Hawaii may lack the winter snowfall, there is certainly no shortage of Christmas cheer. To help spread a little joy, Waikiki Beach Walk® has launched a “12 Days of Giveaways” Instagram event from now until 12/24. During this time, we will post a different prize to our Instagram page each day until Christmas Eve with instructions on how to enter, so follow @WaikikiBeachWalk to see the gifts we’ve got in store.

Did we mention the grand prize? Everyone who participates will have the chance to win a one-night stay at the newly refreshed Embassy Suites in Waikiki. With a total of 12 lucky winners, there’s a good chance you could be one of them!
 

Events at the Plaza Stage

Holiday Mele

It’s that time of year again. Count down the days until Christmas with our annual Hawaiian-style holiday music and mele showcase from December 19th through December 25th. Each evening from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., the grassy plaza fronting Waikiki Beach Walk® will feature live performances by local music groups and hula schools. Hosted by our cultural advisor and kumu hula, Blaine Kia, it’s sure to be a fun-filled week of song, dance, and Christmas spirit.
   

Ku Ha'aheo

Our popular Ku Ha'aheo showcase, which also shines a spotlight on Hawaiian stories through music and dance, takes place weekly at the Plaza Stage on Tuesdays from 4:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

If you’d rather enjoy the soothing sounds of our talented local musicians from the comfort of your home or while wrapping up in the office, you can still catch the performance via livestream on our Facebook and Instagram pages.
 

Ka Lei Hula

In addition to Holiday Mele and Ku Ha'aheo, Blaine puts on our free Ka Lei Hula program every Sunday from 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. If you’d rather get up and dance along to a special lineup of Hawaiian music, this is the activity for you!

In order to abide by the recommended social distancing guidelines, reservations are required for this weekly event. Per COVID-19 regulations, face masks must be worn at all times, and we will be checking body temperatures and requesting contact information from each participant for tracing purposes at the start of the class. Attendees will be capped at 10 people, so be sure to reserve your spot by visiting the Ka Lei Hula Eventbrite page.
 

Holiday Dining Promotions

Ruth’s Chris Steak House

Let’s not forget about the holiday feast! Frequently voted as one of Hawaii’s best steak houses, Ruth’s Chris has some delectable Christmas and New Year’s takeout options for the whole family to enjoy.
 
Christmas Eve Dinner for 2 ($110)
Bring Ruth’s to your table on December 24th with this delicious Christmas Eve take-home dinner, which includes 2 entrees, 2 personal sides, and 1 Chocolate Sin Cake to share.

Celebration Feast for 4 ($195+)
The Celebration Feast for 4 comes with either Prime Rib ($265) or Roasted Beef Tenderloin ($195) as well as your choice of salad, 2 sides, and 4 personal cheesecakes. This take-home meal can be upgraded to include additional servings or sides to accommodate more than 4 people. Available all season long, even on Christmas day and New Year’s Eve.

To place your holiday takeout order, visit https://order.ruthschris.com/.

Ruth’s Chris Steak House Waikiki Holiday Hours

• Christmas Eve: 2:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
• Christmas Day: 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• New Year’s Eve: 3:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

 

Taormina Sicilian Cuisine

Known for their exquisite Italian fare and authentic flavors from Southern Sicily, Taormina Sicilian Cuisine adds class and elegance to your typical holiday meal. Best of all, they have a few specials running right now.

Use the promo code “CIAO” at checkout when placing an online order to receive 15% off. In addition, all pastas are currently 30% off from 11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. as part of the lunch special. If you’re a Hawaii resident, make sure to bring a valid state ID to take advantage of a 15% kamaʻaina discount during lunch as well.
  Taormina also recently launched their special holiday menu, Le Festivita, this week. The seasonal offerings will be available until Friday, 1/15/21, and all discounts apply to this menu as well. To view the Le Festivita dishes, visit Taormina’s Facebook page.
 

Free Parking in Waikiki

The end of the year can be a hectic time with everyone scrambling to buy gifts. On top of that, parking in Waikiki can be a hassle if you don’t know where to look. Let us take the stress out of holiday shopping with 3 hours of complimentary valet parking at Embassy Suites by Hilton or Club Wyndham when making a purchase at any of the shops and restaurants at Waikiki Beach Walk®. Just show your validated parking ticket and you’re good to go!