Holiday Happenings at Mauna Kea Resort

December 13 – January 2, 2026 

There’s always something special and unique about the holidays at Mauna Kea Resort. The usual excellence is still there – the beaches, the service, the setting – but from mid-December through the first week of January, the resort adds layers of celebration that you won’t find the rest of the year. Special dinners on the beach, activities for families, cultural programming that honors both Hawaiian traditions and the season. So, if you’ve only seen the resort during the regular season, the holidays are a real treat, with festive decorations and all! Here’s a sampling of what’s happening this year.

Holiday Shopping & Santa 

Pop-Up Festive Gift Market 
Thursday, December 18th, 10am-3pm at Kauna’oa Ballroom. Local vendors and artisans set up shop with Hawaiian crafts, gifts, and artwork. Good for last-minute shopping or picking up something locally made. 

• Pop-Up Festive Gift Market 
  Thursday, December 18th, 10am-3pm at Kauna’oa Ballroom. Local vendors and artisans set up shop with Hawaiian crafts, gifts, and artwork. Good for last-minute shopping or picking up something locally made. 
  
• Santa on the Beach 
  December 24th, 11:30am-12pm at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel. Photo opportunities with Santa.

Special Holiday Activities 

• Keiki Kalikimaka – Daily at 1pm 
  Discovery Center, Beachfront Tower Level 2. Different activities each day: 
  Cookie decorating, shave ice, face painting, henna tattoos, Hawaiian angel making, ornament crafting. The programming runs daily, so there’s always something special for the keiki (kids).
  
• Christmas Caroling 
  December 24th at noon in the lobby. 
  
• Gingerbread House Competition 
  December 23rd and 29th at 4pm, Kauna’oa Ballroom. Families can even compete!
  
• Celebrate Hanukkah 
  December 22nd, 5:30-6:30pm at Kauna’oa Ballroom. Lights, latkes and song. Music by Rebecca Barnes & Friends.
  
• BINGO Nights 
  Select evenings, 5-6pm at Kauna’oa Ballroom (check schedule for dates). Yes, resort BINGO is a thing, and people really show up for it! 

Special Holiday Dining 

Most special dining events require advance reservations through the resort concierge. Some events have limited availability.

• The Clambake 
  December 20th and 27th, 5:30-8:30pm on the beachfront lawn at Kauna’oa Bay. This is the one everyone talks about. Fresh seafood, beach setting, amazing sunset. Book early because it sells out! Call the concierge for reservations. 
  
• Christmas Dinner – Two Options 
  December 25th at Westin Hapuna, both at 5:30pm: 
  
  • ‘Ikena Landing Buffet 
    A full spread – raw bar, prime rib, rosemary herb turkey, macadamia crusted fresh catch, lobster mac and cheese, and a dessert table. $155 adults, $70 kids. A classic Christmas buffet. 
    
  • Bacaro at Meridia 
    Italian-focused three-course menu with cicchetti starters, pasta or seafood, and dessert. $125 per person (wine pairings available for $75). Smaller, more intimate setting. 
    
• Hakone Japanese Buffet December 28th and 29th, 6-8:30pm at Number 3. Seasonal buffet with handcrafted sushi and local catch. Reservations required. 
  

New Year’s Eve

December 31st. Dinner runs 7-10pm on the beachfront lawn at Mauna Kea. At 10pm, the party moves to Kauna’oa Ballroom for the after party (included with dinner, or $55 if you just want the late part). Fireworks over the bay at midnight, champagne toast, desserts. If you’re going to be here for New Year’s, this is where you want to be!

New Year’s Day

• ‘Ohana Movie Night
  January 1st at 6pm on the beachfront lawn. Family movie tie under the stars with brick oven pizza, popcorn, and theater snacks.

Happy Holidays from the team at Hapuna Realty!