Replace pine trees with palm trees for your string of holiday lights this Christmas season! Christmas in Hawaii is a special time of year to experience island life, especially on the Island of Maui. During the holiday season, this world class destination comes alive with the perfect blend of holiday cheer and Christmas spirit. You’ll find excitement in the air, whether you’re strolling along a pristine white sand beach or humming holiday tunes under a twinkling palm. Prepare for a memorable island-style Christmas with this guide to Christmas in Maui!
Mele Kalikimaka from Maui
The Christmas season on Maui is filled with a combination of traditional activities and island style flair. If holiday festivals, Santa visits, and twinkling lights are all part of what helps get you into the holiday spirit, you will find it all on Maui.
The Christmas season kicks off with the lighting of the famed Lahaina banyan tree, the oldest tree of its kind in the country. Having stood in Lahaina for nearly 150 years and with branches that stretch for an impressive 2/3 of an acre, this Maui mainstay takes on a magical appeal when strung with colorful lights. As the streets, shops, and buildings of Maui come aglow with lights and decorations, the Christmas spirit is in the air! Catch a live performance of A Christmas Carol at ProArts Playhouse, offset all the Christmas cookies being consumed by participating in the Christmas 5K Run & Santa’s 1/2 Mile Keiki Dash, and get all of your holiday shopping done at local craft fairs that pop up around the island during the holidays. Families traveling with kids will love the grand entrance Santa makes to the island, arriving by outrigger canoe. Catch him paddling his way in to shore along Wailea Beach as well as Polo Beach on Christmas Eve. You’ll also find plenty of options for snapping photos with Santa at shopping centers such as The Shops of Wailea. For an event filled with festive cheer, head to the Halona Kai Holiday Village. Festive music, a visit from Santa, family-friendly activities, a holiday movie, and a festive feast all work together to make this a great family Christmas activity on Maui.
Winter Weather in the Islands
Maui during Christmas will be anything but white unless you count the pristine white sand beaches you’ll be lounging on! December weather in Maui is typically in the high 70s and low 80s, perfect for a warm-weather holiday. Temperatures in the evenings tend to dip down into the mid- to high-60s, so be sure to bring along a jacket for your evening strolls under the Christmas lights. If you plan on visiting Haleakala National Park at all during your stay, you will also want to pack a set of warm clothes. Temperatures at the summit can be shockingly cold for those who have come prepared only with beachwear! Thanks to the warm weather year-round in Hawaii, Christmas in Maui means plenty of opportunities for hitting the beach and enjoying the many other island activities that are available.
Christmas Activities on Maui
Spend Christmas with some of Maui’s most amazing sea life – humpback whales. Beginning in November, these sizeable creatures can be found in the warm waters surrounding Maui, having migrated from Alaska. Give yourself the gift of a whale watching excursion during your Maui vacation, where you will get within a comfortable distance of these fascinating creatures slapping their tails and breeching within their natural habitat. Maui boat trips are also great for catching sight of spinner dolphins and green sea turtles, in addition to the other plentiful wildlife that can be found surrounding the island.
Wear your Santa hat to the beach and snap that quintessential photo with Merry Christmas written in the sand. Maui is home to some of the world’s most beautiful beaches, all easily accessible on and around Christmas. Whether you want to lounge along the shore and build a sandman or try your hand at surfing, boogie boarding, or stand up paddle boarding, Maui’s beaches offer it all.
When you are ready for a break from the beach, there are many other ways to continue enjoying the outdoors in Maui during Christmas. Activities such as ziplining, golfing, ATVing, hiking, and horseback riding are all easily accessible. And there is never a shortage of breathtaking scenery on this island, with thundering waterfalls and scenic mountain landscapes seemingly at every turn.
Maui Christmas Rentals
Ensure you have the perfect backdrop for opening presents on Christmas morning by selecting one of our upscale Maui Christmas rentals. These vacation rentals offer a spacious layout for gathering together to celebrate holiday festivities. An open concept great room with a full kitchen ready for your holiday recipes await. Contact us at Maui Life Realty for more information on the best Christmas rentals in Maui!
