Vacationers enjoy spending New Year’s Eve on the Hawaiian islands because of the area’s tropical climate, hospitable atmosphere, incomparable landscapes, and spectacular special events. Embark on elegant cruises, and attend lively parties. Choose from laid-back family-friendly entertainment activities to vivacious New Year’s Day celebrations. Accordingly, near many vacation rentals in Hawaii are awesome fireworks displays and diverse eateries offering sumptuous feasts. Here are the top New Year’s Eve getaway locations in Hawaii.
1. Honolulu, Oahu
The city of Honolulu, on the south shore of Oahu, brings in the New Year in a spectacular way. A tremendous fireworks display bursts from barges off Waikiki Beach starting shortly before midnight. You can watch from Waikiki, Kakaako Waterfront Park, and various restaurants and cafes in the area. At the Top of the Waikiki revolving restaurant, you can combine a fine drink and dining experience with a magnificent 360-degree view of the city fireworks. The Star of Hawaii luxury ship offers New Year’s Eve cruises so you can watch the fireworks from offshore. The adventurous can also hike up Mount Tantalus for an amazing view of the brightly lit city and the bursting fireworks. Additionally, the Aloha Tower Marketplace hosts an annual New Year’s Eve Party of the Year. This tremendous event features multiple stages with live entertainment, national DJs, dancing, a food area, and fireworks. Numerous restaurants in the Honolulu area host New Year’s Eve parties with special buffets, drinks, dancing, and midnight countdowns.
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2. Kapolei, Oahu
Kapolei lies west of Honolulu on the spectacularly beautiful west coast of Oahu. The Wet n Wild Water Park in Kapolei holds an annual all-day family-friendly New Year’s Eve celebration. Enjoy a day of excitement with waterslides, wave pools, rafting, and tubing followed by the New Year’s Eve event, which takes place in the early evening with live entertainment, games, and a fireworks display. Alternatively, luxuriate in full body massages, facials, scrubs, and wraps at Spa by the Sea at Ko Olina, and then stay for the evening fireworks show.
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3. Poipu, Kauai
Kauai is the northernmost of the major Hawaiian Islands, and where to go on Kauai for its major New Year’s Eve celebration is Poipu Beach Park. People gather on the beach from all over the island for this fun family-friendly event, which includes a movie, live entertainment, and food trucks. The spectacular fireworks show is visible from nearby beaches, cafes, and restaurants. Celebrate New Year’s Eve in style near your Poipu, Kauai vacation rental with cocktails and fine dining at the Beach House Restaurant, or enjoy the tropical ambiance and Hawaiian-themed desserts at family-friendly Keoki’s Paradise.
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4. Lahaina, Maui
For a magnificent celebration on the open ocean, join the Pacific Whale Foundation Maui New Year’s Cruise out of the town of Lahaina. Watch fireworks from offshore while you sip cocktails, snack on hors-d’oeuvres, listen to live music, and toast at midnight with champagne. Just north of Lahaina is the spectacular Drums of the Pacific Luau. In addition to its standard sumptuous buffet and Polynesian entertainment, on New Year’s Eve, the luau features a special countdown accompanied by a fire knife performance. Where to go in Lahaina on New Year’s Eve also includes disguising yourself for drinks and dancing at the Down the Hatch Restaurant Masquerade Ball.
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5. Maalaea, Maui
Your Maalaea vacation rental gives you easy access to one of the premier holiday cruises in Hawaii, the Pride of Maui New Year’s Eve Cruise. Departing from Maalaea Harbor, the destination of this luxurious 65-foot catamaran is an amazing beachside fireworks display down the coast that you view from offshore. On the way, enjoy an open bar, gourmet desserts, and live entertainment.
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6. Wailea, Maui
The town of Wailea on the southwest coast of Maui hosts the grandest New Year’s Eve fireworks display on the island. Before the show, enjoy a special New Year’s Eve meal at one of Wailea’s famed restaurants such as Nick’s Fishmarket Maui or Sorento’s on the Beach, which is a short walk up the shore in Kihei. In the evening, head for the beach with snacks and drinks, and then relax and enjoy the magnificent extravaganza.
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7. Waikoloa Village, Big Island
Vacation rentals in the town of Waikoloa Village on the northwest side of the Big Island provide convenient access to several major New Year’s Eve celebrations. The Canoe House restaurant at Mauna Lani Bay Hotel hosts a buffet dinner, a party on the beach, and fireworks at midnight. For a fun and informal get together, check out the New Year’s Eve Bohemian Beach Bash at the Fairmont Orchid. The Coast Grille at the Hapuna Beach Prince Resort also brings in the New Year with a buffet dinner and fireworks display.
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8. Kailua-Kona, Big Island
Huggo’s On the Rocks on Kailua-Kona Bay is a great place to enjoy live entertainment along with casual drinking and dining while you check out the local fireworks. For a more formal event, head for the Make It Sparkle celebration at the Sheraton Kona Resort just south of town, where you can enjoy a luau buffet, dancing, Hawaiian music, and a midnight toast.
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