Thanksgiving Day in Honolulu

Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii and is also one of the most beautiful places in the world.  It is surrounded by pleasant sea and beaches. People visit Honolulu all throughout the year to have the best vacations of their life. However, visiting Honolulu during the festive season can be the best decision. Thanksgiving is one of the major festivals in Honolulu, and the people of this city celebrate it heartily. You will see the entire city decorated with lights and best restaurants serving Thanksgiving special foods. There are parades and traditional activities and much more for both children and adults. If you are also planning to spend Thanksgiving Day in Honolulu and do not know what to do, we assure you that there are plenty of activities. In the given article, we will take you through the detailed description of all the things that you can do on Thanksgiving Day in Honolulu.

What to Do on Thanksgiving Day in Honolulu?

Thanksgiving Day in Honolulu is filled with different types of foods and celebrations. You will find small and big events taking place at various locations of Honolulu. Here are some of the activities that usually take place on Thanksgiving Day in Honolulu.

1. The Islandwide Christmas Craft and Food Expo

The Islandwide Christmas Craft Expo is one of the most anticipated events in Honolulu. Island vendors from 400 islands come together to offer holiday crafts at the Neal Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. More than 30,000 people attend the event and are also one of the biggest in Hawaii.

2. Waikiki Holiday Parade

Waikiki is the neighborhood of Honolulu, and the Waikiki parade is one of the biggest attractions of Thanksgiving in Hawaii. The parade has everything from dance performers to marching bands and much more. Although the parade was initially started to commemorate the Pearl Harbor attack survivors now, it has been combined with the Thanksgiving and fulfills two motives at ones. You can see performances by over 38 bands from Oahu and many more. There is no ticket required to watch the parade, and you can also celebrate with the bands by dancing along with their music.

3. Fun at The Ward Village Ice Rink

Head to the Ward Village Ice rink for some skating fun. This is an open-air skating rink that stays open from November 27 to January 10th. So, what better time to go skating than the Thanksgiving Holiday itself. You can also enjoy hand-crafted beverages and refreshments at the Kope Coffee Co. and have fun skating around the rink all day with your friends and family.

4. Visit the Bishop’s Museum

Visit one of the biggest attractions in Honolulu, the Bishops museum on the Thanksgiving Day, and you will be surprised by the beautiful galleries filled with the Polynesian artifacts, art, and historical information. If you are a science and culture fan, this is the perfect place to be on Thanksgiving Day. You can also see the active volcano display which is one of its kinds in the country.

5. Celebrations at The Royal Hawaiian Center

The Royal Hawaiian Center Hosts a special event to Kick Off the holiday season with the Royal Hawaiian Kick-Off event. This event has a lot in store for the people. You will see musical performances, tree lighting ceremony and a visit with the Santa. There are special activities designed for the kids such as games and much more. This is the best way to celebrate Thanksgiving with the family.

6. Participate in The Annual Turkey Trot

For all the people who want to burn off those extra calories that they ate during the festive season, the Annual Turkey Trot is the event designed just for them. This is a 10-mile race that takes place every year on the Thanksgiving mornings. If you are interested in running for 10 miles and winning a prize if you win, then this is the best event for you. Make sure to register before the event. The admission to the race is free.

7. Join the Vans Triple Crown of Surfing Event

Surfing in the ocean is one of the best ways to celebrate Thanksgiving in Honolulu. You can head out to the beach at the North Shore of Oahu and participate in the annual Vans Triple Crown of Surfing fest. This is one of the biggest fests in the world and surfers from all over the world come here to participate in the world championship. If you are not a surfer, you can go and watch and enjoy the feel of the event. The event starts a few days before Thanksgiving.

8. Thanksgiving Buffets

Thanksgiving dinner is a famous tradition but who do not want to big Thanksgiving buffet. If you are also amongst the people who like to indulge in the Thanksgiving Buffets, Honolulu has the best restaurants for you. Some places serve the biggest Thanksgiving Buffets with over 50 dishes that will suit the taste of every person. 

9. Dine at The Biggest Restaurants on Thanksgiving

If you want to visit a great place to dine on Thanksgiving, then you are in Luck. Every restaurant in Honolulu has a special menu for the Thanksgiving dinner. There are buffets as well as prefixed menus which are filled with traditional Thanksgiving foods and desserts. Team your meal with some signature wine, and you are good to go.

10. The Santa’s Beach House

Click a picture with Santa and share your wish list just like the children at the Santa’s Beach House. It is located at the Ward Entertainment Center, BOX Office Level. The event goes on all throughout the holiday season.

What’s on The Menu?

Food is one of the most prominent parts of the Thanksgiving celebration in Honolulu, and you can grab some of the best delicacies in the most famous restaurants on this day. Here is a list of some of the best places to grab a Thanksgiving Dinner or a brunch in Honolulu:

1. The Hilton Hawaiian Village

The Hilton Chain of Hotels is one of the biggest in the world so you can expect something amazing from the Hilton Hawaiian Village. They provide the guests with a three-course dinner at the Bali Steak and Seafood. Additionally, Rainbow Lanai has the perfect Thanksgiving Dinner Buffet, and the Tropical Bar and Grill are for the ones who want to keep things budget friendly and yet indulge in some delicacies. 

2. MAC 24/7

MAC 24/7 has the annual Thanksgiving Buffet that all of the traditional dishes. You can also enjoy some lip-smacking side dishes such as lobster bisque, surimi crab crusted salmon and seven cheese Mac and cheese. There is also a MAC-daddy pancake station that serves delicious pancakes for breakfast or brunch.

3. Turtle Bay Resort

The Turtle Bay Resort is another place where you can grab your Thanksgiving meals. You can pick your meal from three different kinds of menus. One is the Thanksgiving Day Brunch menu which as a Farm-To-Feast buffet having more than 50 items on the menu. The second is the four-course Thanksgiving dinner which has especially been crafted for the holidays, and the third is the takeaway menu. You can inform the resort in advance, and they will prepare your meal so that you can pick it up as per your convenience.

4. The Kahala Hotel and Resort

If you do not want to eat Turkey on Thanksgiving and would like some seafood, the Kahala Hotel and Resort serves the best of all. You can get your brunch at the Plumeria Beach House which is an open house restaurant serving brunch buffets. For dinner go to the Hoku’s and try out their special seafood which is paired with premium wines to make your experience one of a kind.

5. The Royal Hawaiian Hotel

Do you want the royal treatment for one day in your life? If yes, then visit the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and dine at the Pink Palace. They have a special prefix venue for Thanksgiving Dinner. You can also taste their seasonal wine to make your dinner taste even better. You can also reserve a private cabin if you are a large group of 11 people or more