A white Christmas might be nice, but how about a Christmas spent on the beach with a pineapple daiquiri in your hand? Come out of the cold and spend Christmas on the warm, sunny island of Maui. December is a great time to visit, and our island is filled with good cheer. Our island loves to celebrate Christmas, and we want to invite you to all the fun. Here are just a few fun ways to spend Christmas on Maui.

Go Shopping

Don’t force Santa to do all the heavy lifting. If you need to get presents for your family, friends, or for yourself, Maui can help you out! The Shops of Wailea are a great starting point. The center includes over 70 high-end shops as well as restaurants and trendy art galleries. The center also puts on lots of cool events and is sure to include holiday promotions as Christmas draws near. In years past, Santa has always been willing to stop by and pose for pics with the kids.

Another excellent option is the Queen Ka’ahumanu Center, a large shopping mall in Kahului, which includes a movie theater, lots of tasty restaurants, and events most days of the week. The mall often hosts fun holiday events. Check out its event calendar as your Christmas trip nears.

See Lights

The most famous lighting ceremony on the island is the lighting of the famous Banyan Tree in Lahaina, which will be taking place in 2017 on December 2nd. There’s just something magical about watching the lights wink on around the huge trunk and surrounding prop roots.

In years past, the Enchanted Floral Gardens of Kula has also offered a half mile path decorated with beautiful Christmas lights during the weekends of December.

Music

There’s no better way to get into the Christmas spirit (and keep out of the rain) than to attend a Christmas music performance. Here’s what’s happening in 2017:

Nov 26thThe Maui Choral Arts Association will be hosting a Happy Holly-Jolly Days Concert at the Castle Theater at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.

Dec 3rdThe Maui Pops Orchestra will perform its Holiday Pops! Concert with Music Director James Durham and the ‘Na Leo Pilimehana at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center (MACC).

Dec 16th and 17thThe Maui Chamber Orchestra brings you its Christmas Holiday Concert conducted by Robert E. Wills at the Historic Iao Theater.

Christmas Day

When December 25th arrives, we hope that Santa is good to you and your family. Even if you don’t get exactly what you want, Maui can more than make up for it. Even at the end of December, South Maui is likely to be warm and sunny. You can take a hike on the beach with your family or go for a snorkel to wish our sea turtles and coral a Merry Christmas (we recommend wearing a short wetsuit). Many luaus offer a special Christmas day celebration, which can be a special treat for the whole family. Some of the local restaurants, especially at the big resorts offer big Christmas buffets. If you don’t want to spend your vacation slaving away over a big Christmas dinner, we can recommend great restaurants serving special Christmas meals.

Treat yourself to a Christmas vacation in a luxury condo in South Maui. At Ali’I Resorts, we offer excellent accommodations. We would also be happy to recommend great Christmas activity ideas on our island that your family is going to love!