Things to Do in Waikīkī This Thanksgiving Week (2025)
Complete verified calendar for Thanksgiving Week 2025 in Waikīkī: Turkey Trot, Holiday Parade, comedy shows, shopping, markets, and local tips.
Waikīkī doesn't slow down for Thanksgiving — it just adds sunsets, parades, and tropical turkey dinners to the mix. Here's your complete, verified calendar of what's happening around Thanksgiving Week 2025 (Wednesday, Nov 26 – Sunday, Nov 30).
📅 Thanksgiving Day is Thursday, November 27, 2025
All times are local (HST) and subject to change — always reconfirm as the week approaches.
🏝 Wednesday Nov 26 – Holiday Kick-Off
🌴 Chip Chantry's "Thanksgiving in Paradise" – Blue Note Hawaiʻi
6:30 PM & 9:00 PM shows • Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort
If you're a comedy fan, you'll know Chip from Netflix's hit series Tires (starring Shane Gillis) and his acclaimed stand-up special Move Closer. But this is a brand-new hour from Philly's Phunniest in Waikīkī's most iconic jazz club — intimate, walkable from nearly every hotel, and the ideal pre-holiday night out.
🎄 Royal Hawaiian Center Holiday Kick-Off & Santa Arrival
Usually begins around 5 PM. Live music, hula performances, and the first holiday tree-lighting of the season.
📍 Royal Hawaiian Center Courtyard (Royal Grove)
🍹 Evening idea: Dinner at Duke's Waikīkī or Hula Grill for oceanfront views before the show — then walk Kalākaua Ave for the holiday lights.
🦃 Thursday, Nov 27 — Thanksgiving Day in Waikīkī
🏃♂️ Honolulu Marathon Clinic Turkey Trot (Kapiʻolani Park area)
Festive morning run/walk (multiple distance options) around Kapiʻolani Park and the Diamond Head roads—perfect pre-feast tradition.
🍽 Thanksgiving Buffets
- 100 Sails (Prince Waikīkī) — Brunch Buffet — Harbor-view brunch with a broad, polished spread.
Menu (PDF) → - 100 Sails (Prince Waikīkī) — Dinner Buffet — Evening buffet with holiday classics and island favorites.
Menu (PDF) → - Beachhouse at the Moana Surfrider — Thanksgiving Buffet — Historic oceanfront setting; carving stations + seafood.
Reservations → - The Buffet at Hyatt (Waikīkī) — Casual, family-friendly buffet with something for everyone.
Menu → - Plumeria Beach House (The Kahala Hotel & Resort) — Breezy, family-friendly buffet 10–15 minutes from Waikīkī.
Reservations/Experience →
🍽 Thanksgiving Prix-Fixe / Set Menus
- Azure (The Royal Hawaiian) — Refined beachside tasting menu inside the Pink Palace.
Reservations → - Hoku's (The Kahala Hotel & Resort) — Elegant 5-course Thanksgiving dinner; limited seating.
Reservations → - Arden Waikīkī — Contemporary Hawaiian-inspired holiday set menu; intimate room just off Kalākaua.
Details/Reservations → - The Capital Grille (Ala Moana) — Classic Thanksgiving plates in a polished steakhouse setting.
Thanksgiving Menu → - Merriman's Honolulu (Ward) — Farm-to-table, 3-course holiday menu; local purveyors.
Reservations → - Hard Rock Cafe Honolulu (Waikīkī) — Casual holiday menu near the beach; easy for groups.
Reservations →
🚫 Note: Diamond Head State Monument is closed on Thanksgiving Day. Plan hikes for another morning.
🎷 Friday Nov 28 – Waikīkī Holiday Parade & Shopping Day
🎺 Waikīkī Holiday Parade – Kalākaua Avenue
🕖 7:00 – 9:00 PM
Marching bands, floats, and torches honoring Pearl Harbor survivors light up Kalākaua Avenue from Fort DeRussy to Kapiʻolani Park. Best viewing near the Moana Surfrider or Royal Hawaiian Center.
🛍 Black Friday Shopping
- Ala Moana Center (10 min away): hundreds of stores and food options.
- International Market Place & Royal Hawaiian Center along Kalākaua Ave.
Most shops open early and run holiday specials through the weekend.
🌺 Saturday Nov 29 – Local Markets & Island Vibes
🛍 Holiday Craft & Gift Fairs
Community fairs pop up across Oʻahu — try the Blaisdell Center Holiday Gift Fair or Waikīkī Community Center Market for handmade Hawaiian gifts and local treats.
🌞 Sunday Nov 30 – Relax & Reflect
🌈 Aloha Home Market – "Give Thanks" Edition (Kailua)
🕘 9 AM – 2 PM • Kailua Elementary School grounds (30 min drive from Waikīkī)
Local makers, food trucks, and live music — perfect for souvenirs before you fly home.
🌺 Quick Trip Tips
- Traffic & parking: Use rideshare or walk — holiday week streets can be busy.
- Book ahead: Dinner and boat cruise reservations fill fast by early November.
- Weather: Mid-80s °F days, low-70s °F nights — brief showers possible.
- Respect the ʻāina: Stay on trails, skip reef-touching, and use reef-safe sunscreen.
Updated October 2025 | All events verified via official organizer pages.
Planning Thanksgiving in Waikiki?
Lock the one can’t‑miss night: Chip Chantry’s Thanksgiving In Paradise at Blue Note Hawaii. Chip Chantry is one of the funniest comedians in the world — he appeared on the Netflix series Tires with Shane Gillis, his stand‑up special Move Closer is a cult hit, and this is a brand‑new hour from Chip.
Get Tickets ($55)