15 Fun Group Activities to Do with Visiting Friends and Family This Holiday Season
Create new memories with your out-of-town guests, whether they’re from Hawai‘i or elsewhere.
Every year when the holidays roll around, I’m inundated with “where should we eat” and “what should we do” texts from friends who will be in town. And while I love a good brunch or dinner out, it’s the unique and unexpected activities that leave the deepest impressions. Here are some ideas for entertaining everyone on your calendar (and most of them aren’t Christmas-related!).
SEE ALSO: Holiday Crafts and Recipes to Try with Your Family This Year
Photo: Courtesy of Magical Mystery Show
Watch a Magic Show
Grab your friends for an intimate and interactive Magical Mystery Show reminiscent of the Victorian era at the Hilton Waikīkī Beach Resort & Spa. A rotating series of performers means you can get a different experience each time (see the dates for each magician online).
$99 general admission, $89 for kama‘āina with ID, $59 for keiki age 4–12, keiki under 4 free, $169 for VIPs, 2500 Kūhiō Ave., hotel-magic.com, @themagicalmysteryshow
Make Wreaths Up in the Mountains
What could be more picturesque than crafting wreaths from foraged invasives—including Christmas berry, Norfolk pine and ironwood—at a cabin in the misty mountains of Pālehua? Join Island-Boy and Pua Hana for a workshop with live holiday music by Clare Nelson, plus refreshments. Hurry—these fill up, with only Dec. 16 and 17 available.
$175, palehua.org, @ossipoffcabin
SEE ALSO: Vladimir Ossipoff’s Personal Retreat Receives National Award
Photo: Courtesy of Andrea Lee
Try an Escape Room
Our roundup of six kid-friendly escape rooms includes typical games as well as virtual reality and holiday themes. Note: Room With a Clue moved to a new location at 1023 Pensacola St., Suite G (second floor). Our team was able to collect 40 gingerbread tokens through solving puzzles and answering trivia questions (see our experience in this reel). How many can you find?
Enter the Smash Lab
Holidays got you stressed? Take it out on old appliances, dishes and furniture at Break’N Anger, Honolulu’s only rage room. There’s also a room where you can splatter everything with paint.
From $78.75, 1008-A Kawaiaha‘o St., (808) 888-2630, breaknanger.com, @breaknanger
Go On a Rum Tour
Kō Hana Rum’s tours are a great way to go go out for a drink and learn about local ag. Choose from tours of either the distillery or the farm tour; both end with a classic rum flight, which can be upgraded to an aged rum flight for $15.
92-1770 Kunia Road, #227, Kunia, (808) 649-0830, kohanarum.com, @kohanarum
Photo: Courtesy of Aloha Immersive
See All the Lights
Honolulu Hale and the surrounding area will be extra festive this year for its 40th anniversary, thanks in part to 250 feet of light tunnels donated by Show Aloha Land. There’s also a new immersive holiday experience at the Hawai‘i Convention Center, ’Twas the Light Before Christmas, that you won’t want to miss.
Honolulu City Lights, Honolulu Hale, 530 S. King St., honolulucitylights.org, @friendshonolulucitylights
’Twas the Light Before Christmas, Hawai‘i Convention Center, 1801 Kalākaua Ave., alohaimmersive.com, @twas.honolulu
Photo: Courtesy of Wai Kai
Try an Obstacle Course
Whether zip lining up in the trees or dashing across floating steps in a lagoon, obstacle courses can help you burn off some of those holiday cookies. Select from three zip line adventures at Coral Crater Adventure Park (one includes s’mores!), or try an all-day pass at Wai Kai AquaVenture.
Coral Crater Adventure Park, 91-1780 Midway St., Kapolei, (808) 626-5773, coralcrater.com, @coralcrater
The LineUp at Wai Kai, 91-1621 Keone‘ula Blvd., ‘Ewa Beach, (808) 515-7873, waikai.com, @waikailineup
SEE ALSO: We Tried It: Coral Crater Adventure Park
Photo: Laura Dornbush
Go Ice Skating
Make it feel like the holidays up north by slipping on a sweater and lacing up your skates at Ice Palace Hawai‘i. Find the public skate calendar online (it’s open on Christmas!).
$18, 4510 Salt Lake Blvd., (808) 487-9921, icepalacehawaii.com, @icepalacehawaii
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino
Chuck an Ax
When we first went to Blade & Timber in 2019, it didn’t yet serve alcohol. That’s changed now that it relocated to Keawe Street. Lanes can accommodate up to four or six people each, but if you go with a bigger group, you can try synchronized ax-throwing in neighboring lanes.
506 Keawe St., (808) 208-1709, bladeandtimber.com, @bladeandtimber
Photo: Erik Kabik
See Cirque du Soleil’s New Show
‘Auana debuts at the Outrigger Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel Dec. 5. It’s the first Cirque residency in Hawai‘i, with shows at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. most nights. Even if you’ve seen other Cirque shows, you’ll want to check out this Hawai‘i-inspired one.
From $85, 2300 Kalākaua Ave., cirquedusoleil.com, @cirquedusoleil.auana
Photo: David Croxford
Tour an Estate
Doris Duke’s private residence turned museum, Shangri La, is still a hidden gem for many, in part because walk-ins aren’t allowed. Check out the museum of Islamic art, culture and design with a tour organized by (and beginning at) the Honolulu Museum of Art. Tickets will be released Dec. 4 at 10 a.m. for the next quarter.
shangrilahawaii.org, @hi_shangrila
SEE ALSO: She’s a Force
Take a Cooking Class
Prep for the new year by learning how to make ozoni with Margotto Hawai‘i chef Shiori Okuya at Cookspace Hawai‘i. Monthly classes since its return have featured Raíz Tortillas and Istanbul Hawai‘i. This next one, Dec. 8, is great for small groups who want to get hands-on (and taste ozoni and truffle mochi as you go).
Bloomingdale’s Ala Moana, third floor, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., cookspacehi.com, @cookspacehawaii
SEE ALSO: CookSpace Hawai‘i Is Back!
Volunteer
For many, showing gratitude is the reason for the season. Reserving time to help those in need or getting more involved in your community can be a new holiday tradition for your family, whether you’re cleaning up a beach or helping deliver food. One way to find a nonprofit you’re interested in helping is through the Give Big Hawai‘i portal, where you can also donate.
Photo: Andrea Lee
Make Gifts for Each Other
Bring friends to a Gem Studio jewelry-making workshop. Rather than make something for yourself, exchange rings with each other at the end.
International Market Place, 2330 Kalākaua Ave., thegemstudio.com, @gemstudio.hawaii
SEE ALSO: 40 Amazing Things to Do
Play Pub Trivia
Join forces to take down other teams at Geeks Who Drink trivia nights at Lanikai Brewing Co. and Aloha Beer Co.
geekswhodrink.com, @geekswhodrink
Find more holiday events in our Ultimate Guide to Holiday Happenings on O‘ahu.
