We have been busy this month with one Christmas activity after another! Our most recent Christmas adventure was a trolley ride to see the city lights. This year we went on a trolley chartered by Hawaii International Child. Our ride began and ended at their office where we had hot chocolate and cookies and got to take pictures by the Christmas tree.
Our city lights tour took us through downtown, past Iolani Palace with its beautiful glowing paper lanterns hanging on the palace and throughout the grounds, past Honolulu Hale with Shaka Santa and the other decorations there,
past the Board of Water Supply and their lights and Washington Place with its multiple trees inside — twice. Yep, we had a very basic route and we did it twice, but that way anything we missed the first time we got to see the second time around.
The trolley was playing Christmas music and our girl (who was supposed to be on my lap the whole time, shhhh, don’t tell) stood next to me and danced for most of the tour. Our boy enjoyed shouting Christmas greetings to pedestrians we saw and both kids enjoyed waving at people and seeing all the lights.
Do it yourself on Oahu:
As I mentioned, we went on a chartered trolley, but anyone can book tickets and go on the Waikiki Trolley’s City lights tour. Information can be found at the Waikiki Trolley website. If you are military, tickets are available through the MWR tickets and tours offices and their prices are lower I believe. Call your MWR office and ask about the City Lights Trolley Tour.
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great tradition! Too bad I'm a little land-locked-I bet it's beautiful!
That looks like such fun!!!
Your girl knows, sometimes you have to bend the rules to have a great time!
I lived for one year in Hawaii and found Christmas to be surprisingly beautiful. Reading this has sent me to unearth old photos of the middle schoolers playing Christmas songs on ukuleles wearing tinsel leis! Thank you for reminding me!
Emily – yay for revisiting happy holiday memories! Yes, it seems that in Hawaii everyone compensates for the lack of cold weather with lots of lights and great Christmas music to help it feel like Christmas. Works for me!