New Years Eve

Question

This will be my second time in Oahu (First trip ten days), first time over NYE, so at this point I know enough to be dangerous! I am trying to make NYE plans. We are staying at the Royal Hawaiian, so I have my spot for watching fireworks. I have a 10 and 12 year old with me who are picky basic eaters. Monkeypod seems like maybe a good option, they have live music etc. starting at 8. Cant make reservations yet. I see Royal Hawaiian has a pink event, I cant find much about it online. Also as far as fireworks location, what is the best location? I kind of thought we would just watch fireworks from room but then I realize I wont see anything going on behind hotel.

Answer

Spending New Year’s Eve in Waikiki can be a lot of fun, especially with kids, but it does take a bit of planning to get the best views and avoid long waits. Since you’re staying at the Royal Hawaiian, you already have a prime location right on the beach, which is perfect for seeing fireworks over the water. Here’s a breakdown of options and tips:

Watching the Fireworks:

The Royal Hawaiian and surrounding beachfront hotels often have the main Waikiki fireworks display visible from their property. A room with an ocean view is ideal, but you may miss some of the crowd atmosphere and nearby festivities if you stay in your room.
For a full experience including people-watching and nearby live events, consider stepping out onto the beach in front of your hotel around 11:30 PM. You’ll get a great view of fireworks and the activity along the beach.
Other popular vantage points include the beach in front of Duke’s Waikiki or Kuhio Beach Park—both are a short walk and offer unobstructed views.

Dining and Family-Friendly Options:

Monkeypod Kitchen: Great for casual dining, basic kid-friendly menu items, and live music. Arriving early (as soon as reservations open) is recommended, or try for a walk-in in the late afternoon to secure a table. Music usually starts later in the evening, so your kids may enjoy dinner first.
Royal Hawaiian’s Pink Event: The “Pink Party” is often a more adult-oriented NYE event with entertainment and drinks. It might not be suitable for younger kids, so verify age restrictions if considering attending.
Other casual options along Kalakaua Avenue or in Waikiki include Hula Grill or Duke’s, which are kid-friendly and close enough to step out for fireworks.

Timing and Logistics:

Consider having an early dinner to avoid late-night hunger for the kids. You can then take a stroll along the beach or hotel area before the fireworks.
Expect heavy pedestrian traffic; leave a little earlier if you want to secure a prime spot on the beach.
If staying in your room, bring binoculars for closer views of the fireworks, and plan for some beach time after sunset for photos and photos of the city lights.

Overall, for a combination of great view, minimal stress, and kid-friendly atmosphere, a plan of early dinner at a casual restaurant like Monkeypod, then stepping onto the beach near your hotel for fireworks, works very well. You’ll get both the visual spectacle and the festive Waikiki vibe without straying too far from your base.

New Years Eve

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