New Year's Eve in Waikiki: Midnight Fireworks, Cruises and Where to Watch
Waikiki's New Year's Eve fireworks are launched at midnight from a barge anchored off the beach, funded by the Waikiki Improvement District, and they are the biggest show of the year on the island. Ko Olina and Wai Kai on the west side run their own midnight shows. On the water, the catamarans and dinner boats that normally do Friday fireworks run one long cruise instead: depart around 10 p.m., sail the shoreline, count down offshore with a toast, and watch the barge from a few hundred yards away.
Those cruises sell out in November. This guide lists the ones bookable now with prices, and what to expect from the night on shore.
The shows
- Waikiki Beach: midnight, launched from a barge off the beach; visible from the whole strand, best from the sand between the Hilton and the Moana
- Ko Olina Resort: midnight, viewed from the lagoon beaches on the west side
- Wai Kai, Ewa Beach: midnight, a family event with music and lawn games
Private aerial fireworks are illegal on Oahu, but you'll hear plenty of them anyway; New Year's Eve is the loudest night of the year in Honolulu. Traffic in Waikiki locks up after 9 p.m. If your boat leaves from Kewalo Basin, be there early.
New Year's Eve cruises
New Year's Eve Boat Cruise
A dedicated New Year's Eve boat cruise: late departure, countdown offshore and the barge show from the water. Book early — this listing is the one built for the night.
Duration: 3 hours • Operator: E Sea Diver • Departs: Kewalo Basin
Check Availability →The Friday-fireworks operators below have run New Year's Eve sailings in past years; their December 31 departures are usually listed under the same product with a late time slot. Check the calendar for the 31st and look for a 10–10:30 p.m. start.
Friday Night Fireworks (Kealoha)
Pink Sails' New Year's cruise boards on Waikiki Beach itself — no car needed at midnight. Champagne toast on board in past years.
Duration: 2.5 hours • Operator: Pink Sails Waikiki • Departs: Waikiki Beach (Hilton)
Check Availability →Waikiki Friday Fireworks Boat Cruise – BYOB
The BYOB catamaran; on New Year's Eve it has run a longer late cruise with a midnight toast. Bring your own bottle.
Duration: 2–3 hours • Operator: Go Hawaii Watersports • Departs: Kewalo Basin
Check Availability →Fireworks Cruise
The Spirit of Aloha: bar, live music, a big deck for the countdown. The most complete of the shared boats.
Duration: 3 hours • Operator: Port Waikiki Cruises • Departs: Kewalo Basin
Check Availability →Sunset Fireworks Cruise
A smaller powerboat with a bar; on the 31st it positions close to the barge for the finale.
Duration: 2–3 hours • Operator: Ocean Therapy Charters • Departs: Kewalo Basin
Check Availability →Private Fireworks & City Lights Cruise Keanuenue
Private charter for up to six: sunset, city lights and the midnight show with only your group aboard. Priced per boat.
Duration: 4 hours • Operator: Hawaii Ocean Charters • Departs: Kewalo Basin
Check Availability →If you'd rather stay on land
- The beach. Free, and the barge is close enough that the whole strand works. Claim sand by 10 p.m.
- Hotel rooftops and beachfront bars sell tickets or minimums for the night; most are booked out by early December.
- Ala Moana Beach Park is the local's choice: a wide lawn, a clear line to the barge, and a walkable exit.
The week after
Whale season is open from mid-December, so the same boats run whale watches in the mornings from January 1. If you're on Oahu for the holiday week, a whale watch on New Year's Day is the easiest recovery plan there is.
Whale Watching (Dec 15-April 15)
Pink Sails' whale watch off Waikiki, running December 15 through April 15. The cheapest whale watch on Oahu.
Duration: 1.5 hours • Operator: Pink Sails Waikiki • Departs: Waikiki Beach (Hilton)
Check Availability →Whales and You
A whale watch from Waikiki with And You Creations, the outfit behind the dolphin swims.
Duration: 2 hours • Operator: And You Creations • Departs: Waikiki
Check Availability →Frequently Asked Questions
Where are the New Year's Eve fireworks in Waikiki?
They are launched at midnight from a barge anchored off Waikiki Beach and are visible from the whole beach. Ko Olina Resort and Wai Kai in Ewa Beach hold their own midnight shows on the west side.
Are there New Year's Eve fireworks cruises in Waikiki?
Yes. Catamarans and dinner boats leave Kewalo Basin or Waikiki Beach around 10 p.m., sail the shoreline, count down offshore and watch the barge show. Prices in past years ran from about $99 for BYOB catamarans to $230-plus for dinner cruises; they sell out in November.
What time should I be on the beach for the Waikiki fireworks?
By 10 p.m. for the sand between the Hilton and the Moana Surfrider. Traffic into Waikiki locks up after 9, so if you are staying outside Waikiki, arrive earlier or plan to watch from Ala Moana Beach Park.
Can you see whales on Oahu on New Year's Day?
Yes. Humpback season runs mid-December through April, and the Waikiki whale watches run daily from December 15. New Year's Day morning trips go out as normal.