Aloha, 2010! Best places in Hawaii to watch New Year’s Eve fireworks
Wrapping up the ‘aughts, the 00’s, or whatever you’ve preferred calling the first decade of the millennium here in Hawaii?
Big fans that we are of warm, tradewind-kissed New Year’s Eves, you can count us in, too.
As always, Hawaii will be one of the final locales in the world to say “Aloha!” to the year gone by and “Aloha!” to the new year ahead. But that doesn’t mean we prefer our New Year’s Eves quiet.
Here in Hawaii, many residents follow a longtime New Year’s Eve tradition of welcoming the new year with fireworks in their driveways and neighborhood streets. It’s loud. It’s smoky. It requires a permit. It’s also a surprising and visually stunning sight for visitors checking out our ‘burbs.
But if you—like a certain leader of the free world with the last name Obama—are fortunate enough to be welcoming 2010 in the Islands this year, we’re thinking you might instead wish to opt for the sights and sounds of some public displays of pyro (i.e. New Year’s Eve aerial fireworks displays).
Lucky for you we love our grand New Year’s Eve fireworks shows here, too.
Below you’ll find our list of Hawaii spots to catch the sky ablaze with New Year’s Eve fireworks displays. We’ve got all the lowdown you need to know about public fireworks shows on Oahu, the Big Island of Hawaii, Maui, Kauai and even Lanai.
Hauoli Makahiki Hou!—that’s Happy New Year!—and best wishes for 2010 from the HAWAII Magazine and HawaiiMagazine.com ohana!
OAHU:
• Midnight, Waikiki Beach fireworks display
Where: Waikiki beachfront
$$$? Free, open to public.
The details: Visible from the entire Waikiki beachfront, this annual fireworks show—sponsored by Waikiki hotels and businesses and the Waikiki Improvement Association—even has a fireworks countdown before the main event.
• Midnight, Aloha Tower Marketplace fireworks show
Where: Downtown Honolulu, (808) 566-2337
$$$? Free, open to public.
The details: Fireworks are shot from platforms docked in Honolulu Harbor so the best spots to watch are along the Marketplace’s long pier. Dining specials and entertainment will be offered all Eve at many Marketplace restaurants.
• Midnight, JW Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa
Where: Ko Olina Resort, 92-1001 Olani St., (800) 679-0080
$$$? Free, open to public.
The details: Fireworks are shot from Ihilani Resort beachfront.
• 6 p.m., “Family New Year’s Eve Celebration” at Wet ‘n’ Wild Hawaii
Where: 400 Farrington Highway, Kapolei, (808) 674-9283.
$$$? Admission to the West Oahu water park required.
The details: The water park will open at 10:30 a.m. for full day of family activities. The fireworks show ends the day.
BIG ISLAND OF HAWAII
• Midnight, Four Seasons Resort Hualalai
Where: Hualalai Resort, 72-100 Kaupulehu Drive, Kailua-Kona (off Queen Kaahumanu Highway)
(808) 325-8000
$$$? No. But open only to guests of Hualalai Resort area hotels.
The details: Fireworks are shot from the Four Seasons beachfront so guests will have the best views. But we’re told the display is also visible from Queen Kaahumanu Highway.
MAUI
Midnight, The Grand Wailea Resort
Where: 3850 Wailea Alanui Drive, (808) 875-1234
$$$? Free, open to public viewing from Wailea Beach Park.
The details: The best spots for the resort’s annual fireworks are along Wailea Beach Park. If you’re staying in Wailea, just take the Wailea Coastal Walk to Wailea Beach.
KAUAI
• 10 p.m., Sheraton Kauai Resort
Where: Poipu Beach on Kauai’s south shore
$$$? Free, open to the public.
The details: The best views are at the Sheraton Kauai Resort and Poipu Beach Park, but you can catch the aerial display from many of the Poipu area resorts and condos.
LANAI
• Midnight, Four Seasons Resort Lanai at Manele Bay
Where: Hulopoe Beach, (808) 565-2000
$$$? Free, open to public viewing from Hulopoe Beach
The details: There are terrific views of the fireworks from the Four Seasons Manele Bay property and from the sands of Hulopoe Beach.
If we’ve missed any Hawaii New Year’s Eve 2009 fireworks displays on our list, let us know with a comment here or on our Facebook and Twitter pages.
