15 holiday happenings for Dec. 25-Jan. 1, 2026: Holiday brunch and dinner, mochi pounding and jammin’ parties, plus more

Merry Christmas, Big Island! We hope Santa brought you and your family not just what was on your wish lists, but also plenty of joy and cheer.

It’s been an eventful — and active — holiday season around the island, that’s for sure, so hopefully you get a chance to relax a little today, too. There are even options happening on this bright Hawaiian Christmas Day that you could pick and you wouldn’t even have to make holiday dinner!

King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Resort in Kailua-Kona is hosting a Christmas brunch buffet until 1 p.m. You can even head over to Huggo’s for the Holidays at the other end of Ali‘i Drive to enjoy a three-course holiday dinner beginning at 3 p.m.

Now that the most wonderful day of the year and all the festivities that go with it are finally winding down, however, it’s time to change gears and look ahead at parties for New Year’s.

PunaKat is hosting a night of exploratory psychedelic rock, reggae and funk sound next Thursday, New Year’s Eve, in Black Sands Subdivision in Puna. Meanwhile, there will be an interactive New Year’s Eve-ish party down on Bayfront in Hilo that promises dancing, live music, singing, contests, prizes and a lot more while you wait for midnight.

You can also sashay into a fresh year with HappiNess Kona, where the atmosphere will be lit with fun, frolic and folly as you ring in 2026 having a ton of fun, including a performance by a renowned international artist from Spain, it will be a night to remember for sure.

Mochi tsuki, or mochi pounding, invites people to come help at Taishoji Soto Mission in Hilo make mochi — pounding and everything. When you’re done with the mallet, there will be a sweet reward for all your hard work.

In the end, what you do isn’t key. It’s how you celebrate the end of 2025 and look ahead at 2026. Resolve yourself now to get out and have some fun to close out the year. 

Here are 15 holiday happenings for Dec. 25 through Jan. 1, 2026.

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Christmas Brunch Buffet

When: Until 1 p.m. Christmas Day, Dec. 25

Where: King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Resort, Honu’s on the Beach, 75-5660 Palani Road, Kailua-Kona

Celebrate the most magical day of the year with an equally amazing holiday brunch buffet, featuring a carving station, omelet station, waffle station, crab legs and more. Sip in style with bottomless mimosas or build your own Bloody Mary. Cost is $69 per person. More info/check for reservations: Click here.

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Huggo’s for the Holidays

When: 3 p.m. Dec. 25

Where: Huggo’s, 75-5828 Kahakai Road, Kailua-Kona

Don’t want to cook on Christmas Day? Huggo’s has you covered. Come enjoy a three-course prix fixe meal, complete with an appetizer of ulu breadfruit potato cakes, collard greens, candied pancetta and green goddess sauce; entrée of Kilauea Ossobuco Bordelaise with roasted root vegetables; and a lilikoi ginger crème brûlée dessert, all for just $65 per person. While you’re there, be sure to check out their menu for New Year’s Eve, too. Reservations: Text to 808-329-1493.

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Mochi Tsuki (Mochi Pounding)

When: 10 to 11:30 a.m. Dec. 28

Where: Taishoji Soto Mission, 275 Kino‘ole St., Hilo

Join the temple for this tradition to say goodbye to the past year and look forward to greet the new year on the horizon. Help make mochi the traditional way by using an usu and kine. And you won’t leave without a sweet reward because it just wouldn’t be right if you pound the mochi and don’t get to eat any. You can even stuff it with your favorite fillings!

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Winter Break Science Fun

When: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 29 through Jan. 2, 2026

Where: Hawai‘i Keiki Museum, 69-250 Waikōloa Beach Drive, K104, Waikōloa

Designed for kids between 8 and 14 years old, this week of workshops will provide opportunities to enjoy Unity Day and count down to New Year’s Day, plus learn about ecology and the natural world, virtual reality wayfinding, 3-D printing and laser cutting, even breakdancing. More info/registration: Visit the Hawai‘i Keiki Museum website.

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New Year’s Eve Dinner at Lava Lava Beach Club

When: 3 to 10 p.m. Dec. 31

Where: Lava Lava Beach Club, 69-1081 Ku‘uali’i Place, Waikōloa

You can’t beat spending at least part of your New Year’s Eve enjoying the sunset, sand and a holiday dinner done right. Enjoy a three-course prix fixe menus inspired by the season — and island — complete with a charcuterie platter appetizer, seafood capellini entrée and decadent Lava Lava Chocolate Cake dessert. Cost is $52 per person. More info: Visit the Lava Lava Beach Club website.

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Festive Hawaiʻiloa Lūʻau

When: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Dec. 31

Where: Fairmont Orchid, 1 North Kaniku Drive, Kohala Coast

Fairmont Orchid’s premier lūʻau returns New Year’s Eve with festive flair for an unforgettable evening to ring in the New Year under swaying palms with Hawaiian cuisine, culture and celebration. Experience a decadent feast full of authentic Hawaiian food for the whole family, enjoy vibrant hula, be amazed by Samoan fire knife dancing and celebrate the season with island tradition. More info/reservations: Call 808-885-2000 or email to orchid@fairmont.com. Click here to make a reservation.

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PunaKat New Year’s Eve at The Oasis

When: 6 p.m. Dec. 31

Where: The Oasis, 12-4575 Pāhoa-Kalapana Road, Black Sands Subdivision, Puna

Everyone who attends this special end-of-the-year experience won’t just have you up on your feet moving, you’ll be jammin’ to ring in the New Year. PunaKat will play three sets of its signature exploratory psychedelic rock, reggae and funk sound, always with a touch of meow. No admission fee, but the band encourages tips. All ages welcome.

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Interactive New Year’s Eve-ish Party

When: 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 31

Where: Big Island Social Club, 74-5583 Luhia St., A1, Kailua-Kona

Why wait for midnight to celebrate? Make your way to Big Island Social Club for a lively, interactive party designed for singles and couples who want a fun, early start to the New Year. Expect an evening filled with dancing, singing, contests, spotlights, great live music, prizes, delicious pupus and an epic lip-sync battle, plus more. It’s a relaxed, high-energy event where everyone gets to be part of the action. Admission is just $25. More info: Call 970-739-6771 or visit the Big Island Social Club website.

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P-Funk All-Star Ronkat Spearman’s Katdelic New Year’s Eve Party

When: Early show 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.; late show 9:30 p.m. to midnight Dec. 31

Where: Blue Dragon Tavern, 61-3616 Kawaihae Road, Kawaihae

What are you doing New Year’s Eve? Why not take a ride into 2026 on the funk train and spend the holiday with P-Funk All-Star RonKat Spearman’s Katdelic experience? Katdelic is a “party-all-night” band with an infectious groove; it’s irresistible to anyone within ear range — an electrifying hybrid of funk, pop, soul, EDM, hip hop, jazz and rock guaranteed to make you dance. Tickets are $45 in advance or $55 at the door. More info/tickets: Visit the Blue Dragon Tavern website.

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Uncle Charlie New Year’s Eve Party

When: 7:30 p.m. to midnight Dec. 31

Where: Kona Elks Lodge, 75-170 Hualālai Road, Suite E-100, Kailua-Kona

The Kona Elks Lodge is once again the place to be for fun and fellowship. Come down to celebrate New Year’s during a party that is sure to be more than memorable. Live music performed by and featuring Steve Fundy, Warren Nelson, Dave Ojeda and Tim Taylor, who will be providing some Grateful Jams to greet 2026 in rockin’ fashion. Cover is just $20.

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A Night to Remember! New Year’s Eve 2025

When: 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Dec. 31

Where: HappiNess Kona, 75-5699 Ali‘i Drive, Kailua-Kona

Sashay into a fresh year where the atmosphere is lit with fun, frolic and folly. Experience an exclusive live performance by a renowned international artist from Spain, accompanied by the sensational Lucky Tongue Band. Plus, enjoy a gourmet buffet, prizes and complimentary champagne on your arrival and sparkling toast at midnight. It will definitely be a night to remember. More info/tickets: Visit the HappiNess Kona website.

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The Arrival

When: 9 p.m. until pau Dec. 31

Where: Black Onyx Entertainment Lounge, 202 Kamehameha Ave., Hilo

Spend New Year’s Eve and the first hours of the New Year on Hilo’s beautiful Bayfront, celebrating the arrival of a fresh 365 days of full of promise. The party features DJ D-Cypher and the dress code calls for feathers and flow. Tickets are limited. More info/tickets: Visit the Black Onyx website.

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Say Goodbye 2025

When: 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. Dec. 31

Where: My Bar Kona, 74-5606 Luhia St., Kailua-Kona

Don’t be alone on New Year’s Eve. Instead, head over to My Bar Kona to say goodbye and good riddance to the year that was 2025 and ring in 2026 together with all the other revelers, complete with a balloon drop and champagne toast at midnight, all while you jam to the tunes of DJ Paul.

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Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Papa Kona Events & Catering

When: 10 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. Dec. 31

Where: Papa Kona’s Oceanfront Venue, 75-5770 Ali‘i Drive, Kailua-Kona

Residents and visitors alike are invited to what is being billed as a high-energy shindig to bid 2025 farewell and welcome 2026 with hope and promise, plus a ton of fun. DJ Malasada will be spinning hits all night that will have you up on the dance floor. Must be at least 21 years old to attend. Plus, there’s no cover.

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New Year’s Day Recovery Brunch

When: 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. Jan. 1, 2026

Where: King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Resort, Honu’s on the Beach, 75-5660 Palani Road, Kailua-Kona

Ring in the new year and relax after the big night at this recovery brunch. You can even keep the party going with a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar. Cure that headache with delectable dishes from a carving station, omelet station, waffle station and crab legs. Recharge with turmeric shots and hair-of-the-dog shots. Cost is $74 per person. More info/reservations: Visit the Honu’s on the Beach website.

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Check for yourself what’s happening around the Big Island

We admit. As hard as we’ve tried every week, we still likely didn’t find every holiday event happening around the Big Island. Plus, we can’t fit everything going on each week in our entertainment roundup. So here are websites for some popular Big Island venues that you can peruse to discover other events, activities, shows, festivals or workshops that pique your interest.

• Willy’s Hot Chicken, Kailua-Kona: https://willieshotchicken.com/
• Aloha Theatre, Kealakekua: https://apachawaii.org/
• Blue Dragon Tavern, Kawaihae: https://www.bluedragontavern.com/
• Donkey Mill Art Center, Hōlualoa: https://donkeymillartcenter.org/
• East Hawai‘i Cultural Center, Hilo: https://ehcc.org/
• Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park: https://www.nps.gov/havo/index.htm
• Hilo Town Market, Hilo: https://hilotownmarket.co/events
• Hilo Town Tavern, Hilo (on Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100041333509786
• Honoka‘a People’s Theatre, Honoka‘a: https://www.honokaapeople.com/
• Kahilu Theatre, Waimea: https://kahilu.org/
• Keauhou Shopping Center, Kailua-Kona: https://keauhoushoppingcenter.com/experience/
• Kona Commons, Kailua-Kona: https://www.konacommons.com/events
• Lava Shack, Pāhoa (on Instagram): https://www.instagram.com/lavashackpahoa/?hl=en
• Lyman Museum, Hilo: https://lymanmuseum.org/
• MyBar Kona, Kailua-Kona: https://www.mybarkona.com/
• Palace Theater, Hilo: https://hilopalace.com/
• University of Hawai‘i at Hilo Performing Arts Center, Hilo: https://artscenter.uhh.hawaii.edu/
• Volcano Art Center, Volcano: https://volcanoartcenter.org/
• Wailoa Center, Hilo: https://www.wailoacenter.com/