Where to get pictures with Santa Claus

Here’s a list of Santa photo opportunities in locations across the Hawaiian paeʻāina. All this and toys, too! We’re indubitably impressed. Some of these are free opportunities for selfies with Santa, which are BYOC (bring your own camera or smartphone). Many of the free Santa photo ops are one-time opportunities at Christmas festivals and other holiday events featuring an appearance by Santa Claus.

In additional to free selfie photo ops, there are professional photographers taking photos in a traditional setting, often with Santa sitting at shopping malls of other studio locations. Professional Santa photos start around $25 and go up from there depending on the number and size of prints that you want.

Tip: Lines for Santa photos at the busiest malls are generally shorter “early” – early in December, early in the week (Monday-Wednesday), and early in the day (before 3:00 PM). So, when young children are in tow, plan accordingly around nap times and mealtimes. Many professional photographers take reservations, which is a highly recommended.

2024 Hawaiʻi Island Santa Photos

Where is Santa Photos in Hawaiʻi. Prince Kuhio Plaza, 111 East Puainako Street, Hilo, HI 96720. Santa dates: 11/22/2024-12/24/2024. Visit whereissanta.com, pick your package (digital and print options available). Every reservation comes with a free personalized message from Santa, powered by Portable North Pole, plus 10 free Holiday Cards from Shutterfly and 50% off your entire Shutterfly order. When you checkout, don’t forget to use the code LOTC for a Free 5×7 print with Package A! If you’re looking to create unforgettable Santa moments, book your visit now at whereissanta.com. This is a sponsored post. When you support our advertisers, you help to keep our site in business, bringing you the best deals and free events in Hawaiʻi. Sponsored by: Cherry Hill Programs (whereissanta.com). Read full disclosure: Privacy Policy – Affiliate Program Participation (hawaiionthecheap.com).

Kamuela (Waimea). Photos with Santa at Parker Ranch Center, 67-1185 Mamalahoa Hwy, Kamuela, HI 96743. Saturdays, December 7, 14, & 21, 2024. Bring your keiki to Santa’s holiday hangout at the Fireside Food Court and take home a photo to treasure forever. More info: Meet Santa & Mrs. Claus! – Parker Ranch Center

Waikoloa. Queens’ Marketplace, 69-201 Waikoloa Beach Dr, Waikoloa, HI 96738. Get your cameras ready, folks! Santa Claus is coming to town and he’s ready to strike a pose with you at the Holiday Center (near Starbucks). Don’t forget to bring your own camera to snap some photos and take part in the festive fun with your nearest and dearest. December 6 – 8, 13 – 16, 20 – 22, 2024 from 5 – 8 pm. Ho, ho, ho! More info: Photos with Santa – Queens’ Marketplace

Multiple locations. Hawaiʻi Branch Libraries. Santa Claus Story Times. Santa Claus is making a special visit for a story time and photo session. Use your own camera to capture the special moment with Santa.

• December 19, 2024 @ 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm. Pahala 96-3150 Pikake St, Pahala, HI
• December 19, 2024 @ 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm, Naalehu 95-5669 Mamalahoa Hwy, Naalehu, HI
• December 19, 2024 @ 6:00 pm – 6:30 pm. Keaau 16-571 Keaau Pahoa Rd, Keaau, HI, United States
• More info: Hawaii State Public Library  Events (librarieshawaii.org)

2024 Kaua’i Santa Photos

Kapaʻa. Healing Horses Kauai. December 22, 2024 from  2:30 – 4:30 pm. Located on the Kapaa Bypass at Kuhio Highway. You bring the camera. Santa’s Paint Horses provided. Suggested donation $10. More info: Healing Horses (healinghorseskauai.org)

Multiple locations. Kauaʻi Branch Libraries. Santa Claus Story Times. Santa Claus is making a special visit for a story time and photo session. Use your own camera to capture the special moment with Santa.

• December 18, 2024 @ 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm. Koloa 3451 Poipu Road, Koloa, HI
• December 18, 2024 @ 2:00 pm – 2:30 pm. Hanapepe 4490 Kona Road, Hanapepe, HI
• December 18, 2024 @ 5:00 pm – 5:30 pm. Lihue 4344 Hardy St, Lihue, HI
• More info: Hawaii State Public Library  Events (librarieshawaii.org)

2024 Maui Santa Photos

Lahaina. Maui Bookmobile. December 17, 2024 @ 10:30 am – 11:00 am. Santa Claus is making a special visit for a story time and photo session. Use your own camera to capture the special moment with Santa. Lahaina District Court, 1870 Honoapi`ilani Highway, Lahaina, HI. 

Wailea. Shops at Wailea. November 29, 30, December 4, 7, 11, 14, 18 & 21, 2024 from 4-7pm. Free photos with Santa with each canned good donation to benefit the Maui Food Bank. As a special treat, Santa’s elf will be handing out Peppermint Macadamia Nut cookies courtesy of Honolulu Cookie Company. Located in the Middle Valley – Lower Level between Mahina and TravisMathew. More info: The Shops at Wailea ::: FREE PHOTOS WITH SANTA

2024 Oʻahu Santa photos

Selfies with Santa photo ops

Honolulu/Ala Moana Shopping Center. November 15 – December 24, 2024 (hours vary). Families are invited to capture selfie holiday memories with Photos with Santa at Santa’s Surf Shack, located Mall Level 2, Mauka Wing. The surf-themed set features Santa’s iconic surfboard wall, perfect for selfies. Sessions are available from November 15 to December 24. Advance reservations are encouraged for a seamless experience. Walk ups welcome. More info: Santa’s Surf Shack | Ala Moana Center

Honolulu/Kakaʻako. Seasonal Photo Opportunities. November 29 – January 2, 2024. Celebrate the holiday season by taking a fun and festive photo in front of Holiday-themed displays at South Shore Market and Ward Entertainment Center. More info: Seasonal Photo Opportunities – Ward Village

Honolulu/Waikīkī at Royal Hawaiian Center. Holiday Kick Off Show & Aloha Santa’s Arrival November 27, 2024 @5PM. Live music from local musicians, hula performances, and lighting the holiday tree. Festivities start with a special performance by Storybook Entertainment, featuring holiday characters with a Hawaiian twist, followed by the Arrival of Aloha Santa to lead the lighting of the Center’s spectacular 34-foot-tall holiday tree, featuring Hawaiian elements including stunning palaka bows, glittered plumeria and ʻukulele. The evening continues with Keiki Hula and Hawaiian entertainment. After the tree lighting, guests will have the chance to take a free photo with Aloha Santa! More info: 2024 Holiday Kick Off Show & Aloha Santa’s Arrival — Royal Hawaiian Center

Mililani at Town Center. November 30 – December 21, 2024. Selfies with Santa at the Fireside Food Court. More info: Events – Town Center Of Mililani

Multiple locations. Oʻahu Branch Libraries. Santa Claus Story Times. Santa Claus is making a special visit for a story time and photo session. Use your own camera to capture the special moment with Santa.

• December 11, 2024 @ 10:30 am – 11:00 am. Hawaii Kai 249 Lunalilo Home Rd, Honolulu, HI
• December 11, 2024 @ 1:00 pm – 1:30 pm. Aina Haina 5246 Kalanianaole Hwy, Honolulu, HI
• December 12, 2024 @ 10:00 am – 10:30 am. Waimanalo 41-1320 Kalanianaole Hwy, Waimanalo, HI
• December 12, 2024 @ 2:30 pm – 3:00 pm. Liliha 1515 Liliha St, Honolulu, HI
• December 12, 2024 @ 4:30 pm – 5:00 pm. Aiea 99-374 Pohai Place, Aiea, HI
• December 13, 2024 @ 11:30 am – 12:00 pm. Mililani 95-450 Makaimoimo St, Mililani, HI
• December 17, 2024 @ 5:00 pm – 6:30 pm. Kahuku 56-490 Kamehameha Hwy, Kahuku, HI
• December 21, 2024 @ 9:15 am – 9:45 am. Waianae 85-625 Farrington Hwy, Waiʻanae, HI
• December 21, 2024 @ 12:00 pm – 12:30 pm. Waipahu 94-275 Mokuola St, Waipahu, HI
• December 21, 2024 @ 3:00 pm – 3:30 pm. Kailua 239 Kuulei Rd, Kailua, HI
• More info: Hawaii State Public Library  Events (librarieshawaii.org)

Multiple locations. PetSmart. December 14-15 from 2-6pm. RSVP for your FREE pic at the locations listed below. More info: Santa Photo Days | PetSmart

• Santa Photo Event at PetSmart – Iwilei Hi, 500 N Nimitz Hwy. Honolulu, HI 96817
• Santa Photo Event at PetSmart – Kapolei, 91-5431 Kapolei Pkwy Ste 1701, Kapolei, HI 96707
• Santa Photo Event at PetSmart – Mililani, 95-660 Lanikuhana Ave, Mililani, HI 96789

Professional Santa photos

Aiea Pearlridge Center (98-1005 Moanalua Rd). November 29 – December 24, 2024. Santa Claus is coming to town! Bring your friends and family to share in the Christmas cheer and take a picture with St. Nick at Wai Makai Center Court. More info: Photos with Santa – Pearlridge

Honolulu/Ala Moana, Waikīkī. Where is Santa Photos in Hawaiʻi. (Locations and dates listed below). Visit whereissanta.com, pick your package (digital and print options available).  Every reservation comes with a free personalized message from Santa, powered by Portable North Pole, plus 10 free Holiday Cards from Shutterfly and 50% off your entire Shutterfly order. When you checkout, don’t forget to use the code LOTC for a Free 5×7 print with Package A! If you’re looking to create unforgettable Santa moments, book your visit now at whereissanta.com. This is a sponsored post. When you support our advertisers, you help to keep our site in business, bringing you the best deals and free events in Hawaiʻi. Sponsored by: Cherry Hill Programs (whereissanta.com). Read full disclosure: Privacy Policy – Affiliate Program Participation (hawaiionthecheap.com).

• Ala Moana Center, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd, Honolulu, HI 96814. Santa dates: 11/15/2024-12/24/2024. Visit whereissanta.com. 
• International Market Place, 2330 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815. Santa dates: 11/29/2024-12/24/2024. Visit whereissanta.com. 

East Honolulu/Kahala. Create a special memory with Santa Claus at Kahala Mall! We’re not sure when they start, their website alternately lists November 25 or December 15 through December 24, 2025. Their reservation system includes November 28, which is Thanksgiving Day, and the mall is closed.  Visit longtime Kahala Santa as he brings the magic of Christmas to the Mall. Take photos in the whimsical, storybook-themed holiday set located near Macy’s. Reservations are recommended, walk-ups are available between scheduled visits. More info: Photos with Santa Claus! – Kahala Mall (kahalamallcenter.com)

Kāneʻohe at Windward Mall (46-056 Kam Hwy). Santa Photos selected days November 23 – December 24, 2024. HO HO HO! Dress up and bring your family for photos with Santa in his Windward Wonderland. More info: Santa Photos | Windward Mall

Kapolei at Ka Makana Ali‘i (91-5431 Kapolei Pkwy, Kapolei, HI 96707). November 24 – December 29, 2024. (Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.) Find Santa in the Macy’s Wing, near Sephora and Zales. Meet Mrs. Claus, too, if you come in on a weekday! Reservations recommended. Walk-ins accepted. More info: Ka Makana Ali‘i ::: Santa Photos (kamakanaalii.com)

Santa listens intently to make sure he gets this young girl’s Christmas wish list right! Photo by HASLOO via iStock by Getty Images.

(As we verify the following prior year events, we’ll move them to the above lists.)

2023 Kaua’i/Līhuʻe. Visit Santa & Mrs. Claus outside on the Historic County Building Porch Fridays 6-8 PM on December 1, 8, 15, 22, 2023. More info: Kaua’i Festival of Lights – Santa’s Gone Kauai’an! (kauaifestivaloflights.com)

2023 Maui/Kahului. Santa is coming to Queen Kaʻahumanu Center. Dec 1-24, 2023. Plan for your visit with Jolly Old St. Nicholas. Pet Photos – EVERY Tuesday (Open-Close). Sensitive Santa – EVERY Thursday (Open-Close). More info: Events | Queen Kaʻahumanu Center

2023 Oʻahu/Hawaii Kai at Towne Center. November 25, 2023, from 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. Santa selfies from 5:15-6:55pm. Santa will be making waves, arriving by boat, we’ll light the tree and the whole center up, and holiday joy will take center stage at Hawaii Kai Towne Center. Kickoff the holiday season with a sleigh-load of fun with Santa selfies, dance performances, balloon animals, prizes, glitter tattoos, and more. More info: Santa’s Arrival and Tree Lighting Ceremony – Hawaii Kai Towne Center

2023 Oʻahu/Aiea Pearlridge Center (98-1005 Moanalua Rd). Paws with Claus. Wednesdays, November 29 – December 20 from | 2-7pm. Santa loves visits from humans, but your pets are welcome to take pictures, too! Bring in your furry friends and create a lasting holiday memory Wednesdays at Wai Makai Center Court. More info: Paws with Claus – Pearlridge (pearlridgeonline.com)

Christmas events on our calendar

Listed below are Christmas events from our calendar of free and cheap things to do every day at Hawaiʻi on the Cheap. We continue to add to events to this calendar throughout the season as organizers announce their events.

Find more events: Calendar of free and cheap things to do every day (hawaiionthecheap.com)