Christmas always falls on December 25. In 2023, Christmas falls on Monday. Just about everything is closed on Christmas Day. For exceptions, see the “stores open” list below.
Closed: All government facilities, non-retail businesses or services (banks, offices, etc.), and public libraries. Post offices are closed and there is no mail delivery. Paid street parking is free. Some public transportation operates on reduced service, especially commuter routes. Others may operate on regular or holiday schedules (see Public Transportation below). Most retails stores are CLOSED on December 25 and many stores close early on Christmas Eve, December 24.
- All retails stores re-open on December 26 and it is one of the biggest shopping days of the year. Many stores and malls have extended hours, plus discounts on holiday goods. Many people love this crowded, hectic tradition. Some are returning gifts. Others like to see a movie. Still others prefer to avoid the hubbub and stay home or head outdoors.
Open: Movie theaters (including those at malls) are typically open on Christmas Day. Grocery and convenience stores that are open on Christmas Day may have shorter hours. Not all stores in the same chain will follow the same hours, but the following are expected to be mostly open:
- 7-Eleven Hawai’i (Hawaiʻi, Kauaʻi, Maui, Oʻahu)
- Circle K (Kauaʻi/Līhuʻe, Oʻahu/Waipahu, Wailuku, Honolulu)
- CVS Pharmacy
- Safeway in Hawaii (Hawaiʻi, Kauaʻi, Maui, Oʻahu)
- Walgreens (Maui, Oʻahu)
- Whole Foods (Maui, Oʻahu)
Garbage collection:
- City & County of Honolulu garbage collection is normal on all holidays except Christmas Day and New Year’s Day (then it is one day later).
- Maui, Lanai, Molokai: follow the Maui County holiday schedule
Public Transportation:
- Hawai’i Island Hele-On Bus operates on a Sunday Schedule
- Kauaʻi Bus currently operates Monday-Saturday. See Kauai Bus Schedules.
- Maui Bus operates 7 days a week, including holidays. See Maui Web Bus Schedule
- Oʻahu TheBus will operate on Sunday schedule. See TheBus – Routes & Timetables
Listed below is a lists of this year’s federal and state holidays and other special events. Scroll down for our Calendar of events.
2023 Federal Holiday Dates
Listed below are the 11 Federal Holidays for 2023 (opm.gov)
- *Monday, January 2: New Year’s Day – observed (January 1)
- Monday, January 16: Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (3rd Monday in January)
- **Monday, February 20: Presidents’ Day aka Washington’s Birthday (3rd Monday in February)
- Monday, May 29: Memorial Day (4th Monday in May)
- Monday, June 19: Juneteenth National Independence Day
- Tuesday, July 4: Independence Day
- Monday, September 4: Labor Day (1st Monday in September)
- ***Monday, October 9: Discoverers’ Day aka Columbus Day (2nd Monday in October)
- *Friday, November 10: Veteran’s Day – observed (November 11)
- Thursday, November 23: Thanksgiving Day (4th Thursday)
- Monday, December 25: Christmas Day
*When federal holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday, they are observed on Friday or Monday, respectively.
**Washington’s Birthday is the federally recognized holiday though many locations use Presidents’ Day
***Columbus Day is still the federally recognized holiday though many states have adopted other names
2023 Hawaii State Holidays
Hawaiʻi State Government offices and facilities observe the following state holidays. Public schools are closed on Prince Kūhiō Day and Good Friday (they are not in session during summer). Federal offices are open. Retailers and the community have special celebrations.
- *Monday, March 27: Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalaniana‘ole Day – observed (26th of March)
- Friday, April 7: Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday)
- *Monday, June 12: King Kamehameha I Day – observed (11th day of June)
- Friday, August 18: Statehood Day (3rd Friday in August)
*When state holidays fall on a Saturday or Sunday, they are observed on Friday or Monday, respectively.
More info: https://dhrd.hawaii.gov/state-observed-holidays/
2023 Other Holidays & Special Events
- Sunday, January 22, 2023: Lunar New Year – Year of the Rabbit (or Cat for Vietnamese Tet)
- Monday, February 2: Groundhog Day – six more weeks of winter if sunny or an early spring if cloudy
- Sunday, February 12, 2023: Super Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, AZ
- Tuesday, February 14: Valentine’s Day
- Tuesday, February 21: Mardi Gras
- Tuesday, March 7: Holi (Festival of Colors)
- Sunday, March 12: Daylight Savings time begins (2nd Sunday)
- Friday, March 17: St. Patrick’s Day
- Monday, March 20: Spring equinox
- Thursday, March 23: Ramadan begins (ends Saturday, April 22 with Eid al-Fitr)
- Wednesday, April 5: Passover begins at sundown
- Sunday, April 9: Easter Sunday
- Monday, April 17: Federal Income Tax Day
- Monday, May 1: Lei Day
- Friday, May 5: Cinco de Mayo
- Sunday, May 14: Mother’s Day (2nd Sunday in May)
- Wednesday, June 21: Summer solstice
- Sunday, June 18: Father’s Day (3rd Sunday in June)
- Friday, September 22: Autumn equinox
- Tuesday, October 31: Halloween
- Wednesday, November 1: Day of the Dead
- Sunday, November 5: Daylight Savings ends (1st Sunday)
- Friday, November 24: Black Friday aka Native American Heritage Day (day after Thanksgiving)
- Friday, December 7: Chanukah (Hanukkah) begins at sundown
- Thursday, December 21: Winter solstice
- Sunday, December 24: Christmas
- Tuesday, December 26: First day of Kwanzaa
- Sunday, December 31: New Year’s Eve
Event calendar for Christmas Day
Listed below are all events on our calendar on Christmas Day 2023.
For more things to do anytime, see our calendar of free and cheap things to do every day (hawaiionthecheap.com)
Leave a Reply