Santa's back!
Ala Moana Center's 50-foot-tall Big Santa — yes, that's what they call him — has returned, towering high above Ala Moana Boulevard from the center's makai parking deck. His arrival marks the start of the shopping center's holiday season.
Big Santa has welcomed holiday shoppers for more than 60 years, Ala Moana Center said in an announcement Tuesday.
The current Kris Kringle — built from 2,500 square feet of fiberglass and nearly 2,000 pounds of resin — debuted in 2020; he replaced the original Big (but not-as-big) Santa, which measured 37 feet and was made with a chicken wire framework and paper mâché, the announcement notes.
Each year, a team of 12 spends about two days installing Big Santa using a custom-built elevator system, Ala Moana says.
Check out a timelapse video of the Big Santa's installation process below, courtesy of Ala Moana Center:
“Big Santa’s return marks the start of a busy and meaningful season at Ala Moana Center,” Senior General Manager Craig Gorris said in the announcement. “Our team, merchants and community partners have worked together to make this holiday season enjoyable from the moment guests arrive, whether they’re shopping for gifts, visiting Santa, watching a performance or giving back.”
Here's what you'll find at Ala Moana Center in the coming weeks:
- From Nov. 9-22, shoppers who spend $600 or more at Ala Moana Center will receive a puffy tote, matching pouch and an exclusive Big Santa luggage tag keychain — one gift per person while supplies last. Receipts must be dated Nov. 9-22, 2026, and redeemed during these dates at Guest Services. Original store receipts are required and no more than five individual receipts per store will be accepted. Must be 18 or older.
- Take a photo with Santa at Santa's Hale from Nov. 13 through Dec. 24. You'll find the island-inspired photo set will on Level 4 at Ho‘okipa Terrace. Bring your pets for photos with Santa on select nights.
A variety of photo packages are available; advance reservations are recommended. Find more details and make reservations here.
Wrapped in Aloha also will offer a gift wrapping station inside Santa’s Hale Dec. 1-24. - Keiki can share their holiday wishlists with the jolly man himself through Ala Moana's holiday-themed Letters to Santa mailbox, found near the children's play area on Level 3 of the Mauka Wing. According to the center, complimentary stationery and envelopes will be available for kids to write and drop off their letters during their visit. The mailbox is available now through Dec. 24.
- From Nov. 27 through Dec. 24, the center's daily hula show transforms into a holiday program. The show will feature traditional Hawaiian and classic holiday songs and takes place at 3 p.m. daily at Centerstage. A keiki hula show will be held at 3 p.m. on Sundays. Local schools, hālau and community group also will perform at Centerstage throughout November and December.
- Feeling charitable? You'll find The Salvation Army's Angel Tree near Macy's on Mall Level 2 of the Diamond Head Wing from Nov. 16 through Dec. 13, and its Red Kettle in the same area Nov. 16 through Dec. 23. Meanwhile, the Light the World Giving Machine Hawai‘i, an interactive machine that lets you choose specific items or services to donate, will be found on Street Level 1 in Center Court, near Centerstage and the Bearberry kiosk, from Nov. 21 through Jan. 1, 2027.
New this year, the VolunteerAlly Giving Tree, which gives guests a chance to choose local organizations to support with a donation, will be available Dec. 12 and 13 on Mall Level 2 near Nordstrom. - Wear your slippers and join Child & Family Service's inaugural Slipper Walk on Dec. 5 to raise funds and awareness for the nonprofit's programs that support Hawai‘i's keiki and families. The 1.5-mile walk begins at 7:45 a.m. at Centerstage. Find more information and register here.
- Ala Moana Center will be open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 27, for Black Friday shopping. Find a list of participating stores and promotions here.
- Guest services will package up to three gifts at no charge with same-day proof of purchase from the mall's retailers.
Ala Moana Center opened in 1959 and is the world's largest open-air shopping center with more than 2.4 million square feet of retail space. It offers more than 350 stores and restaurants, including more than 100 dining options. It is owned and operated by GGP, a retail real estate company headquartered in Chicago.
This summer, the center ranked No. 2 on the USA Today 10Best List of Best Shopping Centers in the U.S.
Find out more about what's new and coming to Ala Moana Center here.
The shopping center is normally open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. but hours will be extended to 9 p.m. Dec. 4-23, although it’ll close at 8 p.m. on Sundays. Ala Moana will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 24 and closed Christmas before returning to normal hours Dec. 26-30. The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Dec. 31 and 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. on Jan. 1. Individual store and restaurant hours may vary.
Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.
For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.
